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Following Google’s announcement last year that it would discontinue its popular Chromecast streaming device after over a decade of production, a void has been left in the market. While the Chromecast with Google TV (released in 2020) offered a compelling experience, its successor, the pricier Google TV Streamer, occupies a different segment. Now, Walmart’s Onn brand appears ready to step in and potentially fill that gap with its upcoming Onn 4K Plus streaming device.
Onn has become a familiar name in the Google TV ecosystem, offering a few reasonably-priced options for consumers. While the existing Onn 4K Pro is a fantastic deal at $50 all day everyday, there’s not a $20 option in their lineup that I’d really consider right now. I have the one from 2023 and it is flat-out starting to show its age with slow, unreliable performance.
A new budget Google TV competitor
Early-release images of the Walmart Onn 4K Plus recently surfaced online (via 9to5 Google) through an early review program on Home Tester Reviews. While the price remains undisclosed, numerous reviews offer positive impressions of the device and provide a glimpse into its upgrades. The new hardware exhibits a slightly refined design compared to the current Onn 4K box and, if I were guessing, will retain a pretty similar price point of roughly $20.
A notable change is the adoption of a USB-C port for power, replacing the older microUSB connection. Additionally, the remote now includes the “Free TV” button, a feature first introduced on last year’s Onn 4K Pro model. While it doesn’t feature a built-in HDMI cable like some Chromecast iterations, the inclusion of an adhesive strip suggests an intention for direct mounting to a television with the included HDMI cable.
The Onn 4K Plus will support 4K output with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for an enhanced viewing and audio experience. It also features a substantial upgrade in memory and storage, offering 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage – double the capacity of both the standard Chromecast and Walmart’s other compact streaming devices. The device is powered by a quad-core chipset coupled with a G310 V2 GPU, leading to speculation that it utilizes the Amlogic S905X5M, a newer and potentially more powerful chip than the S905X4 found in the Onn 4K Pro.
The packaging of the Onn 4K Plus aligns with Walmart’s recent refresh of the Onn brand’s visual identity, but the exact launch date for the Walmart Onn 4K Plus remains uncertain. While the early review program appears to have commenced in early March, Walmart’s past launches for these devices have been somewhat unpredictable. The device could potentially arrive in the near future, perhaps as early as next week, or it might take a few more months.
Regardless of the precise timing, this device could realistically show up at a $20 price point and be the go-to recommendation for a quick, simple smart TV add-on that won’t really hurt the wallet too much and should be plenty quick for all the standard Google TV stuff you need to do. Hopefully we’ll know more soon.
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