Whenever I think of a streaming stick, the first thing that usually pops into my mind is a Fire TV Stick or Roku Streaming Stick. However, to its credit, Walmart has been trying to change that perception for me, and many others, with its lineup of Onn streaming devices.
Walmart’s Onn devices, like the Onn HD Streaming Device and Onn 4K Pro, have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to their affordable prices and the software they run: Google TV. With Google TV, you can easily download and watch all your favorite streaming platforms, but you can also install third-party Android apps and even custom launchers.
At a time when Amazon is cracking down on sideloaded apps on its Android-based Fire TV Sticks and pushing its Linux-based Vega OS on new Fire TV Sticks, which don’t support sideloading, the appeal of a Google TV streamer is understandable.
And now, in an even bigger push to lure customers away from Fire TV Sticks, Walmart has launched a new 4K streaming stick: the Onn 4K Streaming Device. At $40, it brings a lot to the table, including 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and Google TV with Gemini. But what makes it especially notable is that, while Walmart has released 4K Onn streaming devices before, they’ve always been set-top boxes — making this its first-ever 4K streaming stick. And for a first attempt, Onn certainly gives the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and 4K Max a run for their money.
- Brand
-
Onn
- Wi-Fi
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Wi-Fi 5
- Supported video
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Up to HDR10+
- Supported audio
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Dolby Atmos
Onn’s 4K streaming stick has a lot to offer
It’s not exactly on par with the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or 4K Max, though
On paper, the Onn 4K Streaming Device has a lot to like. In addition to the specs I outlined above (2GB RAM/8GB storage), it features an ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core CPU running at 1.7GHz and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. And of course, it runs Google TV with Gemini, giving you all the advantages of an Android-based operating system.
Compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, which normally costs $50 but often drops as low as $30 on sale, the Onn 4K Streaming Device has a few shortcomings. Most notably, it only supports Wi-Fi 5 and lacks Dolby Vision. The Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, by comparison, offers similar core specs — 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and Dolby Atmos support — but also includes Dolby Vision and Wi-Fi 6, giving Amazon’s 4K Plus stick a clear advantage in those areas. Spec-wise, the Onn 4K Streaming Device is actually closer to the Fire TV 4K Select, but since the 4K Select runs Vega OS, Onn’s use of Google TV gives it a major edge in that matchup.
Here’s a chart breaking down the specs for the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Onn 4K Streaming Device, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max:
Fire TV Stick 4K Select | Onn 4K Streaming Device | Fire TV Stick 4K Plus | Fire TV Stick 4K Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Picture Quality | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD | 4K Ultra HD |
Supported Video | HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Up to HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG |
Supported Audio | Dolby-encoded audio | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos | Dolby Atmos |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
Storage | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 16GB |
RAM | 1GB | 2GB | 2GB | 2GB |
Processor | Quad-core 1.7Ghz | Quad-core 1.7Ghz | Quad-core 1.7Ghz | Quad-core 2.0Ghz |
Operating System | Vega OS | Google TV | Fire OS | Fire OS |
Price | $40 | $40 | $50 | $60 |
While Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is regularly priced at $60, it’s often on sale for as low as $40, the same price as Onn’s 4K streaming stick, and in that regard, the 4K Max certainly offers its advantages, including doubling the storage to 16GB, and Wi-Fi 6E support for even faster Wi-Fi.
The 4K Plus and 4K Max still run Fire OS, Amazon’s Android-based operating system, so they can still sideload apps and use custom launchers, except for any apps that Amazon has blacklisted because of piracy.
The Onn 4K Streaming Stick is a step in the right direction
Google TV is its shining star
While Onn’s 4K streaming stick may not be as feature-rich as the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus or 4K Max, if you’re after a streaming stick that runs Google TV and don’t care about Dolby Vision, slightly faster Wi-Fi, or a smaller storage capacity, the Onn 4K Streaming Device likely won’t disappoint at $40. And at some point in the near future, it will likely go on sale as well, as Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks do, so if you can get a sweet deal on it, that certainly helps its case.
On the flip side, if you’re after more lucrative features like Wi-Fi 6 or Dolby Vision, Walmart does have a new Onn 4K Pro launching soon for $60 that supports both. However, it’s a set-top box, not a streaming stick, so if you’re okay with that form factor, it is still possible to get the power of Google TV with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Wi-Fi 6, all at a lower price than the $100 Google TV Streamer.
All in all, I think Walmart’s new Onn 4K Streaming Device is a step in the right direction. At $40, it offers many of the features you’d expect from a 4K streaming stick, and if you want to easily turn your 4K TV into a Google TV streamer with the power and freedom of Android, it will do exactly that. If you’ve become disillusioned with Amazon’s Fire TV Sticks, especially in the wake of Vega OS, Walmart’s Onn devices are worth keeping an eye on.
