Walmart's New Onn 4K Plus: Is This the Budget Streaming King? (My Hands-On Plan)

The world of streaming has opened up a universe of content at our fingertips, and thankfully, accessing it doesn't have to break the bank. Walmart's Onn line of streaming devices has consistently offered budget-friendly ways to cut the cord and enjoy our favorite shows and movies. Now, they've upped the ante with the new Onn 4K Plus streaming player featuring Google TV, and its $29.88 price tag is certainly turning heads. As someone who's been navigating the streaming landscape for over a decade, I'm always intrigued by new options that promise value, which is why I'm diving into what this new device offers and sharing my plan to put it through its paces myself.

So, what's new with the Onn 4K Plus? Here's a quick look at how it stacks up against the previous Onn 4K model:

Feature	Onn 4K Plus (New)	Onn 4K (Previous)
Price	$29.88	~$20
CPU	Quad-core Cortex-A55	Quad-core Cortex-A35 or A53
GPU	G310 V2	Mali-G31 MP2
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	16GB	8GB
Resolution	4K Ultra HD	4K Ultra HD
HDR Support	Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos	HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Wi-Fi	Dual-band (2.4/5 GHz)	Dual-band (2.4/5 GHz)
Ethernet	No	No
USB	USB-C	microUSB

As you can see, the new Onn 4K Plus brings some notable improvements. For starters, the storage has been doubled from 8GB to a much more accommodating 16GB. For those of us who like to keep a variety of streaming apps installed, this extra space will be a welcome relief from constant uninstalling and reinstalling. Under the hood, it appears to have received a potential boost with a quad-core Cortex-A55 CPU and a G310 V2 GPU, which could translate to snappier performance and smoother navigation. Picture quality also remains a priority, with support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, ensuring a potentially immersive viewing experience for those with compatible home theater setups. Even the power connector has been modernized with a USB-C port.

Beyond the upgrades, the Onn 4K Plus boasts the familiar and user-friendly Google TV interface. As a long-time user of Google TV on my Chromecast with Google TV and built into my Sony television, I appreciate its personalized recommendations and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem. You also get the convenience of built-in Chromecast for easy casting from your phone or tablet, a voice remote powered by Google Assistant for effortless searching and control, and dual-band Wi-Fi to help ensure a stable streaming connection.

Now, here's where my personal experience comes in. I'm planning on picking up one of these new Onn 4K Plus devices and putting it to the test right where it counts: on my main TV. While my current setup of various streaming devices, including Google TV, Roku, and others, works well for my needs, I'm always curious to explore new contenders in the market. This isn't about immediately replacing everything; it's about getting a hands-on feel for what this budget-friendly option can deliver in a primary viewing environment. I'll be paying close attention to how smoothly the interface runs, how quickly apps load, the overall picture quality, and the general ease of use in my day-to-day streaming.

Of course, it's important to maintain a balanced perspective. While the price and feature set are compelling, there are potential downsides to consider. The device still comes with 2GB of RAM, which might become a bottleneck for very heavy multitasking. The lack of an Ethernet port means you'll be relying solely on Wi-Fi. And, as with many budget devices, the long-term build quality remains to be seen. It will also be interesting to see how it stacks up against other affordable streaming sticks and boxes on the market.

Despite these potential considerations, I'm genuinely intrigued by the Onn 4K Plus. It appears to offer a solid set of features at a very attractive price point. I'm looking forward to seeing if it can truly become the budget streaming king.

What are your initial thoughts on the new Onn 4K Plus? Are you considering picking one up? Have you had experience with previous Onn streaming devices? Share your opinions in the comments below! And stay tuned for a potential follow-up where I'll share my hands-on review after I've had a chance to use it.

The streaming landscape continues to evolve, offering more and more accessible options for enjoying our favorite entertainment. Finding the right device that balances features, performance, and price is key to a satisfying cord-cutting experience. My Streaming Life currently revolves around a mix of Google TV and Roku devices as my primary interfaces, so I'm particularly curious to see how this new, budget-friendly Google TV option from Onn integrates and performs on my main display. I'm eager to share my experiences soon!