The Walmart Onn 4K Pro delivers a premium streaming experience with hands-free voice controls and better features than a number of streaming devices from Roku and Amazon.
A built-in smart speaker, backlit remote (on newer models) and a “Find My Remote” feature are three ways the new Onn 4K Pro device is making incumbent streamers look a bit outdated and overpriced.
The latest iteration of the Onn (labeled “onn.”) streamer rolled out in May to Walmart stores across the U.S. and quickly sold out.
The Onn 4K Pro runs on Google TV, which blends the three primary ways I watch TV — streaming, over-the-air TV, and YouTube.
It’s somewhat comical that Walmart, the retailer known for cheapness and discounts, has created a $50 streaming device that calls into question the pricing on the most expensive devices from Roku, Amazon and Apple.
The priciest streaming boxes from those big three lack some of the best features the Onn 4K Pro offers, but costs more than twice as much. And yes, the Walmart Onn 4K Pro is even better than the latest Chromecast with Google TV.
Overview & Quick Stats: Onn 4K Pro
The Onn 4K Pro is more than a streaming device; it’s a hands-free smart speaker with Google Assistant. The first generation of Onn-branded streaming devices debuted in 2021 with a pair of 4K and HD devices. Since then, Walmart has rolled out follow-ups with less fanfare.
One undeniable aspect of Onn devices has been their value. The 2023 Onn model is now priced at $20, a bargain that refreshes your TV software and gives you a new remote control.
The latest Onn 4K Pro has a lot to be excited about. It supports 4K, Dolby Vision and HDR formats. There is a built-in Chromecast so you can cast photos and videos from your smartphone.
You lost the remote? Just say, “Hey Google, find my remote,” or press the button at the front of the 4K Pro to find it. (If you own an Android smartphone, you can use a similar command to find your phone.)
Dolby Atmos is supported for audiophiles.
The Onn 4K Pro supports Wi-Fi 6: 2.4/5GHz 802.11ax, but also has an 10/100 Ethernet port. The brains of the Onn 4K Pro is a Quad-core Cortex-A55, a mid-range CPU that handles executing tasks from the operating system, decoding video streams and other jobs. It’s an efficient, mid-range CPU that balances power consumption and performance.
The graphics processing unit (GPU) designed by ARM is the Mali-G31 MP2. It’s essentially the muscle of the Onn 4K Pro, doing the heavy lifting of processing complex video, images and animations.
Does the Amazon Fire TV Cube or Apple TV have more powerful CPUs and GPUs? Absolutely. Do you really need them? Maybe, but probably not for everyday use.
Design & Setup: Onn 4K Pro
The Onn 4K Pro is encased in a charcoal-colored speaker cloth. There is a switch on the side of the device that allows you to shut off the always-listening aspect of the device.
On the inside, the latest Onn 4K Pro has 32GB of storage. You can use the USB 3.0 ports for removable storage or built-in storage, depending on how you set it up. The Onn streaming box includes an HDMI cable, along with batteries for the remote control.
I connected the Onn 4K Pro to a 2017 TCL Roku TV, and I was impressed how easily it replaced all of the Roku-related duties, including controlling the power and volume of the TV.
The setup process is virtually identical to a Smart TV using Google TV or a Chromecast with Google TV. Using the Google Home app on your smartphone is the quickest way to get through the setup, which will likely include a software update.
Part of the setup process involves the Onn 4K Pro learning what kind of TV you are connected to. That helps it sync the remote to your TV so you can control power and volume with both the remote and hands-free voice commands.
Remote Control & Hands-Free Commands
The remote control is five inches long with a rounded back. It’s virtually identical to previous Onn remotes.
It feels comfortable in the palm, and has a couple of handy buttons you won’t find on other streaming devices.
One of the best is the customizable button at the top of the remote control. You can set this button to automatically launch a favorite streaming service, or display device inputs. That’s very convenient if you have a DVD player or game console connected to your TV.
When you press the customizable button for the first time, you are prompted to pick what you want to use it for. Whatever you decide doesn’t have to be permanent. A long press of the button gives you the option to change it again.
When the Amazon Fire TV Cube debuted in 2018, the feature I loved the most was being able to power the TV on or off just by using my voice. At the time, it was hands-down the most innovative feature to come to TVs.
The Onn 4K Pro now does this as well — even with the old Roku TV that I hooked it up to.
The “Find My Remote” Feature works two ways. You can press the button at the front of the streaming box, or you can simply say, “Hey Google, find my remote.” The remote emits a chime until you pick it up and press any button to stop it.
There are dedicated buttons to switch Google profiles, which is great for family members who want their own watchlists and favorite apps.
Walmart recently confirmed that two remotes were released for the Onn 4K Pro. The latest model is backlit, a feature I have only seen on the 2019 NVIDIA Shield streamers. Most of my TV viewing happens in a dark room, so as far as I’m concerned, the value of a backlit remote can’t be overstated.
Since I bought the Onn 4K Pro as soon as I could, I got the non-backlit remote. The newer Onn remote has a large “Free TV” button that opens the Live tab on Google TV.
Watching TV with Google TV
I’ve been using Google TV since its debut, not only with the latest iteration of Chromecast. My 2021 Sony Bravia OLED runs on Google TV. My two NVIDIA Shields and a variety of projectors that I have either run on Google TV or a version of Android TV that closely resembles it.
My three cable-free ways of watching TV boil down to over-the-air TV (through a Tablo or HDHomeRun), streaming services, and YouTube. Any streaming device that can blend these three sources into a single interface wins the day for me.
While Fire TV Sticks and Roku devices have their strengths, their menus have never been great. I do believe Google missed the mark with its revamped Free TV Channels hub, especially since it omitted the ability to add OTA channels to the lineup, but that shouldn’t be held against the Onn 4K Pro.
The most notable thing about the Onn 4K Pro in the world of Google TV devices is that it’s plenty fast, and isn’t bogged down with ads. I can quickly get to whatever I want to watch and the recommendations on the home screen from YouTube and streaming services that I subscribe to are on point with my tastes.
Competitor Comparison
I mentioned earlier that Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro has features that are missing on the top-tier devices from Amazon and Roku.
The Amazon Fire TV Cube ($139.99) has a faster processor, but less storage (16GB) and less RAM (2GB). There is no backlit remote.
The 2022 Roku Ultra ($99.99) has a similar processor to the Onn 4K Pro. Roku’s Voice Remote Pro is included with the Ultra, so you do have a “Find My Remote” feature and hands-free voice commands. The Ultra has less storage (16GB) and 2GB of RAM.
Apple TV 4K ($129, or $149 if you want Ethernet) have faster processors, more memory and RAM than the Onn 4K Pro. The latest remote does have backlit buttons. It lacks a hands-free smart speaker, and a standalone “Find My Remote” feature.
The faster processor found on these more expensive streaming devices could be useful for gaming, but for everyday TV watching they aren’t necessary.
Roku, Amazon and Chromecast devices that are at the same price point as the Onn 4K Pro come up short in a couple of other areas as well.
Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast Devices at $50
| Device | CPU | GPU | Storage | RAM |
| Onn 4K Pro | Quad-core Cortex-A55 | Mali-G31 MP2 | 32GB | 3GB |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | Mediatek MT8696T (Quad-core Cortex-A55 up to 2.0 GHz) | GE9215 up to 850 MHz | 16GB | 2GB LPDDR4 |
| Roku Streaming Stick 4K | ARM Cortex-A55 | OpenGL ES 2.0 | Not specified | 1GB |
| Chromecast with Google TV 4K | Amlogic S905X2 | Mali-G31 MP2 | 8GB | 2GB |
The 2nd gen Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max has only 16GB of storage compared to the Onn’s 32GB, potentially limiting the number of apps that you can store. The Fire TV Max 4K Pro has a similar ARM Cortex-A55 architecture to the Onn 4K Pro.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max has voice control through the remote control, but it’s not hands free. There is no “Find My Remote” feature on the Fire TV 4K Max, either.
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K doesn’t specify its storage under its developer page available to the public; however, it only has 1GB of RAM compared to the Onn’s 3GB. Roku’s remote does support voice control, but it’s not hands-free, and there is no “Find My Remote” feature.
Roku’s Streaming Stick 4K is the least powerful in terms of RAM and its GPU when compared to the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the Onn 4K Pro.
The 2020 Chromecast with Google TV 4K uses a slightly older, and less powerful CPU, 8GB of storage and 2GB RAM. The Chromecast lacks all the hands-free perks that come with the Onn 4K Pro.
There are still plenty of reasons why someone might prefer a Roku or Amazon Fire TV over the Onn 4K Pro. Walmart is taking on very popular incumbents within the streaming device market.
Roku is known for its intuitive menus and interface. It does a good job showing users free TV shows and movies from a variety of apps and especially The Roku Channel, the company’s standalone streaming portal.
The Fire TV 4K Max integrates with Alexa devices, so you could add hands-free TV commands if you already have an Amazon Echo nearby.
A Fire TV device might be ideal if Amazon Prime Video is your main source of entertainment.
The Fire OS 8 allows you to prioritize your app lineup on the home screen. The 4K Max supports the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard for Wi-Fi routers or mesh systems that support the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
Mobile app, Casting & Bluetooth
Like Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, you can control the streaming device with a mobile app. For the Onn 4K Pro, I used the free Google TV app on my Android smartphone. Having a mobile app is very useful because of its keyboard. You can enter your username and passwords faster than with a remote control.
Speaking of mobile devices, the Onn 4K Pro performs great when it comes to casting mobile apps such as YouTube and Netflix. I quickly connected to whatever I chose from my smartphone and disconnected just as fast when I was done watching a video.
The Onn 4K Pro also has Bluetooth support so you can connect wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Final Thoughts and Rating
Is there anything I didn’t like about Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro? Not really. It’s a surprisingly well-made steaming device that hits the right balance of features and price.
The Onn 4K Pro has a slick interface. You are not bombarded with ads. It doesn’t promote any specific streaming service and serves as an excellent vehicle for the way I watch TV across numerous free and paid options.
The arrival of the Onn 4K Pro resets the bar for what we should expect out of streaming devices. It should also change our expectations of what kind of features and TV-watching experience we can get for $50.
Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro feels a lot more modern than the Roku and Fire TV devices that I have been testing in recent years. The plug-and-play simplicity of the Onn 4K Pro makes it a no-brainer for the tech-savvy, and everyone else who wants to refresh the software hub of their TV with hands-free controls and a new remote.
It’s easily the best streaming device that I have tested in 2024.
| CRITERIA | SCORE |
|---|---|
| User experience | 10 |
| Design | 10 |
| Performance | 9 |
| Value for money | 10 |
| Ease of use | 8 |
| Total | 9.4 |
Where to Buy
The Walmart Onn 4K Pro is available at Walmart.com, and at local Walmart stores across the U.S. It is currently priced at $50.
Methodology
I spend hundreds of hours throughout the year conducting hands-on testing of streaming services, including Peacock, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV. I do the same rigorous testing for TV antennas and TV-related hardware. Check out the review policy to see how I compare products and services. The Cord Cutting Report is a reader-supported publication, and may earn affiliate commissions when you pick a streaming service through a recommendation. Read our affiliate policy for more information.
Why is it that no reviews point out the complete lack of a file explorer/access, on this device, a very vital and necessary function for cord cutters and those wishing to actually use this device and not just run it.
I know in the past some no name brand Android streamers were not safe. Would you enter usernames & passwords into this ONN streamer?
Who handles future updates, ONN or Google?
Does it run hot in extended use 4K mode?
Thanks!