Tag: Onn

Walmart’s Value Packed onn 8.1″ Core Tablet Review!

Walmart’s Onn brand has emerged as one of the leading makers of budget consumer electronics. In addition to making solid TV streaming devices, they also make a line of great Android tablets that deliver a ton of value.

In my latest video, I take a look at their new Onn 8.1″ Core Tablet.

The 8.1″ device bears a clear physical resemblance to the iPad Mini but occupies a much different segment of the market. At a price point of $138 (compensated affiliate link), it aims to provide a functional tablet experience for those who prioritize cost over high-end performance.

The build quality is a notable starting point. The tablet features an all-metal aluminum back, giving it a weight of 10 ounces that feels substantial yet portable. The 8.1-inch IPS display operates at a resolution of 1000 x 1524, which is slightly above 720p. While the brightness peaks around 350 nits—noticeably lower than more expensive competitors—the pixel density remains high enough that text appears sharp and readable. One functional improvement I noticed is the display’s ability to ignore unintended inputs; resting a thumb on the edge of the screen does not interfere with scrolling, a common frustration with previous budget tablets.

Under the hood, the device runs on a Snapdragon 685 processor, a chip that has been in circulation for a couple of years. While this means the tablet will not break any speed records, it is supported by a generous 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. For users who need more space for offline media, there is a dedicated microSD card slot on the side. During my testing, web browsing on sites like NASA’s homepage was efficient, and the device handled split-screen multitasking with YouTube and a browser running concurrently without significant lag.

The software experience is a departure from many budget devices that come pre-loaded with third-party applications. This tablet runs a very clean, “vanilla” version of Android. Aside from the Walmart app, there is no bloatware or intrusive advertising. It also integrates Google’s Gemini AI, allowing for hands-free voice commands that can pull up weather reports or transit information, provided the device is unlocked. However, the lack of biometric security is a drawback; there is no fingerprint reader or facial recognition, requiring a PIN for every unlock.

On the hardware side, the tablet includes stereo speakers that work well in landscape mode, though it lacks a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. Users will need to rely on the USB-C port or Bluetooth for audio. The cameras are functional but basic: the front-facing 720p lens is enough for video calls, while the 1080p rear camera captures acceptable images and video in a pinch, though the quality is much lower than what a premium device would offer.

Gaming performance varies depending on the demand of the title. For casual “instant games” or web-based applications, the tablet is responsive. More intensive games like Genshin Impact are playable on low visual settings, though they require a lengthy initial download and installation process. In benchmarks, the 3DMark Wildlife test returned a score of 646, which aligns with previous Onn Pro models using the same processor and well behind the more expensive iPad Mini. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours for basic media consumption, though this decreases during heavy gaming or high-stress tasks.

Once again, Walmart delivers a straightforward option for those who need a portable device for reading, streaming, and basic productivity. It avoids the clutter of many affordable tablets while maintaining a build quality that feels more expensive than its price tag suggests. Keeping expectations aligned with the hardware, it offers a predictable and clean Android experience.

I’ll have a review of their new Pro version once I’m able to acquire one. Stay tuned!

New Onn 4k Pro Streaming Box Review – 2026 Version

My latest review takes a look at the new Onn 4K Pro, which serves as the current top-of-the-line streaming device from Walmart. Priced at $60 (compensated affiliate link), this unit represents an update to the model released two years ago. I purchased the device with my own funds to evaluate its performance both as a standard consumer streaming box and as a tool for more enthusiast-level use cases.

Check out the review here!

The hardware features a fabric covering (in light grey or black) intended to help it blend into home decor, a design choice necessitated by the built-in microphones that allow for hands-free operation. On the exterior, there is a physical switch to disable the microphone for those concerned with privacy. The device also includes a remote finder button on the top, which triggers a beep from the remote to help locate it. In terms of connectivity, the back panel houses an HDMI output, a USB 2.0 port for external storage or peripherals, and a 100 Mbps Ethernet jack. While the inclusion of a wired port is useful, I found that the onboard Wi-Fi actually provided significantly faster data speeds, reaching approximately 500 Mbps compared to the 100 Mbps limit of the physical jack.

Internally, the device runs on an Amlogic S905X5M processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. During my testing, the interface felt responsive, and navigating through various menus was efficient. The device supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for mainstream streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus.

The software experience is centered on the Google TV interface and includes a dedicated button for free ad-supported television, which provides quick access to a variety of free streaming channels (including some local NBC affiliates). The integration of Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, allows for more complex voice queries than standard voice search. For instance, the assistant can filter recommendations by specific actors or provide deep dives into educational topics. When the television is off, the box can function as a standalone smart speaker for controlling home automation devices.

For those interested in high-fidelity media playback, the Onn 4K Pro presents some challenges. While it supports frame rate matching in certain apps like Netflix, other major platforms like Disney Plus and Apple TV did not switch to 24p mode during my tests, which can lead to motion jitter. Furthermore, for users with local media libraries, the device does not support Dolby Vision Profile 7 or lossless audio pass-through. This distinguishes it from more expensive enthusiast hardware like the Nvidia Shield, which remains the standard for handling high-bitrate Blu-ray rips.

Although the hardware is 64-bit, the operating system is currently a 32-bit version of Android 14. This prevents certain applications, particularly high-end emulators, from running on the device.

Benchmarks indicate that this processor is roughly three times faster than the previous Onn model and outperforms the current Google TV Streamer, though it still falls significantly short of the aging Nvidia Shield. This puts the device in a specific market position. It is a capable, affordable option for the average user seeking a snappy interface and integrated smart home features, but it stops short of being a comprehensive solution for the most demanding home theater enthusiasts and gamers.

Owners of the previous version may find little reason to switch, as many of the new software features have been backported to the older hardware. Choosing this device ultimately depends on whether the faster navigation and hands-free Google Assistant features outweigh the technical constraints of its 32-bit architecture.

Walmart Onn 4k Plus Google TV Streaming Box Review

Walmart just refreshed their sub $30 Google TV device with the new Onn 4K Plus (compensated affilate link). These are designed mainly for situations where a TV’s smart features are outdated or no longer functional, and in that context, it ends up being a surprisingly capable solution that feels a lot more powerful than its predecessor.

You can see it in action in my latest video review.

The device itself is a small puck—slightly larger than the last version—with HDMI out, a USB-C port for power, and a reset button. Performance over Wi-Fi was surprisingly solid. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and pulled around 430 Mbps down and up.

The 4k Plus supports USB-C hubs for peripherals, and I was able to get Ethernet working through one, though compatibility was inconsistent depending on the adapter. It looks as though the port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds as the best I could get out of my adapter was 100 megabits per second.

Internally, this version runs on an Amlogic S905X5M processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. That’s a bump up in both performance and storage compared to earlier models. It still won’t satisfy power users, but general performance is responsive, especially when navigating Netflix and other streaming apps. The interface felt much zippier than I expected for this price point.

It runs Android 14 under the hood, and the front-end experience is standard Google TV, which remains very ad-centric. You’re presented with promotions and suggestions based on viewing habits, and it integrates content from services that support Google’s recommendations. The usual suspects like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube are present, although there are some quirks—Netflix shows can’t be added to the watchlist, for example. That’s a long-standing limitation tied to how Netflix handles integration.

The remote includes voice control, which worked well for searches, and a new “Free TV” button that jumps into Google’s curated free content offering. It’s not vastly different from what Roku or other aggregators do, but Google has added a prominent shortcut to it on the remote to steer users onto their free platform.

Video and audio performance was mixed depending on the app. Netflix ran fine with Dolby Vision and Atmos audio on my 4K setup, but Disney+ didn’t deliver Atmos, and also failed to switch into 24p mode for content that needed it. This isn’t unusual—frame rate switching has been a persistent issue on Android boxes. You can enable it in settings, but results still vary app by app. Netflix behaved the best in my testing.

Gaming was better than expected. Android games ran smoothly, and GeForce Now performed decently over Wi-Fi at 1080p60. There was one crash and reboot, possibly related to the 2GB RAM ceiling, but overall stability was reasonable. Emulation is limited; PlayStation 1 works, but GameCube and PS2 emulators wouldn’t install.

As a Plex client, it handled browsing quickly, which made navigating a large local library feel snappy. But it lacks features more serious users might expect—no support for Dolby Vision from Blu-ray rips or lossless audio passthrough. So while it’s fine for casual Plex use, it’s not going to replace a higher-end setup in a home theater environment.

This box isn’t for enthusiasts, but it’s the kind of product they might still find a use for in a guest room or second TV. For most people, especially anyone looking to upgrade an old smart TV without spending much, it feels like a substantial upgrade. Even if it’s not perfect, it is probably the most value packed TV box on the market.

Onn 4k Pro Streaming Box Followup: USB Devices, Wi-Fi 6 Testing and DACs

As a followup to my Onn 4K Pro Streaming Box review, I did a deeper dive into the device based on questions from viewers. In my latest video we take a look at use cases for the USB port, test the Wi-Fi performance and see if audio DACs work on it.

You can find the Onn 4k Pro in limited quantities at Walmart for around $49 (compensated affiliate link).

I first tested its external storage compatibility by connecting an exFAT formatted NVMe SSD housed in an external drive enclosure. The drive was detected without issue and I was able to play media directly using the VLC app. VLC can even play ProRes encoded videos but the USB port was not able to sustain the bitrate required.

I also tested a USB Ethernet adapter through the port. While the 4k Pro comes with a native 100 megabit per second Ethernet port, I plugged in a gigabit Ethernet adapter to enhance the data transfer speed. This setup improved performance, delivering about 400 megabits per second, but it still falls short of true gigabit speeds. Compatibility will be hit or miss too – my Realtek-based 2.5 gig adapters did not work but a number of gigabit ones did.

Wi-Fi performance on the device is robust, particularly when connected to a Wi-Fi 6 access point. Speed tests showed better performance over Wi-Fi with bandwidth close to what I was seeing out of the USB ethernet.

However, not all features performed flawlessly. As was noted in the first video, the box struggled with game streaming via GeForce Now using the built-in ethernet port. I wanted to see if the Wi-Fi would fare better but unfortunately games froze up even faster than the Ethernet when using wireless.

While webcams are technically supported, the frame rates achieved during video calls were less than ideal, suggesting potential limitations for those looking to use this feature extensively. Many popular conferencing apps like Zoom are not installable on the device either. Even Google’s Meet app only allows one-to-one calls and will not allow the user to join or start a meeting.

Lastly, I explored whether the device could handle a digital audio converter (DAC) for enhanced audio output. Unfortunately, despite various attempts, including entering developer mode, I was unable to get a Soundblaster DAC to function with the Onn 4K Pro. One viewer on the video did say that his Presonus Audiobox USB and Audinate Dante AVIO-USB DACs worked successfully.

Overall I am pleased with the value proposition for casual users here. While enthusiasts can squeeze a little more out of the box it’s hard to get around the limited hardware specs of the device. Even with a more RAM it’s still a very basic low-cost streaming device.

Walmart Onn 4k Pro Streaming Box Review

Walmart quietly released a “pro” version of their Onn TV streaming box. Many of you were eager for me to take a look at this one. You can see my full review here.

The Onn 4K Pro, retailing for around $50 (compensated affiliate link), competes with the Roku and Amazon in the low-cost streaming box space. What’s nice about these Walmart devices is that they provide a pure Google TV experience which isn’t much different from Google’s own streaming players.

Inside the box, you’ll find all the essentials: the streaming box itself, a power cord, an HDMI cable, and a remote control. Interestingly, my package included a more basic version of the remote compared to a backlit version that some other buyers received.

What sets the “pro” device apart is that it functions not only as a streaming box but also as a Google Assistant speaker when the TV is off. In my testing it worked very similar to Google’s speaker offerings but it was unable to play music through its speaker, only through the television.

The box boasts an intuitive setup, connecting easily to Wi-Fi or via an Ethernet cable. However, it only supports 100 megabits of bandwidth for Ethernet, not gigabit, which might be a limitation for some. I also found its Wifi performance, while adequate for streaming applications, did not fare much better than the Ethernet. It’s compatible with Dolby Vision and HDR on TVs that support these features along with Atmos audio for streaming apps that offer spatial audio.

For general consumers, the Onn 4K Pro presents a value proposition with its dual functionality and the flexibility of Google TV’s operating system, allowing access to a wide range of apps and services. Its performance is robust enough for most streaming needs, and the inclusion of a voice-activated assistant is a nice feature.

Despite its “Pro” designation, the Onn 4K Pro may not satisfy the demands of avid tech enthusiasts, particularly those focused on gaming or high-end home theater setups. It performs adequately for streaming and basic tasks but falls short in handling more intensive applications like advanced gaming or lossless audio playback in Plex, which does not support DTS:X or Dolby TrueHD Atmos.

In benchmark testing, the Onn 4K Pro Google TV Streaming Box scored 579 on the 3DMark Slingshot test, indicating performance on par with the lower cost Onn streaming box I looked at last year, along with similar Android 4K boxes like the Chromecast with Google TV. However, it falls short compared to the more powerful Fire TV Cube Gen 3.

All that said I would definitely recommend the Pro version of the box over their lower cost offering for the streaming media use cases that it’s mostly designed for. It’s not that expensive and works well as a Google assistant even when the TV is off.

Walmart’s $15 New Onn Streaming Stick Reviewed

My latest video takes a look at Walmart’s newly released Onn Streaming stick,. Retailing at a modest $15 (compensated affiliate link), this device is exclusive to Walmart and primarily targets users with older televisions that support 1080p resolution.

The Onn Streaming Stick, devoid of the high-end features found in more expensive counterparts, still manages to hold its ground in terms of value. It’s particularly appealing for those who have older television sets that are no longer updated, along with those who travel frequently, offering a convenient way to access streaming shows on the go. The device connects via its built in HDMI plug and includes an extension cable for easier placement behind a television.

The Onn streaming stick has only a single micro USB port for powering the device. An interesting aspect is its compatibility with the Smays ethernet adapter, which also provides additional USB ports.

At its core, the stick is powered by an AM logic S805X2 processor, similar to Google’s HD-only Chromecast, but at half the price. It comes with 1.5 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage, sufficient for streaming applications but limited for storing games or other large files.

The included remote features full voice capabilities integrated with Google Assistant. This allows for easy voice searches and control of home automation devices. Performance-wise, the stick handles most streaming services efficiently.

The Onn Streaming stick runs a “pure” version of the Google TV OS which allows for personalizing content recommendations for multiple family members. Google TV recently added a great new free live channel interface that brings in a lot of ad supported content from a number of providers. And because the underlying operating system is based on Android it has a deep app library along with the ability to sideload apps.

It also supports Chromecasting, enabling content from a phone running a supporting streaming app seamlessly transfer content to the TV. The universal search function, accessible via voice command, is sufficient, although it is still limited by not offering a truly universal search and watchlist functionality.

While the device supports game streaming services like Nvidia’s GeForce Now, native gaming experiences are less impressive due to hardware limitations. In terms of updates, Walmart has been reasonably consistent in providing security updates for their devices, though they haven’t explicitly stated their update policy.

The Walmart Onn Streaming Stick is a good option for those with older TVs or for travelers seeking a portable streaming solution. While it may not excel in gaming, it performs well enough in its primary role as a streaming device, offering good value for its price.

Walmart’s $159 Onn 11″ Tablet Pro Packs a Lot of Value

Last week I took a look at Amazon’s new 11″ Fire Tablet and was impressed by its performance and features for the price point. Viewers suggested that I also take a look at Walmart’s 11″ offering, the Onn 11″ Tablet Pro (affiliate link). It is the subject of my latest review.

Unlike the Amazon tablet that runs a custom Android derived operating system, Walmart’s offering runs Google’s official Android 13 operating system, allowing use of Google’s apps and the Google Play store for finding others.

The $159 tablet has an 11-inch display running at 1200 by 2000 resolution. The display is essentially 1080p, although a bit wider, which gives you a lot of screen real estate for browsing through web pages, documents, and books. The text looks very nice and legible on this display. I did find the color temperature of the display was a little on the colder side vs. the Amazon offering.

The tablet is well-constructed, weighing about a pound or 490 grams. It has a metal back and glass front, giving it a premium feel. Inside, it’s powered by a MediaTek MT8781V/N A processor, has 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Additionally, it has an SD card slot for expandable storage.

The tablet doesn’t have a fingerprint reader for unlocking, so you have to type your PIN code in every time. However, it does have a headphone jack, which is a nice addition. It also has a USB Type-C port for charging and data devices. But that port only runs at 2.0 speeds.

The tablet has two cameras, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera. The camera quality is passable for the price point, but don’t expect it to rival more expensive tablets. The front camera is good enough for doing conference calls with Zoom and other apps.

The tablet supports split-screen, allowing you to have two apps open side by side. It also has a kids interface, which is age-appropriate and gives parents a lot of control over what kids can and can’t do on the tablet.

In terms of performance, the tablet handles basic tasks like web browsing quite well. It also runs games like Roblox and Minecraft smoothly, although the visual quality is reduced to ensure smooth frame rates. The tablet also does a great job of streaming games from services like Xbox Game Pass. I was also able to run some less demanding Gamecube games using the Dolphin emulator.

The battery life is decent, with Walmart claiming about 16 hours of battery life. In reality, you’ll probably get around 12 to 13 hours of battery life if you’re sticking to basic tasks.

After posting my review many viewers asked about whether or not it has GPS built in. In a follow-up that I posted as a YouTube Short I found that it does indeed have a GPS radio on board allowing it to pinpoint its location even when away from an active Wi-Fi connection. In the past many cheap tablets relied upon WiFi based geolocation vs. having dedicated GPS radio receivers on board.

Overall, I’m really impressed with what $160 can get you in 2023. This tablet feels more expensive than it is and is quite functional. It offers a very pure Android experience, with no unnecessary Walmart stuff thrown at you. If you’re looking for a budget tablet that’s functional and offers good value for money, the Walmart Onn 11″ Tablet Pro is definitely worth considering.