Craig is a reporter for Pocket-lint based in Toronto. He earned a diploma in journalism from Seneca Polytechnic and holds a Media Foundations certificate from Humber College. Craig previously interned and wrote for MobileSyrup, a Canadian tech publication. He enjoys reading and writing about consumer technology, especially phones, tablets, and PCs.
Apple finally pulled back the curtain on its new Apple TV 4K (4th-gen) earlier this month, bringing several key upgrades to the table. It features Apple's fast A19 chip, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6, plus three far-field microphones that let you use Siri hands-free. Speaking of Siri, the new Apple TV 4K also supports Siri AI, which Apple is surprisingly bringing to its older 2nd- and 3rd-gen Apple TV 4K models as well.
But while the new Apple TV 4K is undoubtedly one of the most powerful streaming devices ever, it has one major drawback: its price.
Apple has priced its new Apple TV 4K at an eye-watering $300. A price hike was expected, given that Apple raised the price of the 3rd-gen Apple TV 4K earlier this year to $200 for the 64GB model and $250 for the 128GB model amid the ongoing global memory shortage. Still, I don't know if anyone saw a $300 price tag coming for the new model.
To make matters worse, Apple is only releasing one version of its new Apple TV 4K (4th-gen): a 128GB model with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet. That means there's no cheaper 64GB model with Wi-Fi only like past generations have had.
If you're a big Apple TV fan who's been waiting a long time for this, that $300 price tag might not mean much to you, and you're probably going to buy one no matter what. And I totally understand that. But seeing the price of the new Apple TV 4K got me thinking about one thing: what an amazing deal the Onn 4K Pro, one of the best Android streamers, still is.
The Onn 4K Pro is the best value streamer, hands down
It's hard to beat $60 for all these features
Practically every major streaming device has received a substantial price hike this year. Apple kicked things off by raising the price of the Apple TV 4K, and Roku followed soon after, raising prices on the Roku Ultra and all its streaming sticks in July. Amazon did the same with its Fire TV Sticks and Fire TV Cube in August, and Google followed suit by raising the price of the Google TV Streamer from $100 to $150.
But somehow, the new Onn 4K Pro has survived all these price hikes. Since its launch earlier this year, Walmart has kept its price at just $60.
If you're unfamiliar with the Onn 4K Pro, it's a set-top streaming device that Walmart sells under its budget-friendly Onn tech brand, and it runs Google TV. And while you might see its $60 price tag and assume it's lacking in the features department, it's surprisingly well-equipped.
Quiz
8 Questions · Test Your Knowledge
Onn streaming devices and history
Trivia challenge
Think you know Walmart's budget streaming brand? Put your knowledge of onn to the test.
HistoryHardwareStreamingFeaturesBrands
01 / 8
Brands
onn is a private-label electronics brand sold exclusively through which major retailer?
Correct! onn is Walmart's own private-label brand, offering budget-friendly electronics exclusively through Walmart stores and Walmart.com. The brand covers everything from headphones to streaming sticks.
Not quite — onn is actually a Walmart exclusive brand. Walmart launched onn as part of its strategy to offer affordable own-brand electronics that compete with mainstream names at lower price points.
02 / 8
Hardware
Which operating system powers the onn Android TV 4K streaming box?
That's right! The onn 4K streaming box runs Android TV (later updated to support Google TV), giving users access to the Google Play Store and Google Assistant. It's one of the most affordable Google-certified streaming devices available.
Actually, the onn 4K streaming box runs Android TV / Google TV. This means it has access to Google Play, Chromecast built-in, and Google Assistant — features you wouldn't get with Roku OS or Fire OS.
03 / 8
History
Approximately when did Walmart first launch onn branded streaming devices in the United States?
Correct! Walmart began rolling out onn streaming sticks and boxes around 2019, entering the budget streaming hardware market to compete with Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google Chromecast. The timing aligned with the cord-cutting boom.
Not quite — onn streaming devices first appeared around 2019. Walmart timed the launch to ride the wave of cord-cutting, offering consumers a cheaper alternative to more established streaming hardware brands.
04 / 8
Hardware
What resolution does the entry-level onn FHD streaming stick support?
Spot on! The entry-level onn streaming stick supports 1080p Full HD output. It's designed as an affordable option for users who don't yet have a 4K television, keeping costs low while still delivering HD streaming.
The correct answer is 1080p Full HD. onn offers a tiered product lineup — the entry-level stick handles Full HD, while their higher-end streaming box steps up to 4K Ultra HD for bigger screens and newer TVs.
05 / 8
Streaming
Which voice assistant is built into onn Google TV streaming devices?
Correct! Because onn's Google TV devices are Google-certified, they come with Google Assistant built in. You can use voice search to find content across apps, control smart home devices, and get quick answers hands-free.
The right answer is Google Assistant. Since onn's streaming sticks and boxes run Google TV and are Google-certified, Alexa and Siri don't apply here — Google Assistant handles all the voice command duties.
06 / 8
Features
What key feature differentiates the onn 4K Pro streaming device from the standard onn 4K box?
Nice work! The onn 4K Pro steps up with support for Dolby Vision HDR and a more powerful processor compared to the standard model. This makes it better suited for users who want premium picture quality on compatible TVs without spending big.
Not quite — the key upgrade in the onn 4K Pro is Dolby Vision support and a faster processor. There's no built-in storage, cellular radio, or optical drive; it's still a streaming-only device, just with better HDR credentials.
07 / 8
History
Which major streaming hardware ecosystem did the onn Google TV devices gain certification from, boosting their legitimacy?
Correct! onn streaming devices running Google TV are officially Google-certified, meaning they meet Google's standards for security, performance, and app compatibility. This certification gives buyers confidence they'll get proper Play Store access and regular updates.
The answer is Google. Official Google certification is significant because it guarantees the device meets quality and security standards, gets access to the full Google Play Store, and is eligible for Google's software support — something uncertified Android devices lack.
08 / 8
Streaming
What is one of the primary reasons onn streaming devices are considered attractive to budget-conscious consumers?
Exactly right! The biggest selling point for onn devices is their price. Often retailing for well under $30 — sometimes as low as $15-20 — they undercut rivals like Roku and Amazon Fire TV Stick while still offering a capable Google TV experience.
The real draw is the low price. onn devices regularly retail for as little as $15-20, making them some of the most affordable Google-certified streaming hardware on the market. There are no free subscriptions or exclusive shows — just solid value.
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Under the hood, it packs an Amlogic 905X5M quad-core CPU clocked at 2.5GHz, 32GB of storage, and 3GB of RAM. It also supports premium streaming features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, along with Wi-Fi 6. Around the back, you'll find a 10/100 Ethernet port and a USB port.
Design-wise, it looks almost identical to the $150 Google TV Streamer, with the main differences being that Google's device has 4GB of RAM and Gigabit Ethernet.
While the Onn 4K Pro clearly isn't going to be as fast as a $300 Apple TV 4K powered by Apple's A19 chip, there's a lot to like about Walmart's streamer if you're looking for a capable set-top box that won't destroy your wallet. Honestly, I'm shocked Walmart hasn't raised its price yet, especially given the RAMaggedon caused by AI, which has sent component prices skyrocketing.
But if you want an Apple TV-like experience without spending $300, you can actually get pretty close with the Onn 4K Pro.
Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device
- Onn
- Wi-Fi 6
- 100Mbps
- HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Arc Launcher makes the Onn 4K Pro look like an Apple TV
Google TV gives the Onn 4K Pro a lot of flexibility
Undoubtedly, one of the best things about the Onn 4K Pro is that it runs Google TV, which means it's powered by Android. That gives you plenty of flexibility to customize your device and sideload all kinds of apps, just as you can on the Google TV Streamer and Android-based Fire TV Sticks.
One popular thing to do with Android streamers is install custom launchers, and one option you can download on the Onn 4K Pro is Arc Launcher, which transforms your home screen into an Apple TV-like experience.
I've always loved how minimalist and ad-free the Apple TV home screen is, and Arc Launcher brings that same experience to Android streamers. It features a familiar grid of oval-shaped app icons that you can rearrange, along with a main dock where you can pin your favorite apps, much like you can with tvOS. Arc Launcher also lets you customize your wallpaper, set time-based wallpapers, and change the home screen's accent color, so you can make it look exactly how you want.
All in all, if you want a simple, clean interface like the one Apple TV offers, you can bring that experience to any Android streamer. And considering everything the Onn 4K Pro brings to the table for just $60, it's certainly not a bad option. Let's just hope Walmart keeps that price right where it is.