Google TV Streamer and Onn 4K Pro

We now have two new contenders for the title of the best Google TV device you can buy in 2024. (Nvidia Shield fans, mind you; that device is almost as old as me.) Google TV Streaming — Replacing Chromecast with Google TV — and a Walmart exclusive Onn 4K Pro.

These are very similar devices. They both run the Google TV operating system, so they basically do the same thing in the same way.

The edges are where you’ll find the differences. For the full rundown, be sure to read our full article Google TV Streamer reviewand full Onn 4K Pro review.

Price

The price is perhaps the biggest difference between the Google TV Streamer and the Onn 4K Pro. The former is twice as expensive as the latter — $49 versus $99. (These are retail prices.) And that doesn’t mean it’s twice as good. It just doesn’t work that way at all.

And to make things even more complicated, each device has features that the other doesn’t. You’ll have to choose.

Winning: Onn 4K Pro of course.

Design

Both the Google TV Streamer and the Onn 4K Pro are what are commonly called “set-top boxes,” a throwback to a time when TV cases were so deep that we used to put cable boxes on top of them. (We really need to phase that name out.) In other words, neither is a dongle that hides behind the TV. That’s old (and inadequate) Chromecast.

There’s a specific reason for each device’s design. Google TV Streamer includes support for smart home devices, and Google says having the base out in the open helps with that connectivity.

Meanwhile, the Onn 4K Pro has microphones built into its body that you can use to pick up voice commands, so you don’t have to hold down a button on the remote first – which is handy if you don’t have another device constantly listening nearby.

The backs of the devices will look pretty similar, but one notable difference is that the Onn 4K Pro uses a barrel connector for power, while the Google TV Streamer uses USB-C. Neither is necessarily a deal-breaker or a huge advantage, but I wanted to point out the difference. Given the option, I always prefer USB-C due to the relative universality of the connection.

Winning: Neither. And I won’t comment on whether I think one looks better than the other.

The Onn 4K Pro (left) has an extra USB port for external storage, but the Google TV Streamer uses the more universal USB-C for power. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Performance

While Chromecast is obviously a bit underpowered by Google TV, the differences between the Onn 4K Pro and the Google TV Streamer are much closer. The latter has an extra gigabyte of RAM. And as of this writing, the Google TV Streamer is running Android 14, while the Onn 4K Pro is still running Android 12. (That will change at some point.)

Both are powered by quad-core processors; the Onn uses Amlogic SC2 and the Google TV Streamer is built on the MediaTek 8696.

Here are the technical specifications:

	Google TV Streaming	Onn 4K Pro
Retail price	$99	$49
Processor	MediaTek 8696	Amlogic SC2
Storage/RAM	32GB/4GB	32GB/3GB
GPU	PowerVR Rogue GE9215	Mali-G31
Strength	USB-C	Barrel connector
Find my remote control	Yes	Yes
Always-on voice command	NO	Yes
Wifi	Wireless 5 (802.11ac)	Wireless 6 (802.11ax)
Ethernet	10/100/1000Mbps	10/100Mbps

Which is “faster” or “smoother?” I think I’d give Google TV Streamer a slight edge, but not enough to disqualify the other. In any case, it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges between the software and hardware differences.

Winning: It’s a tie, or at least it’s not something I’d really worry about.

Features

This is where the tire really hits the road. This is the part that will have the most impact on your decision on which one to buy.

The Onn 4K Pro is more like an Amazon Echo device with its always-on microphones, which the Google TV Streamer doesn’t have. However, if you have another device that can handle hands-free voice commands — like a Nest Hub — this could be a moot point.

But the Google TV Streamer is something that the Onn 4K Pro isn’t. It supports the Matter and Thread smart home protocols and is a smart home hub. That is, it can bring together all your different smart home devices and try to make sense of them in one place. Matter and Thread are the current future of smart home protocols. So, if you can get something that supports them, you should get it.

That said, this isn’t really a tangible feature. You don’t turn on your TV and say, “Look! It supports Matter. Check this out.” In fact, if you have a device that handles everything else just fine at home, you might not notice any difference at all. For me, this is more the kind of feature I’d like to see on a new device, but it’s not something I personally have to have.

Other front-page features for Google TV Streamer include a new Google Home panel that shows cameras, lights, and more inside the Google TV interface. There’s also new AI-generated ambient art. But these features are also coming to the Onn 4K Pro and other Google TV devices. (I don’t know exactly when, but Google says they’re coming.)

External storage is another matter. The Onn 4K Pro also has a USB-A port for power, making it easy to plug in an external hard drive for use as storage or extended storage. (Those are two different things in the Android world.) The Google TV Streamer has a single USB-C port. Theoretically, you could use an adapter to add external storage, but I don’t have one, and none of the hubs I use with my MacBook Pro work; the Google TV Streamer gives an error saying it can’t get enough power.

In terms of video and audio, both support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Google TV Streamer also supports HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

Winning: There’s no real winner here. Each one does something different from the other, for the most part. It’s close either way. I’d give the edge to Google TV Streamer because it supports more video formats.

Onn 4K Pro remote (left) and Google TV Streamer remote Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Remote Controls

Sometimes you get similar devices with two very different remotes. This is not one of them.

Both are very plastic. Both have all the buttons you need. Both have the new customizable star button, and both have dedicated Netflix and YouTube buttons — the latter can be programmed to go to YouTube correctly, YouTube TVor YouTube Music. Onn has two extra dedicated buttons for Disney+ and Paramount+, which I think gives it a slight edge. It also has a button for settings and switching between profiles.

Both remotes run on AAA batteries and feel great in your hand.

And both remotes Find My Remote abilityPress the button on the back of the Google TV Streamer or the front of the Onn 4K Pro and the remote will start beeping. They even make the same sounds. (There is also a Confusion over which remote control will ship with the Onn 4K Pro.)

Winning: It’s a draw. I can’t get excited about any remote control.

Conclusion

For me, choosing between the Onn 4K Pro and the Google TV Streamer comes down to whether you need always-listening voice control, a smart home hub — or just want to save $50. It’s that simple.

If you’re good at smart home stuff and just want a Google TV streaming device, get the Onn 4K Pro. If you need a hub — or just want something with Google’s name on it instead of Walmart’s — then get the Google TV Streamer. Or if you just want to save some money…

Well, then you know which way to go.