The closest thing to a Chromecast successor for only $30

When the Onn 4K Professional arrived in 2024, I felt it was a superior option to the since-retired Chromecast with Google TV in some ways. And even with the arrival of the Google TV Streamer as a pseudo Chromecast alternative, Onn’s costliest mannequin stays a powerful funds streamer, boasting just a few benefits even over Google’s newest system at lower than half the worth.

Whereas the Professional seemingly gained’t see a direct successor for one more 12 months or so, that hasn’t stopped Walmart’s in-store tech model from introducing new streaming {hardware}. Enter the Onn 4K Plus, an excellent cheaper various priced at simply $30 that desires to take the place of the departed Chromecast as a budget Android TV streamer of selection.

I made a decision to offer the brand new unit a take a look at drive to see how the Onn 4K Plus compares to different funds streaming units powered by Android and topped by Google TV, just like the Chromecast with Google TV or the Onn 4K Professional.

The Android 14-powered Onn 4K Plus is Walmart’s newest streaming system, appearing as a direct successor to the 2023 Onn 4K slightly than competing immediately with the still-available 4K Professional. The Professional featured premium capabilities like hands-free voice management, a distant finder, and a full USB 3.0 port for connecting exterior drives and wired controllers. All of those options are notably absent on the 4K Plus.

As a substitute, the 4K Plus provides a a lot smaller kind issue, making it simpler to hide behind your TV. The distant intently resembles the Professional’s distant, other than its white colour and minor button format changes, together with a brand new “Free TV” button positioned slightly below the Dwelling key.

Regardless of lacking out on a few of the Professional’s particular options, the Plus does have a big benefit: a quicker processor. The Professional used the older Amlogic S905X4, whereas the 4K Plus upgrades to the newer S905X5M. This up to date processor outperforms the 4K Professional, Chromecast with Google TV, and even the Google TV Streamer by way of benchmark performance. Though benchmarks don’t all the time translate on to real-world use, the brand new chip is clearly up for the job primarily based on my expertise.

In fact, the Plus does sacrifice by way of RAM and storage as you get simply 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, versus 3GB of RAM and double the storage on the Professional. Fortunately, you gained’t discover these limitations throughout typical streaming classes. I discovered the Onn 4K Plus dealt with the UI easily and shortly loaded apps, usually feeling extra responsive than the Professional in each day use.

Whereas I by no means felt my Onn 4K Professional was sluggish, generally sure menu choices would see minor pauses and stutters. On the time, this wasn’t an enormous deal as a result of I skilled worse lag with the Chromecast with Google TV. Now that I’ve used the Plus, I discover myself noticing little efficiency hiccups on the Professional that weren’t obvious when pitting it in opposition to the older Chromecast. Bear in mind that the variations are delicate, although, so don’t anticipate a night-and-day distinction right here.

I’d additionally argue that the Plus would possibly find yourself holding up higher as effectively, as many of the glitches round my Professional have been associated to hands-free voice and the distant finder, each of that are absent on the Plus, regardless. Nonetheless, the Professional performs effectively, simply possibly a hair slower than the Plus in some duties.

It won’t be fairly as quick within the processing division, however the Professional continues to be higher suited to DIY tweaks, gaming, primary emulation, and different prolonged makes use of. I tried to sideload just a few video games and utilities on the Plus, and whereas it was nonetheless attainable by utilizing a hub to increase its built-in USB-C port, the expertise simply wasn’t the identical. For one, the USB-C port is simply 2.0, in order that’s already a limiter over the quicker full-size port on the Professional. Video games and different utilities additionally are usually extra RAM-heavy, which was one other bottleneck I bumped into when stress testing the Onn 4K Plus.

Contemplating it’s even cheaper than the Onn 4K Professional, it’s shouldn’t come as a shock that the 4K Plus doesn’t compete immediately with Google’s premium streamer by way of options, though its newer Amlogic processor can theoretically outperform Google’s MediaTek MT8696 chipset.

Nonetheless, when you’re merely searching for a simple streamer with Google TV with out added frills, the each day expertise on the 4K Plus is similar to the dearer Google system — minus the superior good hub, elevated RAM, and expanded storage. Provided that Google’s newest streamer is twice the Chromecast’s authentic value, the Onn 4K Plus properly fills the vacuum left by the Chromecast’s discontinuation.

The Plus mirrors the Chromecast’s streamlined strategy: no full USB port, distant finder, or hands-free management right here. Its compact design and easy performance align intently with the Chromecast, albeit packaged in a small field slightly than a dongle. Efficiency-wise, the Plus clearly outpaces the ageing Chromecast with Google TV, boasting a quicker CPU, GPU, and double the storage. Each units are restricted to only 2GB of RAM, however I actually by no means felt just like the Onn 4K Plus was sluggish whereas streaming, and the whole lot I did felt a lot smoother than it did on the ageing Chromecast.

With the Chromecast brand now retired and no direct, official successor on the horizon, the Onn 4K Plus fills a distinct segment as a wonderful alternative for the Chromecast with Google TV when you’re primarily happy with primary streaming performance in 4K high quality. The Plus feels quicker and smoother with out dramatically altering the road’s primary Google TV consumer expertise. At $30, it’s additionally very budget-friendly, saving you round $20 in comparison with the Onn 4K Professional or $70 over Google’s Google TV Streamer.

On the flipside, when you felt just like the Chromecast with Google TV was lacking performance, the Onn 4K Professional ($49.88 at Walmart) provides hands-free voice, extra storage, a full USB port, and a number of other different upgrades that make it really feel like greater than only a “quicker Chromecast in a brand new kind issue.” Personally, I’d go along with the Professional just because the worth hole could be very small right here.

The Onn 4K Plus has a quicker GPU and CPU, which makes it a bit snappier in some use instances, however the 4K Plus’ superior efficiency can be largely restricted to streaming apps anyway as a result of its much less strong {hardware} and decrease RAM complete. As soon as a program begins, you gained’t be capable to see any efficiency variations in your reveals and movies, and when you actually desire a powerhouse streamer, you’ll wish to take a look at one thing like an NVIDIA Protect TV ($149 at Amazon) as a substitute.

In fact, when you nonetheless need Google TV and all the additional frills of the Google ecosystem, the Google TV Streamer ($99.99 at Best Buy) continues to be the very best guess as its good dwelling hub performance provides a ton of worth.