The closest factor to a Chromecast successor for under $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 most costly mannequin stays a robust price range streamer, boasting just a few benefits even over Google’s newest machine at lower than half the worth.

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

I made a decision to present the brand new unit a check drive to see how the Onn 4K Plus compares to different price range streaming gadgets 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 machine, performing as a direct successor to the 2023 Onn 4K relatively than competing instantly 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 an alternative, the 4K Plus presents 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 shade and minor button structure changes, together with a brand new “Free TV” button positioned just under the Residence key.

Regardless of lacking out on a number of the Professional’s particular options, the Plus does have a major 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 efficiency. Though benchmarks don’t at all times 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 received’t discover these limitations throughout typical streaming classes. I discovered the Onn 4K Plus dealt with the UI easily and rapidly loaded apps, typically feeling extra responsive than the Professional in every 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 a giant 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 towards the older Chromecast. Bear in mind that the variations are refined, although, so don’t count on a night-and-day distinction right here.

I’d additionally argue that the Plus would possibly find yourself holding up higher as nicely, as a lot 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 nicely, simply possibly a hair slower than the Plus in some duties.

It may not be fairly as quick within the processing division, however the Professional remains to be higher fitted to DIY tweaks, gaming, fundamental 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 typically 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 instantly with Google’s premium streamer by way of options, although its newer Amlogic processor can theoretically outperform Google’s MediaTek MT8696 chipset.

Nonetheless, for those who’re merely on the lookout for a simple streamer with Google TV with out added frills, the every day expertise on the 4K Plus is corresponding to the costlier Google machine — minus the superior sensible hub, elevated RAM, and expanded storage. Provided that Google’s newest streamer is twice the Chromecast’s authentic worth, the Onn 4K Plus properly fills the vacuum left by the Chromecast’s discontinuation.

The Plus mirrors the Chromecast’s streamlined method: 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 relatively than a dongle. Efficiency-wise, the Plus clearly outpaces the growing old Chromecast with Google TV, boasting a quicker CPU, GPU, and double the storage. Each gadgets are restricted to only 2GB of RAM, however I truthfully by no means felt just like the Onn 4K Plus was sluggish whereas streaming, and every thing I did felt a lot smoother than it did on the growing old Chromecast.

With the Chromecast model now retired and no direct, official successor on the horizon, the Onn 4K Plus fills a distinct segment as a superb alternative for the Chromecast with Google TV for those who’re primarily glad with fundamental streaming performance in 4K high quality. The Plus feels quicker and smoother with out dramatically altering the road’s fundamental Google TV person 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, for those who 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 together with the Professional just because the worth hole may be very small right here.

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

In fact, for those who nonetheless need Google TV and all the additional frills of the Google ecosystem, the Google TV Streamer ($99.99 at Greatest Purchase) remains to be the most effective wager as its sensible house hub performance provides a ton of worth.