I have deployed two of these a while back for two of my family's older but still excellent 1080p "dumb" TVs. For how cheap it is, thing is fast and reliable.
Just picked one up for a kodi front end. For what i need, its perfect. Iptv works great, as well hvec and h.265. Basically formats I've had issues with, with either older smart TVs or older pcs, works greats, as well as audio decode pass-through
Sold. I got one to replace an aging Chromecast dongle on my 1080p 32-inch. It joins forces with a Roku Ultra, built-in but still-lacking Samsung smart TV support from circa 2019 and a dedicated Raspberry Pi Zero W that displays some useful Home Assistant dashboards cards. It does all I need and then-some. Thanks for the tip. Definitely worth the $19.99 in my case.
Picked one up at Walmart this morning just to play with. Your review shows this box has downloader for my third-party apps. I'm set!! I really like the FireStick and this Onn will not replace it, I'm just playing with the Onn. For under $20 and you can grab one in less than 15 minutes its a sure deal. Where or what can you do for this much fun thats less than this price point?? Press on!
Having lived in HBO-less Japan for decades, I'm really hoping this is going to a real game changer. I don't know about situations in other countries, but our FHD(2K) and 4K broadcast signals are really bad because they compress the signals way too much. Once this product is launched in Japan, I'm sure people will be buying it to view television like any other normal countries. The issue might be language. Nevertheless, RU-vid closed caption translation qualities are improving even as we speak. Thanks for this report, which gives residents in Japan a true hope.
I would have thought Japan would have had good DTV signals, especially after the likes of Hi-Vision which had high quality 720i over analog TV, it’s the same here 😬😬😬 even state DTV is compressed as fuck 😂😂
@@RyanGonTV Earlier today, I happened see a program in 4K, but it was like watching bigger, clearer block and other noises enlarged. Who wants to see a 16mm film in IMAX Laser? NHK, along with Sony, developed Hi-Vision incorporating analog technology for decades, which made them hard to go totally digital only towards the end. That’s why in the US, DTV started years before Japan, thanks for waiting the hi--def TV to go digital. In other words, the good old Hi-Vision was for tube TV sets. Sometimes running ahead of everyone else could earn the ultimate loser medal.
VPN exists, Nord VPN works like a charm in Chromecast Google streaming devices for a while now. Its worth it when you're in any part of the world but the area of the stuff you want to watch
Picked up a few of these recently cause I just got fiber. Disconnecting Comcast/Xfinity and their fees will be a great accomplishment. Anyway, for the price point, these things rock. Wife loves the bluetooth feature as I can now listen to TV on my headset while she is trying to sleep.
I've had an ONN device for over a year and I haven't gotten any firmware updates yet. So me personally wouldn't expect to much from their devices. They work on a basic level. You get what you pay for. That's being as non - bias as I can be
I haven't had any issues that would require a firmware update. But firmware can serve to I crease performance so you make a good point. But it's only $20 so I can't complain at all- even as a Nvidia shield owner.
I've had 3 of the original onn 4k boxes, and one of the onn streaming sticks. They've been reliable overall, the box is a lot quicker than the streaming stick. I've still got 2 of the original boxes, they've been very reliable over the last 2-2.5 years. They get updates every 3-6 months or so, they have kept up with updates longer than I expected so i appreciate that. The remote is well set up with a nice amount of features, better than the Chromecast. The only issue i ever had was one of the boxes started cutting in and out a year in, that was the only one that ever had problems. For the price, its unbeatable. Better than roku or fire. If you use google assistant, this guy ties right into your ecosystem.
Strongly considering dropping most of my DTV packages. As of now, I’m keeping the Basic package, will stream some through a Roku stick, & add an outdoor antenna to pickup channels not offered streaming go r by DTV
Excellent review Lon. Noticed the supplied cable says “Amazon”. The second thing I noticed that its another rounded bottom remote. That means you can’t set it down on a table and simply press the buttons without the remote tipping over.
i have like 5 of these things and love them. I've only had one problem with one with the remote frequently not working and staying synced and that was ones I got in 2021. I thought these were great when they were $30. Now that they're $20 i don't think you'll find a better streaming box in terms of value.
I just got this and it's awesome It's so much better than any Roku I've used. It just works. And the remote set up is stream lined I was able to program the remote to every ancient device hooked to the old Emerson LCD flat screen. I was having connection issues with all the rokus in my house. Now I am just going to replace them .
I picked one up recently, and it's def a great lil streamer. Very quick and responsive. It streamed 60+gb video flawlessly. Perfect for a bedroom or garage. Only downside is limited audio/video formats, but at $20, it's a must have!
What is 60+ GB video. And it is a big downside that it has limited video and audio formats. Or you can get a Roku express 4K for $10 more is a much better deal for a much better streamer without question. ONN products are garbage. I’ve had experience with both their TVs and their sound bars. Junk. In addition, all TVs that are made now are smart TVs. If you are going to enhance the experience with a streamer. Play something that makes it worthwhile. Just because it is cheap does not mean it is a good value.
Using my even cheaper 2K version to watch this review. Originally, I was using this 4K box but, after a few months, there was some issue with the remote that could not be resolved via any sort of update, or even a new remote. That's when I picked up the 2K stick, and it has been working great for a couple of years. Please let us know if you eventually run into any issues with the remote. I should connect my 4K once more, and see if, by now, there have been any updates that could possibly get it up and running again. P.S. When Google made the Google TV w/Chromecast briefly available for EIGHTEEN BUCKS last Christmas, I picked up four of them, so I should be set for awhile....but I have noticed the ONN boxes and sticks are very often sold out at WM.
Bingo on the remote issue. My Gen1 version of this box worked, until it didn't, when the remote would disappear. The only resolution to the issue was to power the box off and on again. Not happening. The unit went back into the box and was replaced with an actual Google Android TV plus Chromecast device. If they've resolved that issue, this device 'might' be a viable option.
@@Mike-In-O-Town I hope Lon (or others) update us if it turns out gen 2 has the same issue. I hope it won't, and suspect that issue may be one of the biggest reasons they came up with gen 2, to begin with. I was eyeballing one at Walmart last night, and I see they've "gotten in bed" with Google (they've added the Chromecast feature), which should be mostly a good thing. I, too, use a Google TV w/Chromecast as one of my streaming devices...also use the 2K stick, and a 2017 Nvidia Shield TV. Since they seem to be keeping the ONN 4K box at $19.99, as an every day price, there's a very good chance I'll pick one up. I was fortunate enough to catch the sale Google ran last Christmas for the $18 Google TV w/Chromecast (they're currently $50), and picked up a few for friends and family. The ONN remote is a tad less annoying than the Google one. I've got a fluorescent green silicone cover on my Google remote...makes that slippery bugger less prone to jump out of the hand, and also makes it easier to utilize the volume rockers on the side.
@@ajbfwb My biggest gripe with the Google Android TV remote is that it is one of the least ergonomically designed pieces of equipment I've ever touched. It feels terrible in the hand (I have larger hands), is as you noted slippery as heck, and most annoying, the buttons have no tactile feel to them (i.e. you can depress them easily without intending to). And I personally don't care for volume rockers on the side of remotes. The ONN remote pretty much cures these gripes/deficiencies. Oh, and a personal message for Google. I don't subscribe to Netflix or Disney+ so it would be really nice to be able to disable the default launch buttons on the bottom of the Google remote so I don't have to continually exit back out of the launch page of an app I don't use. I won't ask for the ability to re-program them because I know that will never happen.
I'd like to hear about options for RV's. I'm trying to figure out if I have to set up a router for my parents. They don't have a separate hotspot yet which makes things a little more complicated.
I have a Chromecast for Google TV 4k (CfGTV4k) and saw the Onn 4k and wanted to replace a Fire TV in the guest bedroom. I got the Onn 4k and really like it - incredibly comparable to the CfGTV4k and I like the Onn's remote better. I picked up a G10 reference remote for the CfGTV4k but really should have just bought another Onn 4k, probably (same price).
I just bought one of these to replace my Firestick that suddenly decided to no longer want to recognize its remote. I've always had random problems with it and I was already on the verge of replacing it with a Chromecast, but then saw recommendations for this ONN Box and figured it would be worth trying out for $20. I haven't gotten mine yet, but it seems like it does exactly what I need it to do and not having to jump through hoops to sideload basic android apps will save me a lot of headaches.
Netflix intentionally disallows Google from the extra recommendation tools. I don't know why Netflix locks that down. I guess they would prefer you use their algorithm.
It's because they don't want anyone else using their data. This is also the reason why they don't work with the Apple TV app. They're really afraid that someone like Apple (who runs a competing streaming service) will use their data to decide what to greenlight for their services.
Hey Lon, I wanted to bring out a couple points you failed to mention. One of the advantages of the Onn box over the Shield at this point is for AV1, and RU-vid HDR support. The Shield hasn't been updated to support either, so the Shield's main advantage is for local playback only with bitstream passthrough. I have the Chromecast, with Google TV 4k, the onn 4k, and a 2019 shield pro, as well as several Apple TVs from the 4th Gen (HD through the 3rd gen 4k. So, many of the points I'm pointing out here would apply to online streaming for the average user, while the local streaming is more of the niche features.
@@mercedesbenzs600bash It's a nice streaming, however atmos doesn't work on Disney+, or Netflix as they do on the CC with GTV, and storage on both devices is very limited. So, if your needs are basic, you should be OK. If you want a bit more but don't need the level of the Shield TV, but want google TV, go with the Chromecast.
@macinman OK I appreciate that but I'm going to want pay per view shows,movies,ESPN, and live TV so will Onn accommodate all that because I was going to get the Firestick 4K MAX but I was hearing there's a lot of buffering with the FS..
I have brought one late last year to replace the crudely slow Vizio TV app. It runs 4K movies via Amazon Video just fine, plays GTA: Chinatown Wars with ease on my Xbox 360 controller (with the X360 wireless adapter + hub of course) and able to stream my Steam games locally via the Ethernet port on the hub. But sadly in about a month or two, it couldn't maintain a consistent HDMI video signal, I can't find the cause (maybe I got a bad batch?) but it annoyed my parent who uses the TV almost everyday, they brought a Amazon 4K Fire Stick and it is able to maintain a consistent HDMI video signal. I would comment that the Fire Stick wouldn't take Ethernet connection via my hub annoyingly.
I'm glad that you mentioned at the end that you asking too much from less than $20 TV box because you are. The difference between this box and the previous box is this one comes with Google TV and natively support AV1 decoding because it has the Amlogic S905Y4 processor. So this should help those with low internet speed to still watch AV1 4K content without buffering. All the rest of the internal hardware is the same.
Great review Lon, I know you are a HD HR Prime user and you touched on this but I want to confirm whether this box supports the DRM protected channels from the cable providers (like my Chromecast w/Google TV does). It's the main reason I'm switching away from Firesticks. Also, for a Non-4K TV, at the same price point (20$), which do you think is the better option, the Onn 4K device, or the Google 2k device. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this video. I did get one of these and it works great, with one exception. I cannot figure out how to get it to turn on both my HDMI Tv as well as my AV receiver at the same time. It will do one or the other but not both at the same time. Any idea if this is a capability, like it was with my Firestick 4K?
Picked up one today and the maintain frame rate is not working. I can manually change it to 24p, so I know my TV supports it. Not even Plex will change to 24, it does with my Roku connected to the same TV.
I am going to be receiving a TV from a family member and the TV is basically just a monitor with HDMI ports will this make it so that I'm able to stream RU-vid Disney and a few other platforms like that cuz I don't need anything crazy
YES YOU CAN STREAM RU-vid ON THE ONN STREAMING DEVICE BECAUSE GOOGLE HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH RU-vid IVE HAD MY WALMART ONN STREAMING DEVICE WITH GOOGLE FOR 8 MONTHS NOW HASNT LET ME DOWN
I got a SuperBox 3 Pro and it's the best Android box i ever had. The cost is high ($216.00 including tax) i got a deal. All NFL and college games, news, movies and it's all for FREE!!!
I just got mine 2 days ago. Found a nasty bug. After pausing content and walking away from the box for minutes at a time the sound dies!!! I cannot get it back no matter what till I restart the box..😢 Sound is set to a tv for now. I don't know if bluetooth sound be any different or not. Try pausing your boxes and wait 10 or 15 mins and resume the content to see if your sound works. Best fix for now if you must pause go to the home screen. I must add I was watching RU-vid tv at the time I paused it. Next time I will force stop youtube tv and see if sound is back on...
EDIT: returned both as google tv 12 has no default file manager and scopes makes pretty much every emulator out there not able to work with this even retroarch will see the internal drive but cant browse to the external ones. Good for streaming but nothing else . The featured hubs are awesome though and definitely keeping. ORIGINAL: got two of these thanks to you and I love them. Also does proper hardware deinterlacing of mpeg-2 (480x480) in vlc and mxplayer without issue. Awesome review and getting 2 of the hubs you featured via the link
Had one for about a month, loved it until it stopped working. The screen will flash black a few times and then go completely black and there's no way to reset it. Probably just gonna replace it with a 4K Chromecast.
Also, as it's running Android 13, it's one of the few Android boxes which will let you use a ps5 controller via Bluetooth. Which is great for playing the PlayStation remote play app on your tv screen.
Have you tried this personally? Looking for a streaming device for my bedroom TV and this is super tempting. My TCLs front end is soooo slow despite it being a 1 year old TV. If I can remote play my PS5 in my bedroom that this is a huge plus.
@@coltsrnumerouno Yes I have two. They're very good and pretty fast. They're as good as my fire stick 4k Max (which is over double the price) with the only real difference being that the Onn box doesn't have Dolby Vision. And with it being Walmart they never care if you return something saying you just don't like it. So definitely yeah, get one
@garyhowe7087 gonna go get one later today, thank you! Super shocked this is so good. I've avoided the Onn brand for years thinking most of it was Walmart junk lol. And I'm ok without the Dolby Vision stuff. My $300 TCL only does HDR10 anyways.
Onn are often very good. I got a 43 inch Roku TV in the Black Friday sale for $98 and it's actually really good. The onn streaming box does HDR 10 btw and also frame rate matching and resolution matching.
@garyhowe7087 quick question. I don't see the official PS App on the store for the ONN 4k device. I'm going to assume you're using the $6 3rd party app called PS Play, correct? I see it has great reviews, but just wanted to make sure that is what you used before I make the purchase
Maybe next time, also cover the audio capabilities and features of the box.. Like is it capable of sending dolby atmos audio, is it capable of sending 7.1ch or 5.1ch audio?, or if its audio bitstreaming or can also do pass through.. Well this has to be done through AV-receiver though..
My understanding is that this remote is able to be used on the actual Google device as well. The remote that comes with the Chromecast w/ Google TV is garbage. I like this one so much better.
I have the old version, It works great for my old dumb tv, I end up enabling developer mode and changing the launcher because the advertisements/recommendations.
I REALLY liked this streamer (last years model)......until I finally had to ditch it. I had TONS of problems trying to keep the remote connected. The remote kept dropping out and would no longer be recognized. Other than that, great little streaming player but the remote connections were crap.
I am bummed by no Dolby Vision support. How much am I missing out on quality in Netfix, Apple etc. which all support dolby vision? Feel Fire TV 4K is better in that sense and only like $5 more.
Oh, I was wondering about that! I hate Dolby Vision and I'm looking for a box that supports just regular HDR 4K to use instead of my TV's internal OS. Dolby Vision is inconsistent and looks horrible compared to standard HDR.
@@supriyasou3722 The only difference between regular HDR and Dolby Vision is that HDR is graded by a professional that decides on brightness, contrast and colors throughout a film/show. What DV does is it has metadata for every single shot and the TV applies the brightness/contrast/color based on that data. There are many many situations when there's a very bright light in the background and to retain detail, DV darkens the whole scene way too much. The same exact shots from the same angle can have a wildly different image throughout the scene. It drives me crazy and I prefer to have a consistent image. I have an expensive OLED TV and I won't let some DV nonsense ruin the perfection of the image :)
Hey I have the ONN Box now when It comes on the screen goes Black after the Boot up screen. Anybody know how to fix or factory reset without seeing the screen? Thanks
this worked good first day now it will not pickup my wifi, keep saying check network setting,, any ideas what i can check out since i cant get to the home page and setting area
It feels more responsive in the UI on the ONN maybe because it's new but the CCWGTV felt sluggish when it was new. going into developer settings and changing the animation settings help with the perceived speed of the UI.
I got this a few days ago. So far I pretty happy with. It did not intend to game with it so I am ok that game don’t work that good. I think it’s a really good value for 20 dollars
