This $30 Google TV box is the closest thing to a true Chromecast successor I've found so far
Onn 4K Plus
The Onn 4K Plus is the closest thing to a Chromecast successor. It's very affordable at just $30, and delivers the Google TV experience with little fuss. The Onn 4K Pro adds a few more features for only $20 more, but if you want an even cheaper Google TV box with a little extra performance, the Onn 4K Plus is a great buy.
When the Onn 4K Pro arrived in 2024, I felt it was a superior choice to the since-retired Chromecast with Google TV in many ways. And even with the arrival of the Google TV Streamer as a pseudo Chromecast replacement, Onn's most expensive model remains a strong budget streamer, boasting a few advantages even over Google's latest device at less than half the price.
While the Pro likely won't see a direct successor for another year or so, that hasn't stopped Walmart's in-store tech brand from introducing new streaming hardware. Enter the Onn 4K Plus, an even cheaper alternative priced at just $30 that wants to take the place of the departed Chromecast as the cheap Android TV streamer of choice.
I decided to give the new unit a test drive to see how the Onn 4K Plus compares to other budget streaming devices powered by Android and topped by Google TV, like the Chromecast with Google TV or the Onn 4K Pro.
Should you trust a product from Onn?
As I mentioned during my review of the Onn 4K Pro, store brands can have a mixed reputation. However, I've found Onn to be reasonably reliable for items like keyboards, cables, USB hubs, and similar accessories. I've used the Onn 4K Pro as my primary living room streaming device since my initial review and have enjoyed the experience overall, despite a few minor glitches related to the remote and other small annoyances.
With budget brands like the Walmart-associated Onn, however, it's important to remember that its primary focus is mass production over rigorous quality control. Such brands also tend to use multiple factories or manufacturing partners, leading to variable long-term reliability. Personally, I've owned Onn products that lasted for years, but I've also encountered at least one USB hub that failed within a day, requiring a return. My advice is to know what you're getting into, and be aware of the return policy of the store you buy it from, just in case.
What is the Onn 4K Plus, and how does it compare with the 4K Pro?
Andrew Grush / Android Authority
The Android 14-powered Onn 4K Plus is Walmart's latest streaming device, acting as a direct successor to the 2023 Onn 4K rather than competing directly with the still-available 4K Pro. The Pro featured premium capabilities like hands-free voice control, a remote finder, and a full USB 3.0 port for connecting external drives and wired controllers. All of these features are notably absent on the 4K Plus.
Instead, the 4K Plus offers a much smaller form factor, making it easier to conceal behind your TV. The remote closely resembles the Pro's remote, aside from its white color and minor button layout adjustments, including a new 'Free TV' button placed just below the Home key.
Andrew Grush / Android Authority
Despite missing out on some of the Pro's special features, the Plus does have a significant advantage: a faster processor. The Pro used the older Amlogic S905X4, whereas the 4K Plus upgrades to the newer S905X5M. This updated processor outperforms the 4K Pro, Chromecast with Google TV, and even the Google TV Streamer in terms of benchmark performance. Although benchmarks don't always translate directly to real-world use, the new chip is clearly up for the job based on my experience.
Of course, the Plus does sacrifice in terms of RAM and storage as you get just 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, versus 3GB of RAM and double the storage on the Pro. Thankfully, you won't notice these limitations during typical streaming sessions. I found the Onn 4K Plus handled the UI smoothly and quickly loaded apps, often feeling more responsive than the Pro in daily use.
The Onn 4K Plus and Pro offer a fairly similar experience, though the smaller dongle has a slightly faster processor and ditches some of the Pro's higher-end features.
While I never felt my Onn 4K Pro was slow, sometimes certain menu options would see minor pauses and stutters. At the time, this wasn't a big deal because I experienced worse lag with the Chromecast with Google TV. Now that I've used the Plus, I find myself noticing little performance hiccups on the Pro that weren't apparent when pitting it against the older Chromecast. Be aware that the differences are subtle, though, so don't expect a night-and-day difference here.
Is the Onn 4K Plus worth picking up over the competition?
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Yes, at $30 there's really no risk to giving this one a try.
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No, the Google TV Streamer is worth the added cost for its improved features and reliability.
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No, the Onn 4K Pro is a better deal for just $20 more!
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Not sure / other (Tell us more in comments)
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I would also argue that the Plus might end up holding up better as well, as most of the glitches around my Pro have been related to hands-free voice and the remote finder, both of which are absent on the Plus, regardless. Still, the Pro performs well, just maybe a hair slower than the Plus in some tasks.
It might not be quite as fast in the processing department, but the Pro is still better suited for DIY tweaks, gaming, basic emulation, and other extended uses. I attempted to sideload a few games and utilities on the Plus, and while it was still possible by using a hub to extend its built-in USB-C port, the experience just wasn't the same. For one, the USB-C port is just 2.0, so that's already a limiter over the faster full-size port on the Pro. Games and other utilities also tend to be more RAM-heavy, which was another bottleneck I ran into when stress testing the Onn 4K Plus.
How does the Onn 4K Plus compare to the Google TV Streamer and Chromecast?
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Considering it's even cheaper than the Onn 4K Pro, it's shouldn't come as a surprise that the 4K Plus doesn't compete directly with Google's premium streamer in terms of features, even though its newer Amlogic processor can theoretically outperform Google's MediaTek MT8696 chipset.
However, if you're simply looking for a straightforward streamer with Google TV without added frills, the daily experience on the 4K Plus is comparable to the more expensive Google device — minus the advanced smart hub, increased RAM, and expanded storage. Given that Google's latest streamer is twice the Chromecast's original price, the Onn 4K Plus nicely fills the vacuum left by the Chromecast's discontinuation.
The Onn 4K Plus is the closest thing to a modern Chromecast you're likely going to find.
The Plus mirrors the Chromecast's streamlined approach: no full USB port, remote finder, or hands-free control here. Its compact design and simple functionality align closely with the Chromecast, albeit packaged in a small box rather than a dongle. Performance-wise, the Plus clearly outpaces the aging Chromecast with Google TV, boasting a faster CPU, GPU, and double the storage. Both devices are limited to just 2GB of RAM, but I honestly never felt like the Onn 4K Plus was slow while streaming, and everything I did felt much smoother than it did on the aging Chromecast.
Onn 4K Plus review verdict: Is Walmart's latest streamer worth it, or is there a better option?
Andrew Grush / Android Authority
With the Chromecast brand now retired and no direct, official successor on the horizon, the Onn 4K Plus fills a niche as an excellent replacement for the Chromecast with Google TV if you're primarily satisfied with basic streaming functionality in 4K quality. The Plus feels faster and smoother without dramatically altering the line's basic Google TV user experience. At $30, it's also very budget-friendly, saving you around $20 compared to the Onn 4K Pro or $70 over Google's Google TV Streamer.
On the flipside, if you felt like the Chromecast with Google TV was missing functionality, the Onn 4K Pro ($49.88 at Walmart) adds hands-free voice, more storage, a full USB port, and several other upgrades that make it feel like more than just a 'faster Chromecast in a new form factor.' Personally, I'd go with the Pro simply because the price gap is very small here.
The no-frills Onn 4K Plus fills the gap left by the Chromecast and all for only $30.
The Onn 4K Plus has a faster GPU and CPU, which makes it a bit snappier in some use cases, but the 4K Plus' superior performance is also mostly limited to streaming apps anyway due to its less robust hardware and lower RAM total. Once a program starts, you won't be able to see any performance differences in your shows and videos, and if you really want a powerhouse streamer, you'll want to look at something like an NVIDIA Shield TV ($149 at Amazon) instead.
Of course, if you still want Google TV and all the extra frills of the Google ecosystem, the Google TV Streamer ($99.99 at Best Buy) is still the best bet as its smart home hub functionality adds a ton of value.
Onn 4K Plus
Extremely affordable • Smooth performance • Compact form factor
MSRP: $29.99
The closest thing to a Chromecast successor.
The Onn 4K Plus is a $30 Google TV streaming box that wants to take the place of the departed Chromecast as the cheap streamer of choice. See price at WalmartSee price at Amazon
Positives Extremely affordable
Extremely affordable Smooth performance
Smooth performance Compact form factor
Compact form factor Simple remote
Simple remote Google TV ecosystem
Cons Limited RAM
Limited RAM Only USB-C 2.0
Only USB-C 2.0 No Hands-free voice control
No Hands-free voice control Pro model has more features for only $20 extra
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