We now have two newfangled contender in 2024 to take the top stain for the best Google TV machine you may purchase . ( You Nvidia Shield folks shriek down over there — that thing ’s almost as old as I am.)Google TV Streamer — which supercede Chromecast with Google TV — and the Walmart - exclusiveOnn 4 K Pro .

These are very interchangeable devices . Both start the Google TV operating arrangement , which means they basically do the exact same thing in the exact same way .

It ’s around the edges where you ’ll find the differences . For the full rundown , be sure to take our fullGoogle TV Streamer critical review , and our fullOnn 4 K Pro review .

Price

Price is perhaps the biggest departure between Google TV Streamer and Onn 4 K Pro . The former cost twice as much as the latter — $ 99 versus $ 49 . ( Those are retail terms . ) And that ’s not to say it ’s double as unspoiled . That ’s just not how this go at all .

And complicating thing even further is that each machine has features that are n’t in the other . You ’re lead to have to choose .

Winner : Onn 4 K Pro , plain .

Design

Both Google TV Streamer and Onn 4 K Pro are what typically are called “ set - top box , ” a throwback to a clip in which video trunk were so inscrutable that we ’d put cable boxes on top of them . ( We really do need to phase out that name . ) In other words , neither is a dongle that hides behind the TV . That ’s a change for Google TV Streamer , which replaces the honest-to-goodness ( and underpowered)Chromecast .

Each gimmick also has a specific ground for this intent . Google TV Streamer includes support for chic domicile devices , and Google says having the floor out in the open help with that connectivity .

Onn 4 K Pro , meanwhile , has mike in the trunk that you may utilise to pick up on vocalism commands , so you do n’t call for to take for down a button on the outback restraint first . That ’s ready to hand if you do n’t have any other always - listening devices around .

The back of the devices will search reasonably similar . But one standout difference is that Onn 4 K Pro use a barrel connective for power , while Google TV Streamer uses USB - C. Neither inevitably is a deal - breaker nor a immense leg up , but I did want to notice the difference . When given the selection , I always prefer USB - C for the relative universalness of the connection .

Winner : Neither . And I ’m not run low to count in on whether I think one looks better than the other .

Performance

Whereas it was obvious that Chromecast with Google TV was a bit underpowered , the differences between Onn 4 K Pro and Google TV Streamer are much near . The latter has an extra gigabyte of RAM . And as of the sentence of this writing , Google TV Streamer is run Android 14 , and Onn 4 K Pro is still on Android 12 . ( That will change at some decimal point . )

They ’re both running quad - core processors — Onn use Amlogic SC2 , and Google TV Streamer is progress on a MediaTek 8696 .

Here ’s a look at the specification :

Which is “ fast ” or “ legato ? ” I think I ’d give the Google TV Streamer a slight edge , but not so much as to unfit the other . In any event , it ’s sort of comparing apples and Orange , between the computer software and computer hardware differences .

Winner : Tie , or at least not anything I ’d really occupy about .

Features

This is where the synthetic rubber really hits the route . It ’s the part that should most influence your decision on which to purchase .

Onn 4 K Pro is more along the lines of an Amazon Echo equipment , with its always - on microphones . Google TV Streamer does n’t have that . On the other deal , if you have some other gadget that can deal the hands - free vox commands — like a Nest Hub — then that may be a debatable point .

But Google TV Streamer is something that Onn 4 K Pro is not . It supports the Matter and Thread smart - habitation protocols and is a impudent - home base hub . That is , it can cobblestone together all your disparate smart home twist and attempt to make some sense out of them in once place . Matter and Thread are the current futurity of smart - dwelling house protocols . So if you’re able to get something that supports them , you should .

That say , it ’s not really the sort of feature that ’s tangible . You ’re not going to plow on your TV and say , “ See ! It supports subject . see at that . ” In fact , if you already have equipment at home that ’s handling everything just hunky-dory , you might not notice a remainder at all . For me it ’s more of the sort of feature of speech that I require to see in a new twist , but not inevitably something that I in person need to have .

Other front - page features for Google TV Streamer include the new Google Home panel to show cameras and lights and other affair inside the Google TV interface . There ’s also raw AI - generated ambient nontextual matter . But those feature also are coming to Onn 4 K Pro and other Google TV devices . ( I do n’t know on the nose when , but Google does say they ’re add up . )

External storage is another matter . The Onn 4 K Pro has a USB - A port in accession to king , which makes it uncomplicated to plug in an outside intemperate campaign to use as adapted or expand storage . ( Those are two dissimilar things in Android land . ) Google TV Streamer has the lone USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate port . Theoretically you may apply an transcriber to include extraneous storage , but I do n’t have one on hand , and none of the hubs I apply with my MacBook Pro work ; the Google TV Streamer throws an error saying it ’s not get enough power .

As far as video and audio go , both stand Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos , plus HDR10 , HDR10 + . Google TV Streamer also does HLG .

Winner : There is no true winner here . Each mostly does something dissimilar than the other . Either way , it ’s close . I ’d maybe give the boundary to Google TV Streamer for supporting more television data formatting .

Remote controls

Sometimes you ’ll get similar devices with two very different distant control . This is not one of those time .

Both are very plasticky . Both have all the buttons you want . Both have the new customizable star button , and both have commit Netflix and YouTube release — the latter can be programmed to go to YouTube proper , YouTube TV , or YouTube Music . Onn has two additional dedicated buttons for Disney+ and Paramount+ , which I suppose gives it a very slight leg up . It also has button for place setting and to tack profile .

And both remotes take AAA batteries and palpate just ok in the script .

And both remote have theFind My Remote capacity . weight-lift the button on the back of the Google TV Streamer , or the front of the Onn 4 K Pro , and the distant start chirping . They even make the same sounds . ( Also take down that there was akerfuffle over which distant ship with Onn 4 K Pro . )

Winner : Tie . I just ca n’t get excited about either remote .

The bottom line

For me , choosing between Onn 4 K Pro and Google TV Streamer really get along down to whether you need always - take heed vocalism control , or if you need a smart - home hub — or if you just need to economize $ 50 . It ’s that simple .

If you ’re good on the smart - dwelling house stuff and just desire a Google TV streaming gadget ? Get the Onn 4 K professional . If you do need a hub — or if you just need something with Google ’s name on it instead of Walmart ’s — then get the Google TV Streamer . Or if you just want to redeem some money …

Well , you know which way to go then .