Onn 4K Pro vs. Chromecast with Google TV 4K

You’ve read our Onn 4K Pro review. You have watched our video about Onn 4K Pro. You’ve seen that we have a new leader on our list of the best streaming devices, Google TV. And you still want to meet them face to face.

We understand. This is a comparison of Onn 4K Pro with Chromecast and Google TV (4K version). Two very similar devices with identical prices (both retail for $50), very similar features, and for the most part the same experience when it comes to actually using them.

But come mid-2024, we think it’s worth buying just one. Here’s our reasoning.

Age is more than just a number

Walmart’s Onn 4K Pro was released in May 2024. The original Chromecast 4K with Google TV was released in September 2020.

That’s it. The math is simple.

OK, so maybe there’s a little more to consider here. Generally speaking, you want to buy the latest technology you can. Newer hardware almost always means updated specifications (which is true in this case) and software (not entirely true here). Newer hardware also increases the likelihood that software will support it well into the future.

However, coming here comes with quite a big “but…”. Since Chromecast with Google TV is a Google product, this means it will likely be supported for longer than if it wasn’t. So yes, the new product is still “better” than the older one. But the delta in this case is not necessarily as large as it could be if we were comparing two other devices.

Winner: Tie.

Equipment

Let’s be clear about one thing: we do not consider the four-year-old Chromecast with Google TV or the new Onn 4K Pro to be powerful. Neither of them compares to the (even older) Nvidia Shield TV or Apple TV 4K, which are two of the most powerful options on the market, with higher price tags.

In other words, both devices are basically what you’d expect from a $50 product.

Again, none of this blows anything out of the water. But while the processors are relatively close together (and the “one louder” designation in the model number doesn’t really mean anything), it’s anything below that line that really makes a difference.

I still don’t know if it’s the extra gigabyte of RAM or just a difference in the code base (or some other sorcery) that makes the Onn 4K Pro so much faster than the Chromecast with Google TV 4K, but it doesn’t matter to me either celebrates . It’s faster. You press a button on the remote control and the home screen changes accordingly, without any stutters or fluctuations. It’s a much better experience.

There’s also no denying the difference in built-in storage. After the first launch, Onn 4K Pro has about 23 GB at its disposal, which is several times more than in the case of Chromecast. More space is always better.

And then there’s the stuff on the back of the box. Onn 4K Pro has Ethernet and USB ports. You can get this with Chromecast, but it requires an adapter.

Winner: Onn 4K Pro

Software

This one is mostly a wash, and that’s a good thing. Both devices are (at the time of writing) running Android 12. One slight difference, however, is that the Onn 4K Pro was covered by the March 2024 security update, and the Chromecast with Google TV was covered by the April 2024 update. This another one of those times where newer is almost certainly better.

That said, I wouldn’t rate the Onn 4K Pro too much for the one-month discrepancy, considering the device has just been launched. You should pay attention to how often you receive security updates and, in fact, how close to the current month these updates are. It will probably never be 1:1, but you want it to be closer than not.

The most important thing is that, apart from the smoothness of the UI mentioned earlier, there is basically no difference in what you get from the software. Onn 4K Pro has what you could call a standard experience, just like Chromecast.

Winner: Tie

Remote

You will often use the remote control of any of these devices. Again, you’ll want to set your expectations for a $50 device, but the Onn 4K Pro Remote is definitely better than the Chromecast, and in several respects.

The biggest differentiator is probably the remote search function. Onn 4K Pro has this, Chromecast doesn’t. You can press the button on the front of the Onn Box – use your voice or go to it in settings – and the remote will play a quiet chirping sound to help you locate it. Chromecast can’t do this.

Then there are the buttons. Onn 4K Pro has more of them and I prefer the way they are arranged. (That’s subjective, of course.) Onn also has a custom button that you can assign to any installed app or change inputs on your TV. Both remotes have a YouTube button that can be assigned to the appropriate YouTube, YouTube TV or YouTube Music. (Long press displays this configuration option.)

The Onn remote also has a live TV guide button for Google TV, channel buttons, and a few extra branded buttons for Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount+.

In terms of value, I prefer the Onn 4K Pro Remote more for feel. However, please note that the Onn 4K Pro remote control I have may not be the one you receive. (Yes, that’s a weird situation.) Congratulations if you buy a model with illuminated buttons. Now you have perfected your Chromecast remote.

Winner: Onn 4K Pro

Voice control

I’m not a big fan of using your voice to control your TV. But there’s no denying that Onn 4K Pro has more options than Chromecast.

Both remote controls have buttons that enable voice commands. (Onn looks like a microphone, Chromecast is the amorphous Google Assistant logo).

But Onn 4K Pro has microphones and speaker built into the body of the device. While this means you have to leave it relatively uncovered for it to hear you, it also adds quite a few features that the Chromecast doesn’t have. This also means you can ask it questions and give other voice commands without even turning on the TV. (Though if you ask for something that returns a visible item, it will turn on the TV to show you it, and switch the speaker from the device to the TV setup.)

For me, none of this would be a reason to buy one device over another. But it’s still a good option.

Winner: Onn 4K Pro

Mobility

Just because the Onn 4K Pro is a better device doesn’t mean I’ll throw out the perfectly good Chromecast with Google TV. In fact, I plan on leaving the Chromecast 4K in my travel bag for the foreseeable future for one simple reason: it’s smaller and therefore takes up much less space when traveling. I’m willing to put up with the slowness and lag of the UI in exchange for a smaller size.

And well, that’s it. Is smaller. Easier to wear. So I will continue to carry my Chromecast on the go.

Winner: Chromecast with Google TV

Winner (for now?)

There are basically no two ways about it. Onn 4K Pro was a surprising win for me. I wasn’t expecting much from a $50 device, but getting rid of Chromecast lag made a huge difference. Then add extras like Ethernet, adequate external storage, and hands-free voice control, and it’s basically a no-brainer.

The only reason I might wait to buy is if I think Google might unveil an updated Chromecast with Google TV at its annual fall hardware event. However, this is not certain, even considering that his fourth birthday is approaching.

That’s not to say that $50 isn’t a lot of money – it’s not nothing. But if you need something now, I would buy the Onn 4K Pro. If Google releases something new in the fall, fine. Chances are it will be at the same price and probably the same specs, and it shouldn’t outshine the shine of the Onn 4K Pro.

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