Walmart's $30 Onn 4K Streaming Stick Fills the Gap Google Left Behind
Walmart is about to release a $30 Onn 4K Streaming Stick running Google TV, effectively filling the gap Google created when it discontinued the Chromecast with Google TV and replaced it with the $100 Google TV Streamer.
What Happened to Chromecast?
Google discontinued the $50 Chromecast with Google TV, leaving only the $100 Google TV Streamer. This doubled the entry price for Google TV, frustrating budget-conscious consumers.
The Onn 4K Streaming Stick
- Price: $30 (even cheaper than the old Chromecast)
- Platform: Google TV with full app store access
- Video: 4K playback with Dolby Atmos support
- Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5GHz with MIMO)
- Features: Google Cast, Gemini voice controls
- Hardware: Quad-core Cortex-A55, Mali G57 GPU, 2GB RAM, 8GB storage
- Included: Remote, power adapter, HDMI extender
Why It Matters
The jump from 1080p to 4K fixes the biggest limitation of Walmart's previous Onn streaming stick. At $30, it delivers the core Google TV experience that most users want: app support, cross-service recommendations, and built-in casting.
For Google, this is an interesting dynamic. Walmart is essentially competing against Google's own $100 streamer with a $30 device running the same platform. While the Onn stick won't match the Google TV Streamer in performance, it covers 90% of what most streaming users actually need.
This also highlights the commoditization of streaming hardware. When a $30 dongle can provide a near-identical experience to devices costing 3x more, it becomes difficult to justify premium pricing for all but power users.