Differences between onn boxes (compared to Firesticks)

Sp, I need two more Firesticks – and I’m thinking it makes more sense to move in a different direction. I’ve heard great things about the onn boxes; but this is new territory.

I’m in Canada - so these are the WalMart prices.

  1. What, specifically, is the primary difference between the $75 and the $53 ones? I’d prefer to have as near a “firestick” experience as I can (I see the $75 is “hands-free voice control” and the $53 is just voice control – is that really the difference)?

  2. Is the setup for these, effectively, similar to the FS as well? I’m reading here about something called “wolf launcher” and how it bricks the device – is there a good tutorial on setting up the onn for initial use?

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Unless you’re locked in to the Amazon universe (eg with a Recast for live TV), I’d go with the Onn. And be sure to get the Onn 4k Plus. Stay away from the sticks, and the Pro is outdated and bettered by the Plus for most all applications. You don’t need a “Launcher”.

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@sktn77a Please explain to me how the Plus is better than the Pro when the differences between ONN boxes primarily revolve around hardware specifications, features, and price points. For instance, the ONN 4K Pro and 4K Plus models differ in terms of price, performance, and features. The Pro model is priced at $50, while the Plus is $30, making the Plus a more affordable option. The Pro model offers better performance, with 3GB of RAM compared to the Plus’s 2GB, and 32GB of storage versus the Plus’s 16GB. Additionally, the Pro includes features like hands-free voice control and a remote finder, which are not present in the Plus. other than a couple minor diffs, what am i missing??

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The pro is your best option with the most avaialbe ram and 4x the memory for apps or whatever you want to store there. Setup is a piece of cake, get google home if you don’t have it already. Follow the bouncing ball and it’s setup in 2 minutes or less, even manually it is.

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The Pro is hands down your best option of the 3 as said more than once above. 32GB of storage is more than you will ever need. And I’ve posted a few times that I bricked my box twice after installing launchers. I was easily able to reset my boxes both times. IMO You don’t need launchers

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@Wizzard and @MarkxG …i totally agree agree with both your points…i have a 4K Pro from when they first came out(and got one without the BIG free tv button !!!) and for some reason–i’m sure i had no input as to why–it’s still on Android 12, which i could give 2 XXXX’s about, i don’t think i’m missing anything from not having 14…and my $20 4K from way back when is still on Android 10, and again i’m fine with that as well, as it is STILL chuggin’ right along just fine…

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Yeah I pay no attention to what Version of Android I have. I’ve never seen any differences. I still have my 7 year Old T95Z Pro boxes running android 7 and they can do everything that my ONN 4K Pro’s can on 14

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https://troypointinsider.com/uploads/default/original/3X/1/e/1e5403367a84573a31e9f1713932377b9c1a5ede.png

I’ll bite but won’t argue one is better than the other only because it depends on how you use it or what “better” means to you.

The first thing is your post shows three Onn devices, from left to right the first is the Onn 4k Pro, the second is a Onn 4k Box and the third is a HD stick.

Another thing to understand about the Onn line of devices is Onn a is not a company, it’s a branding name from Walmart who inturns uses various manufacturers for the various devices with the Onn brand, not just streaming devices.

Now working back from right to left the HD stick is known to have had various problems in the past so unless you really can’t afford to spend a little more I would go for a 4k device as it will work perfectly well even on a non-4k television.

The middle device is a simple box, it has a memory/ storage model very much like the memory/storage model of the Firestick. (I have two of these, one the same as the picture the other a earlier model with Android TV rather than Google TV).

The left is a 4k Pro, it has 3GB of Memory and 32 GB of storage for apps, games etc. it has a newer processor than the other two. It also has a USB 3.0 port and supports the first Wi-Fi 6 standard (doesn’t work with the Wi-Fi 6 in the eero Pro router).

So if you have added storage via USB to your Firesticks in the past there is no need to do so with the Onn 4k Pro, but basically the same process to add USB storage will work with the middle pictured Onn box as works with Firestick ( more or less).

They all three use Google TV which is the latest enhanced Android TV OS from Google, it works great however it is different than Fire TV OS but not so much as to be a problem and you won’t find it hard to use.

Now, the other answers to your question seem to compare the Onn 4k Plus to the Pro, the 4k Plus is the newest release of the Onn streamers, it has 2GB of memory and 12GB of storage, frankly more than enough storage for most people, it also has a faster processor than the Pro.

Let’s talk about the advantage and disadvantage of the Pro and Plus models, the difference in memory and the newer processor means that the Plus is a bit faster than the Pro. (I have both devices also).

The processor advantage is noticeable when using a VPN, it results in some what faster speeds on the Plus and in non-VPN usage it’s a bit quicker/smother going through the menus, as far as just streaming regular content from various services the Pro/Plus/4k boxes are pretty much the same.

The Pro offers the USB 3 port and Ethernet (10/100) support, so my ISP provides a 500Mbps feed, with the Pro and the free version of ProtonVPN I’ll will get about 70-80 Mbps with the Pro, with the Plus I get 70-100 Mbps depending on the day. Frankly it really doesn’t matter as both provide more than adequate speeds for streaming.

The Plus doesn’t have external ports other than HDMI and power ports.

Now officially I believe all three (Pro/Plus/4k) are available in Canada, the setup might require a US based connection although a hotspot with a VPN will allow setup and after the initial setup it will work fine without the hotspot, as Walmart now sells all these boxes in Canada the newer models may no longer require the setup hoops, I’m in the US so my knowledge is limited, the topic has been discussed on Troypoint a lot.

I use a Pro as my primary box in my living room connected to a 4k television, I use the Plus in my bedroom connected to a 1080p television. The Pro was already connected to the living room television and I saw no reason to change it when I bought the Plus box.

Hope this helps.

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I seriously doubt that the one sold here in Canada would require a VPN hot spot. Remember most of the users don’t even know what a VPN is never mind being able to set all that up. Since it’s being sold here, I have believe with 100% certaintly that the OS is a bif different and doesn’t require the geo-restriciton like the one I bought in the USA.

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My 4k Onn’s are Android 12 and my Pro is 14. I see no differnce in the operational capability of the box at all. I could care less the version as lone as it doesn’t stop any apps from working and so far, it’s not been the case. In other news though as I have reported before, the Privacy dot no longer works on the Pro for many months so something happend there. The regular dot and even the Play store one does.

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Oh let me add, mine has the blue Free TV button that a few said they don’t like. I love it because you can easily remap it to any app you want with a few second press and I have. I used it all the time.

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Good to know, I was trying to condense the topic but I did say my knowledge was limited… As I live in the US I haven’t bothered to follow it closely (setup in Canada) and I did say they may no longer require the setup hoops (to jump through) so I guess everything I said is true? :slightly_smiling_face:

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I am definitely not locked in to Amazon (I probably am locked in to Android).

This is my thought - I have only … what … 5GB on the firestick? And it’s less than half full :confused:

And, the price isn’t insignificant – the Plus is 50% more. I don’t mind paying more for something I might need in the future; but I’d prefer to know what that is :slight_smile:

This is great – I think, based on that, the Plus IS the better choice. I had already eliminated the stick (since my FS is 4K, that would seem to be a step down).

My FS has 5? 6GB? and - it’s less than half full.

if the left-most device is the “Pro” - is the middle one the “Plus?” Or, is the Plus simply not available to me in Canada?

I have/use a VPN; but - yes, based on my little research; it seems when people were buying the onn boxes from the US (before Walmart Canada started carrying them) - they wouldn’t work because they were geo-locked …

Let me go one step further …

If I were to get the Plus from the US (which is listed as “US/Puerto Rico only” - but I DO have a VPN … would that only impact my setup or my use? (In other words, would my VPN have to be et to US, exclusively)?

It does appear the “Plus” isn’t offered in Canada, as of yet :frowning:

The Pro is a year older and in box years, that’s a lifetime. 16 Gb is more than enough storage, the performance is more than adequate (per Troy’s review) and faster than the Pro, and the price is a bargain. I stand by my recommendation. If you want more, get a Shield.

The Plus is not yet sold in Canada

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Not yet.
This is the AFTVnews about Onn in Canada:
Walmart now sells Onn streaming devices in Canada | AFTVnews Walmart now sells Onn streaming devices in Canada | AFTVnews

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