Should You Consider Buying An Onn Instead Of Roku?

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Roku is the streaming device of choice for millions of Americans. They're easy to use and offer lots of great entertainment options, aside from Roku's controversial new AI slop channel. However, there's a strong alternative to Roku's popular lineup. Walmart's Google and Android based Onn streaming sticks and boxes are loaded with features, and an attractive price tag. 

You can score Onn's lowest-priced streaming stick, the Full HD, at Walmart for $29.98. The Roku Streaming Stick will run you $10 more. Both feature 1080p playback, Bluetooth, dual-band Wi-Fi, and remote controls. The biggest differences are under the hood. The Onn stick has 1.5GB RAM and 8GB storage. The Roku stick features 512MB RAM and storage. If you want to upgrade picture quality and support for Dolby Atmos, the Onn 4K costs just $39.98. Compare that to Roku's $59.99 Streaming Stick Plus and $79.99 Streaming Stick 4K, and you start to see Onn's value, especially since its models have significantly more RAM and storage. Roku's Streaming Stick 4K does offer Dolby Vision and a long-range Wi-Fi receiver that keeps you streaming far from the router.

Onn's streaming boxes bring even more power and features. The 4K Plus ($49.98) has 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. The 4K Pro ($59.98) features 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The 4K Pro also includes built-in Ethernet and a dedicated USB-A 2.0 port. The Roku Ultra adds USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1b, DTS passthrough, and Dolby Vision, which has become a standard for home theaters. Those extras, though, come at a steep $149.99 price tag.

Roku is a solid streaming option, still worth hard-earned dollars after recent price hikes. The home screen is simply laid out. The apps are steady and reliable, especially when traveling. However, Onn gives you that at a cheaper price and lets you download games and other apps through Google Play. You can also sideload film aggregators, personal video files, or retro game emulators. Roku lets you sideload, though it's extremely limited, allowing just one app at a time. 

Both brands have smart home features. All current 4K Roku streaming devices come with Apple Home, which has an automated feature that lets you set scenes, like family movie night. It'll dim your lights and turn on your Roku. It's a feature that doesn't quite stack up against Onn's integration of Google Home, which appears directly on screen for you. It turns your television into a smart-home dashboard, letting you control your home's smart devices with your remote or your voice. To use Apple Home, you need a separate Apple device.

Chatbots are becoming regular features for streaming devices, though they aren't all the same quality. Google's Gemini, used by Onn, will simulate a conversation with you. Instead of scrolling through titles all night, the feature lets you zero in on what you're looking for. And it doesn't focus only on movies. You can ask it about anything, including current news and sports. Roku also lets you converse with its Roku Voice, though it doesn't offer the broader features of Gemini. For most buyers, it appears Onn can offer more than Roku for less.