It’s been a while since Walmart offered the most affordable Android TV OS options, but its cheapest Google TV streaming stick has unexpectedly gone up in price. The “Onn Google TV Full HD Streaming Stick” that Walmart sells for only $15 is now $17.50. That’s a $2.50 increase that came out of nowhere.
This streaming stick works with Google TV, the operating system that replaced Android TV. It has a Bluetooth remote similar to Google’s own design. An Amlogic chip powers the device along with 8GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. For under $18, it offered a simple way to get the Google TV experience on any TV.
However, the small price jump does make this competing with Walmart’s own 4K streaming box. That device costs just $19.88 and supports 4K output along with a stronger processor. For less than $3 more, the 4K version is likely the better value. It’s disappointing the affordable Full HD stick isn’t as cheap an entry point anymore.
We asked Walmart if the price change is permanent but they were too busy with the holidays to confirm. The higher price has been in place for a few days though, so it seems to be the new normal cost. Only time will tell if Walmart decides to lower it again to better compete.
For $17.50, the Onn stick remains one of the more budget friendly options to get Google TV. But its value position has diminished some against the 4K alternative. If you don’t need 4K, it’s still a decent plug-and-play streaming solution. Just be aware there may be better options if you can spend a few dollars more.
