The secret to getting a Google TV streaming device for a huge bargain has been to buy one from Walmart’s ONN brand.
But rising RAM prices have even hit this budget alternative hard, with ONN’s Full HD Streaming Device now sitting at $30 on the site, up from its 2023 debut price of $15.
That’s a big jump, especially considering that it’s the base model.
Pricing Gap with Google narrows
Just a few months ago, ONN”s best-value Google TV streamer, the ONN 4K Plus, saw a price hike of $10, from $29.88 to $39.88.
It’s still a big savings over the Google TV Streamer’s $99.99 price, but the trend is worrying.
RAM shortage gets real
While warnings about price increases over the RAM shortage have spread for months, the past couple of weeks have made it a reality.
Apple recently announced price increases for its MacBooks and iPads. In the Android world, this was followed shortly by calls for Commodore to reduce the price of its Callback 8020 phone, which it did by offering recycled memory chips, and in Samsung’s budget Galaxy A27 phone selling for $50 more than its predecessor with some significant downgrades.
ONN facing low stock
For ONN’s streaming devices, not only is the RAM shortage affecting its price, it’s also hit inventory.
The ONN Full HD is available for delivery but my local store has very low stock. The ONN 4K Plus has had stocking issues for weeks, though it is now available. The 2023 release of the ONN 4K Streaming Device is totally out of stock.
Alternatives are far and few between
Budget Android-based streaming devices have been in jeopardy for a while.
Google canceled the Chromecast line in 2024 and replaced it with the higher-end Google TV Streamer. And Amazon moved the Fire Stick away from Android and to its own proprietary Vega OS in October.
