Walmart is about to launch a 4K Chromecast that’s also a smart speaker

Walmart is apparently getting ready to release a new Onn “Pro” Google TV 4K streaming box that’s also a smart speaker. Yesterday, YouTuber Superdell-TV hosted a livestream where he showed off the streaming device, which he said he had bought from the retailer in-store for $50. As 9to5Google noted today, the Onn Pro was already previously rumored but hasn’t been announced, so it may have been stocked by mistake, as it still doesn’t appear on Walmart’s website.

The device is essentially a higher-end version of the Onn Google TV streaming box that Walmart already sells. According to the specs Superdell shared, in addition to 4K streaming and Chromecast support, the Onn Pro’s box includes support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. It also sports 3GB of RAM, comes with 32GB of storage, and has Wi-Fi 6 support as well, with four rear ports: one HDMI, one USB 3.0, one ethernet, and a barrel connector for power. That’s compared to the cheaper existing model, which also has Google TV’s interface and 4K streaming but only offers 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, Wi-Fi 5, no Dolby Vision, and a single HDMI port (in addition to a Micro USB power port).

The big surprise is the device itself. It looks a little like a square Google Nest Mini, with a fabric-covered speaker on the top and a built-in microphone for summoning Google Assistant. Like Google’s Nest Home speakers, there is a switch for deactivating the microphone. With its support for Google Assistant, the Onn Pro might be the most bang for your buck at $50 of any streaming box you can buy — assuming it stays at that price when it releases.

Since Walmart hasn’t yet announced the Onn Pro, it’s not clear when it will be released, but given that Superdell found one on store shelves already, it seems like a launch is imminent.