Description. The Onn. FHD Streaming Stick is a small, stick style streaming player. The unit contains a micro-USB power port and one HDMI output. The player comes with a relatively simple remote that operates via Bluetooth and has a built-in microphone for voice search and accessing Google Assistant. At this price point, it is uncommon for a player to have a remote with Bluetooth and a built-in virtual assistant, so these are welcome additions.
Setup. This player is generally easy to set up. It has an onscreen guide that automatically scans for available WiFi networks. A Google account is required to set up the device, however, providing a credit card is not necessary. You can quickly set up the player using an Android device which will provide your Google account and Wi-Fi information.
Ease of use. The Onn. FHD Streaming Stick is easy to use:
Interface. The main home screen has rows of tiles that feature recommended content by app. The layout of the apps on the home screen is customizable for easier access to your favorites. It has a search function that will search several of the available video streaming services for content. Search results are unbiased toward any one service provider, and are instead listed in price order. Navigating the home menu was smooth however, the player became a bit sluggish when navigating some apps. When trying to play content from the Apple TV app, we discovered some issues. None of the content from Apple TV+ would play at all and HD content that we own in our iTunes library appeared to be playing in low resolution through the Apple TV app.
Remote control.The provided remote uses Bluetooth communication so it does not require a direct line of sight with the device for control. It also has a built-in microphone and a dedicated button for voice search. Additionally, you can download the Android TV app that lets you use a phone or tablet to control the player and use the device's keyboard to enter text. The app also allows you to use your phone or tablet's microphone for voice commands.
Picture quality. This player supports resolutions up to 1080p. In our tests we found that HDR was supported for Netflix and YouTube, despite the fact that it is not claimed in the specifications. Picture quality was generally excellent, though content appeared slightly red and oversaturated. This could easily be adjusted with your TV's picture settings.
Audio. This player will output multichannel digital audio.
Connections. Given its design, this player has a limited number of connections. It has one HDMI output. It supports the Wi-Fi standards up to 802.11ac, which supports dual-band 5GHz networks. Chromecast is also supported so you can mirror and display content from compatible devices.
Miscellaneous. The Onn. FHD Streaming Stick can be paired with a game controller, including those from Xbox and PlayStation for playing compatible games. With built-in Google Assistant support, you can use the remote's microphone for voice commands to search for content, check the weather and control compatible Smart Home devices.
