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Walmart's Onn devices bricked after update: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "{{IncidentCargo |Company=Walmart |StartDate=2025-06-13 |EndDate=2025-07-25 |Status=Active |ProductLine=Onn |Product=Onn 4K Box, Onn 4K Pro |ArticleType=Product |Type=Firmware lockout |Description=Walmart refuses to replace bricked Onn devices after a forced Android update bricked devices, with devices over a year old being ineligible for refund }} {{Ph-I-Int}} ==Background== {{Ph-I-B}} ==[Incident]== {{Ph-I-I}} ===[Company]'s response=== {{Ph-I-ComR}} ==La..."
 
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{{IncidentCargo
{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Weak sources}}{{ToneWarning}}{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Walmart
|Company=Walmart
|StartDate=2025-06-13
|StartDate=2025-06-13
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|Status=Active
|Status=Active
|ProductLine=Onn
|ProductLine=Onn
|Product=Onn 4K Box, Onn 4K Pro
|Product=Onn 4K Box, Onn 4K Pro, Onn HD Stick, Chromecast 4K, Chromecast HD
|ArticleType=Product
|ArticleType=Product
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Type=Firmware lockout
|Description=Walmart refuses to replace bricked Onn devices after a forced Android update bricked devices, with devices over a year old being ineligible for refund
|Description=Walmart refuses to replace bricked Onn devices after a forced Android update bricked devices, with devices over a year old being ineligible for refund
}}
}}
{{Ph-I-Int}}
 
In June 2025, '''[[Walmart]]''' began rolling out an Android 14 update for its first generation and 2021 Onn streaming devices that utilized Android 10 and 12 respectively.<ref name="AFTV-2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftvnews.com/onn-streaming-devices-are-getting-bricked-by-the-android-14-update-rollout-halted/|title=Onn streaming devices are getting bricked by the Android 14 update — Rollout halted|first=Elias|last=Saba|date=2025-06-13|work=AFTVnews|access-date=2025-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704160716/https://www.aftvnews.com/onn-streaming-devices-are-getting-bricked-by-the-android-14-update-rollout-halted/|archive-date=2025-07-04|url-status=live}}</ref> This forced update on older devices would cause devices to boot-loop, display error screens, and even become bricked. When users contacted Walmart support, they were told bricked devices past their 1 year manufacturer's warranty could not be refunded.
==Background==
==Background==
{{Ph-I-B}}
On June 3, 2025, it was reported Walmart was upgrading their Android 12 Onn streaming devices to Android 14, the latter being the latest version of Android.<ref name="AFTV-1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftvnews.com/android-tv-14-update-arrives-for-the-onn-4k-and-onn-4k-pro/|title=Android TV 14 update arrives for the Onn 4K and Onn 4K Pro|first=Elias|last=Saba|date=2025-06-03|work=AFTVnews|access-date=2025-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250622163417/https://www.aftvnews.com/android-tv-14-update-arrives-for-the-onn-4k-and-onn-4k-pro/|archive-date=2025-06-22|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time, minor issues were being reported, such as the settings crashing when changing frame rate and Dolby Vision not working.


==[Incident]==
==Streaming device bricking through forced update==
{{Ph-I-I}}
On June 13, 2025, multiple reports were made of Chromecast and 2021 Onn streaming devices being bricked by the forced update.<ref name="AFTV-2" /> This would cause the rollout of Android 14 for these devices to be halted until June 25 when a majority of issues with the Android 12 devices were fixed.<ref name="AFTV-3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftvnews.com/android-tv-14-update-resumes-rolling-out-to-onn-and-chromecast-streaming-devices/|title=Android TV 14 update resumes rolling out to Onn and Chromecast streaming devices|first=Elias|last=Saba|date=2025-06-25|work=AFTVnews|access-date=2025-07-25|archive-url=https://archive.ph/gkSxp|archive-date=2025-07-25|url-status=live}}</ref>


===[Company]'s response===
===Walmart's response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}
It was reported on July 15 that Walmart was refusing to repair or replace Onn streaming devices outside the 1 year warranty. When an owner of a 2 year old Onn device requested a refund that included all necessary information (pictures, videos, questions, copy of receipt), the Onn device support agent responded with this statement:
 
{{Quote|"After thorough consultation with our after-sales service team, we regret to inform you that an exchange isn’t feasible under current warranty guidelines."<ref name="AFTV-4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftvnews.com/walmart-refuses-to-replace-onn-streaming-device-bricked-by-its-forced-os-update/|title=Walmart refuses to replace Onn streaming device bricked by its forced OS update|first=Elias|last=Saba|date=2025-07-15|work=AFTVnews|access-date=2025-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716163601/https://www.aftvnews.com/walmart-refuses-to-replace-onn-streaming-device-bricked-by-its-forced-os-update/|archive-date=2025-07-16|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
 
==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}




==Consumer response==
==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}
YouTuber UG Tech believed Walmart should have had more flexibility with refund cases and described the incident as saying "it's like if someone just reached into your device and was like, 'Fuck you, this is your last day using it'."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4wSEPBb4AQ|title=Walmart BRICKED your ONN box and wont replace it|author=UG Tech|work=YouTube|date=2025-07-16|access-date=2025-07-25}}</ref>




==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Walmart]]
{{Ph-I-C}}
[[Category:Incidents]]
 
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