Walmart's Onn devices bricked after update: Difference between revisions
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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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In June 2025, Walmart began rolling out an Android 14 update for 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. | 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== | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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===Walmart's response=== | ===Walmart's response=== | ||
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: | 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 | {{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>}} | ||
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{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Walmart]] | [[Category:Walmart]] | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | |||