Walmart’s Onn Brand Aggressively Undercuts Samsung with New Android Tablet Offensive
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A New Low-Cost Contender in the US Tablet Market
For years, the budget Android tablet market in the United States has been a largely uncontested territory for Samsung. While the Galaxy Tab A series provides a reliable entry point for consumers, the lack of genuine, high-quality competition at the sub-$300 mark has left a gap that Walmart is now aggressively attempting to fill. The retail giant’s house brand, Onn, has unveiled a massive six-model tablet offensive that prioritizes aggressive pricing and surprising hardware bundles over brand prestige.
The most significant move is the introduction of the Onn 13 Pro Tablet. In a market where a 13-inch screen typically signals a “Pro” price tag, Walmart is positioning this device as a disruptor. Retailing at just $288, the 13 Pro features a 2400 x 1600 IPS LCD and is powered by a 2.6GHz MediaTek processor. More importantly, it arrives with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage—specs that often exceed the base configurations of the Galaxy Tab A11 series.
Perhaps the most aggressive part of the value proposition is the packaging. Unlike Samsung, which typically sells styluses and cases as separate high-margin accessories, Walmart is including both a stylus and a case in the box. For users looking for a productivity-lite setup without the iPad Pro price hike, the Onn 13 Pro presents a compelling, if utilitarian, alternative.
Scaling Down: The Core Series
Beyond the flagship 13 Pro, Walmart has introduced a tiered “Core” lineup designed to capture every single single-digit and double-digit price point. The 11 Core Tablet serves as the mid-range anchor, offering an 11-inch 1840 x 1280 display and a MediaTek Helio G99 processor for $167. With 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it targets the casual media consumption crowd—those who need a device for Netflix and light browsing but don’t want to spend $200.
For those prioritizing portability, the 8.1 Core Tablet ($138) utilizes a Snapdragon 685 processor, providing a more efficient chipset for its 1524 x 1000 display. At the very bottom of the ladder sits the 7 Core Tablet, priced at a staggering $97. While the 1024 x 600 resolution and Helio G80 chip are modest, the device represents one of the most affordable ways to enter the Android ecosystem in the US market today.
Targeting the Next Generation
The expansion isn’t limited to adults. Walmart is also refreshing its children’s segment with two specialized models. These are bundled with rugged bumper cases and a 45-day subscription to the ABC Mouse learning platform. The larger kids’ model features an 11-inch screen and a MediaTek G88 chip for $136, while the 8-inch variant is priced at $118, though availability on Walmart’s digital storefront has been inconsistent during the initial rollout.
The Hardware Trade-off
While the pricing is disruptive, the compromise is visible in the optics. Across the Core line, Walmart has opted for rudimentary camera arrays—typically 2MP front and 5MP rear sensors. These are sufficient for the occasional Zoom call or a quick snap, but they pale in comparison to the more refined imaging found in Samsung’s A-series.
However, the strategic inclusion of Android 16 across the board suggests that Walmart is focused on software longevity and modern feature sets rather than chasing photography benchmarks. By leveraging a house brand, Walmart can eliminate the middleman and push hardware specs higher than traditional third-party budget brands could afford.
This move signals a shift in how “white label” electronics are perceived. Onn is no longer just providing basic TVs and cables; they are moving into complex computing hardware, directly challenging the dominance of the Galaxy Tab A11 and creating a high-pressure environment for other budget Android manufacturers in the North American region.
