The landscape of budget tablets is undergoing a significant transformation, with unexpected contenders delivering premium experiences. As highlighted in the accompanying video, the new Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet from Walmart stands out as a remarkable entry, offering a blend of robust performance and exceptional value. This device challenges the notion that high-quality displays, capable gaming, and HD streaming are exclusive to high-priced flagships.
Walmart’s latest generation of Onn tablets has genuinely surprised many, particularly with this largest 13.2-inch model. It represents a significant leap from previous iterations, delivering features and build quality typically found in much more expensive devices. This makes the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet a compelling choice for consumers seeking a powerful, large-screen tablet without the hefty price tag.
Unboxing a Premium Experience: The Onn 13.2-inch Core Tablet Accessories
Upon unboxing, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet immediately impresses with its included accessories, a rarity in its price bracket. While many high-end tablets costing $800 or more often omit crucial extras, this Walmart offering provides a comprehensive package. Users receive a durable folio case, a heavy-duty USB Type-C cable, an SD card ejection tool, an extra stylus tip, and a rechargeable active stylus.
The active pen is a particularly welcome addition, enhancing productivity and creative potential straight out of the box. Furthermore, the folio case not only offers robust protection but also features a clever magnetic locking mechanism, automatically turning the screen off when closed. This attention to detail and value significantly elevates the user experience from the moment the box is opened.
Design and Display: A Visual and Tactile Delight
Despite its budget-friendly price, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet boasts a surprisingly premium build quality. Like its smaller 8-inch and 10-inch siblings, the 13.2-inch model features a metal construction on its back. This choice of material lends a solid, high-end feel, defying expectations for a Walmart-branded device.
The tablet’s most striking feature, however, is its absolutely massive 13.2-inch IPS display. This screen offers a sharp 2400×1600 resolution and supports a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, ensuring smooth visuals for scrolling, gaming, and video playback. Although it’s an IPS panel rather than OLED, the vibrancy and clarity are quite impressive, especially considering the tablet’s price point.
Immersive Audio and Streamlined Software
Complementing its large, vibrant display is a sophisticated quad speaker setup with Dolby DTS support. This configuration provides a rich, immersive audio experience, making the tablet ideal for media consumption and gaming. Having dual stereo speakers on each side of the tablet ensures a balanced and powerful soundstage, distinguishing it from many competitors.
The Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet runs on Android 16, delivering a clean and unencumbered software experience. Notably, Walmart has opted for a minimal approach, with no proprietary bloatware pre-installed. Beyond the standard Google applications, the only additional items observed are a sound recorder and an “Instant Games” section, neither of which intrude on the user experience. This commitment to a clean Android build ensures optimal performance and user freedom.
Unlocking High-Definition Streaming with Widevine Level 1
One of the most significant advantages of the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet is its support for Widevine Level 1 (L1). This crucial certification enables the tablet to stream high-definition (HD) video content from popular services such as Netflix, HBO, and Paramount Plus. While many lower-end or cheaper tablets often lack L1 support, restricting users to standard definition (SD) content, the Onn tablet ensures a full, high-quality streaming experience.
Consequently, users can fully leverage the tablet’s large, high-resolution display for cinematic viewing. This capability alone adds immense value, elevating the device above numerous other budget alternatives that compromise on streaming quality. The inclusion of Widevine L1 truly sets this tablet apart in its category, confirming its status as a robust media consumption device.
Power Under the Hood: Specifications and Performance
At the heart of the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet lies the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor. This 8-core ARM System-on-Chip (SOC) is a capable performer, featuring four A78 cores clocked up to 2.5 Gigahertz (though Walmart advertises 2.6 GHz) and four A55 cores up to 2 Gigahertz. While not on par with the latest high-end Snapdragon chips, the Dimensity 7300 provides ample power for an inexpensive tablet, effectively handling everyday tasks and more demanding applications.
The device is further bolstered by a Mali G615 MC2 GPU, 8 Gigabytes of RAM, and a generous 256 Gigabytes of internal storage. Furthermore, it includes Micro SD card support, allowing for easy storage expansion. This robust hardware configuration ensures smooth multitasking and efficient app operation, making the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet a versatile tool for various digital activities.
Video Playback Capabilities
For video enthusiasts, the Dimensity 7300 chip handles 4K 60 frames per second (FPS) video playback with impressive ease. Tests with YouTube streaming 4K content revealed minimal frame drops, typically only three frames upon startup, which is common across most systems. This seamless performance extends to other streaming platforms, promising an excellent viewing experience across the board.
Given its Widevine L1 certification, users can enjoy crisp, high-definition content from virtually any Android-compatible streaming application. The combination of a large, high-resolution display, powerful audio, and smooth 4K playback makes the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet an outstanding device for media consumption.
Gaming Performance: Native Android Titles
The Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet capably handles a wide array of native Android games available on the Google Play Store. Popular titles like PUBG run smoothly at 60 FPS on high settings, though maximizing graphical resolution might require dropping to 30 FPS. Similarly, Fortnite performs admirably at 60 FPS on medium settings, especially when paired with a Bluetooth controller.
While extremely demanding games like Genshin Impact might require some setting adjustments for optimal performance, the overall gaming experience remains fluid and enjoyable. The tablet’s 120Hz display further enhances gameplay, providing responsive and visually engaging interactions for mobile gamers. This solid performance in native Android gaming solidifies the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet’s appeal to a broad audience of casual and serious mobile gamers.
Advanced Capabilities: Emulation and Productivity
Beyond native Android gaming, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet excels in game emulation, a demanding task that highlights its processing prowess. Utilizing an Xbox controller connected via Bluetooth, the tablet delivers impressive results across various console emulators.
PSP Emulation with PPSSPP
For PlayStation Portable (PSP) emulation using PPSSPP, the tablet performs exceptionally well. It achieves 3x resolution for harder-to-run games like the God of War series. Easier titles can even reach 4x or 5x resolution scaling, enhancing visual fidelity significantly. The Vulkan backend is highly recommended with the MediaTek CPU and Mali GPU combination, providing superior performance over OpenGL.
GameCube Emulation with Dolphin
GameCube emulation is also remarkably strong on the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet. Titles such as TimeSplitters 2 run at 2x resolution, potentially even 3x for easier games, maintaining smooth frame rates. Mario Kart, Automobilista, Hit & Run, and Metroid Prime consistently achieve 60 FPS at 2x resolution, all leveraging the Vulkan backend for optimal performance. While F-Zero GX might experience occasional dips on specific tracks like Fire Field at 1x resolution, the overall experience is highly playable.
PS2 Emulation with AetherSX2
PlayStation 2 (PS2) emulation using AetherSX2 further demonstrates the tablet’s capabilities. Gran Turismo 3 and Gran Turismo 4 run effectively at 2x resolution with a steady 60 FPS. Kingdom Hearts 2 also maintains 60 FPS at 2x resolution, and Devil May Cry 3 runs great at 1x. God of War 2 achieves 60 FPS at 1x, though intense battles may see minor dips, which could be mitigated with cycle skips.
However, it’s worth noting that highly demanding games like Shadow of the Colossus remain a significant challenge for ARM-based devices, including this tablet. Despite this, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet offers enough power to run a vast library of PS2 games, making it a powerful portable emulation device. The combination of its CPU, GPU, and RAM, paired with optimized emulator settings, provides a surprisingly robust retro gaming platform.
Portable Monitor Functionality: Video Input
A distinctive and highly useful feature of the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet is its native video input support. By simply connecting a laptop via USB Type-C, the tablet can function as a secondary monitor. This is an invaluable asset for productivity on the go, effectively transforming the device into a portable display. While video output functionality was not confirmed at the time of the video review, the video input capability alone provides significant utility for professionals and students alike.
The Onn 13.2-inch Core Tablet: An Unbeatable Value Proposition
Priced at just $288, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet presents an extraordinary value proposition. When compared to larger Samsung tablets or other top-of-the-line Snapdragon devices, which can range from $700 to $1300, its affordability is striking. The inclusion of an active stylus and folio case further enhances its appeal, adding functionality that often costs extra with premium brands.
Ultimately, the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet from Walmart redefines expectations for budget-friendly devices. It delivers a premium large-screen experience with robust performance for native Android games, extensive retro emulation, and full HD video streaming thanks to Widevine Level 1. For anyone in the market for a versatile and powerful large-screen tablet that doesn’t break the bank, this device stands as a highly competitive and compelling option.
Emulate Your Curiosity: Onn Pro Gaming Tablet Q&A
What is the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet?
It’s a large, budget-friendly Android tablet from Walmart, known for its strong performance in gaming, emulation, and HD video streaming.
What accessories are included with the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet?
It comes with several useful accessories, including a durable folio case, a heavy-duty USB Type-C cable, and a rechargeable active stylus.
Can I watch HD movies and shows on this tablet?
Yes, the tablet supports Widevine Level 1, which means you can stream high-definition video content from popular services like Netflix and HBO.
Is the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet good for gaming?
Yes, it performs well with a variety of native Android games and is also capable of running many older console games through emulation.
Does the Onn 13.2-inch Core tablet use a clean version of Android?
Yes, it runs on Android 16 with very minimal extra software, providing a clean and efficient user experience without bloatware.