This full review covers setup, everyday use, advanced features, privacy, and how Onyx compares to other voice ecosystems—so you can decide if it’s the right hub for your home.

🚩 Note - In this review, “Google Assistance” refers to Google Assistant integration on Onyx TV Box.

Key Takeaways

• Frictionless voice search and control - Find content, launch apps, and control playback with natural language.
• Smart home ready - Control lights, thermostats, cameras, and scenes through Google Home.
• Personalized results - Voice Match supports multi-user responses (calendar, commute, reminders).
• Privacy-first options - Push-to-talk by default; clear controls to disable hotword, manage mic permissions, and delete history.
• Great for families - Profiles, parental controls, and kid-safe search help tailor the experience.

What Google Assistant Brings to Onyx TV Box

• Universal Content Search - “Play Dune on Prime Video,” “Open Netflix,” or “Find 4K nature documentaries” returns results across installed apps.
• Playback Control - “Pause,” “Skip 30 seconds,” “Turn on subtitles,” or “Play next episode” without the remote.
• App and System Commands - “Open YouTube,” “Switch to HDMI 2,” “Increase volume to 20,” “Turn on Game Mode” (where supported).
• Smart Home Control - “Dim living room lights to 30%,” “Show front door camera,” “Set thermostat to 72,” and scene-based routines.
• Information at a Glance - “What’s the weather,” “How’s traffic to work,” “Show my calendar,” “What’s the score.”
• Casting + Multi-Room Audio - Ask Assistant on Onyx or a Nest speaker/display to cast YouTube, or sync audio groups in Google Home.

Setup: Step-by-Step

1) Pair or confirm the voice remote

• Power on Onyx TV Box, go to Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Add Accessory if needed.
• Ensure the remote mic button triggers the Assistant overlay.

2) Sign in with Google

• Settings > Accounts > Add Google account. This enables personalized results and Google Home linking.

3) Enable Assistant and permissions

• Settings > Google > Google Assistant. Toggle on Assistant, grant microphone and app search permissions.

4) Configure Voice Match and languages

• Google > Settings for Google apps > Search, Assistant & Voice > Voice Match.
• Add your voice, set preferred language(s), and disable/enable “Hey Google” if supported by your model or accessories.

5) Link smart home devices

• Open the Google Home app on your phone.
• Add the Onyx TV Box to a room and link lights, thermostats, cameras, plugs, and scenes for voice control.

6) Set parental controls (optional)

• Settings > Apps > Content Restrictions or Family controls.
• In Google settings, enable SafeSearch and app-level restrictions for kid-friendly queries.

Everyday Voice Commands That Shine

1) Content Discovery

• “Show sci‑fi movies on Netflix.”
• “Find family comedies in 4K HDR.”
• “Search YouTube for Dolby Atmos trailers.”

2) Playback and Subtitles

• “Enable English subtitles.”
• “Rewind 20 seconds,” “Skip intro,” “Play from beginning.”

3) Navigation and Utilities

• “Open Disney+,” “Go to Settings,” “Turn volume down 10%.”
• “What’s new on Prime Video this week?”

4) Smart Home

• “Turn on movie night.” (Trigger lights, blinds, thermostat, and launch your favorite app.)
• “Show nursery camera” on your TV.

5) Personalized Info

• “What’s on my calendar today?”
• “Remind me to cancel a subscription on Friday at 10 AM.”

6) Performance and Reliability

• Fast response - Queries execute quickly, with minimal on-screen delay for search and playback actions.
• Accurate recognition - Multi-language support and Voice Match help filter results to the right profile.
• Robust app support - Works consistently across major streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more), with app-level nuances for certain commands.

🚩Tip - For the most reliable voice results, keep apps updated, maintain strong Wi‑Fi (Wi‑Fi 6 recommended), and ensure microphone permissions remain enabled.

Advanced Features Power Users Love

• Custom Routines - In the Google Home app, create routines like “Movie Night” to dim lights, set a scene, and open a streaming app on Onyx with one phrase.
• Media Shortcuts on Remote - Map shortcut buttons to launch an app, switch inputs, or trigger Assistant quickly.
• Hands-Free Options - If your Onyx setup includes a compatible far-field mic accessory or a nearby Nest device, you can say “Hey Google” without touching the remote.
• Broadcast and Intercom - “Broadcast dinner’s ready” to announce across Nest speakers/displays while you keep the content rolling.
• Accessibility via Voice - Dictate searches, open TalkBack, toggle captions, or increase text size by voice where supported.

Privacy and Security Controls

• Push-to-Talk by default - The remote’s mic listens only when you press the Assistant button unless you enable hands-free with supported hardware.
• Microphone permissions - Review in Settings > Apps > Permissions to allow/deny mic per app.
• Delete voice history - On-TV or via the Google account dashboard; say “Delete what I just said” for quick privacy.
• Data transparency - Review what Assistant stores and tailor ad personalization, web & app activity, and location history to your comfort level.

Onyx + Google Assistant vs Other Ecosystems