NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019) Review: The Only Android TV Player Worth Buying
Android Tv as a platform is doing surprisingly well. Television makers and operators dear it and those two lonely appear to be enough to put the platform in nigh homes.
However, if you're serious about streaming so a dedicated streaming histrion is the all-time pick. The just problem is there'southward not many Android Tv set streaming players bachelor.
Adding to the problem, the ones that are available are not very good.
The one exception to this rule has always been the NVIDIA SHIELD Television line. SHIELD Goggle box has remained the gold standard Android TV player and the new version further cements that status.
The new 2019 SHIELD Tv is the only Android Tv set player worth buying.
NVIDIA SHIELD Goggle box (2019) specs
To see how the SHIELD Television (2019) stacks upwards confronting the SHIELD TV Pro (2019), every bit well as the previous SHIELD players, see here.
For just the specs of the all-new SHIELD TV (2019), run across below.
| RAM | 2GB |
| SoC | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ |
| Storage | 8GB |
| Video | 4K, Dolby Vision HDR, AI upscaling |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus |
| Remote | Bluetooth connectivity, IR blaster, Voice search, Motion-activated backlit buttons, Built-in lost remote locator, Replaceable AAA batteries |
| Vocalisation Assistant | Google Banana congenital-in, Works with Alexa |
| Connectivity | 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO 2.4 GHz and five GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast 4K congenital-in |
| Ports | MicroSD, HDMI ii.0, Ethernet, Ability |
| Dimensions | Height: i.57 in, Width: 1.57 in, Depth: vi.l in |
| Weight | 4.83 oz |
| OS | Android 9 Pie |
| Price | $149.99 |
| Purchase | Amazon |
SHIELD TV (2019) is the SHIELD for the masses
What's clear from NVIDIA, from the new SHIELD's design, and the price, is the new SHIELD is nigh highly-seasoned to more people. Read: the average consumer.
To appeal more than to Joe and Jane Average, NVIDIA has embarked on a whole new blueprint philosophy.
Gone is the larger, lit-up, NVIDIA-similar box. Instead, we take a adequately nondescript, weird, relay baton-similar tube.
Intermission to appreciate the tube: NVIDIA'southward selection to go with a tube is somewhat warming considering TVs used to be referred to as "the tube." At present, to go TV content, nosotros're dorsum to using "the tube" again. Undoubtedly, this was non NVIDIA's intention when designing the new SHIELD, only it's a nice coincidence nonetheless.
Dorsum to the review. On beginning impressions, the tube design felt counter-intuitive. Why is it non a stick/dongle? Tv set sticks are super small, plug straight into the TV and just experience like the right design selection for an entry-level production.
But that's the point. Feelings are not ever reality. Although the SHIELD Goggle box (2019) is an entry-level product by NVIDIA'southward tall standards, it's not really an entry-level product in general.
Yes, the company wanted to compress downwardly the size and brand the device more discreet, merely it also wanted to make sure in that location was a microSD card slot so you could expand the storage. Likewise as fill the player with the power and processing guts to handle everything you might throw at it.
This resulted in this cylinder design where NVIDIA opted to brand the actual "box" part of the cablevision concatenation. You plug the HDMI into ane end, the power cable in the other and you end up with something that looks like one of those cables with built-in power protections in identify.
Where you hibernate information technology, is up to yous.
Interesting but pointless fact: If you roll the tube, information technology always stops NVIDIA logo up. We asked NVIDIA about this and the company confirmed information technology'due south by blueprint. Attention to item, my friends. Attending to detail.
A SHIELD Goggle box remote worth a review
The SHIELD has always been a great player. The SHIELD Controller has e'er been a decent enough game pad. In stark contrast, the SHIELD Remote has always been a disaster.
Remotes are integral to TV. Android Telly as an interface is strictly designed with remote taps in mind. That's what makes Android Television different to Android mobile and why if you sideload an app that's not Android Telly optimized on to an Android TV device, y'all terminate upward with an unstable experience.
The SHIELD remote was sort of like that. It felt similar to a non-optimized Android TV app. One where you would struggle to do anything at all, including general navigation. When it came to adjusting the volume – fuggedaboutit.
The new remote is a different suggestion birthday. If NVIDIA's goal with the SHIELD Tv set (2019) was less: less size, less specs, less toll. Then NVIDIA'southward goal with the remote is clearly more than: more space, more than buttons, more features.
The new remote is honestly a revelation. It likewise is designed differently. If you've ever held one of those smaller (apparently they are single-person-sized) Toblerone chocolate bars, so that's what the remote feels like. Maybe a little less sharp than a Toblerone, just y'all get the point.
It feels weirdly unnatural for a remote and nevertheless at the same time, weirdly natural.
One of the benefits of the remote's increased surface expanse is more space for more buttons. You at present get dedicated buttons for playback navigation, volume, and even a customizable button.
This button allows you to dictate which command you desire at your fingertips. By default, it launches the Android Television receiver settings and there's nothing wrong with leaving that default on. Quick access to the settings is a useful characteristic.
Yet, if you want to have a screenshot (something I exercise a lot) then you can assign that function to the button. Alternatively, you lot tin prepare it to mute, to open an app, or to 1 of many other choices.
Another of the big remote upgrades is the motion-activated backlit buttons. Substantially, when it's dark, you lot can now see the buttons. This is genuinely ane of the differences you'll come to capeesh the more you find yourself needing it.
As the lights are move activated when you choice upwardly the remote they automatically fire upwardly. Similarly, the lights dim down again in one case yous rest the remote back down. You can see the consequence in action below.
Overall, the remote is probably the biggest upgrade with the new SHIELD TV (2019). Although it's not an upgrade that requires you to buy the latest player.
NVIDIA has already confirmed the remote will be sold separately and works with previous SHIELD TV players.
Take my advice, if you own a SHIELD and don't plan to upgrade, buy the new remote.
A new SHIELD, a new SHIELD Tv set app
Days before the SHIELD Television (2019) was launched, NVIDIA slyly uploaded a new SHIELD TV app to the Google Play Shop. Here'south the download link.
Like the new remote, the new app has also received a makeover. Once again, similar the remote, not a makeover for the sake of looking better, but one that legitimately improves the experience.
Now, the new SHIELD app is not exclusive to the new SHIELD Television. Like the remote, the app works fine with the older SHIELD models.
The big and firsthand modify is that the app comes with a new apps section highlighting all the apps currently installed on the player.
Tapping any of these immediately opens the app on the SHIELD TV.
There's as well improved navigation and volume controls and overall merely a more intuitive feel to the app. You can learn more about some of the generic features of the app here.
Ane of the features that's worth touching on correct at present is the lost remote locator. Let'southward say you can't discover the remote. Before, you just continued to not find the remote. Now, yous tin can fire upward the app hit the lost locator button and the remote will make a audio.
It's a small continuous beeping sound which should be loud enough to detect the remote – providing you're in the same room.
As the remote is where the sound is emitting from, you will need the new remote to accept advantage of the feature. Yet, equally the new remote will be sold separately and is compatible with previous SHIELDs, there shouldn't be any issues using the "detect my remote" feature with an older SHIELD after purchasing the new remote.
Owners of the new SHIELD TV (2019) don't really need the app to use the lost locator as the new SHIELD is also equipped with a button you can press instead.
Of course, the app is a lot more user-friendly to apply and in reality, the app is worth the download anyway.
Never much to review with Android Telly…it's Android TV
The software feel with any Android TV device is typically the aforementioned. Unless it'due south been highly customized by an operator (how-do-you-do AT&T) or TV maker (how-do-you-do OnePlus), then the overall experience is fairly standard. The new SHIELD isn't whatever unlike.
Yes, NVIDIA has always slightly tweaked things and the same is true here.
This is Android 9 Pie. Then you practise become the benefits from the latest available version of Android Television. That includes the redesigned settings card.
Cached further within those settings are some new and NVIDIA-specific settings. The big one to exist aware of is the new AI-enhanced upscaling section.
In example you lot didn't know, the new SHIELD TV (2019) comes with AI-powered upscaling which looks to improve the viewing experience.
The older SHIELDs also came with upscaling, merely the difference here is the AI chemical element.
To briefly explain, NVIDIA has coupled the existing upscaling technology in the previous SHIELD with a new AI predictor.
Co-ordinate to NVIDIA, it spent a practiced amount of fourth dimension training the AI to learn the differences between 4K and non-4K video. Now the AI has learned those differences, when it comes across video that'due south not 4K, it tin can determine what'due south missing and effectively add together those missing elements.
The bottom line is it tin take 720 or 1080p and upscale information technology to 4K, and do it all in real-time.
In almost instances similar this y'all could exist forgiven for thinking this is marketing spiel. Still, that appears not to be the instance here as the new SHIELD Tv does indeed improve the picture, and dramatically at times.
NVIDIA is so confident in the new tech that it rather egotistically included a "Demo Mode" within the settings. When this mode is activated, you lot can see the difference between the original picture and the picture outputted by the AI.
Even more egotistically, NVIDIA added this as 1 of the assignable shortcuts for the remote's customizable push.
When assigned, you can, at any point, check the before and afterward quality motion-picture show. In principle, y'all can just watch continuously in the demo mode and revel in your AI-enhanced experience that's non available to Fire Television or Roku OS users.
Hither'due south how the demo looks and an example of the sort of upgrade y'all tin can expect.
While the moving-picture show here is not a 4K picture show, you can clearly see the deviation in the earlier and later shots. The AI upscaling is genuinely doing something and adding value to the SHIELD experience.
For those not planning on upgrading to the SHIELD TV (2019), you should know this feature is not coming to older SHIELDs.
Likewise, the new SHIELD likewise supports Dolby Vision and that too won't exist making an appearance on the older models.
You tin blame your nasty non-Tegra X1+ processor for that.
What'southward wrong with the 2019 NVIDIA SHIELD TV?
To exist honest, not a lot. The SHIELD Television (2019) is a groovy fiddling (literally) device and is better than the models that came earlier it.
However, that doesn't hateful at that place aren't some heir-apparent bewares.
Know what you're ownership with the new SHIELD
If you but think of streaming as streaming and then there'south no trouble. The new SHIELD is a not bad streaming device. In contrast, if yous demand the all-time streaming role player available, things become confusing.
As only just mentioned, the SHIELD TV (2019) comes with a new tweaked processor. So yous are getting a bump in that respect. The new SHIELD is more powerful at the processing level and that'southward why it can handle the AI upscaling and Dolby Vision.
In other areas, notwithstanding, the SHIELD Tv (2019) takes a pace back. For example, both the RAM and storage are less than on previous SHIELDs. Likewise, there are no USB ports.
In addition, if you are "upgrading" to the new SHIELD from the previous version then you lot're also going to exist missing some important features. Most notably, Plex Media Server and SmartThings Hub back up. The all-new SHIELD Tv set does not support either of these features.
Yes, that'southward less RAM, less storage, no Plex Media Server and no SmartThings hub. If any of this matters to you lot, then yous have a trouble with the new SHIELD.
Gamers beware
During our brief game testing, in that location was no obvious bug with the SHIELD TV (2019). After all, this is NVIDIA and the SHIELD is partly a gaming auto.
Any games from the Google Play Store ran fine when tested. Likewise, the SHIELD TV (2019) comes with the NVIDIA Games app and by association has access to a wide number of titles available to game-stream.
But, NVIDIA itself has been very quick to betoken out that if you desire an advanced gaming experience then this might not exist the SHIELD Idiot box player for you lot. Instead, information technology is recommended that you opt for the SHIELD TV Pro (2019).
SHIELD Idiot box Pro (2019) is the better player
All of the bug mentioned in a higher place are hands solved by opting for the SHIELD TV Pro (2019). That's exactly why in that location is a SHIELD Television set Pro (2019) in the outset place.
The SHIELD TV Pro comes with the same RAM and storage equally last twelvemonth'south SHIELD, likewise as the new tweaked Tegra X1+. It also comes with the same Plex Media Server and SmartThings Hub support.
It is the more powerful SHIELD overall and the true successor to the SHIELD'due south throne.
The problem with the Pro model is that the successor adopts the same design as the previous models.
If you are more attracted to the new and modern-looking tube manner, but likewise desire the nearly powerful streaming thespian available, then yous're out of luck.
This is exactly where the all-new SHIELD TV (2019) proves itself equally the entry-level SHIELD role player. The SHIELD TV thespian for Joe and Jane Average.
Albeit, Joe and Jane Slightly-Above-Average due to the toll.
A cheaper SHIELD TV, but not cheap enough
NVIDIA evidently knew the price of the SHIELD was too loftier. Information technology's very rare for a company to launch a better product at a lower price. When they practise, it tends to be the result of knowing the production is non hit the mainstream.
So aye, in terms of price, the new SHIELD TV (2019) is now the nearly affordable SHIELD ever. Merely it's still too expensive.
To be clear, it's not expensive for what you get. The SHIELD TV (2019) is worth the $149 asking cost, and hands. Withal, in a earth of price-conscious consumers and Fire and Roku TV sticks, the SHIELD TV (2019) feels like it'south overpriced for what NVIDIA wants to accomplish with it.
While information technology is non as expensive as the SHIELD TV Pro, that's splitting hairs. The SHIELD Telly Pro is only $50 more than than the SHIELD (2019) and even so it comes with more of an emphasis on gaming, better specs and more features. It is, a better device.
Officially, NVIDIA refers to the SHIELD Television receiver Pro as the SHIELD for "enthusiasts." Yet, at simply $fifty more than it appears to exist the better purchase for toll-savvy shoppers in general. Irrespective of their enthusiasm level.
In reality, the cheaper 2019 SHIELD Telly is just as much an "enthusiasts" device as its more powerful sibling. While the Pro can be considered the gaming enthusiast device, the cheaper one is priced loftier enough to exist considered a streaming enthusiast's actor.
With the cheaper SHIELD priced at $150, most people are probably better off ownership the better player. The gains outweigh the additional $50.
Should yous buy the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)?
The very short and honest answer is yes. You lot should absolutely buy i of the SHIELD TV (2019) players. Here's the Amazon link again. Purchase it.
It is the best streaming player on the market. Information technology runs smooth, its upscaling is more than than just marketing talk, it doubles as a decent plenty gaming auto, and it's design is smashing.
Whichever way you swing it (and you literally can swing the new i every bit it's a tube on a cable), y'all should buy the SHIELD Tv (2019).
That'due south every bit long as yous want Android Tv set. If you are fairly doubter about the platform and merely want to stream video, then at the price it becomes a picayune harder to recommend every bit an instant buy.
At $99, this would undoubtedly be the but streaming device yous should always consider ownership, and irrespective of platform.
With a $149 entry-level price, there tin be no escaping this is a streaming enthusiasts' player, at a streaming enthusiasts' cost.
Source: https://www.androidheadlines.com/2019/10/nvidia-shield-tv-2019-review-only-android-tv-player-worth-buying.html
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