Currently, there is no official confirmation from NVIDIA regarding the release of a Shield Pro 2. However, rumors and speculation suggest they might be working on a new version of the popular Android TV streaming device. These speculations have grown each year since the most recent version of the Shield was launched in 2019, and five years in such a market seems like an eternity.
In recent months, rumors have been fueled by the imminent-ish release of a Nintendo Switch 2. The current version of the handheld console uses the same processor as the Shield: NVIDIA Tegra X1+. It is heavily speculated that the next generation of Nintendo consoles will use a revised version of NVIDIA’s Tegra processor; therefore, it seems logical that NVIDIA will use that same processor to gift us a new Shield.
Read Also: Inside Nvidia’s new hardware for Switch 2: what is the T239 processor? (Eurogamer.net)
Linus Tech Tips has recently mentioned it as well (video below, at 19:43), speculating/dreaming about a streaming box with RTX HDR capabilities that would greatly benefit any SDR content but also cloud gaming, as a reminder, the NVIDIA Shield is also a very good GeForce Now machine.
Why Should NVIDIA launch a new Shield?
- Competitive Edge: A Shield 2 is long overdue, with the previous version launched in 2019, the hardware is inevitably aging and for most it makes little to no sense to buy a product that wasn’t updated in 5 years versus more recently launched devices such as Apple TV 4K (2022) or the Fire TV Cube. Staying ahead of competitors is crucial in the tech industry. A new product with innovative features can help Nvidia maintain or strengthen its position in the market, attracting attention and setting trends.
- Nintendo pretty much covered R&D: If NVIDIA repeats the story and uses the same processor it’s selling to Nintendo, it must help reduce the cost greatly.
- New features: The NVIDIA Shield pro 2019 is probably still the best streaming device on the market today but as the years pass, we are seeing more technological gaps that can only be fixed with new hardware. On the top of that list is HDR10+ and HLG support
Why would NVIDIA NOT launch a Shield 2?
- Development Costs: Despite the potentially reduced cost, thanks to Nintendo, developing and launching a new product requires significant investment in research, development, and marketing. Unless there’s a big technological gap to fill (e.g., 8K videos), it’s hard to justify a new version of the Shield.
- Market Saturation: Streaming Devices is a niche market dominated by cheaper alternatives (Roku, Fire Stick). Introducing a new product may not lead to significant market share gains if the demand is not there.
Despite NVIDIA’s silence about it, I believe we have a lot of good reasons to be hopeful that a new device will be released in the next year. What do you think?