It might seem counterintuitive to review a device from 2019 in 2024. However, the Shield is still the latest version of NVIDIA’s media player with no successor announced, despite the rumors triggered by a potential release of a new Nintendo Switch (both devices share the same processor). The Shield remains one of the best options for a streaming device, but it’s not cheap, especially if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. Let’s dive into the details.
Quick Introduction of the NVIDIA Shield TV
Released in 2015, the Shield is an Android TV media player and cloud gaming-capable device. Launched the same year as “GeForce Now,” the cloud gaming service by Nvidia, it clearly had casual gaming in mind initially; the first two versions were even sold with a dedicated gaming controller.
The streaming device is Android-based and benefits from the catalog of apps available in the Play Store (specific to Android TV) to stream content, play games etc.
Since 2015, 6 devices have been released in 3 waves (2015, 2017, 2019) of two models (normal and pro). My review focuses on the Shield TV 2019 Pro, but it’s replacing my loyal 2017 device so I will be able to share some feedback on long-term usage and run some comparisons with the most recent model.
Design and Build Quality
The streaming device is likely to be placed beside your television, making aesthetics important. NVIDIA has maintained the same design for the Shield over the years, which works but, in 2024, might not look as good or modern as an Apple TV or Fire TV Cube. Here is a comparison of the 2017 and 2019 models, which are identical.
Still, the device’s build quality is excellent, featuring plastic that doesn’t feel cheap. However, while taking the pictures, I noticed that I had scratched the top part of mine, scarring it for life (probably while moving my soundbar), so even though it looks good and feels durable, it’s still plastic.
The fan is quiet, and the LED light is not overly bright or distracting. After five years of daily operation, the 2017 version had collected enough dust to interfere with the fan. It’s not too hard to take the device apart and clean it, but the fan would still make some noise despite a good cleaning, hence its retirement. Now that I think about it, I should have tried re-applying some thermal paste first.
Hardware Specifications
This is the part where I copy-paste the Nvidia website with no shame. (see “Full Specifications” below)
TL;DR The Shield has enough under the hood to flawlessly run 4k videos, Plex Server, and other features such as an impressive AI upscaling. The CPU Tegra X1+ is the same Nintendo uses in their Switch, I guess that’s a good sign even though it has aged compared to the more recent Apple TV 4K‘s A15 Bionic.
The audio capabilities are equally impressive, supporting all the most common formats. Audiophiles are usually enthusiastic about the Shield because of its lossless audio passthrough capabilities.
Full Specifications
| Processor | NVIDIA® Tegra® X1+ processor with a 256-core GPU and 3 GB RAM |
| Video Features | 4K HDR Ready Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 AI-enhanced upscaling for up to 4K 60 FPS Up to 4K HDR playback at 60 FPS (H.265/HEVC) Up to 4K playback at 60 FPS (VP8, VP9, H.264, MPEG1/2) Up to 1080p playback at 60 FPS (H.263, MJPEG, MPEG4, WMV9/VC1) Format/Container support: Xvid/ DivX/ASF/AVI/MKV/MOV/M2TS/MPEG-TS/MP4/WEB-M |
| Audio | Dolby Audio (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos) DTS-X surround sound (pass-through) over HDMI High-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/192 kHz over HDMI and USB High-resolution audio up-sample to 24-bit/192 kHz over USB Audio support: AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, WAVE, AMR, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, PCM, WMA, WMA-Pro, WMA-Lossless, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD (pass-through), DTS-X (pass-through), and DTS-HD (pass-through) |
| Dimensions | Weight: 8.8 oz / 250 g Height: 3.858 in / 9.800 cm Width: 6.26 in / 15.900 cm Depth: 1.02 in / 2.593 cm |
| Storage | 16 GB* *Portion of storage occupied by system software Expandable using USB flash or hard drives. |
| Wireless | 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.0 + LE Captive Portal support |
| Interfaces | Gigabit Ethernet HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2 and CEC support Two USB 3.0 Ports (Type A) |
Shield Pro vs Tube
The non-pro version (aka the tube) has 1GB less RAM, no USB (but an SD card), and is ugly. Also, it doesn’t have Plex Server pre-installed and can’t be installed because of its 32-bit architecture (vs 64-bit for the Pro).
I didn’t see much love for it on Reddit, so I went for the Pro. BUT it’s $50 cheaper which makes it a better competitor than the Pro when compared to other more affordable options (e.g., Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire stick, Roku TV, etc.).
Read also: Shield pro vs Tube (Reddit – Jan 14, 2024)
User Interface and Software
The Android TV user interface is currently running the Shield Experience 9.1.1 / Android 11, which I find clean and intuitive. There is an increasing rant about the volume of ads, but compared to other brands, I don’t feel it’s such a big problem nor intrusive. If you really can’t bear it, the versatility of Android TV will allow you to change your UI completely; for instance, with the installation of a new launcher, I suggest the very popular Projectivity Projectivy Launcher.
The recommendation system is accurate to my taste and customizable. However, the UI’s customization options, such as changing wallpapers or themes, are limited. Again, another launcher will give you much more options to customize your experience.
Read Also:
- Chromecast with Google TV is now serving full-screen, auto-playing Chicken Tender Wrap ads (Android Authority)
- Shield Experience changelog (NVIDIA)
The remote control is awesome, and that’s important to highlight because that was not always the Shield’s strongest suit: I’m still traumatized by the ultra-sensitive one I had with the 2017 device. It’s easy to use, fits perfectly in normal-sized hands, and has a good battery life. I particularly appreciate the very convenient backlit feature upon touch.
Pro-tip: you can use the “Button mapper” app to repurpose the shortcut of the Netflix button to serve other functions, such as quickly launching another app or taking a screenshot.
I don’t use voice control much (via the mic integrated into the remote), but when I do, it works perfectly.
Performance
It’s clear by now that performance is not a problem for the Shield TV. It’s a powerhouse and will run any video format up to 4K with no effort. Even if your video is not 4K, the Shield TV will use its impressive AI upscaling feature to make your image look sharper. It works with all your favorite streaming services, such as Netflix (you can drop the monthly 4K upsell and save a few bucks!). A demo mode (hold the menu button while playing a video) lets you test the feature and compare “basic” vs “AI-enhanced” if you still need some convincing.
In my experience, it works impressively well but can sometimes create some noticeable artifacts. It was recently reported to me as “something wrong with Bluey” by my most demanding users, my 6yo and my wife. After showing them the basic version, they finally decided they liked the AI-enhanced better. (see below an up-close picture of the TV)
Read Also:
- AI upscaling (NVIDIA)
- AI upscaling WOW (Reddit)
Despite its power, navigating through the interface sometimes feels sluggish, as if there was a small input delay with the remote. It never really bothered me until I tried other devices that felt much more reactive, such as Roku and Apple TV. It was particularly true with the 2017 model, and I hoped it would go away with the 2019 one, but it didn’t (huge bummer, tbh). I never identified the reason for this and suspect compatibility issues when several streaming platform apps are opened during the same session or, very likely, some issues from the Plex Media Server. It’s really just the UI, and in my six years of using the Shield, I never had issues or stutter while playing videos.
Because I already have a console and a gaming PC, I have not tested the cloud gaming recently, but it worked in 2017 when I did. I will update the review if I do test it again.
Read also: Shield Pro 2019 is sluggish (Reddit) solved by downgrading to 8.2.3
A note for Plex users
This is my experience as a Plex user after five years of using the Shield as both client and server (+ network storage). The Shield TV’s ability to be both a client and a server is fantastic on paper, but as mentioned above, I highly suspect the Plex Media Server caused the few annoyances encountered. Also, during my years using the Shield, I lost my Media server a couple of times (e.g., you reset the Shield or had an issue with a media server update) and had to start over the whole setup, which can be VERY annoying.
I’m still using the Shield as a Plex media server because it’s convenient, but I’m always on the edge of replacing it with an NUC. I’m too lazy to do it, but the next crash might dissuade me from relying on NVIDIA for the server side.
TL;DR It’s not perfect, but it works 98.5% of the time
Read Also:
- Plex Client and Plex Media Server (NVIDIA website)
- Setting Up and Managing Plex Media Server on NVIDIA SHIELD (Plex website)
Conclusion
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro (2019)
The Shield TV Pro is a fantastic device; it does everything you could wish for a media player, and it does it well. It’s even more suitable for anyone who’d like a combo of a media player, a cloud gaming device and a Plex media server. The price tag is high (MSRP $200), especially for a 5 year old device!
It’s still one of the best, but if you just need a streaming device to watch your few streaming platforms, there are probably cheaper options to consider.
Pros
Supports pretty much all audio and video formats
4K and AI upscaling
Plex Media Server
Cons
Feels sluggish sometimes
Expensive
The missing HDR10+ and HLG could matter for some users (or in the future)
Alternatives
In the powerful / high-range streaming players, you can also consider those options.
| Device | Description | Price |
| Apple TV 4K (2022) | Just like most Apple products: it’s expensive but it works very well, the UI is a breeze, the device looks good and Apple system will limit you in what you can do. It’s a hard pass for anyone willing to use Kodi. | $179 |
| Amazon Fire TV Cube | The UI is not great but feels smoother than the Shield despite being less powerful. It has an Alexa built-in; I’m still unsure if it’s a pro or a con. | $189 |
| Roku Ultra 2022 | The most powerful model by Roku. It doesn’t do everything the Shield can, but for half the price, it’s a great deal. | $99 |
Other opinions
I’m only one person; here are more opinions I found online that can help give some perspective.
Android Police
Android Authority
CNET