Nvidia Shield Pro: The best Android TV gets a little better
Android TV, the counterpart to Apple TV, has few usable devices. One of the best is the Nvidia Shield, which is now four years old. Two successors have now been released.
Shield and Shield Pro are the names of Nvidia's new TV boxes. Although the former is not actually a box at all. It's actually round. Apart from the form factor, the two devices are almost identical. I only tested the Pro model because the cheaper version was not available at the time of testing.
What is it
Nvidia Shield TV are set-top boxes with Google's Android TV. The same operating system is now also pre-installed on many televisions. However, if your TV has been around for a few years, like mine, Android TV is so slow that it's almost unbearable. It's better and faster with a dedicated box. The Nvidia Shield is connected to the TV or receiver via HDMI. It then gives you access to various apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime or Kodi. You can also game Android games on it. Either with the separately available Shield controller or with an Xbox One or PS4 controller.
The Android TV also runs Geforce Now, Nvidia's game streaming service. This allows you to access your Steam or Uplay games via the cloud and stream them directly to your TV. So it's the same thing that Google Stadia will soon be offering you (which will also run on Android TV), except that Geforce Now is already working in Switzerland - even if it has been in beta for years. You also have the option of streaming games from your computer via your home network with the Game Streaming function.
What's new
Not much has changed from the first Shield. The design of the Pro version is identical to its predecessors, with one crucial difference: it is about half the size. The round Shield is definitely more eye-catching. But since the power connection is on one side and the HDMI connection on the other, you will probably still stow it out of sight.
Instead of the Nvidia Tegra X1, the slightly faster Tegra X1+ is now used. This makes navigating the menus and apps even smoother than on the previous model. The apps also start a little faster.
RAM has been reduced from 3 to 2 GB in the cylindrical shield. At 8 and 16 GB respectively, the local memory is also smaller than in the 2015 Pro version, which had a whopping 500 GB installed. Nvidia has presumably realised that very few people save their films and series on the device itself. Either you stream via Netflix and co. or you own a NAS. The memory is therefore easily sufficient, which is why the 2017 Shield was already supplied with 16 GB.
There are technical innovations in HDR. In addition to HDR10, you now also get support for Dolby Vision. The sound has also been upgraded. Dolby Atmos can now be decoded locally and no longer only via passthrough. Bluetooth version 5.0 is now on board.
As Nvidia does an excellent job when it comes to Android updates, all four Shield TVs have Android 9.
The best upgrade for me is the remote control. Instead of the flat little button that was previously included, there is now finally a proper remote control. The triangular form factor is a little unusual, but the remote control is very comfortable to hold. It is powered by two AA batteries. The buttons are finally no longer that annoying minimalism, instead everything important is there. Play, stop, rewind, volume, home, switch on/off, voice command, menu, control ring and a Netflix button on top. If you don't use Netflix, you can reassign it with the Button Mapper app.
The remote control also glows in the dark.
Thanks to the CEC protocol, I can switch the TV and receiver on and off with the remote control. And because I can also control the volume, I don't need an additional button unless I need to change the HDMI channel.
Why is it so good?
Android TV has developed into a solid platform. In the current version 9.0, which is used on the Shield without unnecessary ballast or skin, you can expect a simple and clear user interface. You can quickly access your video apps, see previews of current programmes and the arrangement of the apps can be adjusted with a click. The operation is even more intuitive compared to version 8.0, which runs on my Sony TV.
The number of apps for Android TV is manageable and that's a good thing. The Play Store is not cluttered with unnecessary apps that nobody needs. I use various video services such as Netflix, HBO and Kodi. Thanks to the ExpressVPN app, I can quickly change my location to the USA or England if I want to watch US Netflix or need the BBC iPlayer. The system is perfect for what it's supposed to be and it really comes into its own on the Shield. It doesn't lag anywhere and navigation is pleasantly snappy. You can also use Shield as a Plex server, but only with the Pro version.
Nvidia's game streaming apps are also pre-installed. On the one hand, Geforce Now to stream PC games from the cloud or Game Streaming to stream games from your own PC to the TV via the network. Unfortunately, both only work okay on the new Shield. Whether from the cloud or from your PC, the input lag is too high and connection or loading problems are too frequent. It is a beta as it is written in the book. However, for the odd strategy game like the current "Planet Zoo", which doesn't require a fast response, it's quite good enough.
Nvidia Shield also scores highly in terms of connectivity. Ethernet, HDMI and two USB 3.0 ports. The microSD slot has been rationalised. But you can easily connect an external hard drive or a wireless mouse and keyboard for gaming via the USB ports.
The voice control works flawlessly and if you ask for a film, the Google Assistant searches through all installed apps and shows you all the options directly. Chromecast support is also available if you want to play video content or music on the Shield from your smartphone.
And finally, there is Nvidia's new AI upscaling technology. This allows non-UHD content to be upscaled to UHD on request. You can choose how strong the upscaling should be. I think the demo mode is the best. If this is activated, you can switch on the image comparison mode by pressing and holding the menu button. The image is then split and you can see the image without AI on the left and the improved image on the right. You can even move the divider freely to the left or right. Alternatively, you can switch between the two image modes by clicking on the menu button.
But does the upscaling mode actually do anything? I think it does. The difference isn't huge, but the picture is definitely sharper and less blurred. However, the difference is not immediately obvious. You can definitely see it in a direct comparison, but I wouldn't buy the new Shield just for that.
Conclusion: Is the upgrade worth it?
If you are looking for a reliable and versatile media player, then the Nvidia Shield Pro is the right choice. Thanks to Android TV, you can install all the important media apps on it: Kodi, Plex or simply Netflix with Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and UHD resolution: no problem at all. Operation is easy to understand, navigation is as smooth as butter and no annoying skin spoils the original Android experience.
Thanks to two USB ports, you can easily expand the storage space or connect additional input devices. Nvidia Shield is the perfect addition to your TV if you want to do more than just watch live TV or Netflix.
If you already own an older Shield, however, the upgrade is only worthwhile to a limited extent. With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, you get the latest picture and sound technologies, but there isn't really much content available yet and your TV must also support the protocols. AI upscaling is also not a selling point, the difference in speed is too small, so the only thing left is the remote control. For me, this is the biggest improvement and, together with the other smaller upgrades, it is just enough for a purchase recommendation.
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Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
