Nvidia unveiled its new Shield TV two weeks ago at CES 2017, and now it is starting to hit the shelves. The new Nvidia Shield TV is not only a streaming box but also a console with 4K HDR support and tons of content on the latest Android build.
The second generation of Nvidia’s Shield system packs more power than its predecessor in a smaller.
This time around, Nvidia offers two models: the standard $199 Nvidia Shield TV and the premium $299 Nvidia Shield Pro. This last version is only available for preorder at the moment.
Nvidia Shield TV: Specs and Design
The latest Nvidia Shield TV looks exactly like its older brother, except the company, downscaled the streaming box significantly for 2017. The new device is a bit thicker than the first Shield but nearly half as big.
Inside Nvidia’s all-in-one player there is a Tegra X1 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage expandable with a USB 3.0 storage unit or a microSD card.
The box comes with one HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, one Micro-USB 2.0 entry, a microSD card slot, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. For wireless connections, the Shield TV supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.
Along with the new Shield TV, Nvidia ships an enhanced Shield Remote and a redesigned Shield Controller. No HDMI cables are included, and additional accessories sell separately.
Nvidia Shield TV: Features, Apps, and Games
Perhaps the most striking feature of the 2017 Nvidia Shield TV is its performance. The graphic cards giant claims the Tegra X1 on the new player can easily outperform systems like Amazon’s Fire TV, the Apple TV, and the Roku Ultra.
Thanks to Nvidia GameStream, players can stream games from their Nvidia GeForce Now library and other platforms to their TVs in full 4K HDR resolutions. All games available at the Google Play Store are also playable.
Streaming apps and services supported on the Nvidia Shield TV include Netflix, YouTube, VUDU, Hulu, PLEX, HBO Go, and a new addition: Amazon Video.
The new Nvidia Shield TV runs on Android TV 5.0 and 7.0 Nougat. The entire library of Google Play Music and Google Play Movies & TV is also available to stream on the system.
The latest version of the Shield Remote comes equipped with an always-on microphone that will soon support Google Assistant once it launches. This feature combined with the Nvidia Spot could make for a real competitor to the Amazon Echo.
Nvidia Shield TV: Price and Availability
Nvidia’s 2017 Shield TV starts at $199 for the standard version and $299 for the Nvidia Shield Pro. The Pro model comes with 500 GB of storage for power users.
The Nvidia Shield TV is available at the company’s site and from select retail partners in the U.S. including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and Newegg. Availability in Canada will come at a later date for $289 CAD.
Source: Nvidia