If you haven't picked up an Nvidia Shield TV over the last few years, you've been missing out. It's an affordable, get-the-job-done Android TV box that continues to add new features years after release. Now there's a new one and it's even better than the original while being even more affordable. This is the new Nvidia Shield TV (2019) review.
What is the Nvidia Shield TV?
The Shield TV 2019 is one of two new streaming media players Nvidia is launching. The standard Shield TV, the tube-like one we're reviewing here, is an all-new product. Retailing for $149.99, it's targeted at regular folks that want a good streaming box without any unnecessary bells and whistles.
The Shield TV 2019 is one of two new streaming media players Nvidia is launching.
The other one is an updated version of the original Nvidia Shield TV. It's called the Nvidia Shield TV Pro (not to be confused with the old Pro nomenclature, which meant 500GB of storage). The Nvidia Shield TV Pro uses the same exterior housing as the 2017 version but with upgraded internals. It costs $199.99 and is directed at those wanting to take full advantage of the Shield's processing power and gaming potential.
What's the difference between the new Shield TV and Shield TV Pro?
Both versions of the Shield TV (2019) use the new 256-core Tegra X1+ processor for a 25% performance bump over the existing version. They both have HDMI out, an ethernet port and expandable storage (the smaller one via microSD and the larger via two USB 3.0 ports). The regular Shield TV is conveniently sized for portability whereas the Pro is a bit more likely to stay at home.
The other big difference is in memory. The regular Nvidia Shield TV has 8GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, while the larger version has 16GB of storage and 3GB of RAM. The extra horsepower means the TV Pro has more advanced capabilities for hardcore gamers. Both models support gigabit ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi. Gaming on either device is great but the TV Pro naturally has the edge.
The Tegra X1+ processor provides a 25% performance bump over the existing Shield TV.
The Shield TV Pro has Plex Media Server support and is SmartThings Link ready. The TV Pro can also record gameplay and stream to Twitch. It can handle more demanding Android games including the Half Life 2 and Borderlands series, The Witness, Doom 3, Resident Evil 5, Portal 2, Tomb Raider and Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. Both versions can now stream current AAA PC titles like PUBG and Fortnite: Chapter 2 with the new GeForce NOW (you can sign up for the beta here).
Google Stadia won't work with Android TV at launch but there's no reason it shouldn't come to the new Nvidia Shield eventually.
What's new in the new Nvidia Shield TV?
Three things primarily: full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support, AI upscaling, and a new remote.
What's the new Shield TV remote like?
Both new products come with the new Nvidia Shield TV remote. It's a Toblerone-shaped remote that's much larger than the previous one and should be a lot harder to lose. If you do misplace it, there's a new find-my-remote feature in the updated remote control app to help you find it.
The 2019 Shield TV remote has backlit regular buttons that are only illuminated when you pick it up. It does away with the old touch-sensitive volume controls, adding a prominent Netflix button for quicker access.
The best way to interact with the Shield TV is still through Google Assistant but the new remote is great.
The addition of a dedicated power, fast-forward and rewind scan buttons is a good move too. They reduce the number of clicks required to perform common actions. There's a customizable button in the top right of the remote. It defaults to toggling the 4K AI upscaling (we'll come back to this in a minute).
The best way to interact with the Shield TV is still through Google Assistant but the normal-remote approach here is a good move. Whether you prefer voice searching or a more traditional remote control, you're covered.
I like that the new Shield remote ditches the Apple TV look. I'm also happy to say the triangular cross-section is comfortable to hold. The new remote works with existing Shield TVs if you only want to upgrade that part of the experience. It will be available for $29.99.
The best part of the new remote for me is that it now uses two AAA batteries rather than the coin battery of the old version. Nvidia says you'll get six months of battery life out of the new Shield TV remote. You can also use it to control your TV's power and volume.
The new remote works with existing Shield TVs and can be bought separately for $29.99.
The existing Nvidia Shield controller isn't getting an upgrade just yet. It'll continue to serve as your game controller for the new models and will be sold for a couple more years before an upgrade. The new Shield also supports PS4 DualShock controllers, Xbox One controllers and a variety of Android game controllers. This means you don't have to pay for a new controller if you already have one at home.
What is AI upscaling?
This is easily the biggest party trick the new Nvidia Shield TV has up its sleeve. Traditional upscaling takes a lower quality source and converts it to higher resolution. The Shield TV upscales low-resolution 30fps HD content (720p or 1080p) to pretty convincing 4K quality. The magic here is that it does so in real-time.
Nvidia achieved this feat using a deep learning neural network and the advanced computing power the Tegra X1+ provides. Nvidia trained its neural network by comparing tons of native 4K content with traditionally upscaled 4K content. Over time, this creates a difference map that allows AI to know what is usually missing. This allows it to make predictions for content it hasn't been trained on.
Nvidia trained an AI to take an HD source and upscale it to pretty convincing 4K in real-time.
It's pretty amazing to see in action and means you can get a much better-looking picture out of content uploaded at sub-4K quality. Gaming isn't supported right now as the lighting and interactivity create more complex problems to solve. There is a risk of the final result looking a bit over-cooked. So Nvidia has granular controls in the Nvidia Shield TV settings. You can choose between normal quality (no upscaling), enhanced (traditional upscaling) or AI upscaling.
Is AI upscaling any good?
You've also got the choice of three different sharpness levels when AI upscaling is on (regular upscaling is enabled by default). The new Shield TV (2019) defaults to Medium sharpness if you enable AI upscaling. You can bump that up to High if you sit a long way away from your TV or are vision impaired. You can also drop it to a Low setting if you still want to upscale your content but avoid any risk of it looking over-sharpened.
Nvidia includes a demo mode in the settings so you can use a slider to reveal the original versus the AI upscaled version side by side. This works on both moving and paused images. It can also be used in apps like VLC.
I really like the AI upscaling feature but it can be too aggressive on some content.
I really liked the AI upscaling feature but I did find it a bit too aggressive on some content. Faces, especially those with wrinkles or stubble, can appear over-sharpened at higher AI upscaling levels. It also messes with the color of some content that you may or may not find bothersome. For a lot of content like nature documentaries, it's fantastic, but it can be a bit too much. To get the best experience you really need to adapt the AI upscaling settings to the content you're watching.
It's a shame it's not just set-it-and-forget-it, but I'd still prefer to have the option available than not. At the very least Nvidia was wise enough to provide user-facing controls and make it super easy to adjust. It's incredibly impressive technologically, but I'm glad AI upscaling is a setting you have to turn on rather than the default.
How's Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision?
While the older Nvidia Shield had pass-through Dolby Atmos, it didn't have decode support. This meant some services like Netflix didn't work and others couldn't support surround sound. The new Shield TV addresses these issues, featuring full Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for supported streaming content.
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are available across Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Movies Anywhere and Disney+.
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are available across a variety of major platforms. These include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Movies Anywhere and Disney+. HDR10 is also available for content that doesn't support Dolby Vision. The Shield TV supports more native 4K content than most other streaming media players. It also supports all the major music streaming services.
2019 Nvidia Shield TV review: The verdict
Whether you're a gamer or Netflix binger, the Nvidia Shield is a no-brainer. This was true back in 2015 when it was first released, then again in 2017 with the re-release. The same is true today, and now moreso than ever. It's cheaper and more powerful, the remote is better, and there's even more cutting edge support for the best streaming content available.
Whether you're a gamer or Netflix binger, the Nvidia Shield is a no-brainer. I can't recommend it enough.
I can't recommend the Nvidia Shield TV enough. I'm still impressed by the simplicity and reliability of the existing Shield TV. Nvidia continues to update it and add new features to this day. If you're frustrated by companies that forget your product the moment you leave the store, Nvidia is not that company. The new Nvidia Shield TV will probably get updates much longer than your smartphone.
At $149.99 the Nvidia Shield TV is perfect for anyone looking for a no-fuss Android TV that nails the basics and packs more power and media support than anything else on the market. If you're after even more advanced gaming, then you'll definitely want to pony up the extra $50 to get the new Shield TV Pro. Regardless of which is better for your needs, a Shield TV of any description should be a part of every living room.
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