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Nvidia last updated its long-lived family of Android TV boxes in 2019, adding a very unboxy base model Shield. That device is still among the most powerful media streamers you can get, even with its 32-bit limitations. The Shield TV Pro was refreshed at the same time, but it gets less attention because of the higher $200 price tag. That's a lot to pay for a streaming box in the era of $30 Fire TV Sticks and $50 Chromecasts, but this is a special device. It's not perfect by any means, but if you care about audio/video quality, the Shield Pro has no equal.
Android 11 for the Nvidia Shield is breaking apps and Plex servers
Scoped storage is probably to blame, but there's a partial fix
Nvidia released the first Shield Android TV boxes back in 2015, and it's still updating them in 2022. The various generations of Shield just recently saw an update to Android 11, but owners have reported numerous apps, including the device's built-in Plex server, have stopped functioning. Nvidia is still working on a patch for the software, but you can (probably) get it fixed now if you're impatient.
I replaced my Chromecast with a Shield, and you should too while it's on sale for Black Friday
You get what you pay for
The Chromecast with Google TV was easy to recommend when it launched last year at just $50, and it's still a good device now. However, I've been on the hunt for a more powerful streaming box—something that can handle uncompressed audio and whatever video formats I throw at it. There's really only one game in town that gets close, and that's the Nvidia Shield. It has all the streaming prowess of the more expensive Pro box but at a much lower $150 price. However, the Shield is on a rare sale this Black Friday for $129, and I couldn't resist.
Nvidia isn't updating the Shield TV to Android 10 because it's not different enough
But that doesn't mean future updates aren't in the works
For years, if you wanted to get Android running on the biggest screen in your home, the Nvidia Shield TV was your best option. Cheaper devices like last year's Chromecast and Walmart's recent Onn streaming box are finally available on the market, but the Shield has kept some of the exclusive benefits that helped make it a fan favorite. If you've been waiting for an update to Android 10, you'll want to stop holding your breath — though that doesn't mean the Shield's future is uncertain.According to a forum post published by Nvidia last month, the company has chosen to skip Android 10 for its streaming boxes altogether, leaving the lineup stuck on Android 9 for the time being (via 9to5Google). That's not to say development for the Shield has ceased, however. Here's Nvidia's full statement from its forums:
The Nvidia Shield TV is back on sale, in case you missed it the first time around
Take advantage of a rare discount
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Before the launch of last year's Chromecast with Google TV, the Nvidia Shield TV was far and away the best Android-based streaming box you could buy — and arguably, it still is. Nvidia has built a strong, passionate fan base with this gadget, which is probably why it doesn't go on sale all that often. Right now, you can grab the Shield TV at a rare discount from Amazon, Best Buy, or B&H.Although $130 may not sound like a significant discount over the usual MSRP, it's actually within $5 of the all-time low on Amazon. Seriously, this thing never goes on sale, which makes it a perfect time to scoop one up if you're interested. Despite costing more than twice the price of Google's latest Chromecast, it features excellent 4K AI upscaling and a better processor. Nvidia's services like GameStream and GeForce Now make it a bona fide gaming hit once paired with a controller. And with a built-in microSD card slot for storage expansion, you can load it up with as many apps and games as you want.
SHIELD TV users are mad as hell, and they're taking it out on the Play Store
The Android TV Home listing has been bombed down to 1 star
Google is an advertising company. Most of its products make money either by serving up ads, or by collecting data to make those ads more effective. But throwing ads into a product that people pay actual money for is something that they tend to feel pretty passionate about — just ask Samsung. So when Google started serving up advertisements via the Android TV Home interface, it didn't take a genius to guess what would happen next.
Apple TV is finally available on all Android TV devices
Now you can decide for yourself if Ted Lasso is overhyped (it's not)
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Although Android TV isn't as popular as Roku or Amazon's Fire TV, access to the Play Store makes it one of the best ways to watch your favorite movies and shows. Up until now, it's been missing a major service from its library, but that all changes starting today. Apple TV is now available on Android TV devices, including the Nvidia Shield TV.
There aren't a ton of Android TV boxes on the market — and considering it's nearly impossible to buy a TV that doesn't have Netflix built in, that might not seem like an issue. But even if your TV does have its own apps, there are still good reasons to use a discrete streaming device: their interfaces are snappier, and it's a lot cheaper to replace a dongle when it's out of date than it is a television. Here, we've assembled a list of some of the more popular Android TV devices, with an evaluation of each and why they may or may not be right for you.
About a year ago, Google started rolling out a more graphical interface for the Play Store on Android TV with focus on content discovery, larger thumbnails, interactive backgrounds, and a modern design. Now, with the new Chromecast having launched with a new Google TV UI, that Play Store is starting to look slightly dated. To keep it fresh, Google is rolling out a minor revamp with a new toolbar, new icons, and some shuffled screens.
Nvidia updates the Shield TV with AI upscaling fixes, stability improvements, and more
The best Android TV box gets even better
Google TV may be the hot new thing, but Nvidia's Shield TV is still one of the most popular Android TV devices out there. We called it the best Android TV box at the time of release, and it's getting even better thanks to a new update rolling out now.
Stadia on Android TV isn't officially coming until 2021, even though it works already
You can sideload the game streaming service just fine
Google has been preparing Stadia support for Android TV for a while now, and it remains one of the only Google platforms where the game streaming service isn't officially available yet. It's already been possible to sideload Stadia to Android TV devices in the past, but initial scaling issues and a Bluetooth mouse requirement for setup made it more than tedious to get started. The last few Stadia updates have solved a lot of these problems except for the sideloading requirement, making the game streaming service seem almost ready for prime time. However, Google has confirmed on Twitter that Stadia won't make it to the new Chromecast with Google TV until the first half of 2021.
Nvidia releases Shield Experience 8.2, improving AI upscaling for 2019 models and more
The older models get some love here too
The Shield TV is the best Android TV box you can buy. The main reason for this is software support, which exceeds that of any other Android TV device. That continues to be the case today, with the release of Shield Experience 8.2 — the 25th update released since the first Shield TV was launched in 2015, and it's available on every model, including the original.
How to sideload any application on the Nvidia Shield
No matter which Shield you have, they all support sideloading
Nearly every device that ships with the Android TV operating system has access to millions of applications through the Google Play Store. However, there are some situations where you might want to sideload your own applications (APKs). Maybe you want the latest app updates quicker than the Play Store rolls them out, or you want to try an application that isn't officially available for your specific device.
The new Nvidia Shield TV stick is on sale for $130, $20 off (Update: More stores)
Just in time for coronavirus binge marathons
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- If you prefer buying from other stores, the Shield TV is now on sale at Best Buy, B&H Photo, and a few other retailers.
Nvidia released two new Shield TV devices late last year: a sequel to the existing Shield set-top box, and a new slightly-cheaper streaming stick. The latter usually costs $150, but it has already gone on sale for $130 once. If you missed out on that deal, here's another chance to get the new stick at a lower price.Amazon currently has the Nvidia Shield TV 2019 model for $129.99, a discount of $20 from the usual price. The stick has a Tegra X1+ processor, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage. There's also a microSD card slot for adding more storage, and an Ethernet jack for a wired network connection. The main differences compared to the larger Shield box is that this unit has less RAM (2GB vs 3GB) and uses 32-bit Android TV to reduce memory usage.
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Along with the new Shield TV and TV Pro, Nvidia introduced a brand new remote for its set-top boxes. It has a triangular profile, plenty of buttons, and shouldn't be easily lost thanks to its built-in locator. But in case you did manage to lose it or you want an extra one to secretly control the TV when your partner or kids think they have the remote, you should be able to buy it in January 2020 for $30.
Late last year, Nvidia released a pair of new Shield TV devices: the tube-shaped Shield TV dongle, and the more traditional Shield TV Pro. It was later discovered that the dongle ran a 32-bit version of Android TV, which caused some to worry about incompatible apps, but you (probably) have nothing to worry about.
With the arrival of the Nvidia Shield TV (2019), some of you might be looking to pick up the controller to get streaming your PC games or play something from your Android library (including the Shield-exclusive titles). Lucky for you, Amazon has dropped the price on it by $18.11, down to $41.88. For a controller that normally costs $60, that's a decent sale.Nvidia redesigned the Shield Controller for the 2017 TV release, and you can see the old one on the left in the image below. It features the typical array of buttons, thumbsticks, and so on, but it also have a back and home button flanking the start button. You can also activate Assistant and talk directly to the controller via the Nvidia button right in the center.
Many will be quick to point out that the Shield Controller lacks USB-C for charging, a more than passable d-pad, or a good vibration motor. However, as an owner of all the major controllers out there, the Shield Controller is up there for me as the best in ergonomic comfort. I love how it feels, even more than my Xbox One controller.
If none of three downsides bother you — and they don't really bug me — then hop on over to the buy link below to get yours. It'll go great with your shiny new Shield TV.Buy: Amazon
Nvidia's Shield TV has been Android nerds' streaming box of choice for going on half a decade, and for good reason: it's got ample power, plenty of features, and software that's always up to date. Now, the company has introduced two new versions with a bit of a twist. The base model, this tube-shaped guy right here, fills a role that's decidedly niche: a premium Android TV box (cylinder?) that does everything you'd want a streamer to do and nothing else, for a price that's high-end but not too high-end. I'm not sure how many people are looking for exactly that, but I'm confident anybody who is will be thrilled with this year's Shield TV.
Nvidia is gearing up to launch two brand new Shield TV products, and in preparation, the company has now revamped its remote control phone app. If you have a Shield TV, you'll find a lot more here than what the standard Android TV Remote Control app provides.
If you thought Nvidia's dormant Shield lineup was shaken up today with news of a Shield TV Pro being listed on Amazon for a hot second, prepare for an earthquake: as of time of writing, Newegg Canada is hosting a product page for another Shield TV item — this one's a dongle.