NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2017) Review: Smart Home, 4K HDR, And Game Streaming

At this point, it should be obvious that we're are big fans of the NVIDIA SHIELD TV. Though this latest version loses a couple of ports and won’t be offered in a “pro” version with high-capacity internal storage, the new bundle, more compact enclosure, updated software, and additional features make for a compelling package.

We should also underscore, that while we’ve referred to the latest SHIELD TV as the “newer” version, the original has also received the Android Nougat-based SHIELD Experience 5 update and now has virtually all of the same capabilities. The only thing not offered with the original is the always-on microphone for the Google Assistant integration. But if you want that feature, you can always purchase the new wireless controller.


The NVIDIA SHIELD TV does many things well and caters to a massive audience, in our opinion. If you’re an enthusiast and PC gamer, the SHIELD TV’s high-performance versus competing devices will be appealing, as will its wide-array of gaming related features – between native platform games, GeForce Now, and game streaming from a PC, there are a ton of ways to play quality titles on the SHIELD TV. Savvy cord cutters will dig the wide array of apps, broad codec support with 4K HDR support, and Plex server integration. And even mainstream consumers, simply looking for a top-notch streaming device, will like the easy setup, slick interface and quality output of the SHIELD TV.

At $199 for the entire bundle (SHIELD TV, remote, and wireless controller), the NVIDIA SHIELD TV isn’t the cheapest option in its market segment, but we think it is the best. And even though SHIELD TV is a strong device as it stands, NVIDIA has consistently released updates for the original that have made it even better over time, and we expect that the continue.

NVIDIA has an excellent smart home, media streaming and big screen gaming product in the SHIELD TV. If you’re in the market for a top-notch streaming device, that’s also got gaming chops and the ability to assist with home automation, you should give the NVIDIA SHIELD TV a serious look.