Anyone that wants to stream content to their TV has a huge array of choice.
But besides the Chromecasts, Apple TVs and Amazon Fire devices, the Nvidia Shield has always been a firm favourite among gadget fans.
Now the device has been given its first upgrade since 2017 and its first redesign since launch. The all-new Nividia Shield is a baton-shaped device designed to hide away around the back of your telly. Alongside this new-look version is a beefed-up model of the original, angular set-top box now known as the Nividia Shield Pro.
The big news in both incarnations is the addition of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support and the ability to use a unique artificial intelligence program to better upscale traditional HD footage to a 4K resolution.
Trained on a neural network, Nvidia’s new upscaling process uses the new Tegra X1+ processor to analyse pixels in the image and add extra surrounding ones based on what each one is showing. It works on 25fps and 30fps content and adds noticeably more detail to a standard HD picture.
Because the Shield devices run on Android TV, they both include the Google Assistant and over 5,000 apps through the Google Play Store. They can also run games through the Nvidia GeForce service – an established competitor to the likes of Google Stadia.
There’s also still hardware options to take advantage of on both Shield devices. Both can be connected via Ethernet and support and have on-board memory.
Nvidia has redesigned the remote control for the 2019 Shield line-up and has given it backlit buttons and a chunkier, triangular design to make it easier to hold. Gone are the disc batteries of the earlier remote as it now uses two AAA batteries for power. it still has a built-in mic so you can use voice commands to talk to the Google Assistant.
In an effort to keep the pricing down, Nvidia is no longer bundling the Shield Controller with either model. Even so, these are definitely on the more premium end of the spectrum when it comes to TV streaming devices. The standard Shield will cost £149 while the Pro version comes in at £199.
‘These new models provide a big step up for Shield, which has consistently delivered groundbreaking innovations in the living room since its introduction five years ago,’ said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the PC business at Nvidia.
‘They deliver unquestionably best-in-class entertainment, supported by Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and our breakthroughs in using AI to improve video streaming playback,’ he said.
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