Why I will not buy the New Nvidia Shield TV 2019

The 2015 Nvidia Shield TV came from the future. But the New Nvidia Shield TV 2019 came from…the past!

Before getting into the video I need to say 2 things. The 1^st is that I am a big Nvidia Shield TV fan and I am very disappointed into making this video and 2nd that I already own 2 Nvidia Shield TV devices: The nvidia Shield TV 2015 and the Nvidia Shield TV PRO. Both have been serving me daily with great success and while they are top performers, in these 4 years almost 5 to be exact, I loved them even more. That is because as any device, especially a streaming / gaming device, had some minor issues but with the constant updates Nvidia has fixed everything and added even more. The Nvidia support on both devices has been incredible and no other company has ever done such an amazing work on supporting their devices. With every update they keep up with Android’s latest security patches and keep improving the performance while also adding new and exciting features. And one more thing that needs to be said, is that the Nvidia Shield TV has a great community that has an active part on improving the device. The Nvidia team gives big importance to the community and they always consider opinions and requests in order to deliver the best support in the streaming and cable cutting community. Without Nvidia, Android TV would never be so great at this point of time.

Nvidia Shield TV 2015 version

As mentioned before, the 2015 Shield TV really came from the future. With a stellar performance that was not even close to the next streaming devices that were powered by Amlogic, AllWinner or Rockchip SoC’s. That was thanks to an exceptional GPU with 256 CUDA cores, the Tegra X1 CPU, 3 GB of RAM, 2 X USB 3.0, micro USB 2.0, SD card slot, IR receiver, HDMI 2.0b, Gigabit Ethernet and Dual Band AC WiFi a 16GB SSD for the “normal version” or a 500GB hd for the PRO version, the 2015 Shield was a device made by aliens!

2017 Update

Then unfortunately with the update of the device we noticed also some minor cut backs. So, we lost the SD card slot and the micro USB for the 16GB version of Nvidia’s Shield TV 2017, that remained only to the PRO version until we lost also the PRO version completely. The remote control passed from a rechargeable battery to a 2 X CR-2032 3V battery which for some people was better, for me personally wasn’t an improvement, I hate it when I need to get new batteries when I can easily charge the device every now and then.

The New 2019 Nvidia Shield TV

And now the brand new Nvidia Shield TV 2019 comes out in two versions. A $150 Nvidia Shield TV which is essentially a cylindrical TV Dongle which I would have loved if it was 50-80$ cheaper even though it lacks a USB port and comes with 2GB of RAM and a merely 8GB of internal storage. The Nvidia Shield TV PRO on the other hand still lacks in everything if compared with the 2015 model except for the new CPU Tegra X1+, the addition of Dolby Vision and the new feature the AI Upscale. While the AI upscale and Dolby Vision are both great features, I don’t think it is something that is worth upgrading from my 2015 model. You get the same small SSD of 16GB (hello!? This 2019!!!) The new CPU on the other part is faster and Nvidia claims that is about 25% faster than the previous generation. While going through various benchmarks that can be easily found online, the actual difference seems to be less. At best at around 10% but main thing is that the real-life performance is actually the same. And overall as a device compared with the 2015 model, we lost the included gamepad, the SD card slot (which for some reason is available only to the small model) which was really handy to have. Now if you do not have a Nvidia Shield TV then by all means, the 2019 model is a great buy for $199. You can have an incredible experience in streaming and of course gaming with the Nvidia Games is absolutely phenomenal. Also, it is worth mentioning, as I have already written to an article on my website Google Stadia will also launch too. But at the same time I think that the 2015 would have been a better choice if it was available in the market, even at the same price. Streaming and gaming performance would be the same, you would have more connectivity options as long as the Dolby Vision addition is not that important to you.

The positive about the Shield TV 2019

What it is a great addition on both 2019 Shield TV and Shield TV PRO is the new remote control. While I may not love the Toblerone looks of it, it seems much easier to use and with some extra buttons that are greatly appreciated. And this time, at least the batteries are AAA that can be found way easier than the CR-types. My only objection is that the appreciated remote finder would work with a physical button on the device, instead from the UI which means you still need a remote to find your remote!? But great news is that the new remote control will be also sold separately for $29.99 and works with older models as well. When it comes to Nvidia you have to give it to them. Even though they launch new products, they still support exceptionally the older models as well. While I will not upgrade to the new Nvidia Shield TV 2019, I will still suggest it as a best buy because it blows the competition. But I am also disappointed since I was definitely was expecting more. Maybe with the launch of the upcoming Nintendo Switch, with which they usually share the same SoC, we will get another device from the future. But for now, I’m gonna stick with my older models which I expect to gain value in the used marketplace too!

What do you think?

Will you upgrade to the new Shield TV and if yes to which model? Also if you are new to the amazing world of Android TV, will the new models be your next companion?