NVIDIA’s new Shield TV ups the Android streaming game

A new Android device just took the streaming wars to another level. 

With the release of the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro, NVIDIA is trying to show it can stand toe-to-toe with Amazon’s Fire Stick and Roku. Both devices boast the new Tegra X1+ processor which supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos surround sound, as well as AI-powered 4K upscaling. 

The devices run on Andriod 9.0 Pie and also support Google Assistant, including “routines” that allow for multi-tasking with one command. They can also connect to the internet via a Gigabit Ethernet port or dual-band WiFi.

Plus, both devices feature the most popular non-Apple/iTunes streaming apps like Amazon’s Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, ESPN, HBO, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all that Google Play goodness. 

At $150, the tubular Shield TV not only has upgraded features, it’s $50 cheaper than the previous version. There’s also 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, access to everything in the Google Play store, a refreshed remote, and plenty of cloud gaming access including GeForce NOW’s beta program.

The Shield TV Pro will cost you $200 but includes 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a pair of USB ports, and access to the Plex Media Server. While it’s certainly more pricey than relatively similar offerings from Roku and Amazon, NVIDIA clearly intends the device as an Apple TV 4K challenger (though Apple’s offerings feature far more in the way of storage).

Still, both the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro are big upgrades in the Android streaming market.