 | |
 | |
| Also known as | Shield Android TV |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nvidia |
| Product family | Shield |
| Type | Set-top box,microconsole |
| Released |
|
| Introductory price | US$199.99 |
| Operating system | Android TV |
| System on a chip | Tegra X1+ |
| Memory | 2 GB or 3 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB or 16 GBflash memory |
| Display | Up to4KHDR, 60FPS |
| Controller input | Remote |
| Connectivity | 802.11ac2.4 GHz &5 GHzWi-Fi,Bluetooth 5.0,Gigabit Ethernet,USB 3.0,HDMI 2.0 |
| Online services | GeForce Now Google Play |
| Weight | 250 g (8.82 oz) |
| Related | Shield Tablet |
| Website | www |
TheNvidia Shield TV (Shield Android TV or justNvidia Shield[1]) is anAndroid TV-baseddigital media player andmicroconsole produced byNvidia as part of its Shield brand ofAndroid devices. First released in May 2015, the Shield was initially marketed by Nvidia as a microconsole, emphasizing its ability to play downloaded games andstream games from a compatible PC on a local network, or via theGeForce Now subscription service. As with all other Android TV devices, it can also stream content from various sources using apps, and also supports4K resolution video. It is produced in two models, with the secondShield TV Pro model distinguished primarily by increased internalstorage.
In 2017, Nvidia released a refreshed version of the 16 GB Shield, which has a smaller form factor that drops MicroSD and infrared support, comes with an updated controller, and is otherwise identical in hardware to the original model. In 2019, Nvidia refreshed the Shield TV lineup with upgraded processors, and revised the base model with a smaller form factor and less internal storage.
The Shield utilizes Nvidia'sTegra X1 system-on-chip, based on theARM Cortex-A57 CPU and Nvidia'sMaxwell microarchitecture GPU, with 3 GB of RAM. The device supports4K resolution output at 60 FPS over an HDMI 2.0 output, with support forHEVC-encoded video. The Shield can either contain 16 GB of internal flash storage or a 500 GB hard drive, expandable via microSD card or removable storage. 2015 and 2017 Shield models with a 500 GB hard drive are branded asShield Pro.[2][3][4] It contains two USB ports.[4] For internet connections, it supports gigabit Ethernet and802.11ac Wi-Fi. The console ships with one wireless controller; a wireless micro-USB-rechargeable remote with voice control and a headphone jack is sold separately[3][5] but is no longer available from official channels.
The Shield runsAndroid TV; games optimized and ported for the device are offered through a separate Shield Store app.[3] The device can also stream games through Nvidia's on-demand subscriptioncloud gaming service,GeForce Now (formerly Nvidia GRID), and from a local computer using the GameStream function of supported Nvidia graphics cards via the GeForce Experience application. In addition to native Android gaming and game streaming, retro gaming emulation[6] is popular on the Nvidia Shield TV.[5][7][8]
Nvidia released the first Shield Android TV in 2015. The micro-console uses a in-house built Tegra X1 20nm SoC processor with an octo-core CPU configuration ― four ARM A57s paired with four lower-power A53s and a 256-core Maxwell GPU and 3GB of DDR3L RAM. 16GB of internal storage which can be upgraded via microSD. Network options are either 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi or wired gigabit Ethernet. The HDMI 2.0 port has full HDCP 2.2 support and outputs full 4K. It ran Android TV version 5.1 at launch.
On January 16, 2017, Nvidia unveiled a refreshed version of the 16 GB Shield. It has a revised form factor with a smaller size but no microSD slot, and is supplied with Shield Experience Upgrade 5.0. A revised Bluetooth remote control with no headphone jack and replaceable CR2032 battery is now bundled, as well as an updated controller with an always-on microphone. The 2017 model contains the same Tegra X1 system-on-chip as the 2015 model.[4] The 2017 Shield replaced the original 16 GB version.
On October 28, 2019, Nvidia unveiled two new Shield TV models. Both models use the Tegra X1+ system-on-chip, ship withAndroid 9.0 "Pie", supportDolby Atmos andDolby Vision, and include a redesigned remote control, and a new "AI-enhanced"upscaling system that can upscale high-definition video to 4K resolution. The new base model uses a cylindrical form factor rather than a set-top box style, and has 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of flash storage, expandable via MicroSD card (in place of USB ports). The Shield TV Pro uses the same set-top box form factor as the previous model, and includes 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of flash storage, and two full-sizeUSB 3.0 ports. A gamepad is no longer included.[9][10]
| Model name | Model # | Launch | Form factor | Processor | RAM | Storage | microSD | USB | IR receiver | HDMI /DP | Ethernet | WiFi | Bluetooth | Bundled accessories | VQ- playback (max) | VQ- capture (max) | Upscaling | HDR | Dolby Atmos | Voice control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shield TV | P2571 | 2015 | Box | Nvidia Tegra X1 | 3GB | 16GB | Yes | 3x (2x 3.0 typeA, 1x microUSB) | Yes | HDMI 2.0 w/ HDCP 2.2 & CEC (HDMI 2.0b by FW update) | GbE | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO | 4.1 / LE | Gamepad | 4K at 60fps | 4K at 30fps | HDR10 | Passthrough | ||
| Shield TV Pro | P2571 | 2015 | Box | Nvidia Tegra X1 | 3GB | 500GB | Yes | 3x (2x 3.0 typeA, 1x microUSB) | Yes | HDMI 2.0 w/ HDCP 2.2 & CEC (HDMI 2.0b by FW update) | GbE | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO | 4.1 / LE | Remote, gamepad | 4K at 60fps | 4K at 30fps | HDR10 | Passthrough | ||
| Shield TV | P2897 | 2017 | Box | Nvidia Tegra X1 | 3GB | 16GB | No | 2x (3.0 typeA) | No | HDMI 2.0 w/ HDCP 2.2 & CEC (HDMI 2.0b by FW update) | GbE | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO | 4.1 / LE | Remote, gamepad (V2) | 4K at 60fps | HDR10 | Passthrough | |||
| Shield TV | P3430 | 2019 | Cylindrical | Nvidia Tegra X1+ | 2GB | 8GB | Yes | No | No | HDMI 2.0b w/ HDCP 2.2 & CEC | GbE | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO | 5.0 + LE | Remote (V2) | 4K at 60fps | AI upscaling | HDR10 and Dolby Vision | Decode + passthrough | ||
| Shield TV Pro | P2897 | 2019 | Box | Nvidia Tegra X1+ | 3GB | 16GB | No | 2x (3.0 typeA) | No | HDMI 2.0b w/ HDCP 2.2 & CEC | GbE | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO | 5.0 + LE | Remote (V2) | 4K at 60fps | AI upscaling | HDR10 and Dolby Vision | Decode + passthrough |
Shield TV uses an Android-based operating system, Google's Android TV OS, which Nvidia brands as Shield Experience.
Shield Experience Upgrade 5.0, which is based onAndroid 7.0 "Nougat",[11] adds software features from theupdated 2017 model, includingHDR support for 4K video, new apps (includingAmazon Video),SmartThings integration,Google Assistant support, and a new Nvidia Games interface. Google Assistant support requires a new iteration of the Shield Controller.[12][13] In June 2018, Nvidia released an update toAndroid 8.0 "Oreo".[14]
An update of Android TV to Google TV madeGoogle Stadia available for the 2019 versions of Nvidia Shield TV and Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
In December 2021, NVIDIA released an update[15] bringing Android 11 to the SHIELD TV platform.
Update included:
A July 2022[15] update introduced Automatic Game Mode for SHIELD TV, enabling the device to activate Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) when connected to compatible displays. The update also added a Night Listening Mode, designed to normalize loud and quiet audio elements—such as explosions and dialogue—providing a consistent listening experience at lower volume levels.
Update included:
In February 2025, NVIDIA released SHIELD Experience Upgrade 9.2, introducing full AURO-3D support for high-resolution immersive audio playback over HDMI.[15][16]
Updates included: