Unboxing and Design: A Familiar Form Factor, Refined for the Living Room
Upon opening the box, you’re greeted with a package that strikes a balance between practicality and premium aesthetics. The 2017 NVIDIA SHIELD TV is housed in a sleek, minimalist design, a testament to its focus on performance. The device itself presents a compact, unobtrusive footprint, designed to seamlessly integrate into any home entertainment setup.
The device’s design reflects NVIDIA’s commitment to both function and form. The body, usually a matte-black finish, offers a low-profile appearance that allows it to blend effortlessly with the other components in your home theater. Its minimal design is a welcome departure from the clunky designs of some of its competitors, a design language that emphasized sleekness.
The 2017 model provides a generous selection of ports to ensure connectivity to a variety of other devices. A full-size HDMI port allows for seamless connection to your television or projector, delivering stunning 4K HDR visuals. A pair of USB ports allows for connecting external storage or peripherals such as game controllers, expanding the device’s functionality. This array of ports demonstrates the device’s focus on providing maximum flexibility for its users.
The included remote control is a key part of the overall experience. The remote offers a simple, elegant design that’s intuitive to use. The buttons are well-placed and responsive, making navigation through menus and apps a breeze. Voice search is another essential feature of the remote, letting users quickly find content. The microphone’s sensitivity is impressive, easily picking up your voice even from across the room. The remote’s design is further enhanced by its comfortable ergonomics and intuitive button layout.
Performance and Specifications: Power Under the Hood
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV’s prowess stems from its powerful internal hardware. At the heart of the device lies the NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor, which marked a significant leap in performance over previous generations. This custom processor, combined with ample RAM, delivers an exceptionally smooth and responsive user experience.
The Tegra X1+ is designed to handle the demands of both streaming and gaming. It effortlessly handles 4K HDR video playback. The processor seamlessly decodes video at 4K resolution, bringing out the rich details of your favorite movies and TV shows. HDR support – encompassing HDR10 and Dolby Vision – enhances the dynamic range, delivering more vibrant colors and deeper blacks for a superior viewing experience. The SHIELD TV is able to upscale content from lower resolutions to 4K, improving the clarity.
The Android TV operating system offers a user-friendly interface that’s intuitive to navigate. The home screen provides quick access to installed apps, recommended content, and other useful information. NVIDIA has optimized Android TV for the SHIELD TV, resulting in a fluid and responsive experience. The interface is customizable, allowing users to arrange apps and content according to their preferences.
Features and Functionality: A Wealth of Entertainment Options
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV serves as a comprehensive entertainment hub, capable of streaming content from an impressive array of services. Popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, and many more are readily available, offering a vast library of movies and TV shows at your fingertips. The device supports high-quality streaming, including 4K HDR playback on supported services.
Gaming is another major strength of the NVIDIA SHIELD TV. The device can play many high-quality Android games. NVIDIA’s cloud gaming service, GeForce NOW, is a standout feature. It enables users to stream PC games from NVIDIA’s servers, providing access to a vast library of games without the need for a high-end gaming PC. GeForce NOW offers smooth gameplay and a wide range of titles, making the SHIELD TV a serious contender in the cloud gaming space.
The SHIELD TV supports game streaming from a gaming PC, which lets users stream their PC games to their television, providing flexibility and portability. This feature is especially useful for gamers who want to enjoy their favorite games in the comfort of their living room.
The included remote control features Google Assistant integration, providing convenient voice control functionality. You can use your voice to search for content, control playback, launch apps, and even control smart home devices. The Google Assistant integration is another valuable feature, adding to the overall user experience.
Audio Performance: Delivering Immersive Sound
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV’s audio capabilities are exceptional. It supports a wide range of audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus. When paired with a compatible soundbar or AV receiver, the device can deliver truly immersive audio experiences.
The device provides passthrough capabilities, allowing it to send the original audio signal to your sound system without any processing. This ensures that you get the highest possible audio quality.
The quality of audio performance demonstrates NVIDIA’s commitment to delivering a premium home entertainment experience.
User Interface and Experience: Navigating the Entertainment Landscape
The Android TV interface on the SHIELD TV is exceptionally well-designed and easy to navigate. The home screen is clean and uncluttered, providing quick access to your favorite apps and content. App navigation is seamless. The device’s responsiveness allows users to transition between applications quickly.
The interface also offers a high degree of customization, allowing you to personalize the home screen. You can arrange apps, adjust settings, and tailor the experience to your preferences. The responsiveness of the device ensures a smooth and enjoyable user experience.
Competition and Comparison: Standing Out in a Crowded Market
When the 2017 NVIDIA SHIELD TV was released, the streaming device market was already competitive. Products like the Roku Ultra, Apple TV 4K, and Amazon Fire TV devices all offered their strengths. However, the SHIELD TV distinguished itself through its powerful performance, gaming capabilities, and advanced features.
The SHIELD TV’s primary advantage lies in its superior processing power. The Tegra X1+ allows for smoother streaming and superior gaming performance compared to many competitors. The inclusion of GeForce NOW and PC game streaming further elevates the device above most of the competition.
Although price was higher than some of its rivals, the extra features and power justified the investment for many users.
Pros and Cons: Weighing the Strengths and Weaknesses
Pros:
Exceptional performance for both streaming and gaming.
Support for 4K HDR playback, including Dolby Vision.
Powerful Tegra X1+ processor.
GeForce NOW cloud gaming service.
PC game streaming capabilities.
Seamless Android TV interface.
Voice control via Google Assistant.
Cons:
Price point is higher than some competitors.
May not appeal to casual streamers who only want basic functionality.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Excellence in Entertainment
The 2017 NVIDIA SHIELD TV has cemented its place as a leading streaming and gaming device. Its powerful processor, support for 4K HDR, and impressive gaming capabilities make it a top choice for anyone seeking a premium entertainment experience. The device continues to be highly recommended for those seeking excellent performance in a streaming and gaming box. If you’re looking for a comprehensive, feature-rich device that excels in both streaming and gaming, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV remains a worthy investment.
