Nvidia shield tv 2017 review in Spanish (full analysis)

Nvidia surprised us in 2015 with the launch of Shield TV, a game console based on the Android operating system and at the same time it was the best multimedia center with more than enough capacity to play video at 4K resolution. Finally, the graphics giant has put on the market the successor of the original device, the Nvidia Shield Tv 2017, with similar characteristics but some additions that make it more interesting, now it is accompanied by the Shield Remote Controller that was sold separately and the Game controller includes a microphone and support for the Google Assistant.

Nvidia Shield TV 2017 technical characteristics

Unboxing and analysis

The Nvidia Shield TV 2017 arrives in a cardboard box with a color scheme in which white and green predominate. On the front we see an image of the device and the brand logo.

The rest of the sides have a very clean design with product information, especially the back where there is nothing.

Once we open the box we find the following bundle:

Nvidia Shield TV 2017 Console. Game Controller. Field Remote Controler. USB Cable. Power Adapter. Various Plug Adapters. Quick Start Guide. Warranty Card.

It is time to look at the Nvidia Shield TV 2017 itself and the first thing that catches our attention is a noticeably more compact design than the previous version, with it it is much easier to integrate the new console in the living room of our house and let it pass unnoticed in the eyes of others. The device reaches measures of 16 x 9.9 x 2.5 cm and a weight of only 848 grams.

The Shield TV 2017 maintains the same angular aesthetics as the previous model and with a matte black finish that is quite attractive. On the back we find its different connectors in the form of an HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port and a connector for power. Having opted for a more compact design has forced some sacrifices, this new Shield TV 2017 has lost the microSD slot and the microUSB port that were present in the previous model.

Inside this device we find very powerful hardware that will move your Android 7 Nougat operating system and all the multimedia content that we put on it without problems, highlights an Nvidia Tegra X1 processor with four Cortex A53 cores, four Cortex A57 and most importantly all in all, a powerful GPU consisting of 256 CUDA cores with Maxwell architecture. The processor is accompanied by 3 GB of RAM so that there are no performance problems in the most demanding use situations.

Regarding storage, we have the possibility to choose between two versions, one with 16 GB eMMC memory and the other with a 500 GB HDD. Despite not having a microSD slot, we can expand its storage capacity with a hard drive or even a USB flash drive.

Nvidia wanted to give a more streamlined and attractive look to its game controller, the new version is much more compact and with a more angular aesthetic that is reminiscent of the design of its Founders Edtion graphics cards. The most important novelty is the inclusion of compatibility with the Google assistant, for this a “always on” microphone has been placed, capable of capturing the user's voice and behaving in a way very similar to the Google Home, which has a sale price of 130 euros approximately. This is the only great novelty of the Shield TV 2017 device that will not reach the previous model through a firmware update, if you want to use it with the previous console you have no choice but to acquire the new version of the remote. The rest of the characteristics of the control remain the same with the two joystics, the four A / B / X / Y buttons, the two pairs of rear buttons and the characteristic touchpad with the Android buttons.

We continue with the Shield Remote Controler that this time is included in the console bundle, remember that previously you had to buy it separately with an approximate price of 50 euros. The new version is slightly longer than the original model being this the only one difference in design. It has a four-way directional pad on the top and several buttons below, these correspond to the Home, back and a larger button for voice searches. Finally, it includes a microphone.

Software and features

The Shield TV 2017 runs with the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system in a version very similar to the stock of Google, although with the custom interface to adapt to handling with the remote control. The different apps from the previous version have been integrated into a single Nvidia gaming app that shows all the games in three different categories. On the right side of the application interface we have several filters to select the games that interest us the most.

GameStream games GeForce Now games Games.

The performance of the 2017 Nvidia Shield TV and its Tegra X1 processor is still impressive despite the passing of the years. The Android interface and applications move with absolute fluidity, which shows us the excellent optimization that the brand's software team has done.

This processor is specially designed for games and that's where it shines above the rest of the solutions that we can find in the market. This processor is capable of achieving the following scores in the most common tests:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 3, 643 points. GFX OpenGL: 1561 frames. Manhattan benchmark: 1, 564 points.

We have tested the game Tomb Raider, Street Fighter and many more in its native version for Android and the game has been completely smooth, and we have had hardly any jerks or slowdowns (only in Tomb Raider). It is clear that a chip like the Tegra X1 is capable of keeping the most demanding games at a rocky 30 FPS when programmed and optimized specifically for the chip. Of course the graphics are not at the level of the PC versions of the games but they maintain the type very well, let's not forget that we are facing only 256 CUDA cores compared to the several thousand of the most powerful PC graphics cards.

However, the best of the Nvidia Shield TV 2017 is its GeForce Now service, for just 10 euros a month we can enjoy a large number of streaming PC games. The games run on the company's advanced servers with its powerful Pascal graphics cards, so we can enjoy games in 4K and 60 FPS on the TV in our living room in a very comfortable way.

WE RECOMMEND NVIDIA Turing GTX 2080/70 to be released in July for Gamers

Finally we highlight once again its extensive multimedia capabilities, the Shield TV 2017 supports 4K 60 FPS video playback and HDR technology for unsurpassed image quality. Of course it is compatible with different services such as Amazon, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, HBO (synchronizing with the APP of your smartphone) and Sling. It also offers Google Cast so you can stream from your mobile devices to the console as if it were a Chromecast.

Final words and conclusion about Nvidia Shield 2017

As we have seen the Nvidia Shield 2017 is an all-terrain miniPC, it offers the basic functionalities of a conventional one: multimedia playback, Android operating system, Wi-Fi connectivity and a very fine design. But unlike its rivals, it is distinguished by:

Support for Geforce Now and its wide variety of games in catalogs. Improved 5G Wi-Fi connectivity. RJ45 Gigabit incorporation to get the most out of hardware. Built-in remote and controller commands.

After our tests with Netflix, KODI and with the Google Chromecast Ultra we can say that it is the definitive miniPC for our living room. It allows us to play games, watch multimedia content, have a browser with which we can surf the internet and enjoy the best 4K experience.

We recommend reading our PC Gaming Configuration 2017.

The experience with Geforce Now is really good, but we recommend that you have the Nvidia Shield 2017 connected by ethernet cable to your router. In this way, you will not have any type of lag or interference that the wifi line can do. It moves quite demanding titles and possibly the future of gaming is here, as we already anticipated at the end of 2015 with the tablet. It is also very interesting.

Gamestream allows us to use the power of our desktop computer and view it on our television. With this, we save having a desktop computer on the table and make the most of the Nvidia Shield TV 2017. Very important, to have the best experience you need the Ethernet cable connected to the Router or repeater.

The price in stores is 230 euros, not bad considering that both controls are included and of course everything it offers us. Although we believe that for those who already have the previous version, and if they do not have a 4K television, it is not worth it to migrate to this new version. Except that the price difference with its sale is minimal.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ ELEGANT DESIGN.	- PRICE HAS INCREASED UP TO 230 EUROS BUT INCLUDES TWO CONTROLS. ALTHOUGH IT IS MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN MANY MINIPCs FROM OTHER BRANDS.
+ CONSTRUCTION QUALITY.
+ GREAT MULTIMEDIA AND GAMING OPTIONS.
+ RED 5 GHZ WORKS GREAT.
+ INCLUDES CONTROL AND CONTROLLER.