Nvidia shield tv pro review in Spanish (complete analysis)

Two years after the launch of SHIELD TV, the green graphics giant presents the new Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro. With many new features that start with a renewed, simpler, more complete and accessible multimedia center, in fact, it has more presence than in the previous version.

There is no shortage of compatibility with GeForce NOW, Nvidia's own streaming video game center and of course the Google Play Store with all the versatility that Android 9.0 Pie gives us and great hardware with the Tegra X1 + CPU. This time the game controller does not come with the product, although the system is compatible with console and peripheral controls. We will analyze everything that this Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro can offer us, so let's get started.

But before we continue, we thank Nvidia for their trust in us by lending us their new multimedia center to do our analysis.

Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro technical features

Unboxing

In our case, we have had access to the most powerful model, that is, the Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro. This device has come to us in an exquisite presentation with a white hard plastic box very similar to that used by smartphones. On the exterior faces, the photos of the product, as well as relevant information about it, cannot be missing.

Inside, we have a two-story system with all very well computerized items. In the most visible part we have the main device and its control, while below, we find the connection elements.

The bundle then consists of the following elements:

• Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro Device Remote Control with 2 AAA Batteries Included External Power Supply British and European Plug Adapters Support Guide

Despite having a support guide , it does not explain how to install the device at any time. Nvidia will have considered it to be so easy that we do not need previous knowledge, and in part it is.

Exterior design: continuity for the Pro version

Something that remains quite similar to the 2017 model in this Pro version is precisely the exterior design. A little smaller, but being a rectangular device with edges on different levels that show us that band of green lighting when the equipment is working.

The entire outer part is made of hard plastic, and we intuit that the entire clamping area of ​​the PCB will also be like this, since the weight is only 250 g. It is much smaller than a router, clearly oriented to be an invisible device in our home, leaving it placed next to or behind the television.

The entire port panel is located in the thin rear area, featuring 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A general purpose ports, HDMI 2.0b port supporting 4K @ 60Hz, HDCP 2.2 and CEC, one wired RJ45 network port Gigabit Ethernet and the corresponding power port, which in this case is not Jack type. Likewise, the excess space is occupied by a ventilation grille that complements the one located in the lower area. We do not fully understand the reason why the Micro SD card reader has not been integrated also in the Pro version, we have more storage here, but its presence would not hurt.

But something more discreet is the normal version, since this time the manufacturer has released two different versions in which design and performance change. The normal version is basically a cylinder about 15 cm high that reduces its connections, losing the two USB of this Pro model and incorporating in its case MicroSD card reader. The HDMI and RJ45 ports are kept integrated in both versions.

Control with integrated Google Assistant

Where there have been notable changes to this Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro is in its gaming orientation. While the 2017 model came with a game controller, this time the brand has opted for a highly successful remote control renewed and with more functions. Much more generic, useful and manageable for everyone, thus demonstrating their clear inclination towards the consumption of multimedia content and somewhat less in gaming.

The curious thing about the remote is that it has a triangular shape that comes in handy to pick it up, but very badly to place it on a table, since its buttons will always stay to one side. The two AAA batteries are included inside it, so we will not need to disassemble it the first few months.

The distribution of the remote is extremely simple: a button to display the options menu and another to turn the device on and off in the upper area. Below that, the navigation wheel and center selection button and one to go back down. In the central area, the voice assistant stands out on the multimedia control buttons, because this command has an integrated microphone for Google Assistant. We just have to press, talk and the device will do the job. We also have a direct access button for the Netflix application, which comes pre-installed.

More powerful hardware with AI rescaling

This Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro has the Nvidia Tegra X1 + processor inside , which is an improved version of the one used in the previous generation. Now it has a 256-core GPU that will be able to perform quite well with all types of content, such as Android games, PUBG or Asphalt type, and play content in 4K at 60 FPS, thus adapting to current image standards.

The manufacturer ensures a performance improvement over the previous generation of 25%, which above all will give us a very smooth experience in the management of applications and menu navigation. Also, later we will see that the integration with Android 9.0 Pie is perfect. In addition to this CPU, we have a total of 3 GB of RAM and 16 Gb of storage that we can only extend with units connected to USB. In the case of the normal version, we also have the same CPU, although the RAM drops to 2 GB and the storage to 8 GB, so we see the card reader as understandable as there is no USB.

One of the most interesting features for the user is to have 4K AI rescaling technology for images and video. What does this mean? Well, Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro is capable of simulating 4K resolution even though we are playing content in 720p resolution. In this way, videos or channels that are not in 4K can be artificially raised to 4K. And the truth is that it does very well if the font is good, increasing sharpness, improving color and of course giving a much higher definition to the content on 4K monitor. This option will be available in the configuration menu, and we can activate or deactivate it while we are playing the content.

The device is perfectly compatible with playback in 4K HDR and Dolby Vision HDR10, thus being able to take advantage of the characteristics of high-end monitors. The formats that support up to 4K HDR @ 60 FPS are H.265, HEVC, VP8, VP9, ​​H.264, MPEG1 / 2. While the formats at 1080 @ 60 FPS are H.263, MJEPG, MPEG4, WMV9 / VC1, being compatible with clips in Xvid, DivX, ASF, AVI, MKV, MOV, M2TS, MPEG-TS, MP4 and WEB-M

The integrated sound card is also of very good quality, as it is capable of playing Dolby and DTS-X surround audio through the HDMI connector. The output will be at a maximum quality of 24 bits at 192 kHz on both USB and HDMI, supporting virtually any audio format.

Integration with Android 9.0 Pie

As we already know, Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro has Android 9.0 Pie in its two versions, integrating it seamlessly into the system. The interface presents something similar to the 2017 version, although with a distribution by categories along with a general list in the left area. The device options menu will be located in the upper right corner and has quite recognizable Android options such as account management, connectivity, and even reset options.

The two USB ports allow us to connect both mouse and keyboard to manage the system as if it were a PC, although this is not perfect. For example, when we play we do need a controller, or when we type we must sometimes interact with the on-screen keyboard in conjunction with the physical one. Of course an Android keyboard would have better compatibility than a normal one.

Having Android 9.0 is a great advantage, since the Google Play Store is perfectly integrated, being able to download applications, games and of course the own apps from television channels. Many of them already come pre-installed, such as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Play in its different versions, and even PLEX. We can for example install a file browser on our own and what we find by the store. It is interesting to be able to use PLEX as a multimedia server, although it is certainly like mounting a server on top of a server, after all, they do almost the same thing, only that PLEX interacts through the home network and we can use it with any monitor / TV connected to the network.

Something that we have loved is the integration with Google Assistant right from the Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro remote control . With an integrated microphone and the button to carry out the control, we can call "Ok Google" as much as we want. The Process is instantaneous as it happens on Smartphone. Similarly, by having such a versatile system we can also use Amazon Alexa by installing the corresponding app.

We recommend this Pro version for having more options and more power for playing, rescaling and playing. The present and future is the Internet of Things, and perhaps the normal version is one step behind it, especially in what we will now see, the mandatory integration with SHIELD TV and Nvidia GeForce NOW.

GeForce Now and SHIELD TV streaming gaming platform

If something has changed in the Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro and normal it is that they are now more oriented to streaming multimedia stations than to video games. For starters, the product no longer comes with the gamepad, which is already a good clue. In any case, the first application that we find in the main menu is GeForce NOW, which we can access directly with our account if we have updated from the 2017 version and play without problems, either with a PS4 console controller, Xbox, or with Nvidia's own version 2017 or that we buy.

The Tegra X1 + processor along with the 3GB of RAM will come in handy for those games that we have installed on the device or for those that we have on our GeForce NOW list. The presence of the two USB ports makes it possible to connect fast storage flash drives, and that is an advantage over the normal version, since the basic 8 GB will be small soon.

Final words and conclusion about Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro

For users who already have SHIELD TV, the change to this new version may not bring them a great benefit in terms of usability, since the integration is still impeccable and with a very similar menu, but it is clearly a more oriented platform to consume multimedia and more powerful content, and this will be two very strong aspects for which to renew.

Having Android 9.0 Pie gives us the opportunity to access all the content compatible with Android in addition to SHIELD TV and GeForce NOW. Google Assistant is one of the great advantages, being able to interact directly from the remote control. Management is complete, very fluid and with a large number of applications already installed, such as Netfilx or Plex, to set up a multimedia center on our network and share content.

The hardware is now more powerful with the Tegra X1 +, not to mention that we have two versions, a Pro oriented more to play and to users who come from SHIELD TV 2017, and a normal one, for users who focus on multimedia. An important novelty is the rescaling to 4K by IA, which will come from a fable for a 4K monitor where HD content is played. It gives us a quality image, sharp and compatible with Dolby HDR and Dolby Atmos sound.

The connectivity, especially in the Pro model is very good, with double USB, HDMI and Wi-Fi 5 2 × 2 connectivity with 1.73 Gbps bandwidth, which is very good for streaming and for the mobility of the team. We miss those USB in the normal version, especially to connect a game controller, which in this case are not available.

Finally, the Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro version that we have tested will find it for a price of € 219, while the normal version will come out for around € 159.99. An important difference that must be considered, although for everything it offers, the Pro version we believe is the most recommended and we want a more complete experience, especially to play on our TV.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ POWERFUL HARDWARE	- PRO VERSION DOES NOT INCLUDE CONTROL
+ 4K UPGRADING BY VERY NATURAL AI	- THE NORMAL VERSION DOES NOT HAVE USB
+ COMPLETE CONNECTIVITY AND WI-FI AC
+ ANDROID 9.0 P INTEGRATION
+ GOOGLE ASSISTANT FROM THE CONTROL
+ AVAILABLE IN TWO VERSIONS

The Professional Review team awards you the gold medal and recommended product:

DESIGN - 85%

PERFORMANCE - 88%

SOFTWARE - 92%

CONNECTIVITY - 87%

PRICE - 86%

88%

Nvidia renews its multimedia TV platform, Nvidia SHIELD TV Pro, more power and better integration