Update (June 2017): I am going to reduce the rating (1/5), but would like to add that Netflix has improved slightly (multi channel audio issue has been fixed) but HBO Go continues to have this issue.
* Apps are buggy, and tend to crash frequently (Learnback Launcher has crashed 3 times in the last week alone)
* Amazon Prime is now included, but the app is a little sluggish, and the experience is definitely not the same as when using the Fire Stick
* My gaming remote broke (two buttons stopped working), and was replaced by NVidia. It worked fine for a month but now it just refuses to sync with the device. Effectively, I can't use the Shield's gaming ability, which is fine since my favorite games tend to crash out more often than not.
Don't get me wrong - I loved this console when it was announced and was eagerly waiting for its release. Based on the hardware and all the specs released, it seemed like a killer product. It was the perfect device for home entertainment - A 4K capable Netflix device with some casual gaming on the side. After having owned this for nearly a year, I think its safe to say that the execution has simply not lived to the expectations.
Before getting to the not so great aspects, I have to say that this is a gorgeous looking device that looks stunning from any angle. It is sleek, and sharp. The straight lines and the aggressive corners all make for a very compact and unique package. The green LED that runs across the top bezel also helps add to oomph.
Turn on the device and you are greeted with an easy to use interface that "learns" to show things that you like. The Android OS is pretty awesome at syncing everything together, and if you've ever used any smartphone, you should feel fairly comfortable navigating the various apps that are available, and downloading more from the app store.
Unfortunately, this is where the problem begins. The OS is simply not designed to be used in a device like the shield. It feels like NVidia has simply molded the OS to somewhat fit, and has done a very sloppy job in the process. The Netflix app, which I use a lot, constantly drops the multi channel audio streams - movies and TV shows that I know have surround sound often play in stereo (I have the Shield hooked up to my receiver with a 5.1 setup). More often than not, I am forced to close the app and restart it to get the surround sound option back.HBO GO has the same issue, and surround sound is something that is never provided, even though I can play the same title back in full surround while using ChromeCast. There is no option for Amazon Prime videos.
Apps seem to crash more often than not (refer the picture I've attached). This can lead to a lot of frustration, especially if you are an ardent gamer. I love playing Asphalt 8 on the shield, when it works. However, the frequency of crashes have increased, and this just makes it not worth it.
The fact that app updates take forever to be available on the Google Play Store for this device is another issue - the latest Asphalt 8 update took over a month for us Shield users. This can be annoying, as one cannot participate in the multiplayer events while on the older version.
If all these kinks are fixed and the apps are more stable, this device could be awesome. However, if you are looking for something to watch 4K streaming content seamlessly, you might be better served by one of the many other alternatives available today.
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From the manufacturer
Rule the Living Room.
Transform your TV experience with NVIDIA SHIELD. The hottest movies and shows in brilliant 4K HDR. Your favorite songs at the touch of a button. And a new generation of great games.
Features at a Glance
- NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor
- 256-core NVIDIA graphics
- 64-bit CPU
- 3 GB RAM
- Android TV, Google Cast Ready
- HDMI 2.0b, 4K Ultra HD with HDR
- 16 GB storage
- MicroSD card slot for additional storage
- 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Two USB 3.0, one micro-USB port
- SHIELD controller included
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Smarter TVLet Google’s advanced voice commands do the work for you. Quickly find what you want with search results from over 60 top apps, including Netflix, HULU, VUDU, HBO, YouTube, and more. Even cast a show or pictures to your TV from your PC, Android, or iOS device with built-in Google Cast.* *Casting optimized for selected services only. Streaming quality for other content might vary. Supported operating systems and devices: Android 2.3 and higher, iOS 7 and higher, Windows 7 and higher, Mac OS 10.7 and higher and Chrome OS (version 38 or higher). |
TV Shows and Movies in 4K HDRWatch in 4K HDR from apps like Netflix*, KODI (XBMC), and PLEX. Enjoy rich Dolby 7.1 or Dolby Atmos surround sound**. And plug your headphones into your SHIELD controller or remote for private listening. Marvel’s Daredevil MARVEL & ABC Studios *Netflix Ultra HD and HDR limitations apply. Visit nflx.it/4K and nflx.it/HDR. ** Audio pass-through *** SHIELD stand sold separately |
Built to PerformThe advanced NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor delivers up to 25 times the performance of popular streaming devices*. Plus, with 16 GB of storage, a MicroSD slot, and USB 3.0 ports for expandable storage, you now have the speed, power, and storage to rule the living room the way you want. *Compared to Roku 3 (GFXBench T-Rex benchmark) |
More Ways to Game
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Stream PC Games from the CloudGeForce NOW lets you stream a library of new and classic PC games at up to 1080p* resolution at 60 FPS from NVIDIA gaming supercomputers in the cloud. Enjoy a collection of 50 classic titles or buy newly released games from our online store and play them immediately—all for just $7.99 per month. Sign-up for our free three-month trial today! *See www.geforcenow.com for more details. |
Play SHIELD Games on the Big ScreenSHIELD is the best way to enjoy premium Android games—from family favorites and indie hits to the most advanced Android TV games with rich gameplay and intense multiplayer action. |
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A World of Entertainment and Games
Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2016
* Apps are buggy, and tend to crash frequently (Learnback Launcher has crashed 3 times in the last week alone)
* Amazon Prime is now included, but the app is a little sluggish, and the experience is definitely not the same as when using the Fire Stick
* My gaming remote broke (two buttons stopped working), and was replaced by NVidia. It worked fine for a month but now it just refuses to sync with the device. Effectively, I can't use the Shield's gaming ability, which is fine since my favorite games tend to crash out more often than not.
Don't get me wrong - I loved this console when it was announced and was eagerly waiting for its release. Based on the hardware and all the specs released, it seemed like a killer product. It was the perfect device for home entertainment - A 4K capable Netflix device with some casual gaming on the side. After having owned this for nearly a year, I think its safe to say that the execution has simply not lived to the expectations.
Before getting to the not so great aspects, I have to say that this is a gorgeous looking device that looks stunning from any angle. It is sleek, and sharp. The straight lines and the aggressive corners all make for a very compact and unique package. The green LED that runs across the top bezel also helps add to oomph.
Turn on the device and you are greeted with an easy to use interface that "learns" to show things that you like. The Android OS is pretty awesome at syncing everything together, and if you've ever used any smartphone, you should feel fairly comfortable navigating the various apps that are available, and downloading more from the app store.
Unfortunately, this is where the problem begins. The OS is simply not designed to be used in a device like the shield. It feels like NVidia has simply molded the OS to somewhat fit, and has done a very sloppy job in the process. The Netflix app, which I use a lot, constantly drops the multi channel audio streams - movies and TV shows that I know have surround sound often play in stereo (I have the Shield hooked up to my receiver with a 5.1 setup). More often than not, I am forced to close the app and restart it to get the surround sound option back.HBO GO has the same issue, and surround sound is something that is never provided, even though I can play the same title back in full surround while using ChromeCast. There is no option for Amazon Prime videos.
Apps seem to crash more often than not (refer the picture I've attached). This can lead to a lot of frustration, especially if you are an ardent gamer. I love playing Asphalt 8 on the shield, when it works. However, the frequency of crashes have increased, and this just makes it not worth it.
The fact that app updates take forever to be available on the Google Play Store for this device is another issue - the latest Asphalt 8 update took over a month for us Shield users. This can be annoying, as one cannot participate in the multiplayer events while on the older version.
If all these kinks are fixed and the apps are more stable, this device could be awesome. However, if you are looking for something to watch 4K streaming content seamlessly, you might be better served by one of the many other alternatives available today.
Edition: NewVerified Purchase
Has a lot of potential
By Raj C on September 16, 2016
Update (June 2017): I am going to reduce the rating (1/5), but would like to add that Netflix has improved slightly (multi channel audio issue has been fixed) but HBO Go continues to have this issue.By Raj C on September 16, 2016
* Apps are buggy, and tend to crash frequently (Learnback Launcher has crashed 3 times in the last week alone)
* Amazon Prime is now included, but the app is a little sluggish, and the experience is definitely not the same as when using the Fire Stick
* My gaming remote broke (two buttons stopped working), and was replaced by NVidia. It worked fine for a month but now it just refuses to sync with the device. Effectively, I can't use the Shield's gaming ability, which is fine since my favorite games tend to crash out more often than not.
Don't get me wrong - I loved this console when it was announced and was eagerly waiting for its release. Based on the hardware and all the specs released, it seemed like a killer product. It was the perfect device for home entertainment - A 4K capable Netflix device with some casual gaming on the side. After having owned this for nearly a year, I think its safe to say that the execution has simply not lived to the expectations.
Before getting to the not so great aspects, I have to say that this is a gorgeous looking device that looks stunning from any angle. It is sleek, and sharp. The straight lines and the aggressive corners all make for a very compact and unique package. The green LED that runs across the top bezel also helps add to oomph.
Turn on the device and you are greeted with an easy to use interface that "learns" to show things that you like. The Android OS is pretty awesome at syncing everything together, and if you've ever used any smartphone, you should feel fairly comfortable navigating the various apps that are available, and downloading more from the app store.
Unfortunately, this is where the problem begins. The OS is simply not designed to be used in a device like the shield. It feels like NVidia has simply molded the OS to somewhat fit, and has done a very sloppy job in the process. The Netflix app, which I use a lot, constantly drops the multi channel audio streams - movies and TV shows that I know have surround sound often play in stereo (I have the Shield hooked up to my receiver with a 5.1 setup). More often than not, I am forced to close the app and restart it to get the surround sound option back.HBO GO has the same issue, and surround sound is something that is never provided, even though I can play the same title back in full surround while using ChromeCast. There is no option for Amazon Prime videos.
Apps seem to crash more often than not (refer the picture I've attached). This can lead to a lot of frustration, especially if you are an ardent gamer. I love playing Asphalt 8 on the shield, when it works. However, the frequency of crashes have increased, and this just makes it not worth it.
The fact that app updates take forever to be available on the Google Play Store for this device is another issue - the latest Asphalt 8 update took over a month for us Shield users. This can be annoying, as one cannot participate in the multiplayer events while on the older version.
If all these kinks are fixed and the apps are more stable, this device could be awesome. However, if you are looking for something to watch 4K streaming content seamlessly, you might be better served by one of the many other alternatives available today.
Images in this review
The NVIDIA Shield Android TV is a fantastic device slightly hampered by what is essentially a handicapped version of Android.
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2016Edition: NewVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
小澤 昌之
最高のゲームタブレットです
Reviewed in Japan on May 31, 2016Edition: NewVerified Purchase
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