NVIDIA SHIELD TV Review: Cloud GeForce. Review of the Nvidia Shield console. PC games and player in one box

I put the console aside and switched to the Shield.

What do I want to tell you? Not just happy. Surprised. The future has arrived: you can play computer games without having a console. This is what was prescribed to MacBook owners - the opportunity not to spend money on a PC and a set-top box for 30 thousand rubles. A miracle in reality.

This is also a cool media player and Android set-top box with support for all imaginable and inconceivable formats. Yes, you can connect a flash drive too. I knew you would ask.

Nvidia Shield TV single-handedly replaces a cool receiver, a multimedia server, a device for streaming from a PC, a separate game console and (soon) a smart home center!

I didn't expect this from such a small box. Small, but smart.

The design is daring, but not youthful, I liked it

It may not be the main thing, but Shield TV will perfectly complement any interior and system. The design is incredibly cool, in the spirit of modern gaming PCs and laptops: a lot of polygons, different textures and signature green lighting.

The console will easily fit into a classic interior with furniture made of natural wood, as well as high-tech metal. Just place it next to the TV and carefully connect the wires. If you want - on your side, if you want - lying down. For more freedom, you can purchase a special stand from the official Nvidia store.


There are two modifications of Nvidia Shield TV: a fairly large Pro version (if you saw the first option, its body is used) and a smaller, cheap version without a stand. There are few differences - the number of ports and the capacity of the internal storage. In person the dimensions are almost indistinguishable. If you have a “file dump”, but don’t have a receiver with multi-channel acoustics, you can buy it cheaper.

They put such iron here that WOW

Let me remind readers that Nvidia Shield TV is a continuation or development of the NVIDIA SHIELD line of portable gaming devices in a new form factor. The Tegra X1 processor used in it is one of the most powerful on the market.


Shield TV uses Nvidia graphics core based on Maxwell architecture. No TV set-top box can boast of such power: the graphics module is comparable to GeForce 9800 GT video cards! This set-top box supports all the key technologies of DirectX 12, API Vulkan and CUDA - traditionally computer technologies of the latest desktop hits.

The power is amazing. In terms of teraflops, the Shield is inferior to gaming consoles or desktop computers. But you don’t need to compare with them - why does a TV need a gaming computer? And not with Chinese boxes (including our favorite from Apple TV). All of them cannot decode true 4K HEVC at 60 frames per second and display it on the screen. Shied TV does this on the fly, without slowdowns or lags. It seems that only Nvidia has thought about the future of television.

There are so many ports and capabilities that Apple TV will be jealous

I would call the Shield TV (2017) a high-end streaming receiver. This set-top box is inferior to traditional audiophile things for 100 thousand only in communication capabilities.


The basic version of the ports has a minimum of: 2 USB 3.0, progressive HDMI 2.0b with CEC support for controlling a TV/set-top box with one remote control, and Gigabit LAN. The improved modification is equipped with a card reader, microUSB and an additional infrared receiver for operation of universal remote controls from other systems.

Both are equipped with modern dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. The speed is at maximum, so using the set-top box really doesn’t require a lot of wired connections or a large amount of internal memory.

Streaming and wireless technologies depend only on the quality of communication. Everything is fine with it on Shield TV. Therefore, in the basic version the drive is only 16 GB, although you can purchase the Pro version with a 500 GB hard drive. The latter is a laptop one and can be easily replaced with a more capacious one. Here is the finished server.

Amazing, the coolest gamepad was put right in the box

Included with Nvidia Shield TV 2017 of any modification are two manipulators: a remote control and a gamepad. The remote control is just like a remote control, although it is very convenient and functional. There is a microphone and a touch strip for control. It doesn't look like a gyro mouse. This role is played by the gamepad.

Without it, the 2017 Shield TV would be priced below Apple TV. But it is incredibly cool - perhaps the most comfortable of those I have ever held in my hands. Externally, it continues the design of the console: the same triangles, broken lines, green insert. All the beauty of the new Shield gaming controller can only be felt in your own hands.


It easily fits in both a woman's palm and a man's paw. The convenience will be the same. I don't want to let it out. Replacing it with a keyboard/mouse is even more so (for me, a die-hard fan of desktop PCs!). Although Shield TV allows the use of computer accessories, Chinese Bluetooth gamepads and Xbox controllers.


The original controller has its own audio decoder, headphone output and even a long-range microphone. Built-in battery - for 60 hours of continuous play! Connects via Bluetooth: a pair can be connected to a computer, and to the Shield TV itself - 4 at once.


The set of buttons is familiar: sticks, triggers, bumpers, crosses, XY/AB. The functionality is expanded with keys to control system functions: home, back and context menu. The volume is adjusted here using the touch strip.


Analog sticks are perfect: precise, comfortable, enjoyable. Try it - you'll definitely like it! All buttons are pressed as they should. They don't click, the stroke is short enough not to hold up. Xbox has it much worse.

The Nvidia Shield has Android 7.0 TV, and that's right

Nvidia developers chose Android 7.0 with the Android TV shell as the operating system. We have talked more than once about the convenience of this system - and now we will tell you again.


In general, this is a regular “green robot” with the ability to install applications from a separate section of the Google application store. There are tons of multimedia applications, multiple browsers, and even office suites available. If you want, watch, if you want, work. But these are normal system capabilities.

Android TV offers more than Google Play apps or TV-optimized images. The whole point is in integrated services and incredible optimization capabilities. You can set up a list of search services, and the phrase “New series of Game of Thrones,” said next to the remote control or gamepad, will display on the screen a soundtrack from SoundCloud, videos from your favorite service (or torrent tracker), videos from YouTube and any other materials. Choose for yourself.


Now Shield TV understands any commands related to navigation and search. Soon the developers promise to add support for an even cooler Google Assistant feature. When activated, the usual “Ok Google” will work and the Shield will become a universal control center for Nest cameras and thermostats, a Samsung SmartThings smart hub, and a bunch of other smart gadgets for home automation.

Who has the best support? Nvidia has Shield!

Users are accustomed to updating their gadgets every 1-2 years. This is the company's policy - to release and abandon the device to its own devices. If you want a new system, no bugs and modern features, buy a new piece of hardware.


That's why Nvidia is a unique company. Believe it or not, they support their Android gadgets for 4-5 years.

For example, the Nvidia Shield tablet for gamers was the first among all devices to receive Android 7.0. And it was released in 2014. Even smartphones are abandoned in the second year after graduation.

TV boxes are usually abandoned after six months - the manufacturer simply releases a new device and forgets about the users. That won't happen with the Shield TV: Nvidia will keep releasing updates as long as Google works on Android. This is very cool: new features, new features – and reliable security for the gadget. In a world where hackers have taught how to hack coffee grinders, it is simply impossible to live without fresh updates.

In the Android world, only Nvidia can afford to support devices for that long. Nobody works like that - the loss of income is too great. Imagine if your smartphone worked perfectly for 5 years!

Shield can play any video and music at all

Nvidia Shield TV can be used for streaming or viewing content directly from its own memory (or flash drive). The set-top box can also broadcast from home storage - all you need is a suitable program. For example, Plex or Kodi. And finally, Shield TV supports streaming from any device source running Android, iOS, OS X, Linux or Windows that supports the standard.

If you have the appropriate equipment on the set-top box, you can also watch terrestrial TV. Also in the form of a digital stream - Shield TV is designed for streaming services and broadcasts. There are no equals: it copes with video streams in MPEG-2, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AC-1, WMV9 and V9 - that is, with all common video formats and containers. Even with the latest Ultra HD HDR standard, offering unique color capabilities.

But there are some nuances with audio playback: Shield does not have Dolby licenses, so the audio stream comes without processing. To hear multi-channel audio, you will need an external device that supports it. Amazon Fire and Apple TV do the same.

Android games: a worthy continuation of the portable Shield

Games. That's what Shield TV is for. Although the main gaming features will be revealed a little later, it’s worth talking about the console’s own gaming capabilities.

You can directly install regular games from the Android app store into it. They're unlikely to impress desktop or console players. You probably won't find a better game than Asphalt 8, but their graphics won't impress you on the big screen.

Games created for Nvidia Shield are also not encouraging. Borderlands, Half-Life 2, Doom 3: BFG Edition, Knights of the Old Republic, Resident Evil 5 and many others look great on the small screen of an Nvidia tablet. But on a 50-inch TV, the 2013-2014 graphics are not encouraging.

You can stream real PC games from the cloud. Not yours

Broadcasting gameplay from your home PC to a modern TV radically changes the attitude towards Nvidia Shield TV. Proprietary GameStream technology allows you to transmit gameplay over Wi-Fi coverage in maximum quality in a few clicks. Even multi-channel audio works when broadcasting. Any games work. If you want, fly in your favorite network planes, or if you want, chase the evil spirits on Roach.


In any resolution available for the system - although after 1080p or Ultra HD you will run for a new video card. It will be required because GameStream allows you to stream games only if you have an Nvidia video card. Otherwise, you will have to play for a long time with the settings of additional applications and wait for possible lags (although launching broadcasts without Nvidia is an unofficial possibility).

In 4K HDR, the gaming experience is unreal. It will be difficult to sit down at the monitor again. Vivid colors, clear pictures, huge field of view. At the very least, this makes Shield TV (2017) a way to reimagine existing gameplay and make it as seamless as possible.

Another way to expand the capabilities of the console is the Nvidia GeForce Now proprietary service. Everything is simple with it: for a subscription fee you open a cloud service, install the game and broadcast it to Shield TV. You don't need a computer - just a stable Internet connection.


There are few restrictions: games will have to be purchased and installed, albeit not on local media. And pay $7.99 per month for GeForce NOW. Compared to the cost of a desktop computer with the ability to run modern games at 1080p and 60 frames per second, this is nonsense.

The service's library includes 100 game hits. The Witcher 3, Thief, Tomb Rider... Soon the entire Ubisoft catalog from the Uplay store will be added to them, including Assassin's Creed, Tom Clancy's The Division, Watch Dogs and Far Cry Primal. Cool? And how.

What can Nvidia Shield do in Russia? Quite a lot

New technologies take root in our country with difficulty. Affordable Ultra HD is sweeping the world victoriously, but for Russian users this technology is still new. Few people have heard about extended dynamic range and an increased number of colors in the gamut.

But there are TVs. And with due persistence, they are little more expensive than regular Full HD. But there are still few sources of Russian-language content. Many Russian streaming services presented their applications for Nvidia Shield TV: Ivi, Amediateka, Megogo. There are even branded MTS TV, NTV and SPB TV. But Ultra HD is not there.

“Correct” broadcasts in 4K HDR can be found in the Amazon Video video service and the Netflix catalog. And Russian voice acting is scarce there, although the situation is slowly changing for the better. If you know English, then there is a lot of content: all Netflix series are released in Ultra HD. “Stranger Things”, “Daredevil”, “House of Cards”. Among them, several were released with HDR.

There will be more content - 4K HDR is the most promising video broadcasting standard for the next 5-10 years. Russian users will gradually give in to it.

Will it help you buy a TV? GeForce NOW.

Of course, its work is not ideal - but the service provides services that allow you to abandon a desktop computer costing 50-70 thousand! Add a little, and it’s enough for a cool TV. The experience of playing games and movies in maximum quality on Nvidia Shield TV is worth it.


Although it won't stop there. If you want to stream from your home computer, you will have to update. There should be enough power for both the game and broadcast. So you need a top-end processor and a GTX 1080 (by the way, this is exactly the power a GeForce NOW user gets).

You will also have to update your router: broadcasting even from a computer to a set-top box is very demanding on the quality of communication. For GeForce NOW to work, you will need a constant connection at a speed of at least 15 Mbit/s when broadcasting in HD and 30 Mbit/s for Full HD. No ping, speed loss or other types of delays. This may even lead to a change of provider. But the game will be comfortable and will not require a noisy block for a lot of money.

Results and conclusions

At first glance, Nvidia Shield TV seems like an experimental device: you have everything, but you don’t know what to use it for. A little searching for good content, a couple of movies watched, an hour of broadcasting the game from a desktop computer - and any doubts about the platform’s viability disappear.

In fact, this is a television Nintendo Switch with an expanded range of applications. They even have the same processor. Nintendo occupies a narrow but very popular niche in gaming. Shield TV is much more versatile.

At least because it is a full-fledged home multimedia server. And the most powerful on the market. So much so that she has enough reserves for many years to come.


The cost of the basic version of Nvidia Shield TV is 17,990 rubles. This is a lot, if you don’t look at your competitors. Apple TV will cost 10-12 thousand. Popular Chinese media boxes with 4K support cost at least 5-7 thousand, and can do almost nothing.

Advantages

Very high performance
Nice small form factor
Convenient operation thanks to Android TV
Comprehensive software features
Remote control and controller included

Flaws

Relatively high energy consumption
There is no slot for microSD memory cards
Too expensive to use exclusively for streaming

Nvidia Shield Test Results (2017)

• Price-quality ratio
  Average
• Place in the overall ranking
  1 of 11

• Price/quality ratio: 53
• Equipment (20%): 100
• Management (35%): 97.9
• Streaming (40%): 99.7
• Energy consumption (5%): 38.8

Editorial rating

User rating

You have already rated

In our review, we evaluate Shield TV, first of all, as a media player, leaving out many (primarily gaming) functionality of the device from NVIDIA.

However, to get a complete impression of the device, we consider them separately within the framework of this material.

But even as a purely “streaming” device, this media player, according to the test results, with its 96 points out of 100 possible, climbs to first place and keeps the “silver medalist”, Amazon Fire TV, at a decent distance.

In terms of equipment and streaming functions, Shield TV sets new records in the relevant test disciplines. In particular, this box boasts two USB ports, supports all types of external modern media, offers users a gigabit LAN port, a WLAN module ac standard and Bluetooth, and also provides access to a comprehensive Google Play Store for the Android TV platform .

However, compared to the previous model, you will be missing a MicroSD memory card slot, with which you could inexpensively expand the small size of the built-in memory, which is only 16 GB. However, you can still use USB flash drives and external hard drives by connecting them via USB ports.

The code base for the operating system is Android 7.x, with which the player is up to date. On board there are applications for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Watchever, Maxdome, YouTube, Sky Snap, as well as all relevant media libraries. Thanks to the presence of an HDMI 2.0 port, as well as the capabilities of the system on the Tegra X1 chip, Shield TV is capable of transmitting video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second - at the moment it doesn’t get any better. In addition to the console and cables, the package includes a remote control and a well-made controller.

Alternatively, you can control the device using the native smartphone app. In terms of power consumption, the player from NVIDIA, in a relative comparison, is significantly inferior to its competitors, but upon closer examination, the difference between 5.6 W (Shield TV) and 2.0 W (Apple TV 4) in absolute values ​​is small.

NVIDIA Shield TV: The Best Streaming Client We've Tested

What the new Shield can do as a gaming console

The Shield is the standard when it comes to streaming, but as gaming machines, Android TV devices play a very minor role in the market. However, NVIDIA here offers users numerous features that could pique the interest of both casual and hardcore gamers.

Users usually start by visiting the Play Store. It has some interesting games that are displayed simply flawlessly on this console. These include such gameplay gems as Telltale's adventure The Walking Dead, shooter Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and puzzler The Witness. The games are based on Android, so you only need one Google account.

GeForce Now goes one step further: gamers are provided with a fleet of servers that takes care of all the “miscalculations” of PC games and sends the results over the Internet to the Shield TV. However, such a service will cost players 649 rubles per month. In turn, you will get access to some of the games that are included in the “pass”. At the time of the test, for example, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Just Cause 2, Hitman: Absolution and Tomb Raider were available. In addition, there are also games that can be purchased separately, but they usually contain a Steam key for local gaming.

Anyone who already owns a gaming PC can also use NVIDIA Game Stream. With this feature, you can stream any game over your home network from your computer to Shield TV. However, a prerequisite for this process is that you have a suitable GeForce graphics card and GeForce Experience software. Games can be controlled using either the included controller or a keyboard and mouse connected to the Shield.

Focus on games: those who play little don’t need Shield TV either

Looking to the future: NVIDIA is making plans for the Shield

NVIDIA announced something about the future of the Shield console at CES in January of this year. In particular, someday this device should become a kind of control center for home networks. To achieve this, the manufacturer will introduce so-called spot extensions to the market within a year. These modules can be installed anywhere in an apartment or house; they must connect wirelessly to the Shield and thus help control elements of the smart home system, as well as, for example, change the music or its volume.

The software is based on Google Assistant, a voice control system for Android devices. We cannot now verify the validity of such statements, since we were not able to test this function as part of this test. As soon as the spots become available, we will provide you with a report on our impressions on this topic.

On the “gaming” side, something will also be done in the future. For example, soon the cooperation between NVIDIA and Ubisoft will become even closer. Anyone who owns a Uplay account, Ubisoft's Origin counterpart, will be able to import their library of games and organize streaming via GeForce Now at no additional cost. These games include Watch Dogs 2, Far Cry Primal, and even the newly released For Honor. This service should start within the next few weeks.

Watch_Dogs 2: will soon be playable on Nvidia Shield TV

Alternative options

Cheaper: Amazon Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD (2nd generation)

A classic among streaming media players is produced by Amazon. It already comes in two versions, can play 4K content at 30 frames per second and costs about 5,500 rubles. It is absolutely clear: from a gaming point of view, the device from Amazon is not an alternative, because the manufacturer relies on its own shell without direct access to the Play Store. But it fulfills almost all the wishes that you can make of a streaming client - and this at an affordable price.

More elegant: Apple TV 4

Another classic: the fourth generation is the ideal device for reproducing everything that has been done in the Apple universe. The device works excellently with all iOS hardware, such as iPhone or iPad, has a clear and beautifully designed shell, and is superbly equipped. However, with a price starting from 9,500 rubles euros, Apple TV 4 is a relatively expensive player.

TEST RESULTS
Equipment (20%)
Management (35%)
Streaming (40%)
Energy consumption (5%)
CONCLUSION Based on the test results, the new Shield TV proved to be an excellent and high-performance media player based on Android TV with pronounced gaming functionality, which at the time of testing was easily ahead of all competitors. However, there isn't much real innovation over the version released in 2015, so for those who already own the previous model, buying the updated Shield TV model isn't necessary.		2 connectors
Fat 32 support	Yes
NTFS support	Yes
USB 3.0	Yes
Memory card slot	-
LAN	1.000 Mbit
WLAN	Yes
WLAN (ac)	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
HDMI	Yes
Audio output: coaxial	-
Audio output: optical	-
Play Store (Google TV) support	Yes
App Store support	-
Third party software store support	-
Modular application system	Yes
Game availability	Yes
Browser	-
Adobe Flash browser support	-
Amazon Prime	-
Netflix	Yes
Watchever	Yes
Youtube	Yes
Maxdome	Yes
Sky Snap	Yes
iTunes	-
Media library: ARD	Yes
Media library: ZDF	Yes
Media library: Arte	Yes
DLNA	Yes
4K video playback	Yes
Max. frame rate (4K video)	60 fps
Amazon Prime: 4K playback	Yes
Netflix: 4K playback	Yes
Youtube: 4K playback	Yes
Airplay	Yes
Miracast	Yes
Voice control	Yes
Keyboard support	Yes
Smartphone control	Yes
Gamepad support	Yes
Power consumption when streaming Youtube	5.6 W
Power consumption in standby mode	3.9 W
Dimensions	9.8 x 15.9 x 2.6 cm
Weight	250 g

Android TV and smart home

SHIELD TV runs Android 7.0 in the Android TV shell, running smoothly at 60 frames per second even at 4K resolution. A very simple, but at the same time functional interface contains three rows of large icons - applications, games and recommendations. The latter includes recently launched games or, for example, popular content from YouTube. If necessary, you can prevent each program from individually offering its recommendations.

To navigate the UI, all you need is four directional buttons on the remote or gamepad and the Forward/Back keys. It's just inconvenient to enter text using the on-screen keyboard. SHIELD TV relies on voice commands to do this. At the moment, speech is used only for basic actions (like launching an application) and searching for content. The set-top box recognizes the Russian language without any problems, but has difficulty distinguishing English words in Russian phrases, which makes it almost impossible to launch applications in this way.

In one of the next updates, NVIDIA will add Google Assistant software, which will expand the capabilities of speech communication. The program recognizes the meaning of messages in the context of a conversation, is activated by the command “Okay, Google” and, in addition, learns to understand the user better the more often it is used. Owners of the 2015 SHIELD TV will also not be left out, but they will have to buy a new gamepad, since only it has a constantly working microphone, necessary for Google Assistant.

Along with Google Asistant, there will be a smart home application compatible with various third-party devices - Nest cameras and thermostats, Samsung SmartThings hub, countless lighting lamps, speaker systems, kettles, etc. NVIDIA will also release its own accessory for controlling home devices - the Spot microphone and speaker .

Since SHIELD TV does not have a sensitive screen, most applications created for mobile devices cannot be downloaded to the console from Google Play, although they can be easily installed from .apk files and controlled with the mouse or the right stick of a game controller. And even if you install, for example, the Chrome browser, its interface will be too large for a large screen. However, SHIELD TV can still be turned into a desktop, if there is such a need, using special shells (like Leena Desktop UI) or even installed on an Ubuntu console.

⇡ Audio and video

When looking at SHIELD TV's multimedia capabilities, we'll start by playing local content stored on the built-in ROM, external DAS or NAS. The set-top box supports hardware decoding of all image formats in which films are distributed - MPEG-2, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AC-1, WMV9 and VP9, ​​but does not have licenses for decoding various Dolby multi-channel audio formats. The latter can be broadcast in “raw” form to an external receiver or DAC via HDMI, USB or an adapter from USB to SP-DIF. To do this, you can use the PLEX program pre-installed on SHIELD TV, or alternative software - for example, Kodi. Finally, Tegra X1 can also handle software audio decoding using VLC Player and other third-party players (the native Android player is still too primitive to use for watching movies).

Streaming video in the opposite direction - from external devices to SHIELD - is provided by Chromecast. Moreover, since this is a cross-platform standard, the source can be a phone or tablet running both Android and iOS, as well as a computer running Windows, MacOS and Linux. However, there is a caveat: Chromecast works differently than VNC and similar remote desktop protocols. Every single program you plan to stream on SHIELD TV must support the Google Cast API.

Finally, the set-top box can display over-the-air television using the Google Live Channels program and a TV tuner with the function of broadcasting over UDP/IP on a local network.

But of course, the main source of content for SHIELD TV is streaming services. Netflix and Amazon Video already offer a collection of films in 4K resolution, in particular with HDR. In addition, you can buy movies and music on Google Play and install applications for individual TV channels, including Russian ones.

⇡ Games

Despite the wide multimedia capabilities of SHIELD TV, let's not forget that first and foremost it is a gaming console. NVIDIA offers three ways to play: Android games, broadcasting from a computer on a local network, and the GeForce NOW online service.

Since the time of the first SHIELD, more “serious” games have appeared on Android, in particular ports of classic or simply successful projects of past years from PC. NVIDIA itself had a hand in some of them (Half-Life 2, Knights of the Old Republic, DOOM 3 BFG Edition, etc.). As a result, games only run on SHIELD devices and are often not compatible even with the SHIELD mobile console, as they use Kepler and Maxwell GPU capabilities. Recent additions to the game library include Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (the original was released in 2014), Metal Gear Solid: Revengeance and The Witness (a rare example of a completely new cross-platform game on Android). A port of Tomb Raider from 2013 is currently being prepared for release. A list of all SHIELD TV compatible games can be found on the NVIDIA website.

Borderlands: TPS and Borderlands 2 have arguably the best graphics SHIELD TV can afford. Even if, compared to the PC version, textures of reduced resolution are noticeable, and the image is displayed on the screen in 720p mode, for a mobile system-on-a-chip the result is amazing. After all, on previous generation consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) these games look about the same.

Borderlands: the Pre-Sequel

The frame rate is also quite tolerable for the console, although in heavy scenes there are drops down to about 20 FPS. Unfortunately, I had to test it on a subjective basis, since the Android build on SHIELD TV lacks the settings necessary for running applications that measure framerate.

Another game we launched on SHIELD TV, The Witness, has simpler graphics and feels like it delivers at least 60 FPS, although it also runs at 720p.

Be that as it may, AAA games are a rare guest on Android, and considering that the main base of devices running this OS are gadgets with completely different hardware capabilities, you can’t count on active additions to the list. However, the fact that the Nintendo Switch also has an NVIDIA SoC installed inspires some hope.

The priority direction for SHIELD TV is broadcasting games from your home PC and the Internet. Local streaming (GameStream) requires a computer with a GeForce graphics card and GeForce Experience software. Resolutions up to 4K are supported (in the latter case, an accelerator of at least GeForce GTX 1080 is required) and HDR (available only on Pascal architecture GPUs). It is best to connect the set-top box to the router via wire, but Wi-Fi will also work, preferably at a frequency of 5 GHz. It is recommended to use a router from the NVIDIA approved list of devices. As practice has shown, a cheap access point at a frequency of 2.4 GHz does not provide either a high-quality picture or a short response time.

There is virtually no setup required to start playing. The console detects your computer, and then you just need to select the game you want in the NVIDIA Games app. Obstacles in the process can only arise due to the Steam interface or the game “launcher” interrupting the loading process. In such cases, the console displays the Windows desktop on the screen, and the mouse cursor is moved with the right stick of the gamepad. In a large number of games, the SHIELD gamepad is supported out of the box with a ready-made button layout, or at least its basic functions are available. In the worst case scenario, you will have to uncover your keyboard and mouse.

We tested GameStream in Fallout 4 and Rise of the Tomb Raider at 4K resolution, connecting the console to a computer via a 1 Gbps Ethernet link and must admit that the system works flawlessly. The picture looks indistinguishable from what the computer directly displays on the screen, and the latency when controlling the gamepad is more than acceptable. If you use a mouse, the lag is felt even less than in PC games with V-sync enabled. Players with a predominantly console background, where 30 FPS and VSync are the norm, won't have much to complain about. In addition, the higher the resolution, the longer the response time. Playing in 1080p mode is a little more comfortable than in 2160p.

GeForce Experience on PC

In addition to connecting within a local network, GameStream can work over the Internet, provided that you leave the computer turned on when leaving home. Of course, to obtain an image without artifacts and acceptable latency under such conditions, a phenomenally high-quality connection to the global network of both devices is required.

Finally, you can stream games bypassing GeForce Experience using a similar feature on Steam and the Android app. You don't even need a GeForce video card for this.

The most intriguing of the SHIELD gaming features is the GeForce NOW online service, which grew out of the previous NVIDIA GRID project, which we met two years ago on the example of the SHIELD Tablet K1. GeForce NOW is based on the same idea: NVIDIA offers a library of games that run on SHIELD (all three devices are supported - handheld console, tablet and set-top box) in the same way as through GameStream, only from cloud servers.

What has changed is mainly the technical side of the issue. The user has at his disposal computing power equivalent to that of the GeForce GTX 1080, and all the capabilities of the Pascal architecture. In addition to American servers, NVIDIA opened clouds in Europe, East and Southeast Asia. Over time, as a company representative told us, the GeForce NOW server may appear in Russia.

Games are broadcast in 720p or 1080p resolution (with a refresh rate of 30 or 60 Hz), which requires a channel with a bandwidth of 12 and 25 Mbps, respectively, and a ping of no more than 60 ms. Depending on the quality of the connection, the set-top box will select the resolution and refresh rate automatically, but you can also set a fixed value.

The Witcher 3 on GeForce NOW

We had the opportunity to test GeForce NOW for the first time in Munich, where the Central European server is available with a ping of 5 ms. Under such favorable circumstances, the gameplay is practically no different from broadcasting within a local network. In Moscow, the ping already reaches 50 ms, which corresponds to the latency when playing on a PC at a frame rate of 20 FPS, even if you do not spend additional time decoding the video signal. Note that this calculation has nothing to do with the actual frame rate. The picture is of impeccable quality, and the smoothness of the video is only disrupted by the occasional loss of frames. It is the reaction time to player actions that suffers from high ping. But, oddly enough, you can still play, despite some discomfort.

Thief on GeForce NOW

Tomb Raider on GeForce NOW

The bigger problem with GeForce NOW is the limitations of its current business model. For a subscription fee of $7.99 per month, the user gets access to more than a hundred games, but about forty of them (naturally, the newest and best) are sold for a fee. Thus, if a copy of the game has already been purchased on Steam, you will have to pay for it again on GeForce NOW. In addition, it is impossible to transfer saves between GeForce NOW and any other platform, and the catalog of games is not that large yet. Luckily, NVIDIA is working on integrating Uplay accounts into GeForce NOW, which will work in a future app update.

NVIDIA will offer a more flexible service for broadcasting games on PC and Mac, early access to which will open in March of this year. The user will receive a dedicated virtual machine with 1 TB of storage, to which they can connect Steam, Uplay, Orign, Battle.Net and GOG accounts and install individual free-to-play games. However, the access fee will be quite large, depending on the performance: $25 for 20 hours of gaming with an analogue GeForce GTX 1060 or 10 hours on a GTX 1080.

Finally, we note one more feature of SHIELD TV related to games. The console allows you to record gameplay at 1080p resolution and broadcast it to Twitch at 720p resolution, but in both cases the frame rate is limited to 30 Hz. Simultaneous recording of voice and image from the webcam is possible.

IN WHICH COUNTRIES CAN I BUY NVIDIA SHIELD TV?

SHIELD TV is currently available in the following countries:

• - USA
• - Canada
• - Great Britain
• - Germany
• - France
• - Italy
• - Spain
• - Austria
• - Norway
• - Netherlands
• - Switzerland
• - Russia
• - Poland
• - Czech Republic

WHAT SOFTWARE IS PRE-INSTALLED ON NVIDIA SHIELD TV?

NVIDIA SHIELD TV comes preloaded with Android TV™ and select Google apps, including Google Play, which gives you access to hundreds of apps and a huge selection of streaming content. SHIELD TV also comes pre-installed with:

• Netflix - Watch thousands of Netflix series, movies and shows on your TV in up to 4K HDR resolution.
• Amazon Video - Stream thousands of popular movies and TV shows to your TV in up to 4K HDR.
• PLEX - Stream videos, music and photos from your PC to your TV.
• PLEX Media Server – Access your catalog of digital media content from anywhere in the world.
• NVIDIA Games is a new app that lets you discover and access games on SHIELD TV, including exclusive Android games, GeForce NOW games, and PC games streamed using NVIDIA GameStream technology.
• NVIDIA Share - Stream and stream your favorite games.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO INSTALL NVIDIA SHIELD TV?

All you need is an HDMI-enabled TV with Internet connectivity (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and an HDMI cable. To connect to a 4K or HDR TV, you will need an HDMI 2.0 compatible cable.

WILL SHIELD TV WORK WITH MY TV?

SHIELD TV works with virtually any HDMI-enabled TV or display. SHIELD TV can be connected directly to your TV or receiver.

Please note: To play 4K Ultra HD or HDR content, your display must support these formats. If you connect SHIELD TV to a 4K HDR-capable TV via an AV receiver or soundbar, it must support HDMI 2.0 (with HDCP 2.2).

HOW TO TURN ON THE SHIELD TV MEDIA PLAYER? DOES IT HAVE A POWER BUTTON?

SHIELD TV turns on immediately after connecting to the included power source and automatically goes into sleep mode to save power consumption. There is no power button on the console.

HOW CAN I UPDATE ON SHIELD TV?

We have made this process simple and fast. All software updates for SHIELD TV are released directly by NVIDIA. You'll receive a notification, found in the Recommended Content section of your home screen, when an update is available. After your confirmation, the system will automatically download and install the update. You can manually check for a software update. To do this, go to Settings > Device > About device > System update.

WHAT ACCESSORIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SHIELD TV?

At the time of release, the media player has three accessories available for it: additional SHIELD controllers, a proprietary vertical stand and additional SHIELD remote controls (including remote controls with a headset jack). Please note that SHIELD TV comes with one game controller and one remote control.

All additional devices can be purchased from NVIDIA.

CAN I CONNECT THE SHIELD CONTROLLER AS A CONTROLLER TO OTHER ANDROID DEVICES OR GAMING PCs?

Yes. You can connect the new SHIELD controller to other Android devices as a Bluetooth controller. It can also be used as a game controller supporting the Xinput standard with computers equipped with GeForce GTX graphics cards.

WHAT APPS SUPPORT 4K ULTRA HD CONTENT?

4K TVs are becoming very popular, and the volume of 4K content is constantly growing. Below are the most popular apps that support 4K streaming:

• Netflix (series such as House of Cards, Daredevil, Breaking Bad, Marco Polo, and many others)
• Amazon Video (TV shows and series such as The Grand Tour, Bosch, Goliath, and many others)
• YouTube (4K movie trailers and channels like RocketJump, GoPro, Devinsupertramp, and many more)
• Ultraflix
• Vimeo
• Media players such as Plex, Kodi, VLC, MX Player, and pre-installed Photo and Video app

Make sure your subscription plan supports 4K streaming. On Netflix, this requires a subscription with the Premuim plan.

Check out the settings on some standard TVs that need to be enabled to support HDR:

• For Samsung HDR TVs: Menu->Image->Image Options->HDMI UHD Color->Enable->Restart
• For LG HDR TVs: Home->HDMI->Settings->Advanced->Image->HDMI ULTRA DEEP COLOR->Enable->Restart
• For Sony HDR TVs: Home -> Settings -> External input device -> Signal format via HDMI -> HDMI [select SHIELD TV input device] -> Enhanced mode (TV will reboot)

WHAT HDR CONTENT IS AVAILABLE TODAY?

Netflix and Amazon Video have large libraries of HDR-ready content in 4K resolution. On the description page for a movie, TV series, or show, look for the “HDR” icon. On Netflix, this icon will only appear when an HDR-compatible display is detected (also requires a Premium plan subscription). Amazon Video displays this icon whether your TV supports HDR or not.

With NVIDIA GameStream™ technology, HDR-ready games are now also available.

WHAT TVS SUPPORT HDR10?

WHY DOES MY TV OR RECEIVER TURN ON/OFF WHEN I TURN NVIDIA SHIELD TV ON/OFF?

By default, SHIELD TV is configured to signal your TV or receiver to enter or exit sleep mode. You can disable these features by going to Settings -> Display & Sounds -> Power Management.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE TO EXPAND YOUR MEMORY?

The new version of SHIELD TV supports external USB flash drives and hard drives. For maximum speed and performance, NVIDIA recommends the drives listed below. You can connect SHIELD TV to your network attached storage (NAS) over the network to access content.

To expand SHIELD TV's internal memory to store games and applications, the USB drive must be installed as internal storage. Go to Settings -> Storage & Factory Reset -> Select the drive name and then click on “Set as internal storage”.

NVIDIA recommends using the following USB flash drives for SHIELD TV.

HOW DO I ADJUST THE AUDIO VOLUME ON THE TV OR RECEIVER USING THE SHIELD REMOTE OR SHIELD CONTROLLER?

You can set the SHIELD remote control to send an IR signal to adjust the volume on your AV receiver or TV. Go to Settings->Display and Sound -> Volume Control -> Enable IR Control

NVIDIA is known to many as the developer and manufacturer of the GeForce family of graphics chips. The latter today firmly hold the lead in performance and popularity among ordinary users. However, if you look at the company’s activities more broadly, it becomes clear that the American corporation is developing many other areas. Its area of ​​activity includes solutions for business, deep learning technologies used in a variety of areas - from image recognition algorithms to unmanned vehicles. The rapidly developing mobile segment has not been spared either. Here, NVIDIA is promoting its own Tegra line of SoC chips.

At the beginning of the life of Tegra mobile processors, the company practiced an approach developed on video chips, i.e. acted only as a developer and supplier for its partners. But starting with the fourth generation, Tegra introduced its own line of devices from NVIDIA, united by the common SHIELD brand.

We previously talked about the SHIELD Portable gaming console. This review will focus on the stationary NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV set-top box.

Nominally, NVIDIA SHIELD TV is a set-top box running Android TV, a special version of the popular operating system created by Google. In fact, it turns out that its capabilities seriously exceed those of competing products due to the large number of proprietary NVIDIA technologies aimed at expanding gaming capabilities. But first things first.

Appearance

The well-worn truth that one meets people by their clothes does not become any less true. And SHIELD TV is in perfect order with this.

The device is supplied in a fairly large box, made in white and green tones.

Inside, all components are securely fixed in a plastic tray. You can evaluate NVIDIA’s approach to packaging for yourself in the photo below.

The standard delivery package includes the SHIELD console itself, a power supply, a gamepad and an HDMI 2.0 cable.

The device has a strict and futuristic design with an abundance of broken lines and sharp edges. The combination of a glossy surface and matte plastic looks interesting.

On the front surface there is a small company logo. A very good decision, in my opinion. The logo does not look flashy or vulgar, and does not stand out from the general style.

By the way, the logo also combines the function of a touch power button, if for some reason you do not want to use the included gamepad or remote control for this.

When I first saw the SHIELD TV console in person, I was amazed at how compact it was. Since this is a gaming device, one usually expects something larger and bulkier from such a console. And SHIELD TV is a compact, stylish device. The feeling of miniature is further enhanced by the small thickness of the device. Thanks to these dimensions, the console can easily fit almost anywhere. Even if there is a shortage of free space next to your TV or monitor, there will be no problems with placing SHIELD TV.

NVIDIA SHIELD TVV comparison WithSony Xperia C5 Ultra

Don’t forget about the possibility of vertical installation of the device. The manufacturer offers a special stand for these purposes, which must be purchased separately. If you wish, you can do without it, but the stand significantly improves stability in a vertical position.

Another important element of the exterior is the V-shaped green LED indicator. It turns on while the console is running.

All connectors are located, as expected, at the rear end of the console. Despite the modest dimensions of the device, there was room for an Ethernet port, full-size HDMI and two third-generation USBs. In addition to them, you will find a slot for a memory card (this will be extremely important if you purchased the younger version with a 16 GB drive), as well as Micro-USB and a power connector. In a word, there is a whole gentleman's set of interface ports that will satisfy all the user's needs.

The device uses an active cooling system with a small cooler. For the influx of fresh air and blowing out hot air, there are corresponding holes that are located at the bottom of the console and at the end with connectors.

Periphery

To control the console, it comes with a gamepad that combines the functions of a game controller and a remote control.

At first glance, it did not seem as convenient as, for example, an Xbox controller. Visually, the gamepad seems somewhat cumbersome and you subconsciously expect a not very comfortable grip. However, the fears were in vain. It feels very good in your hands, and after a while you completely get used to it. The main controls are located similar to what we see on models from Sony and Microsoft. There are two analog sticks, on the right side there are four buttons, on the left there is another four-way button, the so-called D-Pad. On the far side from the user are four more buttons, two of which are analogue triggers. In addition to this “gentleman’s set,” the controller also has a central pad with touch-sensitive keys. With their help, you navigate through the interface and turn on the console. Nearby is another touch pad that allows you to change the sound volume or image scale.

The gamepad's capabilities are complemented by the presence of a 3.5 mm audio jack to which you can connect headphones, and a built-in battery that can be charged via the Micro-USB port. The software shell and gamepad are perfectly adapted for working together, navigation using the controller is simple and convenient. The same applies to games, although there are some exceptions. Games that are native to the Android platform tend to be touch-based, so navigating through their menus may not be as fast. Computer games, as a rule, perfectly support working with a gamepad, because almost all modern projects are released simultaneously on different platforms, including “large” consoles from Microsoft and Sony.

For those who plan to use SHIELD TV exclusively as a media center, purchasing a branded remote control would be a good solution. This miniature device allows you to comfortably control the console. The remote control looks very stylish, and some features, such as a touch strip that changes the volume level, will delight futurism lovers. The remote control, like the gamepad, has a built-in microphone and headphone jack. The only downside to the remote is the $50 price.

Special thanks must be said for the wide support of peripherals from third-party developers. If for some reason you don't like the standard gamepad, you can connect almost any other controller. I calmly played on a wired Xbox 360 gamepad. The same goes for a keyboard and mouse - they can be connected to the existing USB connectors and used without any problems.

SpecificationsS.H.I.E.L.D. AndroidTV

CPU
Graphics accelerator	Maxwell based GPU (256 CUDA cores)
RAM
Built-in memory	from 16 GB and above
Interfaces	two USB 3.0, Micro-USB, HDMI 2.0
Network interfaces	Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless data transfer	802.11ac 2x2 MIMO 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0LE
Memory card support
operating system
Supported video formats	up to 4K Ultra-HD (VP9, H265, H264)
	24-bit/192 kHz via HDMI or USB, support for 7.1 or 5.1 surround sound,
Dimensions

SHIELD TV's technical capabilities are no less impressive than its appearance. The basis of the device is the most powerful SoC from NVIDIA today - Tegra X1.

This chip combines eight ARM cores. Four of them are built on the high-performance Cortex-A57 architecture and are used in moments of high load and processing complex tasks. Another four belong to the lower-performing but energy-efficient Cortex-A53 family. They, accordingly, work when there is no need for high performance. This architecture is widespread in modern mobile processors and is designed to reduce power consumption, and in the case of wearable devices like smartphones, to extend battery life. But apparently, NVIDIA SHIELD TV uses only high-performance cores. The set-top box is designed to operate on mains power and is not limited by battery capacity, so this solution seems quite logical.

The real highlight of Tegra X1 was the integrated graphics core of the Maxwell generation. It has 256 CUDA stream processors, 16 texture units and 16 ROPs, a 64-bit memory bus. The core operating frequency is about 1000 MHz. Thanks to this, the performance of the graphics subsystem is still unsurpassed among mobile chips. Even the latest solution from one of the industry leaders - Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 - lags behind the Tegra X1 in this regard. It is also worth noting that the built-in GPU supports all current APIs - OpenGL ES 3.1, OpenGL 4.5, DirectX 12, and Vulkan.

Tegra X1 supports hardware decoding and encoding of high-definition video, up to the 4K standard at 60 frames per second. You can also capture game videos on the fly in Full HD.

The set-top box is equipped with 3 GB of RAM and 16 or 500 GB of storage, depending on the version.

We can say that SHIELD TV is practically devoid of bottlenecks and looks like a very balanced and powerful solution. Read on to find out why you might need this performance.

operating room system and performance

As noted above, the set-top box runs Android TV, a special version of the popular operating system from Google. At the moment, an update to Android 6 has already been released for SHIELD devices, which will certainly please those who like to keep up with the times. Unfortunately, many users and observers of specialized resources agree that the version of Android for TV set-top boxes turned out to be the most unsuccessful in the entire family of these OSs. NVIDIA compensated for many of the shortcomings of this system with its own exclusive solutions, which we will discuss below, but there are some things that cannot be circumvented in simple ways. The downside of Android TV is the limited number of applications adapted for this platform. If you go to the Play Market on a console, you will understand what we are talking about - the selection of programs is poorer than what you can see on your smartphone. In particular, not all browsers are adapted for Android TV. In some cases, restrictions can be circumvented by installing programs through the web version of the store. But this is not a panacea; some things cannot be established even in this way. If you feel that the capabilities of the Android TV system are not enough, then with due diligence you can install the regular version of Android. Information on how to do this can be found on various thematic resources.

Considering the high technical characteristics, it is not surprising that the system literally “flies”. The response to any of your actions is immediate, without the slightest hint of delay or twitching.

The limitations of the Android TV system do not allow this to be expressed in the form of any specific numbers. Thus, many benchmarks (AnTuTu, Epic Citadel, Geekbench) are not available for installation.

For clarity, you can show the testing data in the 3DMark Sling Shot graphics benchmark. In this test, the Tegra X1 console scores about 4000 points.

Also tested in 3DMark Ice Strom at 1280x720 resolution to compare the results of SHIELD TV with SHIELD Portable. The set-top box scored 46,313 points versus 16,899 points for the portable device. That is, a TV set-top box based on Tegra X1 is 2.75 times faster than a compact console based on Tegra 4! Impressive result.

Gaming Features

When creating SHIELD TV, NVIDIA clearly saw as competitors not only other devices based on Android TV, but also full-fledged gaming consoles from industry giants such as Sony or Microsoft. Therefore, the SHIELD console provides extensive gaming opportunities. Firstly, you can download original Android games, some of which have been further optimized for the Tegra hardware platform and gamepad. These games are offered in a separate store that is part of the SHIELD Hub app. Taking into account the outstanding performance of the device, any games from the Play Market and SHIELD Hub will be guaranteed to run at maximum graphic settings.

NVIDIA is working with some of the developers to bring some games from the PC world to the SHIELD platform. Among such projects we can note the popular MMO simulator of battles on vehicles from WWII War Thunder, projects from Valve, including Portal and Half-Life 2, games in the Borderlands series and some others.

The functionality of the device is not limited to games for Android. SHIELD supports a dedicated GeForce NOW service. Its essence is that the running game is processed on NVIDIA servers, and the final image is transmitted via the set-top box to your monitor or TV. A similar scheme was tested on the now defunct OnLive service and on some other analogues. Unlike its competitors, GeForce NOW is backed by one of the leaders in global electronics, which gives us confidence in the future of this service.

The advantages of this solution are obvious - you do not need a powerful device to enjoy modern gaming titles. Moreover, you can play games for the PC and Windows platforms on Android. From the moment of registration, some games in GeForce NOW are available for free for three months. Then you need to sign up for a paid monthly subscription of $7.99 or buy the games you are interested in separately.

The only mandatory requirement is a wide Internet channel. If the throughput decreases, the system automatically reduces the quality of the broadcast image. If there are no problems with this, then the games will run in Full HD with good response time and responsiveness. In dynamic games, slight stuttering is still noticeable, especially if there are problems with the quality of Wi-Fi signal reception. Therefore, if you expect to play with maximum comfort, it is best to provide a wired connection via an Ethernet connector. Speaking of streaming games through the GeForce NOW service, we must not forget that at the moment there are no own servers in Russia and the broadcast is carried out through European ones. As new data centers are introduced, transmission quality may improve in the future.

The GeForce NOW game library is not very large, but it is constantly growing. A list of currently available games can be found at this link. High-profile projects include a series of games about Batman, the Definitive version of the popular zombie action game Dead Island, Tomb Rider and, of course, the latest to date, The Witcher.

GeForce NOW games have one limitation that may be important to some users. Multiplayer mode does not work. Obviously, this is due to the fact that users playing through a streaming service are obviously at a disadvantage due to a longer reaction to the player’s actions.

Next on SHIELD's list of features is support for streaming games directly from your home PC, which is called NVIDIA GameStream. It is only necessary that the computer be on the same network with SHIELD TV and have an NVIDIA video accelerator of at least 600 series paired with proprietary GeForce Experience software. Thanks to GameStream, you can play almost any game in your collection, sitting comfortably in a chair or on the sofa in front of the TV. The resolution of transmitted video can reach up to 4K (3840x2160) at 60 Hz.

NVIDIA SHIELD TV supports mouse and keyboard, so you won't feel at ease in games where these controllers are more comfortable than a gamepad. A list of games compatible with GameStream can be found on the company's website. There are practically no problems with the quality of the broadcast. This is not surprising, given that you are on the same network as the broadcast source.

It’s impossible not to mention the tools with which you can share your gaming experience with others. The SHIELD TV set-top box has received integration with the popular streaming service Twitch. And literally at any time you can turn on the online broadcast of your gameplay with a couple of clicks. You can simply save video of the gameplay to the built-in drive or take screenshots.

Multimedia

If you decide to take a break from interactive entertainment and while away your time in front of the TV watching your favorite series, then NVIDIA SHIELD TV can offer something unique. It’s worth starting with the fact that this NVIDIA set-top box was the first solution among analogues capable of working with content in 4K resolution. First of all, this will please the owners of modern TVs and monitors, who will be able to watch videos on YouTube, films on Netflix and other services in ultra-high definition.

In addition to support for ultra-high resolutions, NVIDIA has prepared a couple more pleasant surprises. Firstly, SHIELD TV has support for the Plex service, which allows you to provide access to media files from all devices on the network, which may include network storage. This way, you can not only play games running on your PC in the next room, but you will also have access to photos and videos on all your devices. In some cases this is very convenient.

Secondly, huge opportunities are provided thanks to the Kodi platform, which also found a place among the standard SHIELD applications. Without going into details, Kodi is a software media player designed for HTPC (Home Theater PC). In its basic functionality, it does not stand out as anything special among similar solutions. Allows you to manage video and audio files, as well as images that are located on the device or on your local network. But the beauty of Kodi is revealed thanks to a huge library of various addons that expand the capabilities of the platform. If you wish, you will find many articles in the spirit of “20 best addons for Kodi”. These extensions can be plugins with additional functionality, themes, various content processing scripts, and much more.

Video review NVIDIA S.H.I.E.L.D. Android TV

Conclusion

With the release of SHIELD Android TV, the Santa Clara-based company is making a big splash in yet another direction. Thanks to advanced hardware, support from game developers and NVIDIA’s extensive technological developments, their television set-top box was able not only to compete with direct analogues based on Android TV, but also with full-fledged game consoles. SHIELD allows you to play projects on Android, and with the help of streaming you can join almost any computer games. The only drawback of SHIELD (as a gaming device) is its dependence on the quality of the Internet connection. You might complain about the limited selection in the GeForce NOW library, but you can compensate by streaming games directly from your computer. SHIELD TV is a feature-rich device with rich multimedia capabilities that is poised to take center stage in the home gaming ecosystem.

For residents of Russia, there is one more obstacle - the set-top box is not officially supplied to our country. NVIDIA is actively working to resolve this issue, but no specific time frame has been announced yet. Thus, for residents of the Russian Federation there are two main ways to purchase SHIELD TV: buy an unofficial version or independently order the device abroad.

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