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The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the updated version of the model released five years ago. It is a small, compact, but extremely powerful product that expands the classic functions of an Android TV into something even more versatile and allows you to transform not very recent televisions into media centers equipped for the latest streaming news. Also, if your connection is strong enough and you love video games it allows you to do a lot of interesting things, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
In the package you will find the device, the power supply and the remote control with a curious triangular shape that also incorporates a microphone for voice commands. Unfortunately, no gamepad, present in previous editions. It is positioned flat, if you want it to stand vertically you need an accessory, also sold separately.
In the back there are two USB 3.0 ports, a 4K compatible HDMI port and the Ethernet socket, but in the box you will find only the power cable. Of course, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 are also present.
The interface does not differ much from that of a standard Android TV, but in addition to Netflix, Disney + and Prime Video, you can use Nvidia Shield TV Pro as a Plex media center, as a Chromecast device, to play mobile titles adapted to the TV and also wanting as a retrogaming machine. Everything exactly like in the past. So what changes in this update?
The first novelty is the integration with Dolby Vision and the TVs that use it, a technology that modifies brightness and contrast to obtain superior image quality. Then there is the support for Dolby Atmos and finally the real big news: the upscale of images thanks to artificial intelligence.
Just press a button to activate an algorithm based on a neural network that has been fed hours and hours of footage to instantly improve image quality, whether you want to see standard content on a 4K TV, or you want to sharpen it. pictures on an older TV.
Obviously it’s still not perfect, it only works for 1080p and 30fps videos, and in some cases the effect is a little too aggressive, but it is a very useful addition that allows you to make the most of older content on newer TVs without ruining. the image quality. If desired, it is also possible to activate a mode that divides the screen in half, on one side the standard image and on the other the one processed by the upscaler, to see how much sharper the image becomes.
Finally, Nvidia Shield TV Pro also means cloud gaming, given that GeForce Now and its entire catalog of games is integrated inside it which, in the event of an adequate internet connection, will allow you to play many video games at the highest quality without owning a PC worth thousands of euros, or play in local streaming those present on your computer, which may be in another room.
Those who buy an Nvidia Shield TV will have access to 20 games on GeForce Now right away. We are not talking about very recent products, it is not a service designed for those looking for the latest news and maybe can count on home consoles and PCs, but if you want to catch up with the video games of the last few years you might find something interesting. If you want, you can then use it for free on other titles for an hour a day or subscribe to unlock all the potential. You can even play Fortnite, or great classics like The Witcher 3.
Nvidia Shield TV Pro costs 219 euros, the controller is not included and some of its basic functions are already present in many Android TVs. These factors no longer make it the unmissable offer of the past, also considering the economic version for those not interested in the upscale, but they do not affect its primacy as a media center. And if you have a slightly older TV but want to enjoy all the comforts of a smart TV, you are in the right place. Remote server, video on demand services, video games, retrogaming, Chromecast, there is everything. With a little effort and a few tutorials it is possible to make it the center of your living room from every point of view.