NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro Review 2026: still the most powerful, but old and pricey

Still worth it after the price rise?

The SHIELD TV Pro uses the 2019 Tegra X1+ and runs Android TV 11. An upgrade to a newer Android version hasn't been announced, and it won't get the newer Google TV interface. For IPTV and streaming the chip is still more than fast enough, but newer boxes have more modern software.

NVIDIA does keep updating the box, though. SHIELD Experience 9.2 (February 2025) brought AURO-3D sound and Match Frame Rate, 9.2.1 (May 2025) GeForce NOW in 1080p at 120 fps, and 9.2.4 (February 2026) security patches up to January 2026. According to Androidworld, NVIDIA intends to support the SHIELD for a long time.

The biggest drawback now is the price. In the US it went from $199.99 to $299.99 on 2 October 2026, and according to next.ink it is €299 on NVIDIA's European site. In early October, next.ink reported it was sold out at NVIDIA and most shops. For €299 you get plenty of features, but also seven-year-old hardware.

Why IPTV viewers choose the SHIELD

For IPTV the SHIELD has everything that matters. It has a gigabit network port for stable live channels in 4K and Full HD, 3 GB of RAM for big channel lists and the full Play Store. Apps that aren't in there you install yourself as an APK. A TV guide and catch-up depend on your app and your subscription; TiviMate lists a TV guide, catch-up, recording and multiview in the Play Store.

The two USB 3.0 ports make the difference compared with most other boxes. You connect a USB stick or external hard drive for recordings and your own videos, and the Plex app comes pre-installed. With Match Frame Rate (beta), the TV switches to the frame rate of what you're watching, which can prevent juddery pictures.

The remote is more comprehensive than on most boxes. The buttons light up as soon as you pick it up, there is a programmable button, a microphone for voice commands and an IR transmitter for the volume and power button of your TV, soundbar or receiver. Lost it? The remote finder makes it beep.

Picture and sound: AI upscaling and Dolby Vision

The best-known feature is AI upscaling. The SHIELD converts 720p or 1080p pictures to 4K at up to 60 frames per second. Many IPTV channels broadcast in HD, so on a big 4K TV you benefit from this every day. In this class it is unique.

For HDR, NVIDIA lists Dolby Vision and HDR10. HDR10+ isn't in the specifications. If you have a Samsung TV, which doesn't support Dolby Vision, you get HDR10. For sound there is Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and AURO-3D (passed through over HDMI) and hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

SHIELD TV or SHIELD TV Pro: the difference

In 2019 two models arrived with the same Tegra X1+ chip. The standard SHIELD TV is a 40 × 40 × 165 mm tube with 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage and a microSD slot, but no USB ports. At launch it cost €159 in France ($149 in the US). The Pro has 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB of storage and two USB 3.0 ports.

Both have gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. For IPTV the Pro is the better choice because of the extra RAM and the USB ports for recording. You no longer have that choice anyway: NVIDIA now only sells the Pro, and according to next.ink and other tech sites the tube has gone out of production.