Nvidia has announced two new models of the Shield TV streaming box, the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro, confirming earlier sightings of the device. The new models have a Tegra X1+ processor, which promises to be 25% faster than the models powered by the Tegra X1, and also adds support for Dolby Vision alongside Dolby Atmos. The new devices can also upscale 720p or 1080p content to 4K.
Despite the naming, the Shield TV Pro is actually the direct successor to the existing Shield TV, with the same 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The design and ports are also the same, including a microSD card slot and two USB Type-A ports for additional storage if you want to set up a home media server.
On the other hand, the new Shield TV is a downgrade in many ways, reducing the RAM and storage to 2GB and 8GB, respectively. It also has an all-new design that looks like a small tube, and ditches the USB Type-A ports, making it a device clearly designed for streaming online content almost exclusively. You can add some storage through a microSD card, though.
Just like before, the new models support dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, though the latter is now up to version 5.0 instead of 4.1. In terms of software, they come with Android Pie out of the box, and they have Chromecast 4K built-in.
Both of the new devices do come with a brand new remote, which is no longer a flat slab. The triangular-shaped controller has backlit buttons that turn on when motion is detected, a built-in mic for Google Assistant queries, and a remote locator in case you misplace it. It connects to the Shield TV via Bluetooth, but it also has an IR blaster for use with your TV.
The new devices are both available starting today, with the standard Shield TV costing $149.99, about $30 less than the previous Shield TV model. The Shield TV Pro costs $199.99.
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