Is The NVIDIA Shield Pro Still Worth It In 2024?

Home audio tech moves at the speed of sound. What was THE new thing last year is gathering dust today. But what about the NVIDIA Shield? First introduced in 2015, it quickly became a streaming must-have. But the latest hardware was introduced in 2019 and has only seen software updates. Heck, it doesn’t even run the latest version of Android! So we ask, is the NVIDIA Shield Pro still worth it in 2024? Priced at $200, there are a lot of cheaper (and newer) options. Let’s discuss.

Specs

There has been very little change across the three generations. The most notable upgrades to the 2019 Shield Pro are a faster chipset (Tegra X1+), Dolby Vision, SSD, and AI upscaling to take advantage of that faster chip. Sure it can decode Atmos, but the passthrough feature is the main selling point.

Heck, folks have even been known to open up their 2015 NVIDIA Shields and swap out that 500GB mechanical drive for a much faster SSD, essentially making it superior to the 2017 model! What I am pointing out is that there is not a huge leap in tech that renders the older models obsolete.

How Does It Compare To 2024 Streaming Boxes?

How does the NVIDIA Shield Pro compare to other streaming boxes in 2024 that are generations newer? The answer? Pretty darn well.

Without beating around the bush, if you want a box that does HDR and Dolby Vision and has full lossless audio passthrough, the Shield is your only option. But here is the crazy thing, the Apple TV 4K can passthrough full lossless audio for Apple Music, including Atmos! Yet, they won’t implement it across the platform.

But, Is The NVIDIA Shield Pro Still Worth It In 2024?

That depends. While almost every streaming box went down in price over the generations, NVIDIA has stayed at $199 since its launch. Sure, you can get it on sale from time to time, but the price always returns to $199. In comparison, the Apple TV 4K went from being one of the most expensive boxes at its launch to the middle of the pack in 2024.

But you are not here for me to be wishy-washy. Yes, the NVIDIA Shield Pro is still THE best box out there for someone who wants the absolute best in audio quality. To that point, I have the NVIDIA Shield Pro as my Plex Media Player AND I have an AT4K as my main streaming box. If my NVIDIA Shield died tomorrow, I would replace it the same day. If my AT4K died tomorrow, I would load all the apps back onto my Shield and call it a day!

In the emulation and gaming capabilities of the NVIDIA Shield Pro, it becomes an even better value. Let’s not forget that this is made by NVIDIA and it is a capable cloud game streamer as well. We just don’t ever stress that a lot because most folks who read my articles are AV enthusiasts and not gamers.

Our Take

If ever there is an example of “buy once, cry once”, it’s the NVIDIA Shield Pro. Sure, it is the most expensive streaming box on the market, but five years later, it’s still the box to beat! If you want a box that will give you the best quality in audio and video, this is the one. Is the NVIDIA Shield Pro still worth it in 2024? Yes!

If price is the limiting factor, look for a used one. Good luck though. I might see one pop up on the buy-and-sell sites every few months. However, if you are patient, you can nab one for a decent price. I would even suggest that you target a 2017 model if Doby Vision is not something you absolutely need.

Sadly, I fear the worst for my old friend the Shield. Updates were once plentiful and I was often greeted with an alert telling me there was an update available. In 2024, they are few and far between, and we are still at Android 11 while 13 is getting ready for release. I just hope the NVIDIA Shield doesn’t get discontinued like the Logitech Harmony!