NVIDIA Shield TV vs. Shield TV Pro: What's the difference and which should I buy?

NVIDIA has updated its Shield TV lineup at long last, giving us a completely redesigned standard model while preserving the sleek console design for the Pro model. Both ship with a redesigned controller that's both easier to use and harder to lose.

Choosing between the two will depend on your living room setup, whether the Shield TV Pro's enhanced gaming and Plex services are worth the extra money, and arguably, most importantly: whether you already own a Shield TV.

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NVIDIA Shield vs. Pro: What's the difference?

It used to be a pretty easy choice whether you wanted to go with the NVIDIA Shield vs. Pro. While you had to look at the internal specs to spot the differences between the two, the Pro model offered a substantial storage upgrade that justified the extra cost.

This time around, NVIDIA has made things much more straightforward with a radically redesigned Shield TV that offers a spec bump over the older models in a svelte and streamlined tube that's designed to take up barely any space behind your TV. It's not a stick or dongle, either, so it should comfortably fit between any TV shelf and wall. We think the Shield TV is the more interesting device that will appeal to more casual users who just want to plug something into their TV and get to streaming.

Meanwhile, the Pro model has maintained the same edgy look as previous Shield TV models. You can configure it as a SmartThings hub for controlling smart home devices, and there are two USB ports for connecting external storage, keyboards, or an OTA antenna. It also offers NVIDIA's full suite of gaming services and features along with 16GB of internal storage and a spec bump up to 3GB of RAM. This option is designed for the more hardcore tech enthusiasts who love to tinker with and accessorize their gadgets.

It's worth reiterating that both models are still great for gamers and support the entire library of games from NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service and GameStream. However, you might have issues on the tube Shield TV attempting to play Advanced Android Gaming titles that require 3GB of RAM. That means if you want to download and play games like Doom 3 or Portal right onto your Shield TV, you're best off going with the Pro model. But both of these will still work with the best gaming controllers, so you can fire up your favorite games and use your favorite controller.

Speaking of GeForce NOW, a recent update from NVIDIA enabled 4K HDR streaming, bringing the streaming game service on par with Google Stadia. This is possible through the "RTX 3080 tier" of the game streaming service, which also brings support for 120fps gameplay. Plus, NVIDIA has confirmed that this is limited to the Shield TV until sometime in the future.

Beyond the packaging for the internals, the other major upgrade came in the remote department and is consistent across both models. The previous remote style was too thin and easy to lose, and the touch sensor for controlling the volume was more flash than substance.

The redesigned NVIDIA Shield remote is much more substantial to hold with a more traditional button layout that features dedicated media controls, a big Netflix button, and a customizable button in the top-right corner that can be programmed to open settings, toggle the AI-enhanced upscaling, mute volume, and much more. Plus, the remote is designed to work with older Shield models too and can be purchased by itself.

NVIDIA Shield vs. Pro: A great entry point for anyone new to Shield TV

The NVIDIA Shield TV is hands-down one of the best Android TV boxes you can buy, which still rings true with the previous generation. The standard Shield TV is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a simple way to stream from your favorite Android streaming apps. In contrast, those looking for more connectivity options will gravitate toward the Shield TV Pro.

But things get a bit more complicated if you already own an older version of the NVIDIA Shield TV — specifically the 2017 NVIDIA Shield TV Pro. Odds are good that your Shield TV is still running great, thanks to NVIDIA doing a consistently great job with timely software updates. The 2017 model also came with 500GB of internal storage, which was probably a big reason you opted for the Pro model.

Of course, the 2019 lineup does offer some technical upgrades that may be worth upgrading for. Both models support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and the AI-enhanced upscaling will not be coming to older Shields, so if that feature entices you, it is worth considering an upgrade.