Credit: NVIDIA

Published Oct 24, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT

Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer.

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I drew flak for saying the Apple TV 4K fills the shoes of Nvidia's Shield TV , and not without some merit. If you love Android or simply prefer the Shield's flexibility, no amount of apps or hardware brawn will make you switch. It's a good media streaming device—its age and the modern app landscape just work against it.

However, a lot has happened since then. Nvidia has not only raised the price of the Shield TV Pro but is also facing a newly upgraded (if much more expensive than before) Apple TV 4K. That does change the math, but I still can't tell people to buy the Shield.…