NVIDIA Shield TV Pro Review: Still the Best Android TV Box in 2025?
Six years on, the Shield TV Pro is still the gold standard for Android TV boxes. We tested it against the latest competition to see if it keeps the crown.
- Released
- 2019
- Launch price
- $199
- Chipset
- Nvidia Tegra X1+
- RAM
- 3 GB
- Storage
- 16 GB
- OS
- Android TV
- Max output
- 4K @ 60fps
- HDR
- Dolby Vision, HDR10
- Audio
- Dolby Atmos, DTS-X
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, Ethernet
- Ports
- HDMI 2.0b, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.0
- Remote
- Motion-activated backlit remote
- Dimensions
- 159 x 98 x 26 mm
- Weight
- 250 g
Bottom line: The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro ($199) is still the most powerful Android TV box you can buy in 2026 — the best pick for Plex Media Server hosting, AI upscaling, and GeForce NOW cloud gaming. It’s overkill if you only stream Netflix and YouTube, but nothing else matches it for power users.
Overview
The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro has been around since 2019, but NVIDIA keeps it competitive with regular software updates — one of the longest support records in the category. In 2026 it still runs a current build of Android TV, supports Dolby Vision and Atmos, and remains the only Android TV box with a dedicated GPU worth talking about. That GPU is the whole reason it stays relevant: it powers real-time AI upscaling and lets the box act as a Plex server rather than just a player.
Performance
The Tegra X1+ chip inside the Shield is genuinely fast — apps open instantly, 4K HDR playback is flawless, and there’s no stuttering even with heavy Plex transcoding. We threw everything at it: 4K HEVC with Dolby Vision, lossless audio tracks, and simultaneous AI upscaling on 1080p content. It handled all of it without breaking a sweat.
What We Liked
- AI upscaling — turns 1080p content into near-4K quality
- Plex Media Server — can run directly on the Shield, no PC required
- GeForce NOW — cloud gaming works surprisingly well
- Dolby Vision + Atmos — full support, properly passed through
- Ethernet port — gigabit, reliable streaming every time
What We Didn’t Like
- Price — at $199, it’s the most expensive option
- No USB-C — still using micro-USB for the controller
- Bulky design — won’t sit flat, needs a stand
How It Compares
Nothing else on Android TV touches it for raw power. The Google TV Streamer ($99) is the modern, cheaper Google TV box and the better value for most people — but it can’t host a Plex server or upscale with a dedicated GPU. The Apple TV 4K matches the Shield for speed and polish, yet also can’t run a Plex server or sideload Android apps. For Plex hosting and AI upscaling specifically, the Shield is in a class of one.
Who Should Buy It
- Plex power users who want to host a server with hardware transcoding on the box itself, no PC required.
- Owners of large 4K TVs with big 1080p libraries who want the best on-device AI upscaling.
- Cloud gamers who’ll actually use GeForce NOW.
Skip it if you only stream the major apps — a $50–60 Fire TV Stick 4K Max does that just as well for a quarter of the price.
Verdict
If you’re a Plex user or want the absolute best Android TV experience, the Shield TV Pro is still worth every penny — and its six-plus years of updates make it a safer long-term buy than anything newer. For casual streaming, cheaper boxes do the job, but nothing matches the Shield for power users.