When the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro launched at $199 back in 2019, it was considered a steep premium compared to regular Android TV streaming sticks. However, it proved its worth by staying relevant for over half a decade, much like our living room televisions. I was drawn to the Shield TV for its hardware-level AI upscaling, which enhances standard 1080p content, and lossless audio passthrough, making it an excellent local Plex client. The price was worth paying, considering I didn’t need to buy a very expensive television to enjoy these enhancements.
Earlier this month, NVIDIA also increased the Shield TV Pro’s official price to $299.99, citing rising component costs. However, when I recently looked for one on the second-hand market, prices had spiked, while official channels were out of stock. Some third-party sellers on Amazon are asking more than $500 for the Shield TV Pro, which makes little sense anymore.
It seems Apple has perfectly timed the market with its latest Apple TV 4K, which comes with upgraded hardware and Siri AI capabilities. Although people are surprised by its pricing, much like they were when the Shield TV Pro first launched, Apple’s offering is expected to take the baton from NVIDIA’s Shield TV lineup.
The Shield TV Pro is running on borrowed time
Why enthusiasts are still hunting for this aging 2019 hardware
It is easy to understand why Shield TV achieved such an enduring cult status, especially among home theater enthusiasts. I still have vivid memories of testing its AI upscaling on older 1080p content and…