Unboxing & Initial Setup of the nVidia Shield TV Pro 2019 Edition - Is this a Worthwhile Upgrade?

In this video, we unbox, set up, and provide initial feedback on the 2019 Nvidia Shield TV Pro.

In the summer of 2017, I was very unhappy with my pay-TV provider at the time, DirecTV. A customer of theirs since the mid-1990s, the buyout from AT&t left DirecTV a shadow of its former self, especially where it came to customer service. As such, I began looking into the potential of cutting the cord.

The device that I landed on to be able to help me do this most efficiently was the 2017 edition of the Nvidia Shield TV. It seemed to have all the apps and horsepower that I needed, plus it also could serve as a Plex Media server. Over the past two and a half years, it has served me well, but it is also had its flaws. After the most recent round of Wi-Fi issues, I decided it was time to take advantage of my extended warranty and upgrade to the 2019 edition of the Nvidia Shield TV pro.

The main body of the 2019 Edition looks identical to its predecessor, however, older versions of the Shield TV did feature a slot for an SD card. This version does not, which will disappoint some. The unit features two USB ports, an ethernet port, HDMI port, and your power port. While at first glance it may appear to be a USB C power connection, it is actually its own proprietary connection.

Aesthetically, one of the biggest changes is the new remote control, which I think is fabulous. The candy bar shape has been replaced with a triangle shape, and a lot more features and buttons are on the face. Fast forward, rewind, play/pause, volume buttons, and the Netflix button all now Grace the front of the remote control. The remote also has a very nice backlight that makes it easy to see what you're doing at a glance and low light conditions. The remote does work on RF, so you do not need line of sight to be able to utilize it.

I can't lie, the initial setup was a pain when I tried to do it through the Google Home app. I could get to the Wi-Fi setup screen, and then it would give me the finger. I was never able to complete setup using my phone, I had to do it on the device. I don't know if this has to do with my crappy Comcast internet service or if there is an issue with the app or the device. I will say however it was highly disheartening.

Once configured and set up, it works like a champ! The faster processor and additional RAM are definitely noticed. Switching apps is much faster, connecting to my HDHomeRun is also faster as is changing channels. This is the experience that I wanted out of my original Shield TV, and felt like it had initially, But as time went on it just got slower, and slower, and slower.

There are some additional features on the 2019 Shield TV Pro, one that upscales content to 4K using an AI. I'll be honest, I never noticed any difference. So either my TV, a 2018 75-inch Vizio, is such a poor display that I can't see such changes or such changes just don't make that much of a dramatic impact.

Why it RoX:
- Faster and more responsive than its predecessor
- Wi-Fi appears to be stronger
- Very welcome update to the remote
- Provides a beautiful picture & quality sound
- Latest version of the Android TV experience
- Identical form factor to the earlier 2017 models

What could be improved?
- Initial setup using an external device was a nightmare
- At $200 it's quite expensive
- I don't notice a difference in the 4K upscaling
- Only 16 gigs of onboard storage
- No microSD card slot
- Power cord Port is proprietary
- Gamepad from the previous generation is now sold separately

Should you buy one?
Even with all of its flaws, the poor set up experience, and the high price tag, this is still the best Android TV experience you are going to find on the market. There are certain improvements that are definitely noticeable, that being the increase in ram and the faster Tegra processor. There are other features that either don't mean a whole lot to me or I didn't see an impact, such as the 4K upscaling. I still wish Nvidia would upgrade the storage on these devices, especially with so many service providers now offering on-device DVR capability. If you are looking for a device to act as a Plex Media server without setting up a separate PC, this unit can definitely handle it. If you are simply looking for a device to be able to run apps, convert your dumb TV to a smart TV, or be able to connect to streaming services, this may be overkill for you.

Please note, this video and its content is not intended for children.

#ShieldTV2019 #AndroidTV #CutTheCord

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)