Why the NVIDIA Shield TV Pro Remains the Unrivaled Powerhouse for Streaming Enthusiasts

NVIDIA’s Shield TV Pro is a deliberate contrarian to all of the budget-priced streaming sticks and cubes. For those who want the best performance in a streaming device, the Shield Pro delivers where others just perform. Priced at $169.99 (down from $199.99) ahead of Black Friday, recent software updates in February 2025 added Auro-3D audio and new GeForce NOW titles so it stays current.

Hardware is where the Shield Pro shines, with NVIDIA’s Tegra X1+ processor, 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage outpacing the A15 chip in the Apple TV 4K and the MediaTek processor in the Roku Ultra. Apps load in seconds, switching between Netflix and Disney+ happens in a snap, without the stutters you see in the Fire TV Cube. Expandable storage via two USB 3.0 ports means you can add external drives for terabytes of local media and turn the device into a full-fledged home server. Connectivity is strong too: Gigabit Ethernet for 4K streams, dual-band Wi-Fi for wireless freedom, and HDMI 2.0b for seamless integration with modern TVs. Bluetooth 5.0 pairs easily with headphones, speakers or controllers and the included remote has backlit buttons and voice control through Google Assistant.

Video playback is where things get attention-worthy. The Shield Pro does 4K at 60fps and is fully compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. Older content gets a big boost from NVIDIA’s AI upscaling which analyzes and enhances 1080p or even standard definition footage to near 4K sharpness. Fire up an old episode of your favorite show on Prime Video and it looks remarkably detailed on a big screen. The Roku Ultra does 4K but lacks this intelligent processing and older videos look soft. The Apple TV 4K does native 4K streams but falls short on upscaling older libraries. The Fire TV Cube does basic HDR, but struggles with consistent frame rates during fast motion scenes.


With Dolby Atmos integration, you can enjoy immersive soundscapes in which voices descend from the center channel and effects swirl all around – provided you have a compatible setup, of course. Furthermore, it will simply transmit through lossless formats like as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio directly to your receiver, with no interruptions or loss of fidelity, allowing you to fully experience that concert recording or action sequence. The most recent improvements include Auro-3D, a new audio standard that adds height and depth, bringing the Atmos experience to a whole new level. The trouble is, while Roku and Fire TV devices can play Atmos, they frequently compress the audio for wireless transmission, which is a bummer because it reduces fidelity. Apple TV 4K is okay when you’re in the Apple ecosystem but then again it doesn’t do passthrough for some of the more advanced codecs. If you own a home theater, the Shield Pro can connect via optical audio if necessary, so you’re covered no matter how old your AV receiver is; simply pair it with a subwoofer-heavy system and those explosions in that blockbuster movie will feel like you’re right in the middle of it.


Another area where the Shield Pro excels is gaming, which elevates it from a mere streamer to a full-fledged console itself. It includes built-in access to GeForce NOW, allowing you to play all of the top titles like Fortnite and Black Myth: Wukong, all streamed from the cloud, without the need for a high-end PC. The Tegra X1+ graphics core does an excellent job of rendering all of this in 4K with ray-tracing effects, and you can use a gamepad like you would on any other console. The sturdy hardware also allows you to run local emulation for any of your retro games, from ancient NES classics to PlayStation-era adventures. The good news is that when you connect an Xbox or PlayStation controller over Bluetooth, the delay is barely noticeable.