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NVIDIA’s SHIELD TV console is among the most powerful and feature-rich streaming media players on the market today: it uses the Tegra X1 SoC and supports virtually all entertainment streaming services available courtesy to the Android TV platform. The SHIELD TV is usually more expensive than proprietary STBs from Amazon or Ruku as well as Android TV players from companies like Xiaomi, but the news is that NVIDIA will be offering its 2017 SHIELD TVs with a $30 discount in the next several days.

NVIDIA clearly understands that while the SHIELD TV has a good value because of hardware-accelerated 4K HDR support, compatibility with virtually all popular video and music streaming services, more or less regular software updates, smart home capabilities as well as generally high performance and advanced feature set, its entry-level price of $200 is still too high for many people. This is why earlier this year the company introduced the SHIELD TV 'remote only' version that costs $20 less than the model with both remote and game controller. Since the controller is sold for $59.99 when bought separately, the cheapest bundle may not offer the best value if gaming is on the table for the future, but if not, it will work just fine (in fact, there are about a dozen of games that can be played using a remote).

Now, for several days left before Christmas (till December 24), NVIDIA will sell its SHIELD TV consoles with a $30 discount. The SHIELD TV with a remote and a game controller is temporarily available for $169.99, whereas the SHIELD TV 'remote only' bundle can be purchased for $149.99 either directly from NVIDIA, or from retailers like Amazon. Those who buy a SHIELD TV before December 31 will get a three-months YouTube Red subscription free with their purchase.

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Source: NVIDIA

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  • Sttm - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    It needs to be $100 without the controller. There is nothing it does that is so much better than what a $60 Roku Premiere + or Amazon FireTV does to warrant such a price difference.

    My $60 Roku does 4K HDR 10, has all the apps, has a fast interface. Why spend the extra $90? Maybe if it Dobly Vision and Atmos, I could see maybe to getting one.
  • ddrіver - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    It should be $100 with the controller precisely because the products isn't out of the ordinary. The controller is the only extra that sets it apart.

    You can get an Xbox One S or a PlayStation 4 (with bundles) for under $250. Why on earth would you buy a glorified media player for $150?
  • ddrіver - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    Checking the prices now it appears that the console bundles above even go for around $200. Nvidia will sit on these Shields for a while.
  • jordanclock - Tuesday, December 26, 2017 - link

    The extra $90 is for people like myself that want higher performance than a Roku, access to a large library of Android games and GameStream.

    It's cool that you're happy with your Roku, but the phrasing of your post and question make it sound like you're implying "well if it isn't worth it for me, why is it worth it for anyone?"
  • Sivar - Tuesday, December 26, 2017 - link

    I think the Shield TV is a bargain. It is the only platform besides a PC that runs Kodi with acceptable performance against a large local library, and outside of Kodi it offers the full Google TV suite of services including Google Assistant.
    Last I checked, Amazon chooses what you can install on your FireTV, and Kodi, among others, was banned. Has Roku ever supported Kodi?

    Shield lets me install any Android app I want, though some don't support the device because they are phone-oriented or other reasons, and I don't need nVidia's blessing to install what I want. Yes, supports Atmos, though if you have a proper Atmos setup it is unlikely that $90 will concern you.

    I think it's great that you are happy with your Roku, but I have always found the thing to be obnoxious to use. Last I set one up, I couldn't get it working without giving out my credit card number. Even if their support chooses to bless you with their ever-changing no-CC URL, there's no shady tactics on the nVidia Shield. It supports everything out there and has such powerful hardware that it has features that did not exist on release, it doesn't try to George Orwell me, and it "just works."
  • pixelstuff - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    Maybe they are also feeling the effects of the $250 PlayStation 4 with Star Wars Battlefront II bundle on Amazon.

    I mean, a $200 Shield TV (with controller) or a $250 PlayStation 4 (also with controller) and a game? Shield TV doesn't seem to be in the same league.
  • pixelstuff - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    Meant to also say, $169 (with controller) should really be their every day price and $149 should be the sale price. Or like Sttm said, for the remote only version the sale should be about $99.
  • Sttm - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    Yeah its a good point, the $189 XBox One S deal makes it hard bargain as well. That not only can play all your content in 4k HDR, but also 4K Bluray and real games like the PS4.
  • jordanclock - Tuesday, December 26, 2017 - link

    A $200 Shield TV to play almost all of my PC games from my couch was a much better deal than just about any console price because I would have to repurchase my games.
  • watzupken - Friday, December 22, 2017 - link

    The prices cannot sustain since the hardware despite being the best out there for an Android TV box. At its RRP, it is clearly facing tough challenge from the likes of an Xbox One S that is going for about 190 USD which can double up as a capable gaming and multimedia console. Also, I feel that Google does not put much focus on these Android TV box for gaming and multimedia, so there isn't much of a need for high end TV box like this.

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