Nvidia Shield TV 2019: Shield TV and Shield TV Pro could both launch today

Rumours are gathering pace that the Nvidia Shield TV and Nvidia Shield TV Pro will launch today. 

Multiple sources previously suggested the new Android streaming box would hit shelves on the 28 October, and the Nvidia Shield twitter acoint has now added fuel to the fire by teasing a couple of cryptic videos to the channel accompanied by the “10.28.19” date.

But aside from the release date, what do we actually know about the Nvidia Shield TV? A leak from Newegg suggests it will ditch the mini console look in favour of  a new small and cylinder design, while also seeing several new features including an Nvidia Tegra Z1+ processor, AI upscaling technology and support for both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Nvidia looks to simultaneously launch a second more powerful edition too, with Amazon inadvertently leaking the Shield TV Pro. Before the retailer pulled the page, 9to5google looks to have taken screenshots, which show the Shield TV Pro to retain a similar console design to previous generation Shield TV boxes.

We can’t confirm the full extent of the differences between the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro just yet, but leaks suggest the internal storage space at 16GB while it also sees two USB 3.0 ports for connecting wired gaming peripherals.

Finally, the leaks seem to show off a new redesigned controller, which looks significantly better than the previous one, with more playback buttons allowing you to play, pause, fast forward or alter the volume with just a press. Other exciting features for the remote include Google Assistant voice control, an IR blaster, Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in speaker which can emit a noise when you’ve lost the remote. The new remote also apparently uses standard batteries, which should be easier to replace than the disc ones required for previous Shield remotes.

Read on for everything else we know about the rumoured Nvidia Shield TV devices.

Related: Nvidia GeForce Now

Nvidia Shield TV 2019 release date

The Nvidia Shield TV could launch today, according to the leaked Amazon listing.

This hasn’t been confirmed by Nvidia of course, with the Android TV box not even officially confirmed yet. That said, since Nvidia Shield is teasing today’s date on its Twitter account, it’s looking very likely that the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro will hit shelves today.

10.28.19 pic.twitter.com/Np0LXKvoTx

— NVIDIA SHIELD (@NVIDIASHIELD) October 24, 2019

Related: Best Gaming PC

Nvidia Shield TV 2019 price

Leaks suggest the Nvidia Shield TV and Shield TV Pro will retail for $150 and $200 respectively.

There’s no word on UK pricing, but that should be confirmed as soon as Nvidia officially reveal its new devices, which could be as soon as today.

Nvidia Shield TV features – What’s new?

Leaks suggest there are a number of new features arriving for the Nvidia Shield TV. We’ve dug through the specs and listed what we think are the most noteworthy:

• Nvidia Tegra Z1+ processor
• AI upscaling
• Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support
• Amazon Alexa support

We’ve gone into more detail for each feature below, exploring how they could help the new Shield TV level up.

Nvidia Tegra Z1+ processor

The Newegg leak suggests the 2019 Shield TV will be up to 25% more powerful than the previous console thanks to a new CPU chip.

AI upscaling

The Newegg leak also suggests the Nvidia Tegra Z1+ processor will allow you to upscale HD content to 4K for “clearer, cripser visuals”. We’re not sure how efficient this ‘AI upscaling’ is, and whether it will look anywhere near the standard of native 4K, but it’s an exciting prospect nevertheless.

Related: Dolby Vision HDR guide

Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support

Ask a TV snob what features you should look for to have the ultimate home cinema experience, and they’ll no doubt point you in the direction of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Vision is an advanced form of HDR, which significantly expands the range of both colour and contrast for an overall improved picture. Dolby Atmos, meanwhile, is a surround-sound technology that creates a dome of sound for a more immersive and three-dimensional audio experience.

With both these features combined (as long as you have a compatible TV and speakers) you’ll have the closest cinema experience possible in the living room.

Amazon Alexa support

Previous editions of the Shield TV have supported Google Assistant, allowing you to direct your TV setup via voice commands. A leak now suggests the new Shield TV will also support Alexa support, so you’ll be able to access the same voice command features even if you prefer Amazon’s assistant to Google’s.

Related: Best TVs 2019

Nvidia Shield TV remote – What changes have been made?

The previous generation Shield TV remote control seemed very much aimed at gamers rather than generic TV watchers. It was also rather chunky, yet didn’t have a huge number of buttons on offer. The leaked new version looks more streamlined and should appeal to larger audience.

With a thin Toblerone form factor, the Shield TV controller looks like your traditional remote control. Ditching coin batteries for the far more attainable AAA batteries, it also looks to improve convenience tenfold.

Plenty more buttons have been added, including playback controls (play, rewind, pause etc) as well as dedicated volume buttons. Right at the bottom you’ll see a Netflix button too, so you can hop to the most popular streaming service right away.

IR control should also allow you to control your TV and speakers with the same remote, so you don’t have to contend with multiple devices just to watch a film. Finally, a built-in “lost remote locator” theoretically means the Shield TV will help you locate your remote if you’ve misplaced it.

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