Even at a higher price, Apple TV 4K still beats Nvidia's Shield TV Pro

A How-To Geek writer says he still can't recommend Nvidia's Shield TV Pro, even though Apple's new Apple TV 4K costs much more than before. Nvidia has also raised the Shield's price, to $300. His view is that the gap between the two boxes is growing, and Apple is pulling ahead.

What changed

Two things shifted. Nvidia raised the price of the Shield TV Pro to $300. Apple released an upgraded Apple TV 4K that costs a lot more than the last one. The article does not give Apple's new price. The writer says the changes alter the math, but not his conclusion.

Voice control has flipped

The Shield used to win on voice control because Google Assistant beat Siri. Now the writer says Apple's new Siri is better. It is sometimes slow and is partly influenced by Google's Gemini, but it understands more natural speech and uses personal context. The Apple box also has microphones built in, so it can hear you without the remote.

The Shield cannot get Gemini because its version of Android TV is too old. That means living with an aging voice helper for years.

Power and picture

Apple's new A19 chip is billed as having a 50 percent faster CPU and twice-as-fast graphics than the last model's A15 chip. The writer says that older chip was already faster than the Shield. Anyone who only watches Netflix or Prime Video does not need this much power. A cheaper device like Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K handles that fine.

Extra power helps with richer games, apps that use 3D graphics, and media players that do heavy video processing. The writer also points to a few format differences:

• Apple supports HDR10+, which adjusts picture quality frame by frame. The Shield supports basic HDR10.
• Both can handle Dolby Atmos audio, and the writer says most people will not notice a difference.
• The new Apple TV 4K can use HomePod speakers for wireless surround sound.

Who it affects

The HomePod setup is costly, between $600 and $1,400 depending on the speakers. It also does little for someone who prefers Android. For iPhone owners, or people who do not care about phone brands, it could tip the choice toward Apple. Android fans who like the Shield's flexibility are unlikely to switch.

What happens next

The writer would like to see a Shield TV 2 with better formats, speed and AI. He says there is no evidence one is coming, and he would not advise waiting for it. For now, he calls the Apple TV 4K the top high-end media player.