The NVIDIA Shield is more than just another streaming device. Many people swear by the high-quality graphics and next-generation features. But if you are interested in getting one of these streaming boxes, how can you know if your TV will work with it? Does the Shield work with any TV?
It will work with any TV that has an HDMI connection, while there are specific high-tech TVs that the NVIDIA Shield will work best with. If it doesn’t, you can still get things connected using an HDMI converter, but keep in mind the quality of the image and the audio may be compromised as a result.
NVIDIA has long been known for its graphics. While the introduction of a streaming box wasn’t the most expected move from the company, it was a welcomed one. Plenty of people are opting for the shield over other popular devices, like Apple TV. So what do you need to know about the Shield and if it's compatible with your TV? Read on to learn more.
What TV does NVIDIA Shield Work Best With?
If you take a glance at the NVIDIA Shield (on Amazon), you’d be forgiven for confusing it with almost any other streaming box on the market. In reality, that’s what it is. While the product might cater to a crowd looking for higher-end graphics, that doesn’t mean it is not built for everyone to use.
When we're talking about what TVs are best for the NVIDIA Shield, it's really about what TVs can handle the resolution and features of the product. At the very least, you need an HDMI connection on your TV to get things connected.
As long as you’ve got an HDMI connection, you should be more than ready to get connected to the Shield. After that, the device should take control of the rest. Even if you can’t support the highest resolutions of the Shield, you should still be able to get access to the main screen and use the device as it’s intended.
But if you don’t have an HDMI connection, don’t stress just yet. There still may be hope for you! We'll get into that a little later in this article.
The Key Features of the NVIDIA Shield
While you can get a streaming device from almost any manufacturer, a lot of die-hard Shield lovers will tell you that this box is an absolute must. So what makes the Shield so great? What kind of features can you expect from this trendy-looking streaming kit?
Here are some Key Features of the Shield:
- 4K HDR-ready — Up to 4K HDR playback at 60 FPS.
- Dolby Atmos — Atmos support with pass-through and DTS-X surround sound over HDMI.
- High-speed processor — Sports an NVIDIA Tegra X1 with a 256-core GPU with 3 GB RAM.
- On-board storage — 16GB storage available with expandable slots.
- Voice assistant — Built into the device via Google Assistant.
- Wireless — Bluetooth and 802.11 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
Great TVs to use with the NVIDIA Shield
Like we touched on earlier, as long as your TV can stand up against the impressive specs of the Shield, you should be good to go. But that doesn’t include all TVs, of course. There are some TVs that you may want to search for to ensure the best quality when it comes time to sit down and enjoy a movie or a show.
Best TVs for Using the NVIDIA Shield:
How to Use NVIDIA Shield with a TV that Doesn't have HDMI
While in most cases you’re going to be limited to only TVs with an HDMI output, that’s only because it makes the most sense. TVs have been around longer than HDMI, and there is a whole market out there to help people connect old tech with new. That being said, you can find a dongle to connect to about anything.
HDMI Dongles you Could Use:
- VGA to HDMI (on Amazon) — Great for connecting to computer monitors
- RCA to HDMI (also to Amazon) — Works with older CRT monitors, great for a more vintage feel.
As you can see, you can pretty much connect anything to an NVIDIA shield using these gadgets. But before you make any decisions, remember that you’re not always going to be guaranteed the greatest picture quality. For a device like the Shield, the flawless quality is really what makes it shine. Suffice to say, connecting the Shield to something that won’t support its natural resolution will produce less than optimal performance.
Wrapping Up
The NVIDIA Shield is a wonderful streaming box that can support crazy high-quality resolution and audio standards. While there are obvious preferred TV choices for using this tech, the Shield will work with almost any standard television with an HDMI input. If HDMI is not available on your TV, you can of course get a dongle to connect to the Shield, but this probably isn’t the best way to get the most out of this device. You can also enhance your experience by jailbreaking Nvidia Shield.
