Apple TV 4K vs. Nvidia Shield

[ledamon]

Hi everyone!

I just bought a brand new OLED-tv from LG: http://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-OLED65C7P-oled-4k-tv

I've started looking at some media player that would be able to play 4K content. I currently have a few years old full HD tv that I've been using a Chromecast to stream content to.

For my new media player, I'd like to stream from the regular apps Netflix, Hulu etc, but also to stream content directly from my computer (locally hosted files). I looked into Plex for Apple TV, but I think I read something about it not working properly on the 4K version?

Anyway - I'm stuck between the ATV 4K and the Nvidia Shield. I'm pretty much all into the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, Macs etc) - but was wondering if anyone has done the comparison? I won't be buying any movies from iTunes as the releases in Sweden are much worse than the ones in US.

Any recommendations/thoughts? thx!

 

[jdag]

I am not sure if it is the identical version of Android, but I had a Sony 4K TV with the Android OS and could not stand it. I returned the TV because of a picture issue, but I did not get another Sony partly because of the convoluted system.

I use ATV and don't think there's any comparison. It is miles better IMO:

Smoother operation
More intuitive (granted, I've used ATVs for years)
Android froze/crashed at least 6-8x in just 2-3 days of use

For what I watch, ATV covers 90% of of my needs. Of course, you might have other viewing requirements.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Depends on what else you might hope to do. I'm not an expert on either, but with Shield you should have the possibility to run console emulators. Plus I don't believe Amazon is on Apple TV, so no Prime videos or music. Prime Videos is apparently coming "later this year," but I don't think that has happened yet. Of course, if you have other Apple devices, there are benefits to Apple TV, like Airplay, so I guess it comes down to what exactly you're hoping for. I've heard that Apple TV's 1080P streaming quality is great, with many claiming it looks better than competing services' 4K, so it's possible Apple's 4K streams will continue that trend.

 

[jetjaguar]

i have both and use the shield more. 4k Youtube .. Amazon Prime app .. kodi .. etc

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

I'm with Jdag on this. To me, the Apple TV is perfect and what a beautiful combination with the LG OLED too.
If you are an Apple lover like me with MacBook, iPhone then Apple TV makes perfection. Same beautiful interface. It just works really well. Plus of course, Apple HomeSharing with film, video, music and photos from your Mac and Airplay from that and your iPhone is a winner. With Apple HomeSharing you don't need Plex!
In time, you my also end up buying 4K Dolby Vision film from iTunes.
I think it often takes another operating system or brand to make us realise how damn amazing the Apple ecosystem really is!!!
I've loved Apple TV for 7 years now. Why because it's stress free, it doesn't eat into my life. I don't have to worry about it. It just works - beautifully!!!
Now add the A10X chip, auto frame rate switching etc and it's got everything!

 

[Scott Davilla]

I've been a real fan of the Nvidia Shield but my preference has changed.

We develop MrMC for three platforms (apple, fireOS and Nvidia Shield). With the (tvOS 11.2) addition of dynamic range and display rate switching in addition to hw HEVC decode, the AppleTV4K has become a real contender for replacing the Nvidia Shield. I highly suggest it

 

[iMi]

I have the 4K Apple TV and love it.

If you are in the Apple ecosystem, then you should really consider it. It’s just neat to flick content from your iPhone or iPad right onto the big screen. Movies and content across all devices. It’s great.

 

[Regime2008]

Nvidia Shield all day. More support for apps and REAL games. It's using the same hardware as the Nintendo Switch, but the Switch is underclocked. Apple Tv doesn't even support HDR for youtube. Shield TV can run emulators, so you can enjoy games from Atari and NES to newer games on Gamecube/Wii games, all in one package. Plus casting > airplay. HEVC H265 4K@60fps in all of its glory.

 

[jdag]

Nvidia Shield all day. More support for apps and REAL games. It's using the same hardware as the Nintendo Switch, but the Switch is underclocked. Apple Tv doesn't even support HDR for youtube. Shield TV can run emulators, so you can enjoy games from Atari and NES to newer games on Gamecube/Wii games, all in one package. Plus casting > airplay. HEVC H265 4K@60fps in all of its glory.

This is a perfect example of "it depends on your use". Games mean absolutely zero to me. Streaming boxes in general should be evaluated based on your use case.

 

[mmm1345]

i have your tv and both an Atv and Shield. I may do a youtube comparison at some point. Bottom line I hate Android Tv. The interface while prettier than ATV isn’t very functional. If you like Apps, there are several key apps that I like that’s not on Android like Investigation Discovery. I think apps are nicer and more professional on the ATV. Apps like HBO, Fox, Amc, and Showtime looked like they were designed 8 yrs ago.

the other issue is check with your cable provider if they support your platform. While Xfinity supports almost all apps, accept ViaCom, on the ATV almost no apps that require Cable Subs worked on my shield so no HBOGo, No Showtime, no FoxNow, etc...

The other question you need to ask yourself is are you a movie collector? If so then the ATV is a no brainer. With all the free 4K upgrades I got the device more than paid for itself. For instance I was going to buy the Harry Potter 4k Collection a few weeks ago at $179! It was sold out, the next week the 4k/Hdr digital version came out and my entire 4k collection was upgraded for free. If I didn’t already own the digital collection it would have only cost $79.

Homeshare streams all my media perfectly fine. Plus the ATv and LG has a Plex App. Unless you simply hate apple or simple preference there’s no reason to choose a shield over Atv

 

[oneMadRssn]

I echo the above folks. I never tried the Shield, but was researching it quite a lot. I was a click away from buying several times, but then I would go look at some of the UI reviews on youtube, and would take it out of my amazon cart. The UI, to me, looked convoluted and clunky. I am not sure a person who isn't tech savvy would be able to navigate it easily, and that is a must for me as I don't want to play teacher and tech support whenever someone else uses my TV.

The AppleTV isn't perfect, but it's pretty darn good. And it seems with 11.2, one of the biggest complaints about format switching will be addressed.

One other thing people haven't said yet - as with iOS, there is a good community of developers that make apps exclusively for the Apple ecosystem, taking advantage of Apple's unique APIs, and they make awesome apps with great support. I am sure there are functional equivalents on other systems, but I am sure none are as smooth and easy and good. For examples, these apps I use almost daily and they are great and iOS/tvOS exclusives: Channels, for watching over-the-air tv from an HDHomeRun box; Infuse, for watching ripped files shared on a network drive.
[doublepost=1511796662][/doublepost]

Apple Tv doesn't even support HDR for youtube.

Correction: Google hasn't updated the YouTube app to enable HDR on their tvOS app.

 

[mmm1345]

Nvidia Shield all day. More support for apps and REAL games. It's using the same hardware as the Nintendo Switch, but the Switch is underclocked. Apple Tv doesn't even support HDR for youtube. Shield TV can run emulators, so you can enjoy games from Atari and NES to newer games on Gamecube/Wii games, all in one package. Plus casting > airplay. HEVC H265 4K@60fps in all of its glory.

Who cares about Hdr YouTube there’s almost nothing available on YouTbe Hdr and imho there’s very little worth watching on YouTube in 4k. Plus he has an LG C7 which comes with a YouTube app that supports 4K/HDR. the LG C7 also has Amazon Prime.

 

[Regime2008]

This is a perfect example of "it depends on your use". Games mean absolutely zero to me. Streaming boxes in general should be evaluated based on your use case.

Well the Shield TV can do everything the Apple TV can, and then some. I would imagine it would be perfect for anyone, regardless of eco system. It just so happens to have powerful hardware that can play games in addition to all of its apps and features.

 

[sofila]

Choose Apple TV over Nvidia Shield because of its friendly and simple UI. In my household there are 5/6 different persons that may want to watch TV and

I am not sure a person who isn't tech savvy would be able to navigate it easily, and that is a must for me as I don't want to play teacher and tech support whenever someone else uses my TV.

this fits in well with my personal case too.

But I'm not a common Apple user, left the "ecosystem" (I hate this definition) time ago.
Intel NUC, Surface, Android phones work side by side with iPad or iPhones or MacBooks. With proper tips everything is possible with this equipment.

 

[Regime2008]

Who cares about Hdr YouTube there’s almost nothing available on YouTbe Hdr and imho there’s very little worth watching on YouTube in 4k. Plus he has an LG C7 which comes with a YouTube app that supports 4K/HDR. the LG C7 also has Amazon Prime.

But he would have to switch from HDMI over to the youtube app on the TV, and then back if he wants to view other content. It just seems it would be more convenient to have everything in one package. Most reviews also agree that Shield is better than Apple TV. But if someone is a diehard Apple fan, that would be the only reason to get Apple TV over shield TV.

 

[sofila]

But if someone is a diehard Apple fan, that would be the only reason to get Apple TV over shield TV.

There's no need to be a diehard Apple fan or the opposite. There are a lot of different positions in the middle. iPhones are the better option in the world for all of those who bought them and not for the rest who bought something else
Hence the original question from the thread opener, who wants to hear from different point of views

 

[cardsdoc]

I'm well invested in Apple ecosystem so have an ATV 4K. Additionally I'm getting a shield to replace my aging HTPC as it's one of the few ways to bitstream HD audio plus Atmos from my BD rips using Plex. However LG's excellent WebOS has all major streaming services including Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Hulu, Youtube 4K/HDR, Google Play, FandangoNow and has a Plex client plus a media player with DLNA support. And they support HDR and Dolby Vision if the service supports it. So depending on what you are doing you may not even need any streaming box.

 

[BODYBUILDERPAUL]

But he would have to switch from HDMI over to the youtube app on the TV, and then back if he wants to view other content. It just seems it would be more convenient to have everything in one package. Most reviews also agree that Shield is better than Apple TV. But if someone is a diehard Apple fan, that would be the only reason to get Apple TV over shield TV.

Being honest i've always thought that the Shield market is totally different from that of the ATV market. I truly believe that it's a different kind of person that buys the Shield - an Android person/gamer/Apple hater even. And each to their own BUT for a Apple user, the ATV with Auto Frame Rate switching, Dolby Vision and soon, Dolby Atmos really can't be beaten. iTunes 4K DV IS AMAZING in every sense and should mature and get even better over the years. Add to that the A10X, beautiful UI and timeless design and it's a hell of a package for £199 - thats the price of a bottle of TOM FORD fragrance or a pair of quality cycling shorts. It's a damn fine quality product. Heck, even the mains lead is perfectly designed!!!

 

[Scott Davilla]

Heh, I don't see MrMC in that list

Speaking from a developer point of view, we do all the platforms. But we prefer iOS/tvOS. Why, because the APIs are stable and solid. Apple might not not be the fastest mover but their steps are always positive and forward. Google, on the other hand, tosses APIs on the wall like crazy, only to abandon them in a later SDK. Case in point, the madness regarding AudioTrack API. They (google) still do not have audio latency and buffering right, something Apple got right from day one.

 

[Rigby]

Well the Shield TV can do everything the Apple TV can, and then some.

It can't play iTunes movies and TV shows (including all those sweet free UHD upgrades ), which immediately disqualifies it for me. Conversely, if you use Google Play, then obviously the Apple TV isn't for you.

I would imagine it would be perfect for anyone, regardless of eco system. It just so happens to have powerful hardware that can play games in addition to all of its apps and features.

I'm not a big gamer, but there are some nice games on the ATV as well. Better yet, they often come free with the iOS versions.

 

[Regime2008]

Being honest i've always thought that the Shield market is totally different from that of the ATV market. I truly believe that it's a different kind of person that buys the Shield - an Android person/gamer/Apple hater even. And each to their own BUT for a Apple user, the ATV with Auto Frame Rate switching, Dolby Vision and soon, Dolby Atmos really can't be beaten. iTunes 4K DV IS AMAZING in every sense and should mature and get even better over the years. Add to that the A10X, beautiful UI and timeless design and it's a hell of a package for £199 - thats the price of a bottle of TOM FORD fragrance or a pair of quality cycling shorts. It's a damn fine quality product. Heck, even the mains lead is perfectly designed!!!

Nvidia Shield supports all of those, except for Dolby Vision at the moment as Dolby confirmed Shield can get it via update. It supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-X and DTS-HD out of the box. While I agree if you are deep into Apple ecosystem with itunes and what not, the Apple TV would work. For someone on the Google side of the world, Shield TV would be perfect. For someone who would be looking between the two, it seems Shield would still be a better option, as it offers more for the money. Both support pretty much the same basic apps and all, but with more app support on the Shield TV.

It can't play iTunes movies and TV shows (including all those sweet free UHD upgrades ), which immediately disqualifies it for me. Conversely, if you use Google Play, then obviously the Apple TV isn't for you.
I'm not a big gamer, but there are some nice games on the ATV as well. Better yet, they often come free with the iOS versions.

The thing is, the Apple TV's games cannot be compared to the ones on the Shield. Night and day difference. I am 99.9% sure you cannot play Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Super Mario on the Apple TV. Not to mention GeforceNow games and support for game streaming from a computers library of games.

 

[dazz87]

this is a real question? Nvidia Shield >>> apple.

 

[Regime2008]

this is a real question? Nvidia Shield >>> apple.

I think its just the ones who have a bit of money invested into itunes or the fanboys. As someone who is comparing the two with no bias, would see there is a clear winner.

 

[Rigby]

The thing is, the Apple TV's games cannot be compared to the ones on the Shield. Night and day difference. I am 99.9% sure you cannot play Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Super Mario on the Apple TV.

I have never heard of these games (well, except Super Mario). And I'm pretty sure the Nvidia Shield can't play AG Drive, Geometry Wars 3, or my current favorite Lumino City.

Not to mention GeforceNow games and support for game streaming from a computers library of games.

If I want to play full blown PC games I use my PC.

 

[Regime2008]

I have never heard of these games (well, except Super Mario). And I'm pretty sure the Nvidia Shield can't play AG Drive, Geometry Wars 3, or my current favorite Lumino City.
If I want to play full blown PC games I use my PC.

All of those games are on Android as well as Nvidia Shield....The games I mentioned are wii/gamecube games. Sometimes its fun to play games on the big screen, although I prefer gaming on my pc build. But then again, having the option to do this is the point. Nvidia Shield has more features than the Apple TV. There is no denying this. Now if the OP was only asking about the Apple TV, then I wouldn't even be commenting here.