The NVIDIA Shield is NVIDIA’s latest foray into the world of handheld consoles. Released on 31st July 2013, the Shield runs stock Android OS (Android 4.2.1) and houses a Tegra 4 processor. Even though it’s tad bit expensive, the device is still a powerhouse when it comes to performance and promises to deliver the best gaming experience possible on a 5″ screen.
Describing the device is actually pretty easy. Just imagine a 5” Android tablet attached to a controller which is a cross between the Xbox and PlayStation controllers. The build quality of the device is absolutely amazing. NVIDIA hasn’t spared any expense. They have used thick matte, glossy and metallic plastic on the chassis and rubberized grips for more comfort. Weighing at around 1.5 pounds, double the weight of Sony’s PlayStation Vita, the device isn’t really heavy to use, though its better equipped to be used at home on the bed rather than on a bus while travelling.
The display is a 5-inch (1280×720) IPS screen good enough for either watching HD movies or playing PC games. The stereo speakers are pretty loud and with a few android apps the device can easily be converted into a complete, portable media device for all your media needs. With a decent game-pad, 16GB internal storage (expandable with a microSD card) and a good battery life, the device offers a really good overall experience.
Its main selling point is PC game streaming. This allows the users to play certain Windows games via the Shield, similar to Sony’s Remote Play. The only drawback is that you need to have the compatible hardware. The user will need a PC with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 GPU or better. While most games were not as smooth as we expected, some of them like Need for Speed: Most Wanted run without a single glitch.
Costing $299, the NVIDIA Shield seems to be too overpriced for a portable gaming console, especially if you consider that the PS Vita costs $50 less. While the device still has quite a few glitches and will need quite a few improvements before it offers a seamless gaming experience, it does offer extremely impressive PC streaming, along with wide viewing angles. The Shield is a weird device to look at, but it’s a device that I would definitely recommend for any hardcore gamers or people who need a portable media device for all their video and music needs and don’t mind shelling out a sizable amount. If you have any comments about the article or would just like to express your views, our comments section is always open. Until we meet again!