Rating:
Typical Price:
£240.00
Pros:
Exceptional power, Great for gaming, PC streaming is excellent
Cons:
Controller isn't included, Battery life is poor, Not many games push the hardware
Verdict:
The Shield Tablet offers jaw-dropping performance at a decent price, but more games are needed to make it a must-have purchase for dedicated fans of interactive entertainment
More Info:
Ebuyer
UPDATE: NVIDIA Shield Tablet Updated To Android Nougat
The NVIDIA Shield Tablet is pretty old these days; it first landed well over 12 months ago. But it was an impressive piece of kit as you will find out in our review below. Old it might be, but the NVIDIA Shield Tablet is still an immensely powerful piece of kit – even by today standards. And the fact it can now be had for under £200 make this slate one hell of a proposition!
NVIDIA’s line of tablets and TV devices have grown in popularity dramatically in recent years. The NVIDIA Shield Tablet is a power-house slate, arguably one of the best Android tablet options around, and it has now been updated to Android Nougat.
I have to take my hat off to NVIDIA for this one; updating the Shield Tablet to Android Nougat was highly unexpected given its age. But the fact it has shows the company truly cares about its customers that use the device.
Android 7.0 Nougat brings with it a slew of features that’ll make the tablet even more fun to use on a day to day basis, including improved multitasking features, better notifications and the Android’s new and improved JIT compiler.
All of Android Nougat’s New Features
Performance
- JIT compiler: The new JIT compiler improves runtime device performance, reduces the amount of storage space required for apps and makes app and system updates much faster.
- VR mode: With VR mode, Android Nougat is ready to transport you to new worlds. Coming soon with Daydream and Daydream-ready phones.
- Vulkan™ API: Vulkan API is a real game changer with high-performance 3D graphics. See apps spring to life with sharper graphics and eye candy effects.
Battery & Data
- Doze: Doze is now dozier, with your device going into lower power usage when you’re on the move. That means your Android device will conserve battery even when it’s jostling around in your pocket.
- Data saver: Limit how much data your device uses with Data Saver. When Data Saver is turned on, apps in the background won't be able to access mobile data.
Productivity
- Split-screen mode: Now you can multitask with ease. Run two apps side by side in split-screen mode – watch a movie while texting, or read a recipe with your timer open.
- Picture-in-picture mode: On Android TV, you can continue watching your current video while browsing or changing settings.
- Quick switch: Double tap the Overview button to switch between your two most recently used apps.
Notifications
- Bundled notifications: See what’s new at a glance with bundled notifications from individual apps. Simply tap to view each alert.
- Direct reply: Direct reply lets you quickly reply to a message, directly from within the notification shade. So, you no longer need to launch the app to send a quick response.
- Notification controls: When a notification pops up, just press and hold to toggle the settings. For instance, you can silence future alerts from an app in the notification itself.
System Improvements
- Customisable Quick Settings: Rearrange your Quick Setting tiles so you can get to what you want faster.
- Quick Settings bar: Quick Settings has been redesigned so that you can get faster access to top Quick Settings tiles directly in the notification shade.
- Improved Settings navigation: Find the right setting faster with an updated navigation menu in Settings.
- Settings suggestions: Within Settings, get suggestions for how to get even more out of your device.
- 'Clear all' in Overview: Instantly close all of your apps running in the background by tapping 'clear all' in Overview.
- Emergency information: Emergency Information lets you add information such as name, blood type, allergies and an emergency contact so that emergency responders can view this information through your device's lock screen.
- Lockscreen wallpaper: You can now have different wallpapers on your device's homescreen and lockscreen.
Privacy & Security
- Direct boot: When restarting your device, Direct Boot helps it start up faster and ensures that important communications still run. So before you even put in your password, you'll still get that important text message and hear your alarm clock ring.
- Seamless software updates: On select, new devices running Android Nougat, OS updates can download in the background, so you can go on with your day while your device syncs with the latest OS.
- File-based encryption: Building on top of our security platform, Android Nougat introduces file-based encryption. By encrypting at the file level instead of the block level, Android can better isolate and protect files for individual users on your device.
- Scoped folder access: Apps can request access to specific folders that you can allow or deny access to (just like app runtime permissions). This is a reduced-scope version of the Storage permission for Apps that only need access to certain folders. It can also allow Apps to request direct access to removable media (on devices with that hardware).
- Trusted face: Trusted face, a part of Smart Lock, makes unlocking even easier thanks to a new face recogniser. The new recogniser is less sensitive to conditions like lighting, facial decorations (eyewear, facial hair, etc.), and how you hold your phone. Available on selected devices.
Read our FULL review after the break...
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2013's NVIDIA Shield was a handheld games console with a difference. It combined console-quality gaming controls with cutting-edge mobile hardware to create a system that was peerless in its class. Many critics at the time suggested that the hardware was little more than a way for NVIDIA to showcase its powerful Tegra 4 chipset, and some predicted that the venture would be little more than an ego-fuelled dead-end for the manufacturer.
The sequel system proves that isn't the case, but also indicates that NVIDIA is aware that the original concept was perhaps somewhat flawed; while the Shield was - and still is - an incredibly powerful device which puts many dedicated portable consoles to shame, for the average Android user it didn't quite hit the spot. The NVIDIA Shield Tablet, as the name suggests, adopts an entirely different form factor; one which should allow this product to achieve the kind of market penetration which so sadly eluded its forerunner.
NVIDIA’s Shield Tablet and Shield portable will be getting a bit of a functionality boost as the company has now announced it will rollout its cloud-based, on-demand gaming service for the devices, based on its GRID platform. Shield Tablet and portable users will have free access to the service from November 18 until June 30 2015.
Previously GRID has only been available as part of a limited testing program in specific parts of the US, but NVIDIA’s latest announcement reportedly covers global access to all owners of these devices. More than 20 leading titles will be available to stream on-demand to NVIDIA’s tech absolutely free, including both Borderlands and Borderlands 2, and Batman: Arkham City – more titles will also be added in the coming months. As with previous reports of GRID, the service involves NVIDIA’s remote servers which can stream games live to a device at 1080p, with performance speeds of up to 60fps in ideal connectivity scenarios. Quite how anything short of a 4G connection will cope with this remains to be seen, however.
That November 18 date is also important for Shield device owners as it’s when the Android 5.0 Lollipop software update will land on the hardware. NVIDIA also added that from today the 32GB LTE-enabled Shield Tablet will be available as part of a “Green Bundle” including digital copies of Half Life 2, Half Life 2: Episode 1, and the first Portal title.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Design & Display
The NVIDIA Shield Tablet really couldn't be more different than the device it supersedes; while the Shield boasted a clamshell design with a small screen and built-in physical gaming controls, the Shield Tablet is just a tablet. It's roughly the same size as the 2013 Nexus 7, but is thicker and heavier - a consequence of packing in NVIDIA’s blisteringly fast K1 chipset.
The front of the device is predictably dominated by the 16:10, 1920x1200 resolution IPS screen, which is surrounded by a fairly sizable bezel, while the back resembles the Nexus 5 smartphone, with a soft-touch coating sitting atop a plastic body and the name "Shield" in the middle, etched in glossy material.
Along one side you'll find the power and volume controls, as well as the MicroSD card slot. There's also the dock for the NVIDIA’s Direct Stylus 2, which allows precise input on the tablet's capacitive touchscreen.
Like so many Android tablets, this isn't much of a looker; it's functional rather than alluring. And it certainly won't earn you the puzzled glances the original Shield got when used in public. The "smart" cover, an almost direct clone of the one Apple pioneered on the iPad, is an optional extra, and clips onto the side of the tablet via magnetic clasps. As you might assume, it switches off the screen when closed and brings it to life when opened, and folds on itself to create a stand, handy when you consider that you'll be using this device for a lot of hands-free gaming.
NVIDIA’s quad-core, 2.2GHz Tegra K1 chipset generates a considerable amount of heat when it's in full flow, and to compensate for this the Shield Tablet has two vents at either end which help to dissipate some of that warmth. They're still not quite enough to totally alleviate the issue, and prolonged usage will see the device become noticeably toasty.
If you're used to the 4:3 aspect ratio seen on Apple's tablets then you might struggle with the Shield Tablet; this is a display that has been designed purely with entertainment in mind, rather than everyday tasks like browsing the web or reading magazines. The widescreen ratio lends itself to movies and gaming – the latter being the Shield's primary focus – but can make other tasks a little more awkward. When you're hitting the web you'll need nimble fingers to pinch-zoom your way around when sites and content.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Controller
Although it's sold separately to the tablet itself, you don't get the full Shield experience without the Shield Wireless Controller. It looks and feels like a proper console joypad, offering the same comfort and precision as the Xbox One or PS4 controller, and is the central interface which the entire Shield experience is built around.
It carries over the button arrangement and general ergonomics of the controller on the Shield handheld, but adds in volume controls, a touchpad (think PS4), a microphone (for voice search, primarily) and a headphone jack.
The pad really is fantastic and offers the kind of build quality you'd normally associate with a major console manufacturer. The dual analogue sticks are responsive and well-placed, and the rolling D-pad is perfect for those times when you feel like exploring the past and want to load up one of the many Android-based retro gaming emulators.
To keep latency at a minimum NVIDIA has opted for WiFi Direct rather than the usual Bluetooth connection, and while you can use standard Bluetooth pads with the tablet, you'll be sorely tempted to buy another three Shield pads for the optimum experience. The Shield pad's brilliance leads to one very pressing issue: it's such an essential part of the package you have to question NVIDIA’s decision not to bundle it with the tablet from the start. Some games – Half Life 2 and Portal – won't actually play properly without the controller, either.
The controller is also restricted to the Shield range alone (it works on the original Shield handheld without issue) so you won't be able to use it as a Bluetooth pad with other devices. When you consider the high cost, however, (£49.99) that could put off many potential buyers.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Performance
NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 chipset is one of the most potent pieces of mobile hardware available right now, so it should come as no great shock to learn that the Shield Tablet is a formidable contender when it comes to pure power. Given the tablet's gaming focus it seems fitting to tackle that element first and foremost; the device comes with FrozenByte's excellent fantasy adventure title Trine 2 pre-installed, which offers almost identical performance to that of the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U versions. That in itself is an incredible achievement; the Shield Tablet essentially offers the same graphical power as modern home consoles (Nintendo's Wii U was only released in 2012).
Sadly, such experiences are few and far between. While NVIDIA has taken steps to push gaming content to the forefront and has secured exclusive versions of the aforementioned Half Life 2 and Portal, there's no escaping the fact that there are very few titles which can match this trio when it comes to overall quality.
Most of the games on Google Play are aimed at lower-level Android devices, and don't make use of the Shield Tablet's incredible internal specifications. That will change over time of course, but for the time being, don't expect to play too many games that approach the same standard as Trine 2.
Benchmark tests go some way to illustrating the Shield Tablet's pure processing grunt. Antutu returns a score of 41596, eclipsing the HTC M8 (35244), Galaxy S5 (35046) and Sony Xperia Z1 (33586). 3DMark – designed to test the graphical performance of hardware – returns a score of just over 30,000, which is around twice what the Tegra 4-powered Shield handheld could manage last year. GFXBench's T-Rex test provides yet more evidence over this setup’s power with a rate of 64.4 FPS, while the Shield handheld could only muster 24.4 FPS.
The Tegra K1 clearly an insanely powerful piece of kit and one which truly pushes the boundaries of mobile performance.
Like the Shield handheld before it, the Shield Tablet is also capable of streaming games from your PC, as long as you possess one of NVIDIA’s compatible graphics cards. The experience has been slowly refined since last year, and is so smooth now that it's almost impossible to tell that you're not actually running the game directly from the computer. The controller really comes into its own during these sessions.
NVIDA Shield Tablet Review: Software & User Experience
Nvidia staff have recently taken to the company's official forums and revealed the firm is prepping to update both the Shield portable handheld and Shield Tablet to Android 5.1 Lollipop; the most up-to-date iteration of Google's software platform.
Naturally, things haven't been explained in great detail and we don't know exactly when the Shield tablet will be getting the new software just yet, just that it "won't be much longer." However, don't expect massive leaps and bounds in terms of features from the previous Lollipop 5.0 build - it's primarily a performance tweak and bugfix deal, although it should allegedly make the device more responsive
You can quickly and easily set up unique users who have their own applications and accounts, making the Shield Tablet a truly social device. This is a big selling point for Nvidia - and Android in general - as it is something that Apple is unlikely to do to the same degree, as it wants everyone in the household to own their own iPad.
Along with Android 5.0, Nvidia has drastically upgraded its own applications. The Nvidia Hub now includes the GRID cloud gaming portal, which grants access to a library of PC-quality games. If you've used OnLive before then you'll know what to expect, but there's a key difference here - Nvidia is aiming for true HD performance with the kind of visual clarity and low-latency control that you'd expect from a standard home games console. The GRID service goes live in Europe next month, and will be free to use until June next year. It already includes some amazing games, such as Ultra Street Fighter IV, The Witcher 2, Batman: Arkham City and Saint's Row 3 - all of which run incredibly well.
Nvidia's Dabbler software has also been upgraded and now allows you to doodle on top of your Twitch livestream broadcasts - something which sounds daft on paper, but could prove to be incredibly popular with dedicated live streamers. Dabbler itself remains a solid drawing and art app, and uses the Shield Tablet's DirectStylus pen. 4K video output also makes an appearance, although this naturally only works when the tablet is connected to a 4K-ready TV in Console Mode.
All in all, the Android 5.0 update for the Nvidia Shield Tablet is a resounding success, and makes this device even more desirable. With Google neglecting to launch an updated Nexus 7 this year, Nvidia's slate is the obvious choice for anyone who wants a new tablet but isn't ready to embrace the larger Nexus 9.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Battery & Memory
The cutting-edge power contained within the Tegra K1 chipset comes at a cost, however: it has a ravenous appetite for juice, and will drain the Shield Tablet's battery with alarming speed if you allow it to. Playing Trine 2 really pushes the hardware to its limits and will see the battery entirely consumed in less than 3 hours. That's an extreme case, though, and NVIDIA has included power management options to help you massage a little more stamina from the Shield Tablet, and general use won't tax the battery so much.
16GB is included on the WiFi-only model we reviewed (32GB on the more expensive LTE-enabled edition), with 11.6GB being available to the end user. Several of the bundled apps, including Trine 2, which clocks in at 1.6GB, cannot be uninstalled, which could create headaches a few months down the line when space becomes a premium.
There's a MicroSD card slot that can be used to augment your storage options, but recent changes made in Android now limit the usefulness of such additional space. Apps can only access folders they themselves have created, which potentially renders such apps redundant. You'll also find that not all applications can be moved to the SD card for storage, and that could present problems when you're downloading some of the larger Android games.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Camera
Cameras on tablets have long been considered something of an afterthought, and the one on the Shield Tablet is no exception. It's a 5MP snapper with no LED flash, and the shots it takes are predictably lackluster. It's good for taking casual images for use with the likes of Twitter and Instagram, but you won't want to rely on it as your primary photographic device.
There's also a front-face camera which is far more useful, as it allows you to use applications like Skype, Google Hangouts and Snapchat.
NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Conclusion
Hardened gamers may be disappointed that NVIDIA has taken a step back from the handheld console concept with this tablet device, and not bundling the wireless controller as standard is a mistake. However, it's impossible to deny the incredible power contained within the Shield Tablet; it effortlessly puts other Android slates in the shade when it comes to processing muscle. Trine 2 - which comes pre-installed - is the perfect showcase of its abilities, and boasts a level of performance which is equal to the dedicated home console ports.
However, like the Shield handheld before it, the Shield Tablet is likely to suffer from a lack of quality games outside of those streamed from your PC. NVIDIA has worked hard to secure decent software for its Shield range, and the gamepad mapper app, which automatically adds support for physical controls to games which don't currently have them, helps things a little, but the vast majority of Android games are based around touch control and don't push the Tegra K1 anywhere near enough.
That could change as time goes on; NVIDIA is clearly committed to its Shield brand, and part of that commitment will involve tempting developers to create exclusive software. But it would be foolish to expect the same level of unique support as you'd find on a system like the Nintendo 3DS or Xbox 360. And that's where the Shield Tablet's revised form factor will come as a blessing rather than a curse; while the Shield handheld could only really be used as a games console, at least this sequel has a life as an incredibly adept slate ahead of it, even if you don't even load up a single game.
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