apple tv or nvidia shield?

Apple TV hands down if you want something that just works out of the box and are okay to pay for subscriptions. Shield if you do not want to be tied by restrictions and need side loading.
 
I have both devices =, both have some unique pros and cons

Nvidia Shield -
Pros - Robust android device, storage expanded or usb additional storage for media, runs as plex server
Cons - off late too many ads, no hardware update for ages

Apple Tv - very smooth experience for OTT, Arcade games work well with controller (I use DS4)
cons - no usb but network streaming works
 
If you sideload stuff, then any Android based platform is better. I use Chromecast with Google TV and it has more sideloaded stuff on it, that doesn't even exist for the Apple platform.

Still don't feel that gaming should drive a streaming device purchase though. A Pi or tablet with USB 3 would give much better performance even.
 
nikola said:
I am planning to buy a used smart tv device, which one is better?
I play some retro games on tv also.
I have fire stick 4K currently.
Click to expand...
I have used and have multiple devices listing few below.

On box : Works great small and simple, great for google ev experience under 2k, currently using the same actively and very happy with it.
Amazon fire stick : have used couple from starting to 4k, they work flawlessly need to usse extension cable if you want to connect usb drive or memory card and downloader app to sideload.
Shield : Using the same for over 6 years, works well, is solid buit and pretty stable, remote always had issues, so you can use a differernt remote or app for the same, connectivity is good, 2 usb ports.
Appple tv : used initially years ago but let it go, not able to sideload apps and make much changes as its OS is built like that, interface and UI is pretty good and looks nice.
pi box : you can insall kodi and other different types of softwares, if you want to build something and experiement with it, is great to learn, newer ones are every prpetty good hardware wise, i used an older version 6 years back and experience was good, but you would need to tinker and play around with it.
Mi box : works well, has given good service from over 7 years, no issues, remote works well and UI is good to use. Can sideload apps and interface is fine, only wi fi no network port.
Roku 2 : Used a lot a decade or more ago, when i watched netflix from US and it was not launched in India. Did work well for the money paid for.

Apart from the apple tv, i have all the other players still with me and working fine in our 4 Tv's some are also lying around as backup to which i switch to when needed and ones that i dont use anymore like Xstreamer, WD tv .
 
I (my kids actually) game on Apple Tv using the older black remote which has gyroscope in it. We play basic games like racing, tennis and temple run kind of (minion run) games. Never had gamepad so don't know how they work but I am sure it will be good and this is not even latest apple tv, it is I think like 8+ years old.
But as we know, the device is super restrictive and sideloading is non existent and very convoluted too if you want to install something like Kodi which too doesn't work well due to DRM issues (I have tried sideloading kodi and tried using).

Best is to go for android based devices. I only got apple tv used off facebook marketplace as I am into apple ecosystem and wanted to try it out. UI is very smooth and joy to use and OTT apps work well but only good if you are ok to pay for all subscriptions. I don't so that part is not useful either.

I am just keeping it because my kids like to do casual gaming on the apple tv - Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8, Tennis, Minion Run.
 
Shield is seriously aged hardware.
There are 5 things that matter for a streaming box:

A) Interface UX and Fluidity : Else you might as well use TV apps
B) Ability to play all OTT and all local files
C) Ability to handle DV/ HDR 10+/HDR10
D) Ability to handle auto switching between dynamic range modes on the fly based on content .. bonus points for frame rate matching
E) Ability to pass through Atmos/ LPCM. Bonus points for lossless ATMOS
F) Quality of Remote

Shield can no longer compete with similarly priced hardware from AMazon, Apple and few other manufacturers like Homatics/ Zidoo and its a completely pointless buy today.

Amazon Cube does well on most of the above except losing bonus points on D
ATV does the best of all on A, gets bonus points on D but not E .
Homatics box ticks all the boxes but loses a bit on fluidity
Shield loses bonus points on D but ticks E.. However it loses big time on A because of the slow inteface. The base SoC is almost a decade old now and even the revision is 5+ .. Both an eternity in Arm chips. At this point, you might as well get a much cheaper Firestick Max over this

Choose your poison accordingly
 
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