Nvidia Shield TV
Score: 81/100
RockTek GX1
Score: 83/100Rankings
The RockTek GX1 is an ultra-compact Google TV 12 set-top box that offers 4K UHD streaming with Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, powered by a Realtek RTD1325TPV processor and 4 GB RAM. Its limitations include a 100 Mbps Ethernet port, lack of VC-1 support, and USB 2.0 only. It is best for users who value a tiny footprint, Wi-Fi 6 performance and premium HDR video in a budget-friendly package.
The NVIDIA Shield TV is a premium Android TV box offering AI-upscaled 4K, Dolby Vision/Atmos, and powerful Tegra X1+ performance. Its drawbacks are limited internal storage and a micro-USB-only port, which may restrict peripheral connectivity. Ideal for gamers and home-theater enthusiasts who value top-tier picture and cloud gaming.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
3,840 pbest | 2,160 p | |
2 GB | 4 GBbest | |
60 Hzbest | 60 Hzbest | |
8 GB | 32 GBbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 249 g | 115 gbest |
1 count | 2 countbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Display(2) | ||
HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, AV1, H.265/HEVC, VP9 |
Maximum Resolution (p) | 3840x2160 p | 2160 p |
Performance(3) | ||
Processor | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ (quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 + 256-core Maxwell GPU) | Realtek RTD1325TPV |
GPU | 256-core Maxwell GPU | Mali-G57 |
RAM (GB) | 2 GB | 4 GB |
Audio(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Wi‑Fi Standard | 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO (2.4/5 GHz) | Wi‑Fi 6 |
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Storage(1) | ||
Internal Storage (GB) | 8 GB | 32 GB |
Ports(2) | ||
HDMI Version | 2.0b | HDMI 2.1 |
Number of USB Ports (count) | 1 count | 2 count |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 249 g | 115 g |
Dimensions (H×W×D) (mm) | 101.6 x 25.4 x 152.4 mm mm | 93.98×93.98×22.86 mm mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consistently rank the Shield TV as the top Android TV streamer, praising its AI-driven 4K upscaling, powerful Tegra X1+ processor, and robust Dolby Vision/Atmos support. They also commend NVIDIA's ongoing software updates and seamless integration with GeForce NOW, while noting the limited internal storage and absence of full-size USB ports as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users love the device's picture quality, especially the AI upscaling and Dolby Vision/Atmos experience, and they value the smooth cloud-gaming performance. Common frustrations revolve around the small 8 GB storage, occasional Wi-Fi instability, and the remote's missing headphone jack.
Professional reviewers commend the GX1 for its striking Dolby Vision and HDR10+ performance at 2160p60, smooth AV1 playback, and the polished Google TV 12 experience. However, they point out the 100 Mbps Ethernet as a bottleneck for high-bitrate local streaming and note the absence of VC-1 support and limited ventilation as drawbacks for power users.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the GX1's video and audio quality, compact size, and responsive interface, often calling it a top-line product that outshines competitors. The most common complaints revolve around screen-resize issues on certain LCD TVs and the lack of Gigabit Ethernet for heavy NAS-based media consumption.
“plays PC games on TV brilliantly”
“"topline product with great RTD1325 performance."”
“"Ok rating due to this."”
