Nvidia Shield TV
Score: 86/100
Zidoo Z9X PRO
Score: 83/100Rankings
The NVIDIA Shield TV is a premium Android TV streamer that combines a powerful Tegra X1+ processor, AI-upscaling and full Dolby Vision/Atmos support. Its drawbacks are limited internal storage and a micro-USB-only port for accessories. Best suited for gamers and home-theater enthusiasts who value performance over storage capacity.
The Zidoo Z9X PRO offers 4K@60Hz HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and AV1 decoding in a sleek aluminum chassis with an external SATA bay up to 16 TB. It lacks an internal drive bay and its external antennas add bulk, which can be a drawback. It targets home-theater enthusiasts who prioritize high-quality video and flexible storage.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
2 GB | 4 GBbest | |
8 GB | 32 GBbest | |
1,000 Mbpsbest | 1,000 Mbpsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 249 gbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(3) | ||
Processor Model | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ (quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 + 256-core Maxwell GPU) | Realtek RTD1619BPD quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A55 |
GPU Model | 256-core Maxwell | ARM Mali-G57 |
RAM (GB) | 2 GB | 4 GB |
Storage(1) | ||
Internal Storage (GB) | 8 GB | 32 GB |
Ports(1) | ||
HDMI Version | 2.0b | 2.1 |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Wi‑Fi Standard | 802.11ac | Wi‑Fi 6 |
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Audio(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD | TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DSD, WAV, APE, FLAC, PCM 192kHz |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Dimensions (W×H×D) (mm) | 25.4x101.6x152.4 mm mm | 129x26x189 mm mm |
Display(2) | ||
Maximum Video Resolution | 3840x2160 | 4K |
HDR Formats Supported | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+ | HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG |
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.
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 outlets describe the Z9X Pro as a next-generation video streamer that combines a premium aluminum chassis with top-tier decoding (12-bit color, Dolby Vision, AV1) and robust connectivity (Wi-Fi 6, HDMI 2.1). Reviewers commend its upgraded hardware-4 GB RAM, Android 11 and a faster single-core CPU-making it a strong Plex/Zappiti alternative for smooth upscaling, frame-rate adaptation and large-library handling.
Everyday users praise the vivid colors, Dolby Vision performance and the convenience of the side HDD bay and USB 3.0 ports, noting stable Blu-ray and 3D playback. Recurring themes include appreciation for the sleek metal design and occasional concerns about antenna bulk and the lack of an internal drive bay.
“plays PC games on TV brilliantly”
