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So the question I asked myself in our previous review of the Shield TV is simple, what exactly is the Shield TV?. The answer is rather complicated, as the Shield is what you need it to be. For me, that would be what we in the past referred to as an HTPC, a Home theater PC (who remembers Media center functionality). However, with android devices like tested today, the need for such expensive PCs are a thing of the past. So this entire review is based on that point of view.

But sure, Shield TV 2019 probably is the best streaming device for content, whatever that content it. I mean streaming games, movies, Netflix, Disney+ and whatnot (well Apple TV). You could also see it as your smart TV HUB or even replacement. In fact with Smart TV functionality and apps getting outdated so fast, you could increase the lifespan of your TV with a device like Shield TV, which always is updated. 

The advantage of Shield is that the SoC is blazingly fast. There is not one TV operating system as fast as the Shield. Next to that, it supports all the applications you like, needs or requirements. A very strong point here is that all complex image quality signals are supported, from SDR up-to HDR Ultra HD Dolby Vision and of course with a passthrough, all popular including HD audio digital formats up-to Dolby Atmos.  Of course, Shield is Google Assistant compatible, so feel free to talk with it if you feel a bit alone. 

A good example, the television you are looking at in the photo above is my Sony AF9 65". It is based on Android TV, which works pretty okay. The shield, however, is so much faster and more responsive. Also if I want to playback a DTS True HD audio signal based movie, my telly cannot decode it. Plex will need to recode stream towards something AC3+ in order for my Onkyo receiver to output some proper audio. For such an expensive TV honestly, that blows.  However connecting the Shield TV to the receiver and ARC back to the TV, you fire up KODI or Plex and boom 'all your base are belong to us', HDR, True HD, Dolby Atmos you name it, it'll all kick in properly. 

Yes, I find this an annoyance with Smart TVs, the applications don't get as supported as when they've become a year or two old, all of the sudden your TV manufacturers urge you should need to purchase a new TV eh?  The Shield, however, has been updated continuously, even that 2015 Shield TV model runs Android 9 and everything I mentioned in this review, but not AI Upscaling, really that's the sole difference.