There are many ways to stream 4K content in 2018, but NVIDIA and Apple have separated from the pack with their capable set top boxes that do it all. Here's how they stack up against each other and a guide to figuring out which works best for you.
NVIDIA Shield TV
Best Android TV box
Pros
- Best support for Google apps and services (Google Play, Google Assistant etc.)
- Also a capable gaming console
- Expandable storage
- Support for 4K and HDR content
Cons
- No support for Dolby Vision
- Doesn't ship with an HDMI cable
The NVIDIA Shield TV will cruise into 2019 as the best streaming box running Android — partially because there really isn't any serious competition, but also because it's built a top-notch streaming box that basically does it all.
Apple TV 4K
Good for pretty much anyone
Pros
- Best support for Apple apps and services
- Great for mirroring content from other Apple devices
- Shows and movies look absolutely stunning on 4K TVs
- Optimized to be easy to use
Cons
- No way to expand storage
- Doesn't ship with an HDMI cable
Apple is known for making top quality tech products that are perfectly suitable for practically anyone. tvOS is easy to navigate and supports the most popular streaming services with output that supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision.
Two of the biggest players in the platform game are Apple and Google and both have excellent options when it comes to streaming content. Apple's got the Apple TV, of course, which finally handles 4K resolution. Google's best Android TV box continues to be the NVIDIA Shield TV.
So which should you get? Let's break it down.
Need to consider more than just the specs
For the most part, NVIDIA Shield TV and Apple TV 4K do the same things in the same ways. They suck in digital signals, process them, and spit 'em out onto your TV. For the most part, there's a fair amount of parity in the specs: same UHD resolution and same starting price. Each has a remote control and does Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and the rest of the basics.
| Category | NVIDIA Shield TV | Apple TV |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | NVIDIA Tegra X1 | Apple A10X |
| Operating System | Android TV | tvOS |
| Storage | 32GB | 16GB |
| External storage | Yes | No |
| 4K resolution | Yes | Yes |
| HDR10 | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Vision | No | Yes |
| DTS-X | Yes | No |
| Price | $179 at Apple | $149 at Amazon |
Here's what stands out to me: Apple has twice as much storage built in. Maybe that's a thing for you, maybe it's not. I don't load up a ton of apps on either my Shield TV or Apple TV, so that's not a huge deal for me. In any case, you can plug an external hard drive (I use a little thumb drive, actually) into the Shield TV and pretty much never worry about running out of space. Apple TV doesn't do that.
The bigger deal for folks may be in those two Dolby lines. Dolby Atmos is a fancy audio thing that makes multi-channel audio sound better. Dolby Vision is a fancy video thing that makes HDR content look better. If you worry about getting the absolute best audio and video experiences you can possibly get, you'll want to pay attention to those lines (you'll also need to pay attention to where the content you're viewing is coming from, and on which display you're ultimately watching all this stuff anyway, but that's an explanation for another time).
Me? I just can't quite bring myself to worry about those things because ultimately, I have no idea if what I'm watching is using HDR or Dolby Vision. Can I tell a difference in some sort of side-by-side test? Sure, but that's not how I watch TV at home. It most likely won't be apparent to you either unless you pay attention to those sorts of things.
Platform is what's important
For me, the bigger deal between Apple TV 4K and the NVIDIA Shield TV comes down to content and the services I'm using.
The good news is that streaming services are pretty much ubiquitous at this point. Services like PlayStation Vue, Sling, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, DirecTV, and more are available on Android TV and on Apple's TV OS.
In fact, the only real discrepancy for me (again, what you want to watch and how you want to watch it may vary) is that there's no HD Homerun app for Apple TV, and you have to use something like InstaTV Pro or Channels ($25). On Android TV, over-the-air services can take advantage of Android's excellent Live TV app, which bundles multiple live video services together.
But even that doesn't change the fact that Apple content isn't available on Android TV. So that may well sway your decision, and I wouldn't blame you in the slightest. If you've got accounts on all the Apple services and are ingrained in its ecosystem, the choice will be obvious.
NVIDIA Shield TV
Best Android TV streaming box
NVIDIA lets you stream just about everything
The NVIDIA Shield TV is a powerful and sleek solution that offers an all-in-one entertainment console for your living room.
Product B
Best for Apple fans
Apple's latest TV box is compatible with all the latest and greatest 4K TV technologies
Apple TV is a great investment for those who rely on iTunes and other Apple services, and especially those who know and appreciate the difference that Dolby Vision delivers.
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