Nvidia's Shield TV finally gets an update – and some users see 'unbelievable' performance gains

Nvidia hasn’t forgotten. The tech giant is rolling out the first major patch to the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro after two years of silence. The Shield TV models are the company’s sole streaming devices, akin to the Roku Ultra. They enable users to enjoy movies in 4K resolution and offer access to GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud gaming service. 

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Patch notes for the update, dubbed Shield Experience Upgrade 9.2, can be found on Nvidia’s website. The update consists primarily of bug fixes — 23 in all — including fixes to address stability problems when a Shield TV crashes after a volume change and Apple Music corrupts during a cast. There are also a handful of new features.

Notable additions include AURO-3D over HDMI being fully supported, enabling “high-resolution immersive sound.” However, there’s a catch: You must own an “AURO-3D compatible decoder.” A quick Google Search reveals these decoders to be expensive equipment, with prices hovering well over $1,000.

Additionally, the Match Frame Rate (a beta feature) is improved, and people can now clear out the “HDMI 1.4 flag via factory reset.” One issue you should be aware of: Installing the patch will remove the Google Home integration from your Shield TV.

Fortunately, Nvidia has provided instructions on how to reintegrate Google Home. You’ll need to delete all Google app data from the Shield TV model, restart it, and use the on-device microphone to set up Google Assistant. 

Initial reactions to the patch are mostly positive. Commenters on the Nvidia subreddit point out how their Shield TV feels “super snappy.” Performance has been enhanced as system speed reportedly feels “unbelievable.”  Both Dolby Vision and HDR files provide even “better picture quality.” 

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One question lingers: Could the rollout of this firmware update signal that Nvidia is working on a new Shield TV model? Fans of the hardware have been clamoring for another generation. Sadly, I’m unaware of any information online about a Shield TV 3 or something similar.

Nvidia may be simply content with supporting the current hardware. The Shield TV launched a decade ago, and it’s still receiving patches. Plus, there are also plenty of other solid options from the likes of Roku and Google. Nvidia may not think a new model is necessary.