Nvidia’s response to the Shield TV’s future doesn’t seem promising ‣ Diverse Daily

In 2019, Nvidia launched two new Shield TV streaming devices: the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro. Even though they’re now more than six years old, both have remained popular, especially among enthusiasts who appreciate their powerful hardware and the freedom that comes with Android TV.

Recently, though, concerns have been growing about the future of the cheaper $150 Shield TV. While the $200 Shield TV Pro remains widely available, stock of the cheaper Shield TV has disappeared from major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg, with no indication it’s coming back. B&H Photo Video even labeled the Shield TV as “discontinued” before recently changing the product status to “No Longer Available,” fueling speculation that Nvidia has quietly pulled the plug on the device.

Pocket-lint reached out to Nvidia for clarification on the Shield TV’s future and received an email response. Here’s what Nvidia had to say:

“The SHIELD TV base model is largely out of stock due to demand. We don’t have any updates to share regarding future availability at this time. SHIELD TV Pro remains available, and the SHIELD platform continues to be supported with ongoing updates for more than 10 years.”

Nvidia won’t say the Shield TV is discontinued

But it’s not confirming that it’s coming back either

Nvidia Shield TV (2019) sitting on a table.

While Nvidia confirmed that the base Shield TV is out of stock due to demand, what’s still unclear is what happens next.

In its email response to Pocket-lint, the company sidestepped whether the device has been discontinued, saying only that it has no updates to share regarding its availability. That makes it seem like Nvidia isn’t ready to say the Shield TV has been discontinued, but it also isn’t willing to confirm that it’s coming back. As a result, the future of the base Shield TV remains in limbo.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Shield TV’s stock situation is tied to the ongoing global memory shortage. Component prices have risen significantly over the past year as AI data centers have snapped up huge amounts of RAM and storage, and Nvidia likely isn’t in a great position to manufacture more Shield TVs without raising the device’s $150 price tag. This is purely speculation on my part, but it could explain why Nvidia doesn’t want to definitively rule out producing more Shield TVs just yet.

Another reason Nvidia might not be in a rush to restock the base Shield TV is the continued availability of the $200 Shield TV Pro. In its statement, the company confirmed that the Pro model “remains available,” and if it still has ample inventory, it would make sense for Nvidia to shift its focus to that device instead. After all, the Shield TV Pro is the better option and more popular anyway, thanks to its extra RAM and storage, USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and support for 64-bit apps.

Nvidia hasn’t ruled out a new Shield TV either

The dream of a new Shield TV lives on

Nvidia Shield TV 2019 review Android TV power play image 11

This whole situation surrounding the base Shield TV’s availability, and whether it’ll ever come back, has also gotten me thinking about whether Nvidia will ever release new Shield TV models. Both the Shield TV and Shield TV Pro are now more than six years old, and they’re long overdue for a refresh.

Nvidia hasn’t officially confirmed any plans for new Shield TV hardware, but it also hasn’t ruled out the possibility.

In an interview with Ars Technica back in January, Nvidia’s Senior VP of Hardware Engineering, Andrew Bell, was asked about the possibility of future Shield TV models. His response was encouraging:

“We talk about it all the time — I’d love to.”

Bell went on to say that if Nvidia comes up with a new Shield TV concept the company is passionate about, it could happen.

Overall, the future of the base Shield TV remains uncertain, as does whether Nvidia will ever release new Shield TV models. What is clear, though, is that if you’re looking to buy a Shield TV today, the Shield TV Pro is your best bet. Nvidia also has no plans to stop supporting its existing Shield TV lineup, with software updates continuing to roll out occasionally.