NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV refresh expected at CES 2017

NVIDIA is preparing a refresh of its Android TV hardware next year as part of its upcoming lineup of SHIELD products, according an anonymous industry source. The new TV hardware will apparently be unveiled at NVIDIA’s yearly CES event, which has typically focused on automotive announcements in the past.

The report suggests that NVIDIA is preparing to make a few important changes to its hardware over its previous generation. The new SHIELD Android TV device is tipped to come with 802.11ac WIFI and MIMO antennas to make the most of faster home WiFi networks. NVIDIA is also expected to mention 4K content integration and support. This should bring support for ultra high definition Google Play Movies releases to the platform, along with other 4K streaming services from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Video.

The company also looks to be making some important changes to its SHIELD Controller. WiFi Direct connectivity looks set to be replaced by Bluetooth  Low Energy, and this change may be applied to the SHIELD Remote too.  This should help keep the accessories powered up for longer without having an impact of device performance or responsiveness, although range may now become an issue.

We don’t know how much NVIDIA is planning to charge for its new SHIELD Android TV device. Hopefully it will be priced at around the same level as the first generation’s launch price. We’ll likely see the new hardware unveiled at CES 2017 on January 4th.