The 4K streaming market is booming. By 2021, 1.2 billion 4K streaming devices will hit the market. But which ones should you buy? Two of the biggest names on the current market are the Nvidia Shield TV Pro 16GB 4K HDR Streaming Media Player and the Amazon Firestick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote.
While both of these devices are fantastic at displaying 4K content, there are some differences that make each one valuable to a different audience. Let’s take a look.
Nvidia Shield TV Pro 16GB: The Basics
Despite the overwhelming number of options when it comes to 4L streaming devices (Amazon 4K Firestick, Amazon Fire TV Cube, and Roku 4K, to name a few,) the Nvidia Shield TV Pro stands out among the bunch when it comes to features. From speedy 4K content streaming to gaming and more, it has more features than any other streaming device on the market in its price range. But it also carries a mid-tier price tag at $199.99.
These features include:
- Tegra X1+ processor (an upgraded version of the chipset in the Nintendo Switch consoles)
- The ability to stream 4K games
- Smart home ready
- A plethora of apps (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc.)
- Alexa-ready
- 11ac WiFi capabilities
- Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities
- and more!
The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is sleek, feature-packed, and powerful enough to handle both gaming and 4K streaming.
Amazon Firestick 4k: The Basics
Like the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, the Amazon Firestick 4K can handle 4K streaming with ease. It has Dolby Vision, voice features, and (obviously) great Alexa integrations. Let’s get this straight — the Amazon Firestick 4K isn’t as feature-rich as the Nvidia Shield Pro, but it’s $150 cheaper at $49.99. But even at $49.99, there’s a lot going on in this tiny stick. It’s capable of integrating with just about every smart home provider (e.g., Ring, WeMo, SmartThings, Hue, Wink, Ecobee, etc.) And it has 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 + LE, and it comes with the every-handy Alexa Voice Remote for easy browsing.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re willing to spend extra on your 4K streaming device, the Nvidia Shield TV Pro 4K is your best bet. It’s feature-packed, game ready, and one of the fastest devices we’ve seen on the market. If you’re looking for a simple, budget-friendly 4K streaming stick, there’s nothing on the market that’s as good as the Amazon Firestick 4K in its price range.
