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NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: The Ultimate Gaming Slate

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NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: The Ultimate Gaming Slate

NVIDIA’s insanely powerful gaming tablet arrives with Tegra K1 in tow

2013’s NVIDIA Shield was a handheld games console with a difference. It combined console-quality gaming controls with cutting-edge mobile hardware to create a system that was peerless in its class. Many critics at the time suggested that the hardware was little more than a way for NVIDIA to showcase its powerful Tegra 4 chipset, and some predicted that the venture would be little more than an ego-fuelled dead-end for the manufacturer.

The sequel system proves that isn’t the case, but also indicates that NVIDIA is aware that the original concept was perhaps somewhat flawed; while the Shield was – and still is – an incredibly powerful device which puts many dedicated portable consoles to shame, for the average Android user it didn’t quite hit the spot. The NVIDIA Shield Tablet, as the name suggests, adopts an entirely different form factor; one which should allow this product to achieve the kind of market penetration which so sadly eluded its forerunner. 

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Design & Display 

The NVIDIA Shield Tablet really couldn’t be more different than the device it supersedes; while the Shield boasted a clamshell design with a small screen and built-in physical gaming controls, the Shield Tablet is just a tablet. It’s roughly the same size as the 2013 Nexus 7, but is thicker and heavier – a consequence of packing in NVIDIA’s blisteringly fast K1 chipset. 

The front of the device is predictably dominated by the 16:10, 1920×1200 resolution IPS screen, which is surrounded by a fairly sizable bezel, while the back resembles the Nexus 5 smartphone, with a soft-touch coating sitting atop a plastic body and the name “Shield” in the middle, etched in glossy material. 

Along one side you’ll find the power and volume controls, as well as the MicroSD card slot. There’s also the dock for the NVIDIA’s Direct Stylus 2, which allows precise input on the tablet’s capacitive touchscreen.

Like so many Android tablets, this isn’t much of a looker; it’s functional rather than alluring. And it certainly won’t earn you the puzzled glances the original Shield got when used in public. The “smart” cover, an almost direct clone of the one Apple pioneered on the iPad, is an optional extra, and clips onto the side of the tablet via magnetic clasps. As you might assume, it switches off the screen when closed and brings it to life when opened, and folds on itself to create a stand, handy when you consider that you’ll be using this device for a lot of hands-free gaming.

NVIDIA’s quad-core, 2.2GHz Tegra K1 chipset generates a considerable amount of heat when it’s in full flow, and to compensate for this the Shield Tablet has two vents at either end which help to dissipate some of that warmth. They’re still not quite enough to totally alleviate the issue, and prolonged usage will see the device become noticeably toasty.

If you’re used to the 4:3 aspect ratio seen on Apple’s tablets then you might struggle with the Shield Tablet; this is a display that has been designed purely with entertainment in mind, rather than everyday tasks like browsing the web or reading magazines. The widescreen ratio lends itself to movies and gaming – the latter being the Shield’s primary focus – but can make other tasks a little more awkward. When you’re hitting the web you’ll need nimble fingers to pinch-zoom your way around when sites and content.

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Controller

Although it’s sold separately to the tablet itself, you don’t get the full Shield experience without the Shield Wireless Controller. It looks and feels like a proper console joypad, offering the same comfort and precision as the Xbox One or PS4 controller, and is the central interface which the entire Shield experience is built around.

It carries over the button arrangement and general ergonomics of the controller on the Shield handheld, but adds in volume controls, a touchpad (think PS4), a microphone (for voice search, primarily) and a headphone jack. 

The pad really is fantastic and offers the kind of build quality you’d normally associate with a major console manufacturer. The dual analogue sticks are responsive and well-placed, and the rolling D-pad is perfect for those times when you feel like exploring the past and want to load up one of the many Android-based retro gaming emulators.

To keep latency at a minimum NVIDIA has opted for WiFi Direct rather than the usual Bluetooth connection, and while you can use standard Bluetooth pads with the tablet, you’ll be sorely tempted to buy another three Shield pads for the optimum experience. The Shield pad’s brilliance leads to one very pressing issue: it’s such an essential part of the package you have to question NVIDIA’s decision not to bundle it with the tablet from the start. Some games – Half Life 2 and Portal – won’t actually play properly without the controller, either.

The controller is also restricted to the Shield range alone (it works on the original Shield handheld without issue) so you won’t be able to use it as a Bluetooth pad with other devices. When you consider the high cost, however, (£49.99) that could put off many potential buyers.

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Performance 

NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 chipset is one of the most potent pieces of mobile hardware available right now, so it should come as no great shock to learn that the Shield Tablet is a formidable contender when it comes to pure power. Given the tablet’s gaming focus it seems fitting to tackle that element first and foremost; the device comes with FrozenByte’s excellent fantasy adventure title Trine 2 pre-installed, which offers almost identical performance to that of the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii U versions. That in itself is an incredible achievement; the Shield Tablet essentially offers the same graphical power as modern home consoles (Nintendo’s Wii U was only released in 2012).

Sadly, such experiences are few and far between. While NVIDIA has taken steps to push gaming content to the forefront and has secured exclusive versions of the aforementioned Half Life 2 and Portal, there’s no escaping the fact that there are very few titles which can match this trio when it comes to overall quality.

Most of the games on Google Play are aimed at lower-level Android devices, and don’t make use of the Shield Tablet’s incredible internal specifications. That will change over time of course, but for the time being, don’t expect to play too many games that approach the same standard as Trine 2. 

Benchmark tests go some way to illustrating the Shield Tablet’s pure processing grunt. Antutu returns a score of 41596, eclipsing the HTC M8 (35244), Galaxy S5 (35046) and Sony Xperia Z1 (33586). 3DMark – designed to test the graphical performance of hardware – returns a score of just over 30,000, which is around twice what the Tegra 4-powered Shield handheld could manage last year. GFXBench’s T-Rex test provides yet more evidence over this setup’s power with a rate of 64.4 FPS, while the Shield handheld could only muster 24.4 FPS. 

The Tegra K1 clearly an insanely powerful piece of kit and one which truly pushes the boundaries of mobile performance.

Like the Shield handheld before it, the Shield Tablet is also capable of streaming games from your PC, as long as you possess one of NVIDIA’s compatible graphics cards. The experience has been slowly refined since last year, and is so smooth now that it’s almost impossible to tell that you’re not actually running the game directly from the computer. The controller really comes into its own during these sessions.

NVIDA Shield Tablet Review: Software & User Experience

As was the case with the Shield handheld, NVIDIA has wisely chosen not to inflict a bloated custom UI on its customers. The Shield Tablet comes with a largely stock version of Android 4.4.2, with just a smattering of dedicated Shield applications for handling stuff like connecting the wireless controller or switching to “console” mode when linking the device to a television via HDMI. There are also some apps that make use of the NVIDIA Direct Stylus 2, such as NVIDIA Dabble, a Photoshop-style art application.

The Shield Hub application is essentially a curated selection of games that make best use of the Shield hardware and controller, but there’s no dedicated Shield store as such; once you’ve selected a game you are simply pushed towards the Google Play Store to make the final purchase. This is actually a clever move by NVIDIA, as it removes the need to sign into multiple app stores in order to buy content – take note Sony and Samsung!

Because it is using stock Android, you can expect prompt and timely software updates when new versions of Android are released; that was certainly the case with the Shield handheld, and there’s no reason to suspect it will be any different with the Shield Tablet. 

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Battery & Memory

The cutting-edge power contained within the Tegra K1 chipset comes at a cost, however: it has a ravenous appetite for juice, and will drain the Shield Tablet’s battery with alarming speed if you allow it to. Playing Trine 2 really pushes the hardware to its limits and will see the battery entirely consumed in less than 3 hours. That’s an extreme case, though, and NVIDIA has included power management options to help you massage a little more stamina from the Shield Tablet, and general use won’t tax the battery so much.

16GB is included on the WiFi-only model we reviewed (32GB on the more expensive LTE-enabled edition), with 11.6GB being available to the end user. Several of the bundled apps, including Trine 2, which clocks in at 1.6GB, cannot be uninstalled, which could create headaches a few months down the line when space becomes a premium. 

There’s a MicroSD card slot that can be used to augment your storage options, but recent changes made in Android now limit the usefulness of such additional space. Apps can only access folders they themselves have created, which potentially renders such apps redundant. You’ll also find that not all applications can be moved to the SD card for storage, and that could present problems when you’re downloading some of the larger Android games. 

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Camera 

Cameras on tablets have long been considered something of an afterthought, and the one on the Shield Tablet is no exception. It’s a 5MP snapper with no LED flash, and the shots it takes are predictably lackluster. It’s good for taking casual images for use with the likes of Twitter and Instagram, but you won’t want to rely on it as your primary photographic device.

 

There’s also a front-face camera which is far more useful, as it allows you to use applications like Skype, Google Hangouts and Snapchat.

NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review: Conclusion 

Hardened gamers may be disappointed that NVIDIA has taken a step back from the handheld console concept with this tablet device, and not bundling the wireless controller as standard is a mistake. However, it’s impossible to deny the incredible power contained within the Shield Tablet; it effortlessly puts other Android slates in the shade when it comes to processing muscle. Trine 2 – which comes pre-installed – is the perfect showcase of its abilities, and boasts a level of performance which is equal to the dedicated home console ports. 

However, like the Shield handheld before it, the Shield Tablet is likely to suffer from a lack of quality games outside of those streamed from your PC. NVIDIA has worked hard to secure decent software for its Shield range, and the gamepad mapper app, which automatically adds support for physical controls to games which don’t currently have them, helps things a little, but the vast majority of Android games are based around touch control and don’t push the Tegra K1 anywhere near enough.

That could change as time goes on; NVIDIA is clearly committed to its Shield brand, and part of that commitment will involve tempting developers to create exclusive software. But it would be foolish to expect the same level of unique support as you’d find on a system like the Nintendo 3DS or Xbox 360. And that’s where the Shield Tablet’s revised form factor will come as a blessing rather than a curse; while the Shield handheld could only really be used as a games console, at least this sequel has a life as an incredibly adept slate ahead of it, even if you don’t even load up a single game.

Typical Price: 
£240.00


Reviews

Pros: 
Exceptional power, Great for gaming, PC streaming is excellent


Damien McFerran

Cons: 
Controller isn’t included, Battery life is poor, Not many games push the hardware


11:02, 18 Aug 2014

Verdict: 
The Shield Tablet offers jaw-dropping performance at a decent price, but more games are needed to make it a must-have purchase for dedicated fans of interactive entertainment

NVIDIA’s insanely highly effective gaming pill arrives with Tegra K1 in tow

2013's NVIDIA Shield was a handheld video games console with a distinction. It mixed console-high quality gaming controls with chopping-edge cellular hardware to create a system that was peerless in its class. Many critics on the time steered that the hardware was little greater than a means for NVIDIA to showcase its highly effective Tegra four chipset, and a few predicted that the enterprise can be little greater than an ego-fuelled lifeless-finish for the producer.

The sequel system proves that is not the case, but in addition signifies that NVIDIA is conscious that the unique idea was maybe considerably flawed; whereas the Defend was - and nonetheless is - an extremely highly effective system which places many devoted moveable consoles to disgrace, for the typical Android consumer it did not fairly hit the spot. The NVIDIA Defend Pill, because the identify suggests, adopts a completely totally different type issue; one which ought to permit this product to realize the sort of market penetration which so sadly eluded its forerunner. 

NVIDIA Defend Pill Assessment: Design & Show 

The NVIDIA Defend Pill actually could not be extra totally different than the gadget it supersedes; whereas the Defend boasted a clamshell design with a small display and constructed-in bodily gaming controls, the Defend Pill is only a pill. It is roughly the identical measurement because the 2013 Nexus 7, however is thicker and heavier - a consequence of packing in NVIDIA’s blisteringly quick K1 chipset. 

The entrance of the system is predictably dominated by the sixteen:10, 1920x1200 decision IPS display, which is surrounded by a reasonably sizable bezel, whereas the again resembles the Nexus 5 smartphone, with a gentle-contact coating sitting atop a plastic physique and the identify "Defend" within the center, etched in shiny materials. 

Alongside one aspect you will discover the facility and quantity controls, in addition to the MicroSD card slot. There's additionally the dock for the NVIDIA’s Direct Stylus 2, which permits exact enter on the pill's capacitive touchscreen.

Like so many Android tablets, this is not a lot of a looker; it is practical moderately than alluring. And it definitely will not earn you the puzzled glances the unique Defend acquired when utilized in public. The "sensible" cowl, an virtually direct clone of the one Apple pioneered on the iPad, is an elective additional, and clips onto the aspect of the pill by way of magnetic clasps. As you may assume, it switches off the display when closed and brings it to life when opened, and folds on itself to create a stand, useful when you think about that you're going to be utilizing this gadget for lots of palms-free gaming.

NVIDIA’s quad-core, 2.2GHz Tegra K1 chipset generates a substantial quantity of warmth when it is in full movement, and to compensate for this the Defend Pill has two vents at both finish which assist to dissipate a few of that heat. They're nonetheless not fairly sufficient to completely alleviate the difficulty, and extended utilization will see the gadget turn into noticeably toasty.

For those who're used to the four:three facet ratio seen on Apple's tablets you then may wrestle with the Defend Pill; this can be a show that has been designed purely with leisure in thoughts, quite than on a regular basis duties like shopping the online or studying magazines. The widescreen ratio lends itself to films and gaming – the latter being the Defend's main focus – however could make different duties a bit of extra awkward. If you're hitting the online you will want nimble fingers to pinch-zoom your means round when websites and content material.

NVIDIA Defend Pill Evaluation: Controller

Though it is bought individually to the pill itself, you aren't getting the complete Defend expertise with out the Defend Wi-fi Controller. It appears and looks like a correct console joypad, providing the identical consolation and precision because the Xbox One or PS4 controller, and is the central interface which your complete Defend expertise is constructed round.

It carries over the button association and common ergonomics of the controller on the Defend handheld, however provides in quantity controls, a touchpad (assume PS4), a microphone (for voice search, primarily) and a headphone jack. 

The pad actually is unbelievable and provides the sort of construct high quality you'd usually affiliate with a serious console producer. The twin analogue sticks are responsive and properly-positioned, and the rolling D-pad is ideal for these occasions once you really feel like exploring the previous and need to load up one of many many Android-based mostly retro gaming emulators.

To maintain latency at a minimal NVIDIA has opted for WiFi Direct relatively than the standard Bluetooth connection, and whereas you should use commonplace Bluetooth pads with the pill, you will be sorely tempted to purchase one other three Defend pads for the optimum expertise. The Defend pad's brilliance results in one very urgent problem: it is such a vital a part of the package deal you need to query NVIDIA’s determination to not bundle it with the pill from the beginning. Some video games – Half Life 2 and Portal – will not truly play correctly with out the controller, both.

The controller can also be restricted to the Defend vary alone (it really works on the unique Defend handheld with out problem) so you will not be capable of use it as a Bluetooth pad with different units. When you think about the excessive value, nevertheless, (£forty nine.ninety nine) that would postpone many potential consumers.

NVIDIA Defend Pill Evaluate: Efficiency 

NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 chipset is among the most potent items of cellular hardware out there proper now, so it ought to come as no nice shock to study that the Defend Pill is a formidable contender relating to pure energy. Given the pill's gaming focus it appears becoming to deal with that factor at the beginning; the system comes with FrozenByte's wonderful fantasy journey title Trine 2 pre-put in, which presents virtually similar efficiency to that of the PlayStation three, Xbox 360 and Wii U variations. That in itself is an unimaginable achievement; the Defend Pill primarily provides the identical graphical energy as trendy residence consoles (Nintendo's Wii U was solely launched in 2012).

Sadly, such experiences are few and much between. Whereas NVIDIA has taken steps to push gaming content material to the forefront and has secured unique variations of the aforementioned Half Life 2 and Portal, there isn't any escaping the truth that there are only a few titles which may match this trio in relation to general high quality.

A lot of the video games on Google Play are aimed toward decrease-degree Android units, and do not make use of the Defend Pill's unimaginable inner specs. That may change over time in fact, however in the meanwhile, do not anticipate to play too many video games that strategy the identical normal as Trine 2. 

Benchmark checks go some approach to illustrating the Defend Pill's pure processing grunt. Antutu returns a rating of 41596, eclipsing the HTC M8 (35244), Galaxy S5 (35046) and Sony Xperia Z1 (33586). 3DMark – designed to check the graphical efficiency of hardware – returns a rating of simply over 30,000, which is round twice what the Tegra four-powered Defend handheld might handle final yr. GFXBench's T-Rex check offers but extra proof over this setup’s energy with a fee of sixty four.four FPS, whereas the Defend handheld might solely muster 24.four FPS. 

The Tegra K1 clearly an insanely highly effective piece of package and one which really pushes the boundaries of cellular efficiency.

Just like the Defend handheld earlier than it, the Defend Pill can also be able to streaming video games out of your PC, so long as you possess certainly one of NVIDIA’s suitable graphics playing cards. The expertise has been slowly refined since final yr, and is so clean now that it is virtually inconceivable to inform that you simply're not truly operating the sport instantly from the pc. The controller actually comes into its personal throughout these periods.

NVIDA Defend Pill Evaluation: Software program & Consumer Expertise

As was the case with the Defend handheld, NVIDIA has correctly chosen to not inflict a bloated customized UI on its clients. The Defend Pill comes with a largely inventory model of Android four.four.2, with only a smattering of devoted Defend purposes for dealing with stuff like connecting the wi-fi controller or switching to "console" mode when linking the gadget to a tv by way of HDMI. There are additionally some apps that make use of the NVIDIA Direct Stylus 2, reminiscent of NVIDIA Dabble, a Photoshop-fashion artwork software.

The Defend Hub software is actually a curated number of video games that make greatest use of the Defend hardware and controller, however there isn't any devoted Defend retailer as such; as soon as you've got chosen a recreation you're merely pushed in the direction of the Google Play Retailer to make the ultimate buy. That is truly a intelligent transfer by NVIDIA, because it removes the necessity to signal into a number of app shops with a purpose to purchase content material – take observe Sony and Samsung!

As a result of it's utilizing inventory Android, you'll be able to anticipate immediate and well timed software program updates when new variations of Android are launched; that was definitely the case with the Defend handheld, and there isn't any cause to suspect it is going to be any totally different with the Defend Pill. 

NVIDIA Defend Pill Assessment: Battery & Reminiscence

The chopping-edge energy contained inside the Tegra K1 chipset comes at a price, nevertheless: it has a ravenous urge for food for juice, and can drain the Defend Pill's battery with alarming velocity should you permit it to. Enjoying Trine 2 actually pushes the hardware to its limits and can see the battery totally consumed in lower than three hours. That is an excessive case, although, and NVIDIA has included energy administration choices that will help you therapeutic massage a bit of extra stamina from the Defend Pill, and common use will not tax the battery a lot.

16GB is included on the WiFi-solely mannequin we reviewed (32GB on the costlier LTE-enabled version), with eleven.6GB being out there to the top consumer. A number of of the bundled apps, together with Trine 2, which clocks in at 1.6GB, can't be uninstalled, which might create complications a number of months down the road when area turns into a premium. 

There is a MicroSD card slot that can be utilized to reinforce your storage choices, however current modifications made in Android now restrict the usefulness of such further area. Apps can solely entry folders they themselves have created, which probably renders such apps redundant. You will additionally discover that not all purposes could be moved to the SD card for storage, and that would current issues whenever you're downloading a number of the bigger Android video games. 

NVIDIA Defend Pill Assessment: Digital camera 

Cameras on tablets have lengthy been thought-about one thing of an afterthought, and the one on the Defend Pill is not any exception. It is a 5MP snapper with no LED flash, and the photographs it takes are predictably lackluster. It is good for taking informal pictures to be used with the likes of Twitter and Instagram, however you will not need to depend on it as your main photographic gadget.

 

There's additionally a entrance-face digital camera which is way extra helpful, because it lets you use purposes like Skype, Google Hangouts and Snapchat.

NVIDIA Defend Pill Evaluate: Conclusion 

Hardened players could also be disillusioned that NVIDIA has taken a step again from the hand-held console idea with this pill gadget, and never bundling the wi-fi controller as normal is a mistake. Nevertheless, it is unattainable to disclaim the unimaginable energy contained inside the Defend Pill; it effortlessly places different Android slates within the shade in relation to processing muscle. Trine 2 - which comes pre-put in - is the right showcase of its talents, and boasts a degree of efficiency which is the same as the devoted house console ports. 

Nevertheless, just like the Defend handheld earlier than it, the Defend Pill is more likely to endure from a scarcity of high quality video games outdoors of these streamed out of your PC. NVIDIA has labored exhausting to safe respectable software program for its Defend vary, and the gamepad mapper app, which routinely provides help for bodily controls to video games which do not presently have them, helps issues somewhat, however the overwhelming majority of Android video games are based mostly round contact management and do not push the Tegra K1 anyplace close to sufficient.

That would change as time goes on; NVIDIA is clearly dedicated to its Defend model, and a part of that dedication will contain tempting builders to create unique software program. However it might be silly to anticipate the identical degree of distinctive help as you'd discover on a system just like the Nintendo 3DS or Xbox 360. And that is the place the Defend Pill's revised type issue will come as a blessing moderately than a curse; whereas the Defend handheld might solely actually be used as a video games console, no less than this sequel has a life as an extremely adept slate forward of it, even in case you do not even load up a single recreation.

Typical Worth: 
£240.00
Reviews
Execs: 
Distinctive energy, Nice for gaming, PC streaming is superb
Damien McFerran
Cons: 
Controller isn't included, Battery life is poor, Not many video games push the hardware
eleven:02, 18 Aug 2014
Verdict: 
The Defend Pill provides jaw-dropping efficiency at an honest worth, however extra video games are wanted to make it a must have buy for devoted followers of interactive leisure
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