During the GDC 2015, leading provider of graphics processors for desktop and laptop computers NVIDIA unveiled the successor to the SHIELD 2 gaming tablet, the SHIELD Console. There are several differences separating the SHIELD Console from the SHIELD 2, most notably the hardware specifications that both products house. The SHIELD Console is incorporated with NVIDIA's Tegra X1 chipset while the SHIELD 2 possesses the Tegra K1 'system on a chip.'
While there is a huge performance gap between the console and the tablet, the slate itself is a much better purchase for those who require portability above performance. Since the console does not feature a display and requires the user to hardwire the device into an available television or monitor, it is not as resourceful as the SHIELD 2, even though the latter is inferior in terms of graphical performance.
However, the console also features more RAM (3 GB compared to the 2 GB present on the SHIELD 2) and has more options for users thanks to the following:
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- HDMI 2.0
- Two USB 3.0 ports
- One micro-USB 2.0
- A microSD slot with a storage limit of 128 GB
- IR Receiver
As for the SHIELD 2, it only possess a micro-USB 2.0 port with OTG compatibility. The NVIDIA SHIELD Console also packs a better performing wireless adapter, and Bluetooth 4.1 module compared to its lesser performing counterpart. With the SHIELD Console, NVIDIA also launched its GRID streaming service, which allows gamers to stream games on their console at the 1080p resolution at 60 FPS. The SHIELD Console will be launched in May 2015 and will carry a price tag of $199, which will feature one console and one gaming controller.
When the SHIELD 2 tablet was announced, the base model carried a price tag of $299, while the LTE model was priced at $299.
