Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Nvidia Shield Tablet
View on WikipediaShield Tablet with the Shield Controller and DirectStylus | |
| Also known as | Shield Tablet K1 (relaunch) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Nvidia |
| Product family | Shield |
| Type | Gaming tablet |
| Released | July 29, 2014 (USA/CAN) August 14, 2014(EU) |
| Lifespan | 2014–2018 |
| Introductory price | US$299 (16 GB WiFi Only)/US$399 (32 GB + 4G LTE)/US$199 Shield K1 (16 GB WiFi Only) |
| Discontinued | 2018 |
| Operating system | Android 4.4.2 "KitKat" Upgradable to Android 7.0 "Nougat" |
| System on a chip | Tegra K1 |
| CPU | 4 × Cortex-A15 R3 2.2 GHz |
| Memory | 2 GB DDR3L |
| Storage | 16–32 GB flash memory, Up to 200 GB microSDXC card reader |
| Display | 8 inches (20 cm) 1920 × 1200 px(283 ppi) IPS Retinal LCD |
| Graphics | GK20A (Kepler) (192:8:4) |
| Input | Multi-touch capacitive screen, microphone, 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS |
| Controller input | Optional Shield Controllers, up to 4 |
| Camera | Front: 5 MP HDR Back: 5 MP auto-focus HDR |
| Connectivity | 2×2 MIMO 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB 2.0, mini HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Power | 5197 mAh (19.75 W·h) |
| Online services | Nvidia TegraZone Google Play GeForce Now |
| Dimensions | 5.0 inches (13 cm) (w) 8.8 inches (22 cm) (h) 0.36 inches (9.1 mm) (d) |
| Weight | 390 g (13.76 oz), 356 g (12.56 oz) (Shield K1) |
| Related | Shield Portable, Tegra Note 7 |
| Website | shield |
The Shield Tablet, later relaunched as the Shield Tablet K1, is a gaming tablet, developed by Nvidia and released on July 29, 2014.[1] It was Nvidia's second portable gaming device that uses Android. Compared to the Shield Portable, the controller is not permanently connected to the screen; it can be purchased separately. Up to four controllers can be wirelessly connected at the same time. While the Shield tablet features an 8-inch 1920×1200 pixel display, it can output 4K resolution signal to a television via HDMI.[2]
In November 2015, the tablet was refreshed and renamed as the Shield Tablet K1 and the price was reduced to $200.[3]
In August 2016, Nvidia announced it had cancelled plans to release a hardware upgrade to its Shield Tablet products - a speculated reason for the cancellation was product conflict with the Nintendo Switch, which uses similar technology.[4] In mid-2017 the tablet was no longer for retail on Nvidia's website or any of the other websites in which the tablet was being sold. NVIDIA officially announced in mid-2018 that the tablet had been discontinued on the Shield website.
Features
[edit]The Shield Tablet is powered by an Nvidia Tegra K1 SoC and has stereo front-facing speakers. There's a 16 GB WiFi-only model and a 32 GB LTE model. It has front- and back-facing 5-megapixel HDR cameras. It weighs 390 grams and is 221 mm × 126 mm × 9.2 mm in size.[5][6] The 2015 Shield K1 refresh weighs 356 grams while preserving the other dimensions of the tablet.
Software updates
[edit]Shield Tablet
[edit]Nvidia released Shield Tablet OTA 2.0 update with Android 5.0 Lollipop on November 18, 2014.[7][8] The Shield Tablet OTA 2.1 update with Android 5.0.1 Lollipop & OpenGL 4.5 support was released on December 23, 2014.[9][10] Shield Tablet OTA 3.1 update with Android 5.1.1 was released on July 30, 2015.[11] Shield Tablet OTA update with Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released on February 1, 2016.[12]
Shield Tablet OTA 4.1 update with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow was released on May 12, 2016,[13] OTA 4.2 update on July 12, 2016,[14] OTA 4.3 update on October 10, 2016,[15] & OTA update on November 3, 2016.[16]
Nvidia released Shield Tablet OTA 5.0 update with Android 7.0 Nougat on February 9, 2017.[17]
Shield Tablet K1
[edit]Nvidia released Shield Tablet K1 OTA 1.0 update with Android 6.0 Marshmallow on December 21, 2015[18] and the Shield Tablet K1 OTA 1.1 on February 1, 2016.[19]
Nvidia released Shield Tablet K1 OTA 1.2 update with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow & Vulkan support on April 13, 2016,[20] OTA 1.3 update on June 15, 2016,[21] OTA 1.4 update on September 13, 2016[22] & OTA 1.5 update on November 3, 2016.[23]
NVIDIA released the Shield Tablet K1 OTA 5.0 update with Android 7.0 Nougat on February 9, 2017.[24]
Connectivity
[edit]- Headphone Jack
- Micro USB
- Mini HDMI 1.4a
- Slot for the stylus that makes use of Nvidia's GPU DirectStylus 2 (on original model)
- Micro-SD card slot
Wireless
[edit]Issues
[edit]On July 31, 2015, Nvidia issued a recall to replace Shield Tablet devices sold between July 2014 and July 2015 due to overheating issues that posed a fire hazard.[25]
The Shield Tablet K1 supports DirectStylus 2 (sold separately). However, this requires the user to upgrade to system update 1.2. This update provides integration of its unique software features (e.g., palm rejection, NVIDIA Lasso) into Android.[26]
Reception
[edit]Android Central's Andrew Martonik likes the Shield Tablet, praising its speakers and the Twitch streaming ability. The downsides are that the tablet is heavier than its competitor (390 g to the Nexus 7's 290 g) and it may be too expensive for some (the tablet is $299 to $399, the controller is $59, and the cover is $39).[27] The Shield Tablet K1, released in late 2015, comes without a charger or stylus.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Supreme gaming experience with NVIDIA Tegra powered Sheild Tablet". StockNewsDesk. 2014-09-19. Archived from the original on 2014-09-22.
- ^ "Nvidia Shield Tablet Preview". CNET. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ NVIDIA Shield Tablet back in stock, renamed Tablet K1 and priced at $200 Archived 2015-11-18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 November 2015
- ^ Cowan, Danny (12 Aug 2016), "Nvidia has canceled plans to upgrade its Shield Tablet", www.digitaltrends.com, archived from the original on 2016-08-13
- ^ "Nvidia's Shield Tablet Makes a Good First Impression". Gamespot. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Nvidia shield microsite". Nvidia shield microsite. Nvidia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- ^ Shield Tablet OTA 2.0.2 Official feedback thread Released 11-18-14 Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine Nvidia
- ^ "SHIELD Tablet Software Upgrade 2.0". NVIDIA SHIELD. Archived from the original on 2014-12-28.
- ^ Shield Tablet OTA 2.1 Official feedback thread Released 12-23-14 Archived 2014-12-27 at the Wayback Machine Nvidia
- ^ "SHIELD Tablet Software Upgrade 2.1". NVIDIA SHIELD. Archived from the original on 2015-02-27.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet OTA 3.1 Update Feedback Thread (Released 7/30/15) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet OTA 4.0 Feedback Thread (Released 02/01/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet OTA 4.1 Feedback Thread (Updated 05/23/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet OTA 4.2 Feedback Thread (Released 07/12/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Official NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet OTA 4.3 Feedback Thread (Updated 10/18/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Official NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet OTA 4.4 Feedback Thread (Released 11/3/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet Software Upgrade 5.0 Feedback Thread (Released 02/09/17) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.0 Feedback Thread (Released 12/21/15) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.1 Feedback Thread (Released 02/01/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.2 Feedback Thread (Released 04/13/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.3 Feedback Thread (Released 06/15/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
- ^ "Official NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.4 Feedback Thread (Released 09/13/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Official NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 OTA 1.5 Feedback Thread (Released 11/3/16) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Official SHIELD Tablet K1 Software Upgrade 5.0 Feedback Thread (Released 02/09/17) - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
- ^ Nvidia recalls Shield tablets due to battery concerns Archived 2015-11-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- ^ "Tablet k1...no direct stylus option at all...bug? - GeForce Forums". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
- ^ NVIDIA Shield Tablet Review Roundup Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
External links
[edit]Nvidia Shield Tablet
View on GrokipediaDevelopment and release
Announcement and launch
The Nvidia Shield Tablet was developed as the company's second portable Android gaming device, following the 2013 Shield Portable handheld console, and aimed to expand the SHIELD ecosystem with a tablet form factor optimized for mobile gaming and multimedia.[10][1] Nvidia officially announced the Shield Tablet on July 22, 2014, via a press release highlighting its integration of the Tegra K1 processor for high-performance gaming.[1][11] The device launched on July 29, 2014, in the United States and Canada, with availability expanding to Europe on August 14, 2014.[12][13][6] Initial pricing was set at $299 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi-only model and $399 for the 32 GB model with 4G LTE connectivity.[1][11][10] The package included a wall charger, USB cable, and stylus for note-taking and drawing, while the wireless controller and protective cover were sold as optional accessories for $59 and $39, respectively.[1][14] A later variant, the Shield Tablet K1, would be released in 2015 as a refreshed model without bundled accessories.[15]Variants and pricing
The Nvidia Shield Tablet launched in July 2014 with two variants: a 16 GB Wi-Fi-only model priced at $299 and a 32 GB model with 4G LTE support priced at $399.[14][16] In November 2015, Nvidia reintroduced the device as the Shield Tablet K1, limited to a single 16 GB Wi-Fi-only configuration and reduced to $199 to improve affordability; this version omitted the charger, microUSB cable, and built-in stylus included with the originals to cut production costs.[17][18] The K1 weighs 356 grams, lighter than the original variants' 390 grams, primarily due to the removal of the stylus storage compartment and bundled accessories.[19][20] Nvidia discontinued all Shield Tablet models around 2016, shifting focus to its streaming devices and ending new production and sales.[21]Hardware
Processor and performance
The Nvidia Shield Tablet is powered by the Nvidia Tegra K1 system-on-chip (SoC), which integrates a quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU clocked at 2.2 GHz, along with a companion low-power core for efficiency.[7][22] This configuration provides robust computational performance for multitasking and demanding applications, with the Cortex-A15 cores delivering up to 40% higher efficiency compared to the preceding Tegra 4 at equivalent power levels.[22] The device includes 2 GB of DDR3L RAM, sufficient for smooth operation in Android environments and light productivity tasks at the time of release.[7] The Tegra K1's graphics processing unit (GPU) employs Nvidia's Kepler architecture with 192 CUDA cores, marking the first mobile implementation of PC-level graphics capabilities.[22] This GPU supports advanced APIs such as OpenGL ES 3.1 for mobile graphics and emulates DirectX 11.2 features, enabling tessellation, global illumination, and other effects typically reserved for desktop gaming.[23][22] Operating at up to 326 GFLOPs, it outperforms contemporary mobile GPUs like Qualcomm's Adreno 420 in shader-intensive workloads.[24] In performance benchmarks, the Shield Tablet's Tegra K1 achieved notable results, including a GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 offscreen score of approximately 27 fps at 1080p, surpassing the Snapdragon 805 by 2.5 times in graphics tests. For gaming, it handled optimized titles in Tegra Zones—Nvidia's curated app ecosystem—at stable frame rates, such as 55 fps in Dead Trigger 2 and 52 fps in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at native resolution, demonstrating its suitability for high-fidelity mobile gaming.[25] These capabilities were further enhanced by integration with Nvidia's GameStream for streaming PC games to the tablet.[19]Display and design
The Nvidia Shield Tablet features an 8-inch IPS LCD display with a native resolution of 1920 × 1200 pixels, delivering a pixel density of approximately 283 ppi for sharp visuals suitable for gaming and media consumption.[19][26] The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, providing resistance to scratches and minor impacts while maintaining edge-to-edge coverage for an immersive viewing experience. Its multi-touch capacitive interface supports up to 10 simultaneous points of contact, enabling fluid gesture-based interactions.[7] The tablet's build emphasizes durability and portability, constructed from a lightweight plastic chassis that measures 221 × 126 × 9.2 mm and weighs 356 grams, making it easy to hold during extended gaming sessions.[19][27] This design choice balances rigidity with flexibility, though it may exhibit slight flex under pressure, and contributes to the device's overall ergonomic profile for handheld use. The rear panel includes a subtle textured finish for improved grip, while the front houses dual front-facing stereo speakers that deliver enhanced audio output with clear highs and balanced mids, optimized for immersive sound in games and videos.[19][26] For imaging, the Shield Tablet is equipped with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and a 5-megapixel rear camera, both supporting HDR processing to improve dynamic range in varying lighting conditions and enabling basic video calls or casual photography.[19][7] Input versatility is further enhanced by the original model including a slot for the optional DirectStylus 2 stylus, providing GPU-accelerated features like pressure sensitivity and palm rejection; the K1 variant supports the stylus functionality via software update.[19][28] This combination of display and design elements underscores the tablet's focus on portable gaming, where the compact form factor and responsive screen facilitate on-the-go play without compromising visual fidelity.[27]Battery and storage
The Nvidia Shield Tablet incorporates a 5197 mAh Li-Po battery, designed to support extended sessions of media consumption and gameplay.[29] According to manufacturer claims, this battery delivers up to 10 hours of continuous video playback under optimal conditions, such as airplane mode with screen brightness adjusted.[30] For gaming, real-world performance typically yields 8-9 hours of usage in mixed scenarios involving lighter titles and periodic idle periods, though heavy GPU-intensive games reduce this to around 5-6 hours.[31] Storage options on the Shield Tablet include 16 GB or 32 GB of internal eMMC flash memory, providing sufficient space for apps, games, and media files on the base Wi-Fi model or LTE variant, respectively.[27] The device features a dedicated microSDXC card slot for expansion, supporting cards up to 128 GB to accommodate larger libraries of downloaded content or offline gaming assets.[1] Charging is handled through a Micro USB 2.0 port, which supports standard 5V/2A adapters for replenishing the battery in approximately 4-5 hours from depletion.[27] This setup contributes to the tablet's portability, allowing users to maintain mobility during travel or extended play without relying on proprietary cables.[19]Software
Initial operating system
The original Nvidia Shield Tablet, released in July 2014, shipped with Android 4.4.2 KitKat as its initial operating system, featuring a near-stock implementation with minor customizations from Nvidia, including integration of the company's gaming-focused apps and interface elements tailored for the Tegra K1 processor.[14][25] The Shield Tablet K1 variant, launched in November 2015, came pre-installed with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which included similar Nvidia-specific enhancements to the user interface while maintaining compatibility with standard Android features and app ecosystem access.[18][7] Both models incorporated core software features such as the Nvidia TegraZone app (later rebranded as Shield Hub on the K1) for discovering and launching games optimized for Nvidia hardware, full integration with the Google Play Store for app downloads and services, and support for Android's multi-user profiles to enable separate accounts on a single device.[32][33] These elements provided a foundation geared toward gaming and multimedia use, with subsequent over-the-air updates available to evolve the OS over time.[7]Update history
The original Nvidia Shield Tablet, launched in July 2014 with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, received a series of over-the-air (OTA) updates that progressively upgraded its operating system. The first major update to Android 5.0 Lollipop arrived on November 18, 2014, introducing Material Design, enhanced notifications, and support for NVIDIA GRID cloud gaming.[34][35] This was followed by Android 5.1 Lollipop on May 25, 2015, via Shield Experience Upgrade 3.0, which added multi-user profiles, improved device storage management, and runtime permissions for better app security.[36] Subsequent updates brought Android 6.0 Marshmallow on February 1, 2016, with features like Doze power-saving mode, refined app permissions, and fingerprint authentication support.[37] A minor patch to Android 6.0.1 followed on May 12, 2016, incorporating updated emojis, March 2016 security patches, and Vulkan API support for enhanced graphics performance in games.[38] The final major OS upgrade occurred on February 9, 2017, with Shield Experience Upgrade 5.0 delivering Android 7.0 Nougat, including multi-window mode, bundled notifications, and a December 2016 security patch level, alongside UI refinements to the Shield Experience interface for smoother navigation and gaming integration.[39][40] The Shield Tablet K1, released in November 2015 with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, followed a shorter update path focused on later Android versions. It received Android 6.0 Marshmallow in December 2015, enabling expanded storage options and improved battery optimization.[41] This was updated to Android 6.0.1 on April 13, 2016, adding repositioned navigation buttons in landscape mode and Vulkan graphics support.[42] Like the original model, the K1 reached Android 7.0 Nougat via the same February 9, 2017, upgrade, benefiting from Shield Experience enhancements such as a double-tap power button shortcut for the camera app and ongoing security improvements.[39] Throughout its lifecycle, updates to both models emphasized Shield Experience UI enhancements, including responsive animations, power control menus, and integration with NVIDIA's gaming ecosystem, alongside monthly security patches that extended through 2017.[43] A hotfix, Upgrade 5.3, rolled out on November 28, 2017, addressing connectivity issues and applying the latest security patches at that time, followed by Upgrade 5.4 in March 2018.[44][45] No major Android version updates followed Android 7.0, marking it as the final OS version, with security maintenance continuing until at least 2020.[46] These updates occasionally resolved minor hardware compatibility concerns, such as Wi-Fi stability on LTE variants.[46]| Model | Initial OS | Key Updates | Final OS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Shield Tablet | Android 4.4.2 (July 2014) | 5.0 (Nov 2014), 5.1 (May 2015), 6.0 (Feb 2016), 6.0.1 (May 2016), 7.0 (Feb 2017) | Android 7.0 (2017) |
| Shield Tablet K1 | Android 5.1.1 (Nov 2015) | 6.0 (Dec 2015), 6.0.1 (Apr 2016), 7.0 (Feb 2017) | Android 7.0 (2017) |