Streaming devices / Compare
Apple TV 4K (2021) vs NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)
Product A: Apple
74 of 97 known
Change Apple TV 4K (2021)
Compare the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019) with
Product B: NVIDIA
68 of 97 known
Change NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)
Compare the Apple TV 4K (2021) with
60 of 88 fields differ
- 36 different values
- 24 known for one only
- 17 the same
- 11 missing for both
Biggest differences
Each bar uses the scale of all 43 streaming devices.
- RAMA: 3GBB: 2GBApple is 1 GB higher.
Size, drawn to scale
Front and side.
- AApple: 98 × 35 mm
- BNVIDIA: 165 × 40 mm
Weight
0 to 500 g
All 97 fields
Every value links to where we found it.


General
7 of 8 differ
Series
Model numbers
A2169, MXGY2LL/A, MXH02LL/A7Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/101605Read 7 October 2026Second-generation Apple TV 4K section explicitly identifies A2169, introduced 2021, in 32 GB and 64 GB capacities.8Maker spec sheet (PDF)apple.com/education/pricelists/pdfs/Apple_US_Education_Institution_Price_List-06-21-2021.pdfRead 7 October 2026Maker US education institution catalogue dated June 21, 2021, Apple TV table: MXGY2LL/A is 32 GB and MXH02LL/A is 64 GB, both introduced April 20, 2021. Only exact product identifiers are taken from this education catalogue, not a standard retail launch price.
GTIN / EAN
Not available
Not available
Announced
Predecessor
Apple TV 4K (2017)7Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/101605Read 7 October 2026Apple's identification page lists the 2017 model as the 1st generation and the 2021 model as the 2nd generation of Apple TV 4K.9Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-unveils-the-next-generation-of-apple-tv-4kRead 7 October 2026Apple's April 2021 release announces the next generation of Apple TV 4K and calls the earlier box the previous-generation Apple TV 4K.
Not available
Successor
Apple TV 4K (2022)7Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/101605Read 7 October 2026Official identification names 2021 as second generation and 2022 as third generation of Apple TV 4K. The link is generation succession, not a sibling configuration.10Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2022/10/apple-introduces-the-powerful-next-generation-apple-tv-4kRead 7 October 2026Maker calls the 2022 A15-powered box the next generation, compared with the previous generation. Official model identification names it third generation after the 2021 second generation.
Not available
Launch price (US)
$1493Press releasenvidianews.nvidia.com/news/future-of-streaming-entertainment-starts-today-with-launch-of-nvidia-shield-tv-starting-at-149Read 10 October 2026Pricing and Availability: SHIELD TV starts at $149 with remote. US price before tax. Later price changes are not used.8Reviewtomsguide.com/reviews/nvidia-shield-tv-2019-reviewRead 10 October 2026Review says the SHIELD TV is $149 and came out on October 28, 2019.
Launch price (EU)
Not available
Markets
US, DE9Press releaseapple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-unveils-the-next-generation-of-apple-tv-4kRead 7 October 2026Pricing and Availability explicitly includes the US among the more than 30 initial countries and regions. Only explicitly proved US and German markets are listed.11Press releaseapple.com/de/newsroom/2021/04/apple-unveils-the-next-generation-of-apple-tv-4kRead 7 October 2026Pricing and Availability explicitly states availability in Germany in the second half of May 2021.
Colours
Not available
Form factor
Video output
7 of 11 differ
Max output resolution
3840 × 2160px12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Ports and Interfaces footnote 4 explicitly states support up to 4K 60-fps HDR video output. The maker format article defines its 4K video resolution as 3840 x 2160.16Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/119599Read 7 October 2026Maker format article defines 4K resolution as 3840 x 2160. Combined with the exact second-generation output claim.
Max output refresh rate
Video output modes
AApple TV 4K (2021)
| Width (px) | Height (px) | Refresh rate (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
Source7Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/101605Read 7 October 2026Second-generation A2169 section states HDMI 2.1 output up to 4K60 HDR10 and Dolby Vision. This records a supported output combination, not every lower-resolution maximum. Chroma and bit depth are not stated.16Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/119599Read 7 October 2026Maker format article defines 4K resolution as 3840 x 2160.
BNVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)
| Width (px) | Height (px) | Refresh rate (Hz) | HDR format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3840 | 2160 | 60 | Dolby Vision |
HDR formats
Dolby Vision profiles
Not available
HDMI version
HDCP version
Not available
HDMI-CEC
Automatic frame rate matching
Dynamic range matching
Not available
Upscaling
Not available
Basic, Enhanced, AI-Enhanced1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Video Features row: AI-enhanced upscaling for up to 4K 30 FPS. The Pro row says 60 FPS, so that limit is not used here. The mode names come from the user guide.2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 7 names Basic, Enhanced and AI-Enhanced upscaling. AI upscaling is not used for content below 480p, above 30 Hz or in RGB.
Video decoding
4 of 4 differ
Video codecs
HEVC, VP8, VP9, H.264, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.263, MJPEG, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC-1, Xvid, DivX1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Video Features rows list H.265/HEVC, VP8, VP9, H.264, MPEG1/2, H.263, MJPEG, MPEG4 and WMV9/VC1, and the Format/Container line names Xvid and DivX. Chip capability alone is not claimed.
Video decode limits
AApple TV 4K (2021)
| Codec | Profile | Level | Width (px) | Height (px) | Max frame rate (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | Not available | Not available | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| HEVC | Main | Not available | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| HEVC | Main 10 | Not available | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| H.264 | Baseline | 3.0 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| MPEG-4 | Simple | Not available | 640 | 480 | 30 |
Source12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Video Formats: H.264/HEVC SDR up to 2160p60, HEVC Dolby Vision/HDR10/HLG up to 2160p60, H.264 Baseline level 3.0 or lower, MPEG-4 Simple 640 x 480 at 30 fps. Main/Main 10 names are stored only on HEVC rows. Bit depth is not inferred. Baseline resolution and rate are unknown.16Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/119599Read 7 October 2026Maker format article defines the 4K video frame as 3840 x 2160, qualifying the 2160p rows only.
BNVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)
| Codec | Width (px) | Height (px) | Max frame rate (fps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEVC | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| VP8 | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| VP9 | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| H.264 | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| MPEG-1 | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| MPEG-2 | 3840 | 2160 | 60 |
| H.263 | 1920 | 1080 | 60 |
| MJPEG | 1920 | 1080 | 60 |
| MPEG-4 | 1920 | 1080 | 60 |
| WMV9 | 1920 | 1080 | 60 |
| VC-1 | 1920 | 1080 | 60 |
Video containers
Audio
6 of 8 differ
Audio formats
HE-AAC v1, AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Audio Formats lists these formats. AC-3 is Dolby Digital 5.1 and E-AC-3 is Dolby Digital Plus 7.1. Decoding support is distinct from unchanged compressed passthrough.
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, WAVE, AMR, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, PCM, WMA, WMA-Pro, WMA-Lossless, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, DTS-HD1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Audio support row lists AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, MP3, WAVE, AMR, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, PCM, WMA, WMA-Pro, WMA-Lossless, Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-X and DTS-HD. The row writes Digital Plus without Dolby, so it is stored as Dolby Digital Plus. Dolby Digital comes from the Dolby Audio line.
Audio passthrough formats
Not available
Dolby Atmos
Audio channel configurations
Not available
Max audio sample rate
Not available
Max audio bit depth
Not available
Bluetooth audio output
Bluetooth audio codecs
Not available
Processor and memory
7 of 11 differ
System on chip
CPU
Not available
Not available
CPU cores
Not available
Not available
Max CPU clock
Not available
Not available
GPU
Not available
RAM
3GB15Reviewflatpanelshd.com/review.phpRead 7 October 2026Specification list states 3 GB RAM. Game console section says FlatpanelsHD confirmed 3 GB in A12 Apple TV 4K. Review explicitly has both 32 GB and 64 GB units.17Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+TV+4K+2021+Teardown/142845Read 7 October 2026Teardown step 6 identifies Micron MT53D384M64D4SB-046 XT:E 3 GB mobile SDRAM on the A12 package in the tested 32 GB A2169. Reviewer independently confirms 3 GB for the family.
RAM type
Not available
Not available
Storage
Storage type
Not available
Expandable storage
Not available
Storage expansion methods
Not available
microSD removable media storage, microSD adopted device storage for apps2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 20: a microSD card is read as removable storage and apps cannot be installed on it. Formatting it as device storage lets apps install there. Network storage is separate and is not expansion.9Reviewtomsguide.com/face-off/nvidia-shield-tv-vs-nvidia-shield-tv-proRead 10 October 2026Face-off of November 29, 2019: the standard SHIELD TV expands storage with a microSD card slot. The Pro uses USB.
Connectivity
3 of 7 differ
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi bands
Wi-Fi MIMO
Built-in Ethernet speed
Optional Ethernet adapter support
Not available
Not available
Bluetooth version
Ports
AApple TV 4K (2021)
| Connector | Count | Version | Role | Data speed (Gbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | 1 | 2.1 | Video and audio output with ARC/eARC | Not available |
| Ethernet | 1 | Not available | Network | 1 |
| AC power | 1 | Not available | Power input | Not available |
Source12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Ports and Interfaces and its image identify one HDMI, one Gigabit Ethernet and one mains input. Remote Lightning is not a device port.17Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+TV+4K+2021+Teardown/142845Read 7 October 2026Step 2 explicitly says the Apple TV 4K only carries power, HDMI and Ethernet, with no hidden service port in the Ethernet socket.
BNVIDIA SHIELD TV (2019)
| Connector | Count | Version | Role | Data speed (Gbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI | 1 | 2.0b | Video and audio output | Not available |
| Ethernet | 1 | Not available | Gigabit network | 1 |
| microSD | 1 | Not available | Removable or adopted storage | Not available |
| AC power | 1 | Not available | Power input for the built-in power supply | Not available |
Smart home
3 of 3 differ
Thread border router
Yes12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Ports and Interfaces explicitly includes Thread. Footnote 5 qualifies HomeKit or Matter Thread accessories and a Thread-enabled home hub.18Reviewflatpanelshd.com/review.phpRead 7 October 2026Home hub section explicitly identifies Apple TV 4K (2021) as a Thread border router. Exact-generation maker specifications independently list Thread networking.
Not available
Matter controller
Not available
Smart home platforms
Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Control41Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Voice Assistants row names Google Home and Amazon Echo compatibility. Control4 comes from the release notes. Samsung SmartThings hub use is a Pro feature and is not claimed.6Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-updateRead 10 October 2026SHIELD Experience 8.2.2 notes add Control4 home automation support. A Control4 installer must set it up.
Remote control
6 of 9 differ
Remote model
Remote connection
Remote microphone
Remote voice assistants
Remote TV control
Power, Volume, Mute, Input switching12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Siri Remote Features and footnote 3 identify IR or CEC control of TV or receiver: power, input switching to Apple TV, volume and mute. Device compatibility applies.
Power, Volume, Input switching2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Sections 2.4 and 3.3: the remote controls TV and receiver volume and power through HDMI-CEC or IR. Release notes 8.2 add input switching with IR.6Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-updateRead 10 October 2026SHIELD Experience 8.2 notes: the menu button can switch input, IR only.
Remote finder
Remote backlight
Remote power
Remote charging port
Not available
Software
7 of 8 differ
Operating system
Operating system at launch
Android 9.0 Pie6Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-updateRead 10 October 2026SHIELD Experience 8.0 notes upgrade SHIELD TV to Android P. SHIELD Experience 8.0.2 added support for the 2019 SHIELD Remote that ships with this model. Later Android 11 came with 9.0.10Reviewexpertreviews.co.uk/technology/tvs-home-cinema/nvidia-shield-tv-pro-2019-reviewRead 10 October 2026Spec table of the Pro that launched the same day says Android 9.0 Pie. Both models share the SHIELD Experience of that time. No separate launch OS statement for the standard model was found.
App store
Casting protocols
Voice assistants
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Voice Assistants row: built-in voice control with the Google Assistant, Google Home compatible and Amazon Echo compatible (works with Alexa). Alexa needs a linked external Echo and the NVIDIA skill.
Hands-free voice control
Mobile remote platforms
Accessibility features
VoiceOver, Zoom, Increase Contrast, Reduce Motion, Closed Caption and SDH Support, Audio Descriptions, Siri and Dictation, Type to Siri, Switch Control12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Accessibility Features include list for exact second-generation hardware. Current software support is not a statement that every named feature was present at launch.
TalkBack, Bounce Keys, Key Repeat2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 3.9 describes TalkBack, switched on with Back and Down on the remote.6Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-updateRead 10 October 2026SHIELD Experience 9.2.2 notes add Bounce Keys, Key Repeat and TalkBack speech in 23 European languages. TalkBack itself is in the user guide.
Gaming
2 of 2 differ
Game services
NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Google Play Games1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Gaming Features row: NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud gaming and Android gaming through Google Play Store. A controller or keyboard and mouse is required for GeForce NOW. Included Apps lists Google Play Games.
Game controller support
Sony DualShock 4, Sony DualSense, Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Adaptive Controller, MFi-compatible game controllers6Owner's manualsupport.apple.com/guide/tv/use-a-game-controller-atvbc9f8f810/tvosRead 7 October 2026Current manual opening paragraph explicitly lists these supported controllers. Current firmware, app and controller-specific requirements apply. Bluetooth alone is not proof.
Bluetooth game controllers, Xbox One controller, Xbox Series X/S controller, Sony DualShock 4, Sony DualSense, SCUF controllers2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 11: Bluetooth accessories including game controllers can be added. Named controller models come from the release notes and Tom's Guide.6Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/software-updateRead 10 October 2026SHIELD Experience 8.2.2 and 9.0 notes explicitly add DualSense, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and 5 and SCUF controllers.8Reviewtomsguide.com/reviews/nvidia-shield-tv-2019-reviewRead 10 October 2026Review says other Android controllers, Xbox One controllers and DualShock 4 controllers can be connected.9Reviewtomsguide.com/face-off/nvidia-shield-tv-vs-nvidia-shield-tv-proRead 10 October 2026Face-off: both models let you use any Bluetooth game controller you see fit.
Power
2 of 5 differ
Power supply
Rated power input
100 to 240 V AC, 50 to 60 Hz, 1 A, 15 W25Reviewguide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/vVGLys3T2tPH2Opy.hugeRead 7 October 2026iFixit step 2 image 2 shows exact maker-printed A2169 bottom label. It clearly reads 100-240 V AC, 50-60 Hz, 1 A, 15 W. This is the rated input text. The 15 W label is not treated as tested maximum consumption.
Not available
Included adapter output
Not available
Not available
Max power consumption (claimed)
Not available
Not available
Measured
None of 4 known
Video playback power (measured)
Not available
Not available
Idle power (measured)
Not available
Not available
Standby power (measured)
Not available
Not available
Boot time (measured)
Not available
Not available
Dimensions and weight
4 of 4 differ
Dimensions
Width98Height35Depth98mm(3.9 × 1.4 × 3.9 in)12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Size and Weight: width 98 mm, height 35 mm, depth 98 mm. Device body only. Both published storage capacities share the maker dimensions.
Width165Height40Depth40mm(6.5 × 1.6 × 1.6 in)1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Weight & Size lists 4 cm for height, 4 cm for width and 16.5 cm for depth. The tube rests horizontally with the ports at its two ends, as Tom's Guide describes. The stored width is therefore the 165 mm length and height and depth are the 40 mm diameter. The maker publishes centimetres, so the values are not converted from inches.8Reviewtomsguide.com/reviews/nvidia-shield-tv-2019-reviewRead 10 October 2026Specs list 6.5 x 1.6 x 1.6 inches and the text says the tube rests horizontally, with power and Ethernet on one end and the microSD slot, HDMI port and a reset button on the other. Used only to read the axes of the NVIDIA centimetre values.
Weight
Remote dimensions
Width35Height136Depth9.25mm(1.4 × 5.4 × 0.4 in)12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Siri Remote Size and Weight: width 35 mm, height 136 mm and depth 9.25 mm.
Not available
Certifications
1 of 1 differ
FCC ID
Other certifications
CE, UL I.T.E. E204896, ISED IC 7361A-P34302Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 31: UL I.T.E. E204896 and ISED IC 7361A-P3430. CE comes from the declaration of conformity.4Regulatory filingnvidia.com/content/dam/en-zz/Solutions/SHIELD/support/shield-tv/shield-tv-p3430-ce-doc.pdfRead 10 October 2026Declaration lists EU directives 2014/53/EU, 2011/65/EU and 2009/125/EC for P3430. The current text includes later conformity updates, not a claim that these existed at launch.
In the box
1 of 2 differ
In the box
Apple TV 4K, Siri Remote (2nd generation), Power cord, Lightning to USB cable, Documentation12Maker product pagesupport.apple.com/en-us/111922Read 7 October 2026Exact US In the Box list includes Lightning to USB cable. This differs from the 2022 box, which omits its USB-C charging cable.
SHIELD TV, SHIELD Remote, Power cord, Quick Start guide, Support booklet, 2 x AAA batteries1Maker product pagenvidia.com/en-us/shield/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Remote row says 2x AAA batteries are included.2Owner's manualnvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tvRead 10 October 2026Section 1 In The Box: SHIELD TV body, SHIELD Remote and power cord. A Quick Start guide and Support booklet are also included.
HDMI cable included
Links
Not compared
Product page
Spec sheet
Manual
EPREL registration number
Not available
Not available
Warranty
0 of 1 differ
Manufacturer warranty (source market)
Both are also in the API. Back to all streaming devices.















