The NVIDIA Shield TV is hands-down the best streaming set-top box on the planet. Running a true version of Android TV OS (operating system), the Shield TV sports an impressive feature set that includes HDR10 and Dolby Vision output, 4K artificial intelligence (AI) powered upscaling, and a powerful NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor. While it’s superb for streaming video and audio from the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, and Tidal, the Shield can handle native Android gaming and retro gaming emulation with ease. If you’re gaming on your NVIDIA Shield, you’ll want to use a frontend to organize your library of games. Check out the best NVIDIA Shield TV frontend options!
NVIDIA Shield TV vs. Pro – Which is Better for Gaming?
In 2019, the NVIDIA Shield underwent a massive overhaul. Instead of effectively one model, NVIDIA began offering two variants, the base Shield TV and the Shield TV Pro model. Aesthetically, the vanilla Shield arrives in a tubular form factor whereas the Shield Pro comes in a sleek rectangular shape. Both devices are powered by the same Tegra X1+ processor. However, the Shield TV is outfitted with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage whereas the Pro variant ups the ante to 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Since game ROMs and native Android games take up a lot of space, you’ll want to take advantage of external storage. While the Shield TV features a microSD card slot but no USB ports, the Shield Pro touts dual USB hosts yet lacks a microSD slot. Regardless, both versions of the NVIDIA Shield TV allow for expandable storage.
The Shield TV retails for $150, and the Shield Pro clocks in around $200. Yet, the biggest distinction between the two NVIDIA Shield TV set-top boxes is on the operating system (OS) side. While the Shield TV runs a 32-bit version of Android, the NVIDIA graces the Shield TV Pro ships with a 64-bit Android OS. Although there’s little impact for streaming from apps such as Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+, certain native Android games and emulators require a 64-bit OS to run properly. Likewise, some Android titles necessitate a minimum of 3Gb RAM to run. For instance, the Dolphin GameCube and Wii emulator, Half-Life 2, and Doom 3 BFG won’t install on the Shield while maintaining Shield Pro compatibility. Thus, the 64-bit Android TV OS on the Shield Pro paired with its 3GB of RAM is a better choice for hardcore gamers. Aside from gaming, the Shield TV handles streaming, runs Kodi, doubles as an Emby and Plex client as well as server, and works as a Samsung SmartThings hub.
Which is better for native Android gaming and retro gaming emulation: NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
NVIDIA Shield TV Pro 2019 specs:
- Tegra X1+ processor
- 3GB RAM
- 16GB storage
- HDMI out, Ethernet input, 2 x USB ports
- Google routines, Samsung SmartThings compatibility, Plex media server functionality, Amazon Alexa
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision
- 4K AI upscaling
NVIDIA Shield TV 2019 (non-Pro) specs:
- Tegra X1+ processor
- 2GB RAM
- 8GB storage
- HDMI out, Ethernet input, microSD card slot
- Google routines, Amazon Alexa
- HDR10 and Dolby Vision
- 4K AI upscaling
Why the NVIDIA Shield TV is the Ultimate Retro Gaming Emulation Machine Over Classic Console Clones or the Raspberry Pi
With the popularity of the NES Mini Classic, a slew of retro contole clones such as the SNES Classic, and Sega Genesis Mini followed. Plus, tons of single-board computers (SBCs) like as the Raspberry Pi have found a niche in retro video game emulation. Though mini console clones including the NES Mini and SNES Mini Classic provide a retro flair and come pre-loaded with beloved games, the built-in game library is a mere fraction of the total titles released for each console. On the other hand, the NVIDIA Shield TV runs a smorgasbord of different emulators for consoles ranging from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo GameCube, Wii, and the Sony PlayStation 2 (note: we here at Tech Up Your Life do not support piracy, so please only use ROMs for games that you legally own copies of and have ripped yourself).
Still, SBCs such as the Raspberry Pi benefit from retro gaming OSes such as RetroPie, Recalbox, and Lakka. But the Raspberry Pi 4 can’t handle high-end retro emulation of newer systems such as the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) or Nintendo GameCube. Even some Nintendo 64 (N64) titles challenge the Pi 4. Therefore, the NVIDIA Shield TV is the best emulation machine short of a home theatre PC (HTPC). Moreover, its versatility with the ability to stream in 4K makes the NVIDIA Shield TV worthy of inclusion in any media center.
What is a Frontend and Why Should You Use One?
A frontend is essentially a pretty user interface for your games library. While frontends don’t include any emulators or ROMs, a frontend lets you unify your gaming collection. You can add all of your emulators, ROMs, and in some cases native Android games. That way, all of your video games will be in one launcher rather than in separate, siloed apps as they would be with standalone apps. Moreover, frontends scrape ROMs and download box art as well as game metadata, so if you’re using a multi-system emulator such as RetroArch, there’s still a lot of value to using a frontend.
Best NVIDIA Shield TV Frontend Overall – Reset Collection
Reset Collection is one of the best emulator frontends for the NVIDIA Shield TV. You’ll find excellent standalone emulator support for the likes of PPSSPP and Dolphin as well as all-in-one emulators such as RetroArch or ClassicBoy. Controller compatibility is top-notch. The Reset Collection Android frontend works with popular gamepads such as the Xbox One controller in addition to ipega Bluetooth controllers. Box art scraping is fast and accurate. It’s easy to set up, organizes your games perfectly, and offers fantastic customization options. Balancing user-friendliness with a powerful feature set, Reset Collection is a solid frontend on the NVIDIA Shield TV.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Great controller support
- Customizable
- Available in the Google Play Store
- Works with standalone emulators as well as multi-system emulators
- Phone, tablet, and Android TV support
Cons:
- Paid app only ($4.99) but totally worth the price
Best NVIDIA Shield Frontend for Customization – DIG Android Emulation Frontend
DIG is an Android emulator frontend that has been on the market for a while. And recent updates have chiseled DIG into a top NVIDIA Shield front. Standalone emulators including SNES9x, Mupen64, Dolphin, or comprehensive multi-system emulators such as RetroArch. The DIG Android frontend is incredibly intuitive yet customizable. You can download tons of themes including skins to lend a Nintendo Wii aesthetic.
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Quick, accurate box art scraping
- Completely free
- Great controller support
- Works with standalone emulators as well as multi-system emulators
- Available in the Google Play Store
- Phone, tablet, and Android TV support
Cons:
- None
Best Premium Emulator Frontend on the NVIDIA Shield – ARC Browser Emulator Frontend
The ARC Browser is one of the top Android emulators. You can add all of your retro gaming emulators quickly. There’s excellent game library organization with tons of customization options such as grids and overlays. You can toggle on different shaders to lend the vibe of playing games on a CRT TV. Since dealing with ROMs can lead to situations where you’ve got multiple versions of the same game, ARC Browser includes an option to group similarly-named files together. In addition to emulators, ARC can serve as a frontend for your native Android games too. It is a paid app and retails for $8.99, but its robust feature set makes ARC Browser absolutely worth the cost.
Pros:
- Available in the Google Play Store
- Highly customizable
- Fast, accurate box art scraping
- Phone, tablet, and Android TV support
- Works with emulators and native Android games
Cons:
- Paid option only ($8.99) but absolutely worth the price
Best Emulator Arcade Frontend for NVIDIA Shield TV – Hyperspin
Hyperspin is an outstanding arcade frontend. It runs flawlessly on the NVIDIA Shield TV and boasts extreme customization options. If you’re looking for a retro arcade cabinet interface, Hyperspin is a fantastic choice. It’s a stylized frontend that takes a more flashy rather than minimalist approach. The Android version of Hyperspin works with a bevy of emulators and controllers. However, set up isn’t as intuitive as with other Android emulator frontends. Rather, Hyperspin configuration is decidedly more complex with a heavy reliance on certain naming conventions for ROMs and having emulator files in the right spots. Still, if you’re willing to slog through the installation, Hyperspin is a gorgeous arcade frontend.
Pros:
- Works with tons of standalone emulators and multi-system emulators
- Great controller support
- Fun arcade cabinet aesthetic
- Powerful and customizable
- Available in the Google Play Store
- Free
Cons:
- Complicated set up
Best Frontend Emulator for NVIDIA Shield to Sideload – RetroX Emulator Frontend for Android
RetroX is a unique frontend for Android that runs like a champ on the NVIDIA Shield TV. You can try it for free, or purchase an activation code. There’s support for up to 25 different systems, cloud-based save states and memory cards, quick game-specific configuration, and the ability to access ROMs on external storage devices like harddrives, microSD cards, or even NAS devices. Unfortunately, RetroX is not available in the Google Play Store. Nevertheless, it’s easy enough to sideload onto the Shield TV. Controller support is top-notch, you can add a bunch of emulators, and the interface is minimalist which makes it simple to navigate.
Pros:
- Fast, accurate box art scraping
- Great controller support
- Works with standalone and multi-system emulators
- Lovely, minimalist user-interface
Cons:
- Paid (free 5-day trial)
- Not available in the Google Play Store (but easy to sideload)
Best Android Emulator Frontend – LaunchBox for Android
LaunchBox is my favorite retro gaming frontends for PCs. It runs flawlessly on Windows and works great on Linux via WINE. The LaunchBox for Android app works incredibly well with fast, accurate box art scraping, the ability to export game database information from LanuchBox on PC for use with LaunchBox Android, and even local ROM file import options. Adding your emulators is a breeze. I was able to easily add RetroArch, Dolphin, and PPSSPP to LaunchBox on my Shield TV. The interface is clean, simple to navigate, and uncluttered. Unfortunately, LaunchBox for Android was shuttered so unless, like me, you purchased it at the time of release, there’s no way to download it from the Google Play Store. However, Moddroid does offer a LaunchBox Android APK so if you missed out the first go around, you can still sideload it on your Shield TV.
Pros:
- Free (APK available via Moddroid)
- Speedy, accurate box art scraping
- Great controller support
- Works with standalone and multi-system emulators
Cons:
- Discontinued – not available in the Google Play store and no more updates
Best NVIDIA Shield TV Frontends – Top Android Frontends on the Shield TV
Ultimately, there’s no shortage of emulator frontends that run on the NVIDIA Shield TV. Reset Collection is easy to use yet extremely customizable. DIG has been around a while, but recent updates transformed this front-end into a gorgeous, user-friendly emulator and ROM library organizer. ARC Browser can keep your retro gaming and even native Android gaming library looking lovely. For retro enthusiasts, Hyperspin provides an awesome arcade cabinet aesthetic. Although it’s not supported any more, LaunchBox for Android works well for anyone that previously purchased the Android frontend.
Your turn: Which emulator frontend for the NVIDIA Shield TV do you prefer?
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