Summary
- NVIDIA’s $149 Shield TV is reportedly out of stock at many major retailers.
- Recent reports suggest that the basic model of this popular streaming device may have been discontinued.
- If accurate, the rising costs of memory and NVIDIA’s shift toward artificial intelligence might explain the unavailability of the streaming box.
The NVIDIA Shield TV has developed a dedicated user base over the years by managing to stay relevant beyond its initial release, a feat few Android TV devices have achieved. However, if you’ve recently tried to purchase the $149 Shield TV, you may have found it increasingly hard to locate.
As noted by industry sources, there are signs that NVIDIA may have quietly phased out the basic Shield TV, leaving the more advanced Shield TV Pro as the only model still available.
The current lineup of Shield TVs debuted in 2019, featuring the standard model priced at $149 positioned below the $199 Shield TV Pro. While the Pro remains available at numerous retailers, the standard version has not been in stock for several months. Amazon has struggled to maintain inventory since early April, and stores like Best Buy and Newegg list it as unavailable. Additionally, B&H Photo has even marked it as discontinued.
Reports also highlight that the Shield TV Remote has unexpectedly gone on sale at Amazon. This accessory had rarely seen discounts during its six-year existence, leading observers to believe the price drop could be more about clearing out inventory rather than a typical sale.
Nevertheless, this situation doesn’t suggest that the entire Shield TV line is being discontinued. Earlier this year, NVIDIA’s Senior VP of Hardware Engineering stated that the company had no intentions of halting production or updates for the Shield TV “any time soon.” If this holds true, NVIDIA might be discontinuing just the base model while keeping the more sought-after Shield TV Pro in circulation.
The Pro model has always been favored by enthusiasts due to its additional RAM, USB ports, and expandable storage. Furthermore, customer reviews indicate it significantly outperforms the base model, suggesting that it’s the preferred choice for most consumers.
Could rising memory costs be a factor?
If the base Shield TV has indeed been discontinued, it may illustrate how the current memory market impacts older devices.
The tech sector has been facing increasing prices for DRAM and NAND flash as manufacturers direct memory resources toward AI servers and data centers. This shift has made it challenging for companies to keep consumer electronics stocked, especially those reliant on older components.
For a niche streaming device that’s been around for six years, coupled with NVIDIA’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, it might not be financially viable to continue producing the standard Shield TV.
That being said, this remains speculation for now. NVIDIA hasn’t officially declared the discontinuation of the base model, and it’s also possible that this situation is merely a supply issue. We intend to reach out to NVIDIA for further clarification and will update this article if we receive a response.
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