Streaming Devices / Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Fire TV's flagship box — HDMI input, built-in ethernet and hands-free Alexa.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 0.5 points. Fire TV's flagship box — HDMI input, built-in ethernet and hands-free Alexa.
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro are both closely matched streaming Device models, and the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is $60 cheaper than the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro ($139.99 vs $199.99). On Smart Home, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads (8.5 vs 6.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. On Connectivity, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads (9.5 vs 8.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. On Remote, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro leads (8.0 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. Overall, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 7.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) | NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2019 |
| Max Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps | 4K (3840x2160) at 60fps |
| HDR Formats | Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| Dolby Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Amlogic POP1-G — octa-core, 4x Cortex-A73 at 2.2GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 at 2.0GHz | NVIDIA Tegra X1+ with 256-core GPU |
| RAM (GB) | 2 | 3✓ |
| Storage (GB) | 16 | 16 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) dual-band |
| Ethernet | Built in (10/100) | Gigabit (built in) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + BLE | 5.0 + LE |
| Operating System | Fire OS 7 (Android 9) | Android TV 11 (not Google TV) |
| Remote | Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced; hands-free far-field voice on the device itself; no backlight; no remote finder | Motion-activated backlit buttons, built-in mic, programmable button, IR blaster for TV and soundbar |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Speed & Performance
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond. If that is what you are buying for, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Video Quality
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on maximum resolution and which HDR formats are supported. If that is what you are buying for, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Audio Support
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on dolby Atmos and DTS handling, and whether audio is decoded or only passed through. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Platform & Apps
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) and NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro are level here, at 6.5/10 each. operating system, app catalogue, and how advertising-led the interface is is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Connectivity
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports. If that is what you are buying for, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Remote
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features. If that is what you are buying for, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.5 — a 2.0-point margin on matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability. If that is what you are buying for, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.0 — a 1.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) if…
- • Smart Home matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 8.5/10 here (matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.5/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports).
- • Value matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 5.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Speed & Performance matters most to you — the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores 9.0/10 here (processor, RAM, and how quickly menus and apps respond).
- • You want to spend less — it's $60 cheaper.
Choose the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro if…
- • Remote matters most to you — the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro scores 8.0/10 here (voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features).
Pros & Cons
Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
Pros
- +By far the fastest Fire TV device, roughly twice the 4K Max
- +Built-in ethernet and an HDMI input are unique in the Fire TV line
- +Hands-free Alexa without needing a separate Echo
- +Super Resolution Upscaling genuinely helps older HD content
Cons
- −No hardware refresh since 2022 — the oldest device in the Fire TV line
- −Still on Fire OS 7 (Android 9), while the sticks have moved to Fire OS 8
- −Ethernet is 10/100, not gigabit
- −Roughly double the price of the 4K Max for the same Dolby Vision and Atmos support
- −Reviewers report it sometimes fails to switch into Dolby Vision automatically
NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
Pros
- +AI upscaling genuinely improves HD sources and nothing else here does it
- +Gigabit ethernet plus two USB 3.0 ports make it the best local-media and Plex box in the category
- +DTS-X passthrough and hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz
- +Backlit remote with an IR blaster and a programmable button
Cons
- −Seven-year-old hardware still selling at $199
- −Wi-Fi 5 and HDMI 2.0b — no Wi-Fi 6, no 4K120
- −Still on Android 11, and it runs Android TV rather than Google TV
- −No HDR10+ support
- −NVIDIA has confirmed the non-Pro SHIELD TV is out of stock with no availability update, so platform end-of-life is a real risk
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Smart Home, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Smart Home (8.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — matter, Thread, and built-in voice assistant capability.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Connectivity (9.5/10 vs 8.0/10) — Wi-Fi standard, ethernet, Bluetooth, and expansion ports.
Which is better for Remote, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro scores higher on Remote (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — voice control, backlighting, rechargeability, and remote-finder features.
Which is better for Value, the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) or the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) scores higher on Value (5.5/10 vs 4.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Is the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) worth the price difference over the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the cheaper option at $139.99 versus $199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Smart Home.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home. The NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro is the better fit for home-theater or gaming.
What's the warranty on the Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) vs the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro?+
The Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Roku Ultra (2024) — $149.99
Premium Option
Roku Ultra (2024) — $149.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.