Nvidia announced that after considerable consumer demand, it has brought back the popular Shield Tablet K1, just in time for the holidays. The hardware in the device has not changed, but the company added Support for the GeForce NOW cloud gaming service and lowered the price point to make the package a little bit more compelling.
The Shield Tablet K1 is an Android-based tablet designed with gamers in mind. It features a 2.2 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and an Nvidia Tegra K1 Kepler GPU. The tablet is also equipped with an 8-inch Full-HD display. When the device came out last fall, we did a full review of it, where you can find a detailed account of Matt Humrick's impressions of the device.
The Shield Tablet K1 features the latest version of Android, and Nvidia vowed to continue to support the device. The company said it expects the Shield Tablet to be one of the first tablets to support Google's upcoming Marshmallow build.
Nvidia built the Shield Tablet to natively play the latest Android Games, but the Shield Tablet K1 is also compatible with Nvidia's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service, which offers over 60 PC games hosted by the company. Nvidia is even offering three free months of the service with the purchase of a new Shield Tablet K1. After the trial, the service will be offered at a monthly rate of $7.99.
| Processor | Nvidia Tegra K1 192-core Kepler GPU, 2.2 GHz Quad Core CPU, 2 GB RAM |
|---|---|
| Display | 8-inch 1920×1200 multi-touch IPS display |
| Audio | Integrated stereo speakers with built-in microphone |
| Storage | Row 2 - Cell 1 |
| Wireless | 802.11a/b/g/n 2×2 Mimo 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi |
| Row 4 - Cell 0 | Bluetooth 4.0 LE |
| Row 5 - Cell 0 | GPS / GLONASS |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Row 7 - Cell 0 | Mini-HDMI 1.4a output |
| Row 8 - Cell 0 | Micro-USB 2.0 with host and device support |
| Row 9 - Cell 0 | MicroSD Card, up to additional 128 GB |
| Row 10 - Cell 0 | 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack with microphone support |
| Motion Sensors | 9-axis (G-sensor, compass, gyro) |
| Audio | Front-facing stereo speakers, dual bass reflex port |
| Gaming Features | Shield controller compatible |
| Row 14 - Cell 0 | GeForce NOW cloud gaming |
| Row 15 - Cell 0 | Console Mode |
| Row 16 - Cell 0 | Nvidia ShadowPlay |
| Cameras | Front: 5MP HDR; Back: 5MP auto focus HDR |
| Video Features | 4K Ultra-HD Ready |
| Software Updates | 19.75 Watt hour Lithium ion |
| Weight and Size | Weight: 13.7 oz / 390 g |
| Row 21 - Cell 0 | Height: 8.8 in / 221 mm |
| Row 22 - Cell 0 | Width: 5.0 in / 126 mm |
| Row 23 - Cell 0 | Depth: 0.36 in / 9.2 mm |
| Operating System | Android Lollipop OS |
| Software | Google Play |
| Row 26 - Cell 0 | Nvidia SHIELD Hub |
| Row 27 - Cell 0 | Nvidia Dabbler |
| Row 28 - Cell 0 | Twitch |
| Row 29 - Cell 0 | Squid |
| Row 30 - Cell 0 | Camera Awesome |
| Optional Accessories | Shield tablet K1 cover |
| Row 32 - Cell 0 | Shield controller |
| Row 33 - Cell 0 | Shield world charger |
| Row 34 - Cell 0 | Shield DirectStylus 2 |
When the Shield Tablet K1 was first launched, it carried a price tag of $299. With the relaunch of the tablet, Nvidia has lowered the price of entry; starting today, the Shield Tablet K1 is available in the U.S. for $199.99. The company offers a selection of accessories for the tablets, as well: The Shield Controller is $59.99, the Shield Tablet Cover sells for $39.99, and extra Shield DirectStylus 2s are available for $19.99.
The tablet and accessories are also available in Canada and select European countries. Nvidia offers an international charging kit for $29.99 for countries with different power plugs.
Follow Kevin Carbotte @pumcypuhoy. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.