Not only is the Shield TV the best Android TV device ever made, but the Forge is also the worst Android TV device ever made.

The Forge was a complete and utter failure of a device. It is bug ridden, and doesn't have the DRM check to allow netflix to be installed.

Between the two, the Shield is the obvious choice. I wouldn't recommend the Forge to anyone.

That said - The Nexus Player is actually still pretty decent. If you wait a month or so, the Xiaomi Android TV box will be coming out as well for (probably) around $100.

Do not buy the Forge. App support is very poor, and it's unlikely to get updates in the future. I bought one, returned it after a week, and bought a Shield instead.

Thats like asking if you would choose a 5 gallon ice cream sundae or having parkinsons. One of them is great, one of them you will regret the rest of your life.

I own both. The Forge is still lollipop (an android version behind the shield). The Forge TV does not have Netflix (no app or casting) nor does it have adoptable storage. The Forge TV does not come with a remote and none is available as an aftermarket option from Razer. The controller sucks it disconnects constantly. The controller does not have voice search like the shield.

The shield is better in every possible way. I regret buying a Forge TV. The thing that's terrible about it is it's actually really decent hardware but razers support is dreadful. Even if they get their act together and give us Netflix, adoptable storage, and mpeg decoder that does not show mouse teeth, I still think it would not be worth it.

The shield has good support and a great development community. Plus the new Plex media server build In is a nice bonus.

Edit: read through the official product forum, you'll see what else is lacking https://insider.razerzone.com/index.php?forums/razer-forge-tv.126/

Is that a joke?

I don't believe the forge TV can do Netflix.

Shield. It does everything.

Shield. It's not even a contest.

Shield. No contest.

I'm with /u/CuvisTheConqueror

I got the Forge TV at launch after trying out the Nexus Player. But it was awful, and I returned it. I was hoping it would be the shield but cheaper, but that's not the case. Apparently, I just had to get the Shield which has been the best $200 I've ever spent. I went and got another one for another room during the Prime Day Sale a week or so ago for my mother, who also loves it and wanted her own.

Don't waste your time with the Forge. Go for the Shield, it's not only future proofed, it's constantly getting updates. The Forge TV had only one major update with the Cortex Store. Plus, the Forge doesn't have Netflix, still on Lollipop, and was a complete waste of my money in my opinion. (Thankfully I returned it.)

The Shield on the other hand, I feel was the best $200 I ever spent.

i appreciate this thread and the answers, thank you.

i was curious about the forge too.