Advantages for up to 4K video streaming Apps on a Smart TV:

• Picture quality. All Non 4K content will be upscaled by the 4K TV's superior upscaling hardware. Shield has below average hardware picture upscaling vs the competition.
• Correct color outputs for both SDR and 4K HDR. The Shield still has issues with this with some 4K HDR displays.
• Some 4K HDR Smart TV's can do 4K HDR YouTube. The Shield cannot even hardware decode that combo.
• A Dolby Audio Licence, so you can get 5.1 DD+ Netflix / Prime audio out to an old 5.1 Dolby Digital only audio receiver, the Shield does not even have a Dolby Audio Licence to remix Dolby Audio.
• Some 4K TV's these days have DolbyVision and Atmos audio for Apps like Netflix and VUDU.
• There is also 4K HDR10+ on Panasonic and Samsung 4K Smart TV's, but HDR10+ streaming content is currently rare.
• A reliable remote control that does not lose connection AND has proper Volume control buttons.

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Disadvantages of 4K Smart TV's vs Shield.

• Speed, especially if you have an underpowered, stupidly slow Sony (Nougat) 4K Android TV.
• Connectivity, the Shield has a speedy Gigabit Ethernet port to enable smooth video playback of high bitrate 4K content from Networked storage.
• Better video codec playback support. You can play more varied content on the Shield vs Smart TV's.
• HD audio, the Shield can passthrough up to Bluray Quality Atmos audio to an AVR from Bluray Rips. TV's cannot.
• Games and Emulation. Shield has a far more powerful GPU for this.
• Some do not have any Chromecasting support
• Not that I would want to, but you can run a Plex server on the Shield.

4K HDR Smart TV have definitely caught up in recent years for Apps support.

Especially the ones that runs a decent lightweight, non demanding OS from the likes of LG, Panasonic and Samsung.

Tech improvements come quickly, just look what you now get with a dirt cheap 2018 FireTV Stick 4K.

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Nobody can convince you of value lol. If you think the old, janky TV gui is fine and fast enough, then you clearly don't need anything else. IMO most of those platforms are garbage. Android TV is a great aggregator of providers, and because it's Android, it will continue to stay current as new providers appear. There shield is the best hardware offering of Android TV, but the mi box is just as good if you're not gaming.

Try using GeForceNow and you will understand why the shield is the beast. It’s also the most powerful android tv box for streaming. I’ve used different android boxes in the past and nothing can compare to the shield. Don’t get rid of your shield. Thank me later.

I'm trying to justify my purchase on this too since receiving mine. The device itself is brilliant, works well & looks the part, however I'm thinking I get the same use out of my 4K Roku in the bedroom & my main tv is a brand new Samsung QLED with all my app needs built in. I got it primarily as a Plex server since I already own 4TB external storage, though I do have a Plex enabled seedbox too. I think I'll end up keeping it, but emulation will be a rare use & GeForce now? I have an Xbox One X conmected to the same TV without any of the drawbacks.

I use it for iptv...kodi. netflix .. prime video and youtube..also my son plays some games on it. I have an 1080 plasma tv..so having eveything in one place is key. Plus everything plays flawlessly

People here are gonna hate me but considering a firestick 4k is like $35 and I prefer it in almost every way, it's really hard to justify unless you're a diehard android fan or need to have lots of ports and storage or want to play android games.