Pros & Cons
-
- Solid build quality.
- Comfortable.
- Responsive.
- Headphone jack is handy.
-
- Only works with Nvidia Shield devices.
The Nvidia Shield (now the Shield Portable) is an intriguing combination of Android tablet and portable gaming device. The new Shield Tablet ($176.26 at Amazon) boasts much more power and the same gamer-friendly focus as the Shield Portable, but it lacks the built-in physical controls. For that, you need the Shield Wireless Controller, an optional $59.99 gamepad designed for use with the Shield Tablet and Shield Portable.
Make no mistake: the Shield Wireless Controller ($60.95 at Amazon) is not a Bluetooth gamepad, and is not compatible with all Android devices. In fact, it will currently only work with the Shield Tablet and Shield Portable. Its Wi-Fi-based connection boasts low latency and a handy streaming audio feature, but it simply won't work with non-Shield devices.
Design
The gamepad looks and feels like the little brother of the Shield Portable. It's the same matte black-and-silver color scheme and relatively bulky design, but without the flip-up touch screen or slightly sunken controls. Since it doesn't have an entire Android tablet's worth of electronics inside it, it weighs half as much as the Shield Portable at 10.9 ounces compared with the dedicated handheld device's 20.5 ounces.
The gamepad's controls are configured nearly identically to the Shield Portable's, with dual analog sticks in a side-by-side PlayStation-style layout, a direction pad parallel to four face buttons in an XABY Xbox-style layout, and both triggers and bumpers on each shoulder. The middle of the gamepad really starts to veer away from the Shield Portable's design, eschewing mechanical system controls for touched-based ones. A large triangular Nvidia logo is flanked by Home, Start, and Return buttons, all of which are touch sensitive rather than clicky. A silver-colored bar on the bottom edge of the gamepad holds a Shield logo and touch-sensitive Volume Up and Volume Down controls.
The top edge of the controller holds a micro USB port for charging and a 3.5mm audio jack for a headset or headphones. Because the controller connects to a Shield device over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth as an interface device, it can stream audio played on the connected device through the controller, like the Roku 2 ($32.00 at Amazon) media hub's remote.
Compatibility
Like the built-in controls of the Shield Portable, the Shield Wireless Controller requires either app-based gamepad support or a controller profile configured or downloaded through Nvidia's Gamepad Mapper app. Fortunately, most major titles either support gamepads or already have a functional profile available through the app made by a fan who already tinkered with it.
I played several games on the Shield Tablet with the Shield Wireless Controller, including Max Payne, R-Type, Sine Mora, Metal Slug 3, Carmageddon, and Trine 2. Of them, Max Payne, Sine Mora, R-Type, and Trine 2 worked flawlessly, recognizing the gamepad and handling the controls automatically. Metal Slug 3 worked well enough to play, but the B button was irritatingly mapped to pause the game. Carmageddon wasn't recognized, but I found a relatively functional Gamepad Mapper profile. The acceleration didn't work at first, but Gamepad Mapper allows for extensive alterations to profiles, so even the faulty profile offered a base upon which to build a functional one.
The Nvidia Shield Wireless Controller is an excellent accessory to the Shield Tablet, and its use of Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth means its connection works more reliably over longer distances and with less latency. However, it's still a $60 controller that only works with Shield devices, and since the Shield Tablet and Shield Portable both support Bluetooth controllers as well, you might want to look around for a gamepad that feels right and lets you connect it to your PC, smartphone, or other tablets as well.
Best Game Controllers & Accessory Picks
- The Best Gaming Chairs for 2020
- How to Connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to a PC
- How to Connect a PS4 DualShock 4 Controller to a PC
- How to Connect an Xbox One Controller to a PC
- More Game Controllers & Accessory Reviews
- More from Nvidia