NVIDIA Shield Tablet K1chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many users report short battery runtime, slow charging (up to 8 hours), and units that drain even while plugged in. Some received defective batteries that stopped charging entirely and required difficult RMA processes.

@saysbadman

I think a modern equivalent is the Lenovo Legion Y700 for about $400. I had the Nvidia K1 tablet, and it was cool. But, man, it would suck down the battery!launch

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June 18, 2024

@AgniVeer85

I still use this shield k1 tablet almost every day. Its plays everything till psp easily. Even GOW psp at decent 2x. Games like doom bfg, portal, half life2 etc were releases specially optimized for this tablet. Great for streaming + android games too. Except for the poor battery this tab is still great for me.launch

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December 8, 2022

@sebastiaanvanhove

Its battery life is bad, although performance is great. I get like 5 hours web browsing with battery saver mode, no background processes and 0% brightness. Streaming/gaming is around 4 hours. Standby mode is 20hlaunch

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December 17, 2016

@nipvip56

Hey how is the charging on it bc I recently got one and it's super slow like at one point it even drained while plugged in and not in use what do I do?!?!?!?!launch

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June 23, 2016

Owners describe the tablet becoming laggy, slow, or unresponsive after months or years of use, often tied to storage quality issues, requiring factory resets or full ROM reflashes to restore usability.

@MobileDecay

I couldn't stand this this. It was so laggy. They had the update that made the tablet squeal really loud and they left it like that for months. I just got a Redmatic Astra and it made me think of this thing. 😂 I still have the old controller.launch

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September 20, 2025

@ravagingwolverine666

I just recently found this video. I know it's been up a while. I have the Shield K1 version, the one without the stylus. It's a great device on paper, but it's been such a disappointment. It started off okay enough. The display panel is nice, but it is glitchy at lower brightness where it flickers. It's definitely the panel or the OS, not any settings because I tried them all. And then all the OS updates just make the tablet worse. One of the OTA updates broke the wifi. I had to manually flash an older OS image. Luckily, I was comfortable enough doing that. Then later updates turned the unit into a slow and unresponsive mess. I went through cycles of not using it for months, forgetting why I wasn't using it, then seeing the terrible performance in Android 7. The reason I found this video is because that cycle played out again. The thing was chugging badly. This time, I decided to flash the factory image, Android 5, and root it. The performance is actually good again. It also seems more stable and my battery life might actually be decent now. It's the fact that the hardware is nice, inside and out, and that it is a decent emulation machine that I finally decided to go back to Android 5 and try again. That has its own issues, but so far it's a lot better and I know how to choose APKs for an older OS.launch

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March 20, 2024

@Schweigardt

mine runs very slow and hangs sometimes even after a factory reset and battery replacement. also doesn’t look like there’s many people able to run custom roms or LineageOS on this device. please let me know if I’m wrong on that. but I have seen so many people complaining about similar performance issues from the start, that it seems this tablet never got the attention that it deserved.launch

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November 11, 2022

@arjungandhi1242

I have one of these from like 2015. My issue was the storage quality used in these. It would perpetually slow down and I had to reset it many times. When it worked though it was awesomelaunch

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September 30, 2022

Multiple users can't connect to modern routers due to outdated Wi-Fi hardware and software, especially after the Android 6.0 update, sometimes limiting internet access to older routers or phone hotspots only.

@maxmax5054

Biggest problem with it is that because of old technology and software it doesn't connect to 90% of new routers. It can't connect to mine and all of my friends routers, the only 2 ways to connect with internet is by my parents router (but they are old, so they use an old equipment :P) and \"router wi-fi\" option from... phone.launch

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December 10, 2024

@Tacozilla

I have had one for years, great tablet but it is showing its age now due to lack of new android builds. If anyone buys one now you will need to root it and install a custom rom, I had to do this as the stock rom wouldn't connect to my new router.launch

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October 1, 2022

@neildegrassetyson2615

so i got one but whenever i do something w wifi chrome, youtube, playstore i is slow af (wifi is just fine) i have no idea what to do i have noticed that i prefer to use my phone for e everything. do u have the sameproblem or is it just my tablet,?launch

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September 18, 2016

@ReMattch

Wifi settings all jacked up, can't skype my brother halfway across the world and instead of downloading apps directly from Google Play I have to do 10 steps, not to mention illegally downloading APKs to get the apps I want installed on my tablet.\n\nThanks Marshmellow for breaking my tablet.launch

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February 2, 2016

Several commenters specifically warn against updating to Android 6.0, citing terrible battery drain, broken Wi-Fi, and general instability introduced by the OTA update, with no official fix provided.

@BukeChinaski

I'm interested in buying one , but I've been watching some videos of people having some terrible problems with it because of the Android 6.0 update. Did Nvidia correct it or it stills with these issues, like battery and wi-fi issues. Please could someone give a answer?launch

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January 18, 2017

@PanagiotisKoskeridis

DO NOT UPDATE YOUR SHIELD K1 TO ANDROID 6.0\n\nI have my Nvidia Shield K1 for about 4 days.. and I made the MISTAKE Upgrading it to Android 6.0. Now my Tablet has a terrible battery lifetime. \n- Please saw us the way to fix it\nor\n-Fix it asap with an update \nor\n-Saw us the way to downgrade. \n\nthank you!launch

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February 7, 2016

@ReMattch

Wifi settings all jacked up, can't skype my brother halfway across the world and instead of downloading apps directly from Google Play I have to do 10 steps, not to mention illegally downloading APKs to get the apps I want installed on my tablet.\n\nThanks Marshmellow for breaking my tablet.launch

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February 2, 2016

@vreyd

Very, very nice review! No blah blah, just the most interesting facts. Thanks for it! Though, on some pages I've read there came a battery drain/overheat bug at most people with the \"new\" K1 version. Seems to be coherent with the Android 6 update. Did you notice anything like that while testing for the review?launch

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December 29, 2015

Nvidia stopped supporting the tablet with new Android builds, leaving users needing to root the device and install custom ROMs like LineageOS to keep it functional and modern.

@Schweigardt

mine runs very slow and hangs sometimes even after a factory reset and battery replacement. also doesn’t look like there’s many people able to run custom roms or LineageOS on this device. please let me know if I’m wrong on that. but I have seen so many people complaining about similar performance issues from the start, that it seems this tablet never got the attention that it deserved.launch

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November 11, 2022

@Tacozilla

I have had one for years, great tablet but it is showing its age now due to lack of new android builds. If anyone buys one now you will need to root it and install a custom rom, I had to do this as the stock rom wouldn't connect to my new router.launch

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October 1, 2022

@andrewwhitfield5480

You just about have to root this tablet now and install Lineage OS to make the most of it. The Tegra Note 7 is my all time favorite Android tablet. The Shield tablet gamepad mapper for touch only games is really good. Great video as always!!!launch

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September 30, 2022

Some users report the back plate popping off at the corners without being dropped, and cracked units, alongside RAM limitations (2GB) that struggle with modern Android games.

@11xxDIMAxx11

Why why they dont do onther tablet i have this one. Now 2 gb of ram its not enought to play andorid games but i love shield wanna new one tegra chip was great and the bestlaunch

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August 1, 2023

@CatherineThompson98

My Nvidia Shield Tablet K1's back plate is popping off at the bottom corners and it hasn't been dropped, how do I clip it back on? its only a little gap but its annoying knowing that its there.launch

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December 24, 2015

@bshtube8303

My original nvidia shield cracked and I also had to return it because of the battery issue. I would not advice anyone to buy a tablet from nvidia. If you do buy it, you may suffer the consequences.launch

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December 17, 2015

The tablet only officially works with Moga controllers; PS4 and Xbox controllers require external wiring adapters that prevent charging simultaneously, limiting gaming flexibility.

@lilrow4206

I'm watching this on my Shield tablet K1 right now and I want to tell everybody that wants to know the only problem I really have with this tablet is that you can't use any other controller other than a moga controller so don't try and hook up your PS4 controller for your Xbox controllers to this cuz it will not work unless you have external wiring like an adapter but then you can't charge your tablet so I would definitely recommend picking up you on mobile control moga controller or the Nvidia Shieldlaunch

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June 8, 2016

At least one user reports Netflix getting stuck on a black loading screen, indicating some apps struggle to run properly on the aging software.

@morganbarbe2204

I can’t run Netflix on the NVidia Shield K1 I just bought. The app remains stuck on the black screen with Netflix written in red. Did you do something special to get it running properly as in the video?launch

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November 8, 2022