Test Methodology
Comparison Tablets |
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|---|---|---|---|
| System Name | Nvidia Shield Tablet |
Apple iPad Mini Retina |
Apple iPad 3 |
| Release Date | Q3 2014 |
Q4 2013 |
Q1 2012 |
| SoC | Nvidia Tegra K1 |
Apple A7 |
Apple A5X |
| CPU | 2.2GHz ARM Cortex-A15 (32-bit, quad-core) |
1.3GHz Apple Cyclone (64-bit, dual-core) |
1.0GHz ARM Cortex-A9 (32-bit, dual-core) |
| GPU | Nvidia Kepler GK20A |
Quad-core PowerVR G6430 |
Quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 |
| Memory | 2,048MB LP-DDR3 |
1,024MB LP-DDR3 |
1,024MB LP-DDR2 |
| Storage Options | 16GB / 32GB |
16GB / 32GB / 64GB / 128GB |
16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
| Storage Expansion | MicroSD (up to 128GB) |
- |
- |
| Display | 8.0in multi-touch IPS |
7.9in multi-touch IPS |
9.7in multi-touch IPS |
| Display Resolution | 1,920x1,200 (294 ppi) |
2,048x1,536 (326ppi) |
2,048x1,536 (264ppi) |
| Network | Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Optional Cellular |
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Optional Cellular |
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Optional Cellular |
| Battery | 19.75Wh lithium-ion polymer |
23.8Wh lithium-ion polymer |
42.5Wh lithium-ion polymer |
| Front Camera | 5.0MP |
1.2MP |
0.3MP |
| Rear Camera | 5.0MP |
5.0MP |
5.0MP |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 221mm x 126mm x 9.2mm |
200mm x 135mm x 7mm |
241mm x 186mm x 9.4mm |
| Weight | 390g |
330g |
650g |
| Operating System | Android 4.4.2 |
iOS 7.1.2 |
iOS 7.1.2 |
| Launch MSRP | from £239 |
from £319 |
from £399 |
CPU and System Benchmarks |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunSpider 1.0.2 | A popular benchmark that examines web-browser performance using the core JavaScript language. | |||||||||||
| WebXPRT 2013 | WebXPRT simulates everyday web-browser tasks and contains four HTML5- and JavaScript-based workloads. | |||||||||||
| Basemark OS II | A system-level benchmark used to measure overall system performance, including memory and graphics. | |||||||||||
GPU Benchmarks |
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| GFXBench 3.0.16 | Cross-platform OpenGL benchmark used to measure native (onscreen) and 1080p (offscreen) performance. | |||||||||||
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited | Offscreen 720p benchmark designed to make chip-to-chip comparisons without display resolution affecting results. | |||||||||||
| Basemark X | Popular benchmark using the Unity 4.2 game engine. Run using high-quality mode. | |||||||||||
Notes
The trendsetter in the compact-tablet market is Apple's iPad Mini with Retina display, and we've used said device as a direct comparison to the Nvidia Shield Tablet. Benchmark results from an older iPad 3, dating back to 2012, have also been included to demonstrate the performance increase between generations.
Please note that a limited amount of time with the Shield Tablet has prevented us from running detailed battery-life tests. Thus far, the device has had no trouble getting through a full day of frequent use, though longevity is cut to around 3-4 hours when lots of gaming is factored into the equation. We hope to add precise run-time measurements in the coming week, and the review will be updated accordingly.
