How long do you usually keep a streaming device before upgrading?

[u/Ankipo]

Phones and computers usually have an obvious upgrade cycle, but streaming devices are a little different.

I've noticed that sometimes the device itself isn't really the problem. You can keep the same TV or streaming device for years, and the bigger difference often comes from finding a streaming setup that actually works well for the way you watch.

I recently came across Vynetro, and what caught my attention was the variety of content and the ability to use the service across different compatible devices. The experience seems more focused on having live TV, movies, and series available in one place rather than constantly switching between multiple platforms.

I'm curious about everyone else's setup: how long have you had your current streaming device, and what would convince you to change either your device or your overall streaming setup?

[u/nrm94]

Considering there is no Nvidia Shield Pro 2 I hope my one runs for many more years 😅

[u/MikeAffec → u/nrm94]

Yes this
I have mine for years now, if a new one comes out i might upgrade. Then my daughter can have the old one

[u/Raunhofer]

Upgrading, to what exactly?

[u/alias257]

Until it’s consistently lagging and unable to do what it’s supposed to do effectively. 7 plus years id say.

[u/joemackg]

Original 2015 Shield still going strong here!

[u/Nebmac64]

Sadly in 2026 there is still nothing superior to the 2019 Shield Pro.

[u/lazygerm]

I have had my 2019 Shield TV Pro since 2020.

Before that I had a WDTV Live, Chromecast, Apple TV 2, Fire TV box and a Fire TV Cube previously.

[u/frameset]

If they make a better one I'll upgrade.

[u/Mountainking7]

As long as it works, I'm good. My firestick 4k 1st gen is approaching 6 years use. As fast as day one (debloated and disabled updates a long time ago) with a custom launcher.

Shield is on 5 years.

New technology, lag on videos and maybe breakthrough tech in upscaling to make me swap devices.

[u/totallyjaded]

Until it breaks, no longer gets updates with the apps I use, or does something compelling enough that my old box can't do (e.g., having a box that can't do 4K after buying a 4K TV).

I had a Shield Pro showing signs of death after wiping and repasting, and got a GS4K. I guess in some ways it's an upgrade. The new OS is nice, because it shows my Google cameras. But I don't like that I can't force-kill apps.

But it didn't induce me to replace my perfectly good Shield Pro that I have in another room.

[u/i_fight4theuser]

Until power supply or something dies lmao. So hopefully never

[u/kester76a]

I've got an old atom 330 with an nvidia ION chipset running an old version of Kodi. Ancient compared to modern tech but latency is near zero even running on an old shdd drive. It's annoying as it flys through menus and and launches blurays and hires audio in an instance. None of this lagging with the filesystem. Just sad it doesn't support modern codecs. Still annoys me that with modern tech it's deemed to be acceptable to have such lag.

[u/spaceman60]

When it dies and I can't fix it. Why would I waste money?

[u/SufficientImplement4]

I had several Fire Sticks and some other Android box before. Only lasted a couple of months each until i was fed up with it - so much annoying ads, so much lags throughout. And each device promised to be *that* solution. None was, not nearly.

At some point I came across the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. Well more expensive than my previous (but disappointing) devices. But in the end, purchased it back in April 2020. Funny thing: I was unsure if I should go with that because it said "2019" and it was mid-2020 already and thought there might be a new model around the corner (as known from smartphones already). Little did I know then about it! ;)

And I still rock it (and it rocks me), meanwhile I have 2 boxes (1 living, 1 bed room). Love that thing, does what I want it to do, never failed on me. Overall, a much cheaper (and much more relaxed) experience than all the predecessors added up.

When I plan to replace it? When a new Shield model arrives probably.

[u/StarHutch]

I'm still rocking the 2017 12gb version.

It runs my Plex server and lets me still use Google TV apps that are not on my LG TV. I have had to crack it open once to dust and re-thermal the paste.

although the Shield is missing a lot from the Google Store too... Channel 4 and decent iPlayer app...

The only thing that is stopping me from changing to a different machine is that I am going to have to replace it with two devices as there is nothing like the Shield that can run as a low power server AND be a device that can native playback DTS, Dolby Vision, etc.

[u/alejoc]

I have a Shield since 2020, first the '17 version for a couple years and I updated it to the 2019 version a couple years later after selling the first one.