In the past couple of years, NVIDIA has somewhat embraced gaming on the Android platform with a dedicated set of device offerings bearing the SHIELD name, beginning with the SHIELD portable, then following things up with the SHIELD tablet and finally the most recently announced NVIDIA SHIELD, an Android TV powered console which sports the Android TV platform but also lets you play Android and AAA console/PC titles. The original SHIELD was favored by gamers for its capability to merge Android gaming titles with the feel of a traditional portable handheld gaming experience, but the SHIELD at this point has become a little dated and fans of the device might be wondering when and if NVIDIA plans to release a follow-up device.
Back at the end of March a rumor had started that NVIDIA may indeed be looking into launching a next-generation SHIELD portable device with current specifications and a refined design. Mind you these were and still are just rumors but the idea of a new SHIELD portable is not unsatisfying. Now in a new rumor, it seems that the NVIDIA’s second SHIELD portable may have just received certification in South Korea by the RRA, which is South Korea’s equivalent to the FCC here in the U.S.
In the certification screenshot you can make out the model number listed as P2523 which is the same model number that was listed in the Bluetooth certification for what has been rumored to be the SHIELD 2 from back in March. In that particular certification the words “SHIELD portable” were also listed right alongside the P2523 model number so although this is no confirmation by any means, it’s reasonable to assume that this could very well be the next SHIELD unit on the way. Unfortunately there are no other details on the device like specifications, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see NVIDIA launch a new SHIELD portable powered by their latest Tegra mobile processor, the Tegra X1, or even the Tegra K1 chip from last year. In either case, the new SHIELD would be a much more powerful device than its predecessor.