With a ton of attention being paid to the new Shield Android TV, some of the biggest questions surrounded how the new model compares to the original. More importantly, everyone wants to know how many of the features of the new model can come back to the old Shield Android TV, and where all of the new peripherals stand in terms of backwards compatibility. Thankfully we have good news: all is well on the original Shield Android TV front, and you won't be left behind as the new model hits store shelves. Here's what's happening with the original box.

You aren't missing out on hardware

The first thing to realize from the get-go is that internally the new Shield Android TV is identical to the model you have right now. Though the outside has shrunk down to take out unused space, the internals of your current box are still great and still top of the line. In fact, you have one benefit over the new model in that you still have an SD card slot for expanding your storage. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines Sure the new Shield Android TV is dramatically smaller than the original making it easier to stash away in your entertainment center, but that's hardly a reason to buy it as a replacement for an original. Stick with the current box knowing you have the latest specs still. All of the new software is coming

Now that you know your hardware isn't out of date, it's important to know that NVIDIA is continuing to support the original Shield Android TV with software updates. The company has committed to releasing the new Android 7.0 Nougat software unveiled at CES 2017 to the original box. And here's a bit of good news: the update is coming the day that the new box begins shipping. While NVIDIA doesn't want ot put a date on it, Amazon listings show that release date is January 16 — so you can expect the software to start hitting then as well. When the software lands on your Shield Android TV you'll get the new interface tweaks, improvements to the gaming system and better performance. You'll also be right in line to get the next software update that'll bring you Google Assistant. The new peripherals will work