Nvidia Shield tablet release news: Nvidia recalls some devices due to probable overheating issues

NVIDIA Shield tabletNVIDIA

When Nvidia decided to venture into the tablet market, the result was the Shield, focused on providing owners with rich, gaming-centered performance. However, it seems that a major flaw cropped up, and the company has decided to nip any potential problems in the bud. 

Nvidia has announced a recall program for the Shield, particularly those that were purchased starting July last year. According to the company, it was found out that the battery in the devices are prone to overheating and can be causes for potential accidents and fire hazards. 

The Nvidia announcement said, "Nvidia is asking customers to submit a claim for a replacement device. Nvidia is also asking consumers to stop using the recalled tablet, except as needed to participate in the recall and back up data. Consumers will receive a replacement tablet after registering to participate in the recall." 

However, Nvidia clarified that not all Shield tablets are affected by the recall, but only those with a certain battery type. Those with Shield tablets can check if their unit is included in the recall by first verifying that the device is already running on the latest firmware. After, the owner should then go to the Settings tab and check the About Tablet option. Selecting the Status feature will show the Battery category. Those with B01 batteries are potentially safe. Meanwhile, if the unit's battery shows Y01, highlighting "Y01" will immediately launch the recall app. 

Nvidia has yet to comment on why it is recalling some Shield tablets as the company has remained silent aside from issuing the recall instructions. It was a surprise for many since one of the features of the Nvidia Shield tablet when it was launched was its design, using heat-scattering materials and was configured to handle heat and stress brought about by heavy-duty gaming usage.