4K KIVI TV: review, specifications

4K TVs have long been present in the budget segment. But for some reason, buyers are not particularly attracted to cheap solutions. According to reviews, the priority for future owners is products from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, or Philips. In our review, one of the most popular products is the 4K KIVI TV. Let’s briefly understand what it is, its advantages, and disadvantages.

Technozon channel has already made an interesting review, which we recommend you to watch.

 

4K KIVI TV: specifications

 

Smart TV support	Yes, based on Android 9.0
Screen resolution	3840×2160
TV sizes	40, 43, 50, 55, and 65 inches
Digital tuner	DVB-C, DVB-S2, DVB-T2
TV tuner	1 analog, 1 digital
HDR support	Yes, HDR10+
3D support	No
Backlight type	Direct LED
Display matrix type	SVA, 8-bit
Response time	8 ms
Processor	Cortex-A53, 4 cores
RAM	2 GB
Built-in storage	8 GB
Network interfaces	LAN-RJ-45 up to 100 Mbps, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
Ports	2x USB 2.0, 3x HDMI, SPDIF, Jack 3.5, Antenna, SVGA
Power consumption	60-90 W (depends on the model)

 

4K KIVI TV: review

 

It could be said that the design and ergonomics of Kivi 4K are similar to more expensive models. But this is not the case. The very lightweight (6-10 kg, depending on the size) device has a giant stand. The width between the V-shaped legs can fit about ten LCD TVs. So, a spacious cabinet or table is required for installation.

The plastic used for the TV body looks cheap. But that’s a minor detail. A huge drawback is the display, whose edges do not touch the frames. As a result, viewers will always see 5-millimeter black stripes around the entire screen. The external plastic frame does not fully contact the LCD panel. Dust accumulates along the perimeter, and then, unnoticed by the user, penetrates inside the display. The result is a slightly lightened black frame on the screen, and strange camouflage spots along all edges of the display.

 

Display of the 4K Kivi TV

 

It’s better to start with the matrix, as the quality of video reproduction directly depends on display technologies. It is worth noting that the manufacturer proudly indicates the IPS marking on the packaging. But the specifications mention SVA with LED backlight. Neither statement can be trusted. After the first turn-on of the Kivi TV, it becomes clear that even SVA is not present here. Horrible viewing angles and a display that flickers with blue-white glare when turned off.

Regarding the declared output of 4K@60FPS video. During testing with various sources (TV box, flash drive, internet), it was not possible to achieve the claimed quality. And the surprises did not end there. When displaying UHD or FullHD images at 24 Hz, the viewer will see blocks instead of a colorful video picture.

 

Electronic components – Kivi 4K performance

 

It’s unclear why the manufacturer is deceiving buyers. Instead of the declared Cortex-A53 processor, a dual-core Realtek with up to 1.1 GHz is installed. This parameter alone is enough to conclude that performance is insufficient for comfortable use.

Launching applications causes the control panel to freeze (even the mouse cursor floats). Plus, the chipset cannot handle large movie files. Files over 40 GB are pointless to download, as they simply won’t start.

However, with torrents, the situation slightly improves. The Kivi 4K TV quickly and easily launches files in UHD format. But after 1-2 minutes of viewing, the picture starts to jerk and may freeze altogether. Most likely, the chipset overheats and begins to throttle.

 

Sound in the 4K Kivi TV

 

The manufacturer claims the installation of two 12-watt speakers capable of delivering Dolby Digital quality. In fact, the sound does not even reach the level of Sony or Panasonic CRT TVs. To enjoy watching a movie, active acoustics are necessary. The speakers are of very low quality – they crackle, distort frequencies, and cannot distinguish music from voice. With such sound, you can only watch news via terrestrial or cable broadcast.

But audiophiles with external speakers should not rejoice prematurely. The HDMI ARC declared by the Chinese manufacturer does not work. So, you will have to output via the jack or optical port. The second option is preferable, as it provides acceptable sound quality.

Another interesting point related to voice control. The TV is equipped with a built-in microphone on the front panel. One microphone. But there are four holes on the panel. It could be for increased sensitivity. But the functionality still does not work. Or rather, it works, but you need to speak loudly and clearly.

 

Network capabilities of 4K Kivi

 

There are no complaints about the wired interface – 95 Mbps for download and 90 Mbps for upload. But the Wi-Fi connection is terrible – 20 Mbps for download and the same for upload. This is not enough for watching 4K videos or even regular YouTube in FullHD. And even YouTube cannot be relied upon via the wired interface, as it simply does not exist in Smart TV. KIVI-TV, Megogo, and a strange IPTV service are available, but they cannot be launched. Fortunately, Android apps can be installed, so YouTube was finally found and launched.

And I would like to note the data transfer speed from external drives via USB 2.0. Sequential reading – 20 MB per second.

What if the file on the drive is recorded arbitrarily?

The random read speed is only 4-5 MB per second. This is not enough even for a simple FullHD movie. For example, playing a 4K test clip immediately causes lagging. It’s a kind of slideshow. And another point – when playing any video files in 10-bit, the 4K Kivi TV displays a message: “Unsupported file.” But HDR10 videos are played without issues. Plus, there are questions about the response time of the matrix. The TV has 100% Jodder effect. That is, the viewer will not enjoy watching dynamic scenes, as they will be blurry.

 

As a result, it turns out that the device does not meet the declared specifications. It cannot be used as intended with built-in Smart TV or with a TV box as an LCD panel. Buying a 4K Kivi TV is throwing money into the trash. The Technozon channel author speaks very negatively about the brand, and the TeraNews team fully agrees with him.