KIVI continues to impress with interesting and original televisions, and in 2023 at the IFA exhibition, they presented a model specifically designed for children – the KIVI KidsTV. So, what are its features?
Firstly, the television has an interesting design, consisting of a frame, stands, and a central platform that can be decorated with a favorite toy of many children and adults – a constructor. Secondly, the model is equipped with screen protection in the form of tempered glass, which will protect it from accidental damage. Thirdly, KidsTV is complemented by a built-in night light with soft warm light. And fourthly, it is itself a pretty good television with a nice picture, pleasant sound, and a “smart” interior with plenty of useful functions. So, if you’re looking for a cool television for kids, this review will be interesting to you.
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KIVI KidsTV technical specifications
- Screen: 32″, FHD (1920×1080), 60 Hz, Direct LED backlighting, support for Super Contrast Control, Max Vivid, Ultra Clear, Low Blue Light
- OS: Android TV 11
- Sound: 2×8 W, support for Dolby Digital, audio processor SRC
- Internal Memory: 8 GB
- Ports: 3×HDMI, 2×USB 2.0, optical audio output, RCA, antenna socket, 3.5 mm, CI port, LAN
- Tuners: DVB-T2, DVB-C, DVB-T
- Dimensions: with stand 734×481×195 mm, without stand – 734×436×71 mm
- Weight: 6.7 kg
- Wall Mounting: VESA 200×150
- Additional: the ability to create a custom frame design thanks to attachments for children’s constructor, AlumiGlow night light, screen protective glass, Bluetooth remote with voice control support, 3-year warranty on the screen, parental control
How much does KIVI KidsTV cost
At the time of writing the review, the official price tag for the “child” model from KIVI with a discount is $320 instead of $370. Thus, it can be classified as a budget+ class of televisions. Considering the capabilities of the KIVI KidsTV, the cost is more than justified. Let’s confirm this.
Package contents
The television arrived in a nice, colorful box adorned with a comic strip illustrating the device’s technical capabilities.
Inside, along with the KidsTV, you can find legs and a decorative panel with texture for the constructor, a set for attaching the legs with a key, a power cable, a remote control with batteries (they were separate), additional protective stickers for the legs for sticking them to the surface, a spare badge with the brand logo in the form of a constructor piece, and accompanying literature.
What I particularly like about KIVI televisions is the user manual, which is written with heart and humor. Usually, it’s a boring technical brochure that you only take out when you have a question. But with KIVI devices, you even want to flip through it just to lift your spirits.
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Design features
The exterior of the KIVI KidsTV simply cannot go unnoticed, as it is bright and unusual. The casing is made of dense and high-quality plastic, predominantly in blue, with only the top panel and stand left white. Despite the “toy-like” design, the legs have metal fittings, are quite sturdy, and ensure reliable fixation of the television. Moreover, they can be securely attached to the surface using the provided stickers, creating an even more stable structure. By the way, the VESA mounting holes inside also have metal fittings. So, whether the television is placed on a stand or mounted on the wall, it will be difficult for a child to knock it over or break it. The frame on all sides (front, top, and sides), the legs, and the additional decorative panel between them have texture for attaching constructor pieces. This allows a child to express creativity and decorate their television as they please. Frankly speaking, it’s fun even for adults.
As for additional “decorations” on the front, there is perhaps only a neat and detachable brand logo (an extra one is included just in case), positioned at the bottom center. By the way, there is a hole in the logo, so if desired, it can be turned into a keychain using a simple thread.
At the bottom edge, you’ll find the speaker grille, power button (right under the logo), and a joystick for controlling the television without the remote.
On the back side, the LED panel immediately catches your attention – it’s the night light. It illuminates with a warm white color, and its brightness can be adjusted using the remote or directly on the TV body. The main cover behind has a striped texture. In the middle, you can see the company logo, below which are the VESA 200×150 mounting holes, and to the left, there is a slot for the power cable. The ports are hidden in a small “step” and are located to the right and bottom for convenient access.
Overall, the KidsTV looks bright, distinctive, and reliable. The quality of materials and assembly is decent. Despite its interesting frame, it doesn’t feel bulky and in terms of format and design, it resembles other “adult” models from KIVI.
Matrix and image quality of KIVI KidsTV
The KidsTV features a 32-inch screen with Full HD resolution (1920×1080), Direct LED backlighting that evenly covers the entire matrix area, not just the perimeter, and a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. Like most televisions from the brand, the “child” model supports many proprietary technologies to enhance the picture, such as Super Contrast Control, Max Vivid, and Ultra Clear, which process the image on the fly, as well as Low Blue Light, which reduces blue emissions. Additionally, the manufacturer provides the same warranty for the KidsTV matrix as for its other models – 3 years.
The screen offers wide viewing angles, good clarity, contrast, and vibrant color reproduction right out of the box. However, if desired, you can customize the picture to your taste – the television offers a plethora of tools for this purpose. You can add contrast, brightness, choose the color gamut and temperature, adjust the degree of image enhancement, and more.
But there is another wonderful addition to the KIVI KidsTV – screen protection. It is provided by tempered borosilicate glass with anti-reflective coating. Not only is it strong, but it’s also more transparent and less glossy than usual. As assured by the manufacturer, this glass is resistant to scratches and can withstand toys, blocks, balls, scissors, and other “side effects” of active play. So even if the child is hyperactive, parents can rest assured about the integrity of the technology. And preserving parental nerves – is priceless.
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Sound
For audio, the KidsTV is equipped with a pair of 8W speakers (so we get a total of 16W of sound) and an SRC audio processor. Dolby Digital and Sound Surround are also claimed to be supported, along with the ability to enhance sound through more precise settings. However, during my review, I didn’t feel the need for this, as the sound is balanced, clear, and pleasant. For children’s entertainment and educational content, it’s quite decent, and noticeable sound artifacts only appear at high volume, around 60-70%. By the way, there is plenty of volume reserve here, so for an average-sized room, the volume is unlikely to be used above 20-30%. Overall, the sound is good, but if desired, it can be adjusted in the settings or supplemented with speakers or a soundbar.
Ports and wireless connections
As for the connectors, which are located behind in a kind of niche, we have the following picture. On the right side there is a pair of USB-A, a CI port, an antenna jack and HDMI. Below are LAN, an optical input, three RCA (or “tulips”) and a couple more HDMI.
Among the wireless interfaces on the television, there is Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 for connecting the remote and additional devices (headphones, speakers, or keyboard with mouse), and Chromecast for wireless data transfer from other gadgets.
KIVI KidsTV performance
The television is powered by a 4-core processor clocked at 1.5 GHz per core, with 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. In practice, the device operates quite smoothly. Some occasional lags were observed during active settings adjustments or application installations, but otherwise, the KidsTV is quite responsive. For example, working with online services like YouTube poses no problems whatsoever. Overall, the interaction with the device is quite pleasant, especially when you’re done with the initial setup and are using the television in its “standard” mode.
Software and services
All processes are managed by the Android TV 11 operating system, which we are familiar with from reviews of previous KIVI models. Overall, it’s the same – a convenient and intuitive interface, plenty of features and services, and the ability to install external applications.
By default, there are already some pre-installed programs here, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, YouTube Music, and KIVI Media, providing access to television and entertainment content: streaming services, cloud gaming with Boosteroid, and workouts. As always, you can customize the main screen as needed – remove unnecessary applications from quick access and install the required ones.
And there’s also parental control added here, which allows you to select content for your child. There are no problems working with the settings either – everything is logical, clear, and just like on most Android devices. A modern child, not to mention adults, will have no trouble navigating the interface.
Remote control
The updated remote for the KidsTV differs slightly from those I’ve worked with in reviews of other KIVI televisions. Its body is made of pleasant-to-touch matte blue plastic, and at the end, there is a silicone tag with the brand name that glows in the dark. Thanks to this, it will take much less time to search for the remote in a dark room. As always, the power, settings, source selection, online service buttons (Megogo, Netflix, YouTube, and KIVI), and a directional pad with the OK button in the middle are located at the top. The remote also includes a button for calling Google Assistant. Below, there is a numeric keypad, and the volume and channel control buttons have been redesigned.
At first, I didn’t understand how they work. Out of habit, my hand reached for the left side of the buttons to decrease the volume and the right side to increase it. But pressing them only muted or unmuted the television sound; the volume didn’t adjust. It turned out that these aren’t conventional buttons but rather a rocker switch. To adjust the volume, you need to tilt it up or down, not press it. Overall, it’s an interesting solution, but it takes some getting used to because you’re constantly tempted to just press it as usual. By the way, there is also a button on the bottom of the remote to control the night light. It allows not only turning it on or off but also adjusting the brightness. To do this, simply turn on the night light and then press and hold the button – the brightness will start to change.
AlumiGlow night light
I’d like to say a few more words about a very interesting addition to the KIVI KidsTV – the night light. It is an LED panel located at the back of the unit. It emits only one color – warm white, but the brightness can be adjusted using the remote.
The night light can operate both parallel to the television and when it is turned off. By creating soft diffused light behind the screen, it adds coziness and creates a more relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. It’s perfect for calming down and setting the mood for an evening relaxation. Additionally, it can be controlled not only with the remote but also directly on the unit itself.
Impressions from KIVI KidsTV
It seems that when creating the KIVI KidsTV, they considered absolutely everything that could appeal to both children and parents. Essentially, among the countless options on the market, it has no direct competitors – the model has truly become unique. In addition to being a pretty good 32-inch television with rich picture quality, pleasant sound, and the functionality expected in every Smart TV, it has a range of features that set it apart from others. This includes the original design of the chassis in the form of a large platform for construction, adding a gaming and creative component to interaction with the device, screen protection from children’s activity, parental control, and simply a wonderful night light that can work even when the television is turned off. Probably, there’s simply no better and more interesting model for children on the market.
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