[Review] Portable AI TV... Smarter 'Genie TV Tab 4'

Tablet-Type Internet TV Device "Genie TV Tab 4"

Combining Google "Gemini" to Go Beyond the Limitations of Living Room TVs

Media consumption patterns are shifting from being centered around the living room to focusing on personal spaces. This trend is particularly evident as the proportion of single-person households increases, leading to a clear preference for devices that offer efficient use of space and portability over bulky, stationary TVs. KT's tablet-type Internet TV (IPTV) device, the "Genie TV Tab 4," was launched to meet the needs of consumers who want an uninterrupted viewing experience anytime and anywhere. With the addition of Google's "Gemini," I have been using this product, which goes beyond the limitations of living room TVs, since the beginning of this month.

After turning on the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+Wi-Fi model and connecting it to the KT IPTV wireless network, I opened the Genie TV application. On channel 997, the Genie TV guide screen displayed the exclusive IPTV premiere movie "Montage" trailer. The screen followed a standard format, allowing brightness adjustment from the left and volume control from the right, while channels could be changed by swiping left or right. I was able to smoothly navigate through all channels from 0 to 999 with a responsive touch.

At the bottom, there are Home, Category, Search, and My tabs. When I tapped on Category, the current video playback appeared as a small window in the upper right corner. Subcategories included various options such as Top 100, Prime Super Pack, Movies, TV·Originals, and Kids Land. In particular, Kids Land, being the largest IPTV service in Korea dedicated to infants and young children, offered not only popular character content such as "Pororo," "Pinkfong," and "Catch! Teenieping," but also programs for English, reading, and homeschooling. There was no concern about exposure to harmful ads, and both viewing time limits and a dedicated kids lock function were supported, helping to ease parents' worries. In the My section, it was possible to check recently watched VODs and purchase history, as well as change various settings. It was also possible to connect with Genie TV Mobile for seamless content viewing.

Seeing that the movie "The King and the Clown," which surpassed 10 million viewers, was available, I selected it and a split-screen appeared. Alongside the main playback window, detailed information such as the plot, trailers and additional videos, and introductions to the director and cast were displayed. There was also an ongoing event for customers who purchased the movie for their collection.

The Genie TV Tab 4 comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is much more generous than the previous version (4GB RAM, 64GB storage). It can even be expanded with up to 2TB of external memory. As a result, I did not experience the sluggishness often associated with entry-level tablets when switching between screens. It also seemed practical for storing photos and videos.

The battery remains at 7,040mAh, but 25W fast charging is now supported, allowing for quicker full charges. The screen is 11 inches, the same as the previous model. At just 480g, it is lightweight and convenient to carry from room to room. It was relatively easy to view content even in well-lit areas. The quad speakers also set it apart from typical budget tablets, providing a satisfying immersive experience without the need to connect a separate Bluetooth speaker. On the software side, the addition of Genie TV, Samsung News, and Gemini widgets to the home screen improved overall convenience.

Although I have not used the Tab 3 and could not directly compare hardware performance, voice search through Gemini was useful. It recognized clear speech even without speaking loudly. However, it did not respond to incomplete sentences like "variety shows available now." Still, it was sufficient for making requests or asking questions when my hands were occupied. With both IPTV and AI features integrated into a single device, multitasking was also possible.

Unlike a regular TV, which requires space and cable management for installation, the Genie TV Tab 4 is much easier to set up. All you need is a KT Wi-Fi environment. It is recommended for those with limited space or single-person households. It also seemed suitable as a second TV, as each family member can enjoy their preferred channels and content.

The cost is not a major burden. The retail price of the Genie TV Tab 4 is 379,500 won, but the tablet can be purchased at a discount with the Mobile Samsung Choice plan. In this case, you can save a total of 144,000 won over two years, equivalent to a 6,000 won monthly discount. For the IPTV plan, a discount is available for multiple devices (subsidiary units). With a three-year contract for the Genie TV Essence plan for multiple devices, the monthly TV subscription fee is just 8,800 won after applying the benefits.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.