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The best Vizio TV offers incredibly competitive pricing without dropping too far behind other brands in terms of performance and picture quality. With advanced features like Dolby Vision HDR, Quantum Dot technology, and 4K resolution, Vizio TVs are easily some of the best TVs available on the market today.
These affordable, high-quality televisions also offer a wide range of premium models, and the company has even broken into the OLED television market. So if you’re looking for affordable 4K resolution, vivid color accuracy, and fast gaming performance, you can’t go wrong with a Vizio TV.
Keep reading to learn more about the best Vizio TV and how you can buy the right one for your home entertainment needs.
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TV is a great pick for streamers that prioritize good picture quality and gamers that value quick responsiveness.
The Vizio V555-J01 V Series is a 55 inch UHD TV that boasts up to 8 million pixels and has a Full Array Backlight that allows for excellent contrast. This, coupled with Active Pixel Technology, ensures that brightness levels on display remain high and accurate thanks to pixel-level adjustments. Vizio also included their proprietary V-gaming Engine on the V555, which optimizes it for gaming by lowering the input lag. Unfortunately, its refresh rate remains a bit low for competitive gaming.
The TV is a perfect pick for users who want to enjoy an at-home cinema experience since it supports Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10 content. With Vizio’s SmartCast platform on-board, users will be able to access a wide array of content thanks to built-in streaming apps such as WatchFree+, which has thousands of free channels and movie titles to stream. The TV’s sound is also on point, and with 4K picture quality, its visuals are very exciting.
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV is a great pick for users who value deep blacks, a rich and immersive range of color, as well as good brightness levels.
The Vizio 75-inch M7 series TV is a premium pick that boasts of impressive 4K picture quality and a peak brightness of up to 700 nits that brings the finest details in every picture to the fore. It does pretty well in terms of contrast courtesy of its Active Full Array backlight, as it has up to 32 local dimming zones for deep and accurate blacks. When switched to Game Mode, the display’s Pro Gaming Engine optimizes the display for the best gaming performance, but its lack of 2.1 HDMI ports may dissuade pro gamers.
Couch potatoes will appreciate its WatchFree+ streaming service, as it offers hundreds of live Free TV channels and plenty of free, on-demand content for entertainment. The TV’s Quantum Color technology also allows for a more immersive range of colors, and with support for Google Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Homekit, it’ll be very easy to integrate the TV into a smart home setup and use voice control when issuing commands.
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Award: BEST FOR CASUAL GAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV is a good pick for users who enjoy switching between streaming or casual gaming. It is compatible with modern gaming consoles and has decent picture quality.
The Vizio D32h is a 720p TV with fantastic contrast courtesy of its Full Array LED Backlight. It also features Vizio’s proprietary SmartCast platform, which is easy to navigate and hosts a wide selection of streaming apps for wholesome at-home entertainment. The display also comes with built-in Chromecast so that users can cast content from their devices easily, but the lack of good sound levels may force some to consider other options.
Most gamers will be impressed with the TV’s 2.1 HDMI ports as this will allow them to connect consoles such as the PS5 or Xbox Xseries, and thanks to the SmartCast mobile app, users will also be able to enjoy the convenience of searching for content through voice control. With Chromecast built-in, casting media from a smartphone or tablet is also pretty easy to do.
Award: BEST FOR MULTIPURPOSE USE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV comes with advanced gamer-specific features that professional players will appreciate and has excellent picture quality for the best home theater experience.
The Vizio PQ9 is a top-tier display with excellent picture quality thanks to its 4K Ultra HD resolution. It boasts up to 8 million pixels for outstanding clarity and can display over a billion colors thanks to Quantum Color technology. The display also gets really bright thanks to a peak brightness level that tops off at 1200 nits, and since it features up to 210 local dimming zones, contrast is great and well-calibrated. However, some users have reported problems with its software, so new buyers might have to be wary of that.
Gamers will love that the TV comes with Variable Refresh Rate support, and with four different 2.1 HDMI ports, the TV is ready for the latest gaming consoles. Motion clarity is also great thanks to a 120 Hz refresh rate, and with support for HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG, the TV delivers a cinematic viewing experience right at the comfort of your home.
Award: BEST FOR STREAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TV is an entry-level pick that should work great for anyone that’s looking to spend most of their time streaming. It offers decent picture quality and a wireless Internet connection.
The Vizio D32F-G is a decent entry-level display that has a 32-inch screen size and is ideal for casual viewing. It has a 1080p resolution screen and Wi-Fi support for wireless connectivity to the Internet. This allows for voice control when integrated with smart home solutions such as Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, and thanks to its Full Array Backlight, the TV’s display is uniform and well-calibrated. Unfortunately, it is not ideal for gaming since it doesn’t have any special features to support that.
This TV is also great for streaming since it boasts access to a wide range of content through its pre-installed apps. It comes ready to stream from popular streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, so all users have to do is log in to their accounts and search for their favorite type of content. Its Wi-Fi connectivity works great with a speedy Internet connection, so there’s no buffering when streaming.
Award: BEST FOR CASUAL VIEWING
WHY WE LIKE IT: This TV offers good screen real estate for casual viewing, and with a speedy Wi-Fi connection, users are guaranteed to enjoy streaming content without any buffering.
The Vizio D40-D1 is a mid-tier display with a Full-Array LED backlight that allows for superior light uniformity and clear picture quality. Its 1080p Full HD screen resolution delivers good detail, and with its selection of Vizio Internet Apps, users will enjoy access to a wide range of streaming apps for all-around entertainment. The TV is not very good for gaming because it doesn’t have the features that support that, but it’s fast Wi-Fi connectivity takes full advantage of a speedy Internet connection for problem-free viewing.
Navigating the TV is pretty easy thanks to its intuitive user interface, and thanks to its Clear Action 240 technology, the TV handles fast action scenes pretty nicely. Its solid two-legged stands ensure no wobble when table mounted, and its flat rear allows for very flush wall mounting.
In 2002 in the state of California, three entrepreneurs came together to create a company called V Inc. Then, in 2004, the company changed its name to Vizio Inc. Today, Vizio’s headquarters remain in California.
Vizio started its business selling televisions with an aggressive pricing model. They started with plasma televisions but shifted their focus to LED and LCD options in 2009. While televisions remain Vizio’s main product offering, they also own a sizeable market share with their affordable soundbar lineup. In the past, Vizio has also produced cellphones, tablets, and computers.
As of 2020, Vizio is the second-largest TV manufacturer in North America. This popularity and success come from Vizio’s ability to sell high-quality televisions at a much more affordable price point than competitors.
Vizio’s key selling point is their approach to competitive pricing, sometimes offering prices as low as several hundred dollars less than comparable options. These televisions also offer good dark-room picture quality and fast gaming performance. If you’re looking to buy a 4K TV that’s affordable and high-quality, you can’t go wrong with a Vizio.
(Pro 1) Competitive Pricing Paired with Solid Performance: Depending on the specific model of Vizio TV you purchase, you’ll likely be paying much less than you would if you bought a comparable model from a competing brand. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be getting a lower overall performance.
Vizio TVs offer high-end picture quality with accurate colors in a wide color gamut, a solid contrast ratio with deep blacks, and solid audio quality with Dolby Atmos support. You’ll also get advanced features like superb high dynamic range performance through Dolby Vision HDR, HDR10, and HDR10+.
If you’re looking to replace your streaming devices, you can always use Vizio’s built-in smart features. With Vizio SmartCast OS, you’ll get a user-friendly and comprehensive smart platform that functions similarly to Google TV.
If you opt for a premium Vizio TV, you’ll also get things like full-array local dimming for a wide viewing angle, better color accuracy, and the deepest blacks in dark scenes.
(Con 1) Design and User Interface Don’t Feel High End: Vizio’s TVs’ biggest downfall is that they don’t feel like high-end TVs, especially when compared to both budget models and high-end models from other competitors. The overall design aesthetic is uninspiring and disappointing, especially when you use the basic remote control.
This unpolished feeling also extends to Vizio’s smart features. While SmartCast OS functions perfectly fine, it lacks the refinement of other proprietary smart platforms like Samsung’s Tizen OS or LG’s webOS.
(Pro 2) Excellent Gaming Features and Performance: Whether you’re into console gaming or online gaming, you can’t go wrong with a Vizio TV. These screens offer plenty of features to make the latest titles on your favorite gaming consoles shine.
Most Vizio TVs offer either a 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate, which is good for most console gamers. However, the TVs outperform the competitor in terms of low input lag. In fact, Vizio sets consistently score the highest in this category compared to competing televisions, making it the best TV for Xbox One X and other gaming consoles.
When you combine these gaming features with Vizio’s accurate colors, wide color gamut, and HDR performance, you’ll get a gaming experience that’s next-to-impossible to beat when you consider the reasonable price point most sets offer.
(Con 2) Poor Upscaling Capabilities: If you’re hoping to take your standard definition DVDs and upscale them to 1080p or 4K UHD quality, then you might be disappointed with a Vizio TV. The upscaling capabilities of these televisions leave a lot to be desired, especially when compared to competing brands.
(Pro 3) Straightforward Lineup and Naming Conventions: Some TV brands feature complicated model numbers and extensive availability. Fortunately, Vizio offers a direct approach to naming conventions, so you know exactly what you’re getting just by looking at the category, despite the wide range of sizes available.
Let’s take a closer look at the different naming conventions Vizio uses:
(Con 3) High-End Models Aren’t as Advanced as Competitors: While mid-range Vizio TVs usually offer a leg up on similar sets from competitors, their high-end models fall short. The lower price means Vizio needs to make cuts somewhere, which generally results in fewer advanced features.
With a wide range of screen sizes, affordable price tags, and excellent picture quality, Vizio TVs are the perfect choice for anyone wanting 4K resolution without breaking the bank. These televisions give you a more cinematic experience than budget options like TCL or Hisense TVs without costing you thousands of dollars. There are a few Vizio options in that price range, though, if you want the best of the best.
While you may not get the most advanced features or the highest-end design considerations on Vizio TVs, they still offer stellar picture quality and gaming performance to fit the needs of most consumers. So if you’re looking to get more bang for your buck, upgrade to a 4K resolution, or simply get a bigger screen size without needing to shell out buckets of cash, then a Vizio is an excellent option.
Even though Vizio TVs offer a little bit of a cheaper design than more high-end brands, they still provide long lifespans and solid reliability overall. Like most TVs, expect your Vizio television to last between 30,000 and 60,000 hours for LCD options and between 60,000 to 100,000 hours for LED options, according to industry experts like Visual LED.
The way you use your television also has a direct effect on its lifespan and reliability. For example, if you constantly watch the TV on its peak brightness setting for many hours at a time, you will lessen its lifespan. You may also cause problems with your TV if you don’t dust it off regularly.
If you purchase your television directly from Vizio, you can expect to receive a standard one-year limited warranty. This warranty covers the cost of repair or replacement if your TV fails because of a manufacturer defect. In addition, some Vizio TVs also carry a zero bright pixel defect guarantee, which covers the cost of repair or replacement if there is a defect in one of the screen’s pixels.
If you purchase your television directly from an authorized retailer like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club, you’ll get a three-year limited warranty. This warranty offers the same coverage as the standard one-year warranty, including the zero bright pixel guarantee.
The televisions in the Vizio M-Series category are typically considered the better option because they offer full-array local dimming and higher levels of brightness. The V-Series only offers standard frame dimming. However, if you’re looking to save the most money, the V-Series televisions are much more affordable overall while still offering 4K resolution.
The Vizio Series-V televisions are better than the Series-D options. This is because the Series-D options only offer 1080p resolution, whereas the Series-V options offer 4K resolution. You’ll also get more screen size options with the Series-V lineup.
When it comes to picture quality and performance, both Vizio and Samsung are very similar. However, Samsung has a bit of an edge in terms of brightness and color accuracy. On the flip side, Vizio offers much more competitive pricing.
Yes, Vizio TVs are of good quality. They may not be as high-end as competing options from brands like LG or Sony, but they will last you a long time.
