And while Vizio may not be known as the best-performing TVs in the world, you can still get a great 4K TV for less without scrimping on picture quality or performance (see: the Vizio OLED and P-Series Quantum models). The tradeoff here is that Vizio TVs use a streamlined smart TV experience and leave out complex features like smart home control or advanced tuner technology (you’ll want to check out our best TVs with ATSC 3.0 feature for that). If you can live without those, however, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great 4K TV. With several Vizio TVs gracing our best TVs under $1000 and best TVs under $500 lists, whatever your budget, there will be a Vizio TV for you. Finally, if you can hold out just a bit longer, we now know all the details around Vizio’s 2023 TV lineup that includes new D-, V-, M- and M-Series Quantum models. We’ll be reviewing them shortly to see how they stack up with other models from the manufacturer.
What are the best Vizio TVs?
Our hands down favorite model on this list is the Vizio OLED TV. Though it’s a little older, it’s still one of the best values in the TV world, offering gorgeous OLED display quality for an astonishingly low price, one that dips even lower during major sales. If OLED is still too rich for your tastes, both the Vizio V-Series and M-Series models are a fantastic bargain. They offer solid 4K performance and a capable smart TV experience. You don’t have to give up Netflix or HBO Max to save on a smart TV, and the Vizio V-Series is the proof of that. Finally, there’s the D-Series if you only want 1080p performance and don’t want to overspend on it.
The best Vizio TVs you can buy
Vizio’s first foray into OLED TVs is a big step for the budget TV maker, but a giant leap for affordable OLED TVs. With the 55-inch model selling for $1,299 and often dipping below the $1,000 mark during sales, Vizio’s OLED TV is a value monster, delivering all of the quality you expect from OLED without the premium pricing. The Vizio OLED gives premium picture quality for hundreds of dollars less than the competition, and has great sound with better-than-average bass. Vizio SmartCast has also shaped up to become a solid smart TV platform, with an expanded app selection and built-in support for Google Chromecast and AirPlay 2. The Vizio OLED TV is one of the best 4K TV values out there, and definitely the best affordable OLED TV. Read our full Vizio OLED TV review. The Vizio P-Series Quantum X 85-inch (P85QX-J01) is a high-end 4K TV that combines the best of Vizio’s display technologies in one towering 85-inch package—and delivers the goods. With blinding brightness, strong color, and a few other key refinements from earlier P-Series Quantum sets, it doesn’t offer much to complain about. Provided, that is, you can afford it, you have a room big enough to let it work the full extent of its magic, and you think you can live without 8K support for the foreseeable future. Priced at $3,299.99, it’s not cheap, and even though it’s one of the best TVs of its kind, it can still be a risky option. Read our full Vizio P-Series Quantum X 85-inch review. Vizio’s most affordable 4K smart TV offers a better bang for the buck than ever before, with a trio of HDMI 2.1 ports, support for advanced features like variable refresh rates (VRR) and voice control, along with Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus – two HDR formats you rarely see supported on the same TV. It’s not a perfect TV, and there are some compromises made to achieve the low price, namely an unsophisticated backlight for poor brightness and HDR performance and middling (though surprisingly loud) audio. But with the best version of Vizio’s SmartCast software and a small selection of popular apps, it may still be one of the best TVs for the price, with even the largest model selling for under $1,000 and most screen sizes selling for under $500. Read our full Vizio V-Series (2021 Model) review.
How much do Vizio TVs cost?
Vizio breaks down most of its model offerings into three easy to understand categories. Vizio TVs range from ultra-cheap (under $300) to premium models that hit $2,999 for the largest sizes. Within that huge range is an array of options, all designed to deliver great value. The smallest, most basic models offered by Vizio is the D-Series, which are small 720p and 1080p sets that sell for $300 or less. They top out at 43-inches in size, and offer the full version of Vizio’s SmartCast software, but the features are just as basic as you’d expect. They’re great for sticking an extra TV in a kid’s room or another small space, without paying much. The Vizio V-Series is the company’s budget-friendly line — the V stands for value. With screen sizes between 40 and 75 inches, the V-Series costs between $300 and $900, with the largest screen sizes selling for less than $1,000. You’ll get great features, like HDR support and gamer-friendly lag times, but you won’t get local dimming. The Vizio M-Series is the mid-range line. It’s a step up from the V-Series, with local dimming and quantum dot enhancement for better color and brightness. With sizes between 43 inches and 75 inches, they range in price from $400 and $1,400. At the top of the totem pole is the Vizio P-Series, where P stands for premium. With prices ranging from $1,399 up to $2,999, the P-Series starts where the M-Series leaves off, offering the best video processing, the highest number of dimming zones, and features like HDMI 2.1, anti-glare screens, and best-in-class performance. The one outlier on this list is the Vizio OLED TV, which doesn’t fall under one of these model names, but still manages to be one of the best values in the TV world. Under normal circumstances, the Vizio OLED TV sells for $1,299 and $1,999 for the 55- and 65-inch models, respectively. But that’s the recommended retail price, and the 55-inch OLED set reliably drops to less than a grand during big sales, making it one of the best bargains to watch for.
What is Vizio SmartCast?
If we’ve had one sticking point on Vizio TVs in recent years, it’s Vizio’s smart TV platform. Named SmartCast, Vizio’s unique take on smart TVs originally relied on a built-in Google Chromecast to deliver most apps and streaming services, with very few locally installed apps. Vizio has also put a lot of work into its free movies and TV options. From popular services like Pluto TV and Plex — including several of the best free streaming services — there’s a healthy selection of free content available for Vizio TVs. And Vizio makes it even more accessible with WatchFree Plus, a package of free channels that’s available out of the box. Finally, Vizio TVs still offer a built-in Chromecast and support Apple AirPlay 2, so it’s pretty easy to get any other phone or tablet app up on screen, letting you enjoy a huge selection of apps on your TV without installing it locally on the set. Some will consider this an unforgivable limitation, others won’t even care. It’s really a matter of preference and which apps you think are essential.
How to choose the best Vizio TV for you
The basic list of features and technologies that we recommend is the same as it is in articles like our TV buying guide and everything you need to know about buying a TV, but Vizio’s neatly defined product categories make it easy to find the right balance of features and price. The best of the bunch are the Vizio P-Series, but you’ll pay extra for everything these premium sets offer. They’re great TVs, with features like QLED displays, up to 210 discrete dimming zones, HDMI 2.1 support, gaming enhancements like variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM), and an anti-glare IPS display panel with wide viewing angles. The only problem? These are also the most expensive TVs Vizio makes, and the price to value ratio might leave you looking at what other brands offer at similar prices. The Vizio M-Series models hit the sweet spot between performance and price, delivering quantum dot displays with local dimming for very reasonable prices. But the M-Series is split between two models, the MQ7 and the MQ6. The MQ6 is less expensive, but it drops some of the best features, like local dimming. The MQ7, on the other hand, has up to 32 dimming zones. The value-focused V-Series offers some great quality for the price, but it’s worth noting that these are definitely budget TVs. You won’t get local dimming or great HDR support, you’ll give up quantum dot enhancement, and you won’t get great audio without adding a soundbar. That said, the V-Series still has features like ALLM and VRR, as well as voice control through the new voice-enabled remote. For shoppers looking to spend less, it’s a great 4K smart TV. Finally, there’s the D-Series. We don’t recommend the 720p and 1080p D-Series models as anyone’s primary TV, but if you want something small and inexpensive, it’s an affordable way to put a smart TV into a small space. If you’ve narrowed down your TV shopping by brand, price range or screen size, check out our picks for the best TVs in each. Best TVs | Best 4K TVs | Best smart TVs for streaming | Best TVs for gaming The best TVs under $1000 | The best TVs under $500 Best TV brands | Best Samsung TVs | Best TCL TVs | Best LG TVs | Best Roku TVs | Best Google TVs | Best OLED TVs | Best QLED TVs | Best 8K TVs | Best HDMI 2.1 TV | Best TVs with ATSC 3.0 | Best TVs with Chromecast The smallest smart TVs | Best 43-inch TVs | Best 50-inch TVs | Best 55-inch TVs | Best 65-inch TVs | Best 70-inch TVs | Best 75-inch TVs | Best 85-inch TVs And don’t forget to watch out for the latest TV reviews.
