Vizio was once the de facto recommendation for TV shoppers looking to spend less than $ 1,000 on new equipment. But in recent years, companies such as TCL and Hisense have made their presence felt in the mid-range pricing segment that has long been Vizio’s specialty, and sometimes with better performance.
It didn’t help that Vizio found some drawbacks with its 2020 line of TVs (especially in the area of next-generation 4K games), requiring several firmware updates to get those TVs where they should be for the most demanding gamers. So it makes sense for the company to take its time with the 2023 models announced today.
What is not being upgraded are Vizio’s higher end sets. 65- and 75-inch Quantum P-Series TVs, 85-inch Quantum X-Series P-Series and OLED TVs will continue to be sold for the rest of 2022, but the company is not announcing hardware upgrades for these products today. (Vizio says they will continue to receive software enhancements, such as support for Bluetooth headsets.)
Vizio is doing everything possible to defend itself from TCL and Hisense
Instead, as Vizio celebrates its 20th anniversary, the company is focusing on its bread and butter: the M-Series. The new line is led by the M-Series Quantum X 4K. Available in sizes 75 ($ 1,199.99), 65 ($ 849.99) and 50 inches, this TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 Plus, 4K games at 120 Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium, VRR and more. Its complete matrix backlight system includes up to 32 dimming zones (this is a normal local regulation, not Mini LED) and the maximum brightness can reach 1,000 nights.
The 50-inch Quantum X of the M series can reach up to 240 Hz for 1080p PC gaming. Image: Vizio
Vizio says the $ 629.99 50-inch model has a native 120 Hz upgrade and can reach 240 Hz when used for 1080p PC gaming. The entry delay has been reduced to less than 8 milliseconds. And like LG and Samsung, Vizio has added a games menu for quick access to relevant settings. Unfortunately, despite having four HDMI 2.1 ports, only one is labeled 4K at 120 Hz. There is also an M-Series Quantum 6 line that offers similar quantum color image quality without some of the gaming features.
Get off the M-Series and get the V-Series. Vizio says the 55-inch size of this line is “often the best-selling TV in America on a given day,” according to NPD numbers. The 2023 V-Series line starts at $ 289.99, and the company notes that all models offer 4K images with full-matrix local attenuation, in addition to support for Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus. Below is the D Full HD series, which comes in smaller sizes ranging from 24 to 43 inches with a starting price of just $ 169.99. Even there, you get a certain level of local attenuation to improve contrast.
On all new TVs, the company promises “fast” navigation of its SmartCast software thanks to a new processor inside. Wi-Fi 6E is included in the M and V-Series for more reliable streaming performance, and Vizio continues to support a host of third-party services such as Amazon Alexa, Apple’s AirPlay 2, HomeKit, Google Assistant. and Chromecast.
The P-Series Elevate Soundbar Swivel Speakers are now available in a cheaper model. Image: Vizio
Vizio’s $ 799.99 M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 system brings the good trick of the company’s flagship soundbar, the auto-rotating speakers, to a more affordable model. Because the new model is covered in charcoal fabric, there are aluminum discs at each end that light up as the speakers move to shoot up for Dolby Atmos content.
If you’re looking for something smaller with a low profile design, the standard M-Series All-In-One 2023 soundbar may be more your speed. Because it’s a 2.1 sound bar, it’s much cheaper at $ 199.99. But the company claims it still offers “a full-featured, no-compromise audio system with performance that exceeds its size.”
As it has always done, Vizio remains clearly aggressive in terms of price with its 2023 model TVs and soundbars. But the question is whether the lush colors of quantum dots and the quality of the company’s image can keep up with (or outperform) others in a mid-range TV market that has grown fiercely competitive.