I’ve had this TV for quite a while, but recently VIZIO requested I offer a review of it. This is what I wrote:
TLDR: not great for broadcast viewers, but what smart tv is? Not sure I’ll seek out VIZIO for my next TV but I’m keeping this one for now.
My model specs: https://support.vizio.com/s/article/V655-J09-Model-Information
Closest current model: https://www.vizio.com/en/tv/4k/V4K65M-0804
This TV purchase was my next step up from a 50″. The 50 was an adequate TV but of course we all want something with just a little bit bigger screen. This was also my first “smart TV” for my main living room.
What I like:
- larger screen
- thin profile and relatively lower weight.
- color rendering
- number of ports
- Voice control can be adequate (most of the time)
- Works well for streaming services
- The UI is fairly intuitive (more on that in the dislikes)
- Works good as my daily driver.
- Remote is minimal and easy to use.
This is my second VIZIO, which was my first widescreen flat panel display and at the time larger and pricy, a whopping 37″ for only $1.5K. The 50″ was a Westinghouse in between these two. Let’s just say Vizio has changed a lot in between. I don’t think you can call them a TV manufacturer. Maybe, now, a data broker that sells TVs.
I’m a broadcast TV viewer with antenna. Much to my dismay, today’s TVs do not prioritize this viewing preference. It would be handy if the TV comes on directly to the broadcast channel I was watching last not the main VIZIO menu.
So here are my dislikes:
- No numbers on remote (not broadcast friendly). I get it, minimalism is best for streaming.
- No last channel viewed on remote. My first VIZIO had picture in picture feature.
- You have to go through several screens to get to the broadcast stations when you first turn it on and the guide prioritizes VIZIO internet channels.
- Once when the internet was down, the TV could not connect and would not let me view the broadcast channels! “Smart TVs” are pretty dumb without the internet.
- Vizio updates the TV OS very often, (maybe every couple of months) which can be a good thing but mostly a bad thing. With each update the menus can change, the whole UI look and style can change. I can tell they are trying to make the interface better, but I have yet to observe one that really made a big difference.
Maybe my next TV will be a NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0), we’ll see if that comes to fruition. But I’m sure broadcast will still get short shrift to streaming.