Vizio V-series 4K UHD TV overview: Even entry-level TVs are excellent at the present time

Vizio’s V-series trim TV (the $300, 50-plod model V505-H19 is reviewed right here) is the 2d 50-plod TV I’ve evaluated honest as of late, the numerous being the marginally more cost-effective ($280) Konka U50.

Both are infinitely superior to anything else it is most likely you’ll well well’ve expose in this ticket vary 5 years ago. That acknowledged, the Vizio provides a exiguous higher processing, backlighting, total describe and experience. Nevertheless it completely lacks the Konka’s to hand Bluetooth connectivity. 

This overview is segment of TechHive’s coverage of the supreme trim TVs, the place you’ll glean reports of the opponents’s offerings, plus a buyer’s handbook to the facets it is most likely you’ll well well also honest soundless wait on in mind when procuring for the form of product.

Specs and score

The V505-H19 is a skinny-bezel unit whose staid, but neat appearance belies its low ticket. The 50-plod-class panel delivers 10-bit coloration, a 60Hz refresh fee, and 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) resolution. It has a tubby-array LED backlight, so it is no longer zone dimmable. Meaning it’s lit from gradual with multiple lights, however the lights aren’t dimmed or shut off to decrease gentle bleed.

The V505-H19 is terribly gentle for a 50-plod TV at a mere 21.5 pounds. I had no points slinging the TV around to build the toes on, sliding it around to reach the cable connections, etc.  That also methodology there’ll be exiguous strain on the 200mm x 200mm VESA mount level, the mount, or your wall. 

Vizio is conscious of that there’s many of legacy instruments in this market segment, so the port possibility entails composite video input and RCA analog audio input/output. There’s also optical digital (Toslink), coax for cable/satellite tv for pc TV or an over-the-air antenna, as properly as three HDMI 2.1 ports (2160p @ 60Hz, with one supporting ARC output). A USB port is on hand for playback from mass media (thumb drives, etc.).

Vizio

There’s no Bluetooth, however the Wi-Fi is twin-band 802.11n, which is simply rapid ample for streaming most state. If it isn’t, there’s also an ethernet port. 

Props to Vizio for alongside with give a must for HDR10+ as properly as to Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10, and HLG. No longer all TVs decide up that, and no longer right TVs at this ticket. The TV also handles DTS surround and Dolby Atmos, provides a low-latency sport mode, and helps each and each Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast. The TV will be compliant with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri shriek adjust. 

Interface and much-off

Dispute-clever, Vizio’s SmartCast Home is as total as TV consumer interfaces reach, with the total long-established streaming services, as properly as curated free state. SmartCast will be straightforward to make utilize of, and would possibly well per chance honest soundless even be managed the usage of the SmartCast app in your smartphone or tablet whilst you so need. My handiest complaint, a distinctly minor one in for the time being and age, is that it’s fully reliant upon an online connection and would no longer when in case your broadband connection is down. You might well well well presumably soundless utilize the TV, but with restricted functionality.

On the numerous hand, a repeat posthaste shoutout (I also eminent this within the Vizio OLED overview) to the company for fixing the Media Participant app. It’s soundless a gruesome DOS-admire file browser, but now it’s responsive, performs the total media I throw at it, and doesn’t fracture. 

Vizio

The some distance-off is easy and simple to make utilize of, though I would’ve appreciated devoted transport controls to accomplish media playback a exiguous more straightforward. Unexcited, it suits within the hand properly and is huge ample to no longer proceed forever between the sofa cushions. I don’t consult with TVs outdoors of checking out, however the some distance-off’s lack of a mic would possibly well well bother some. Howdy, what can I suppose? It’s entry-level, and as well you can utilize the SmartCast cellular telephone app for that intention, as properly because the numerous supported protocols (Siri, etc.). 

Performance

As I acknowledged within the intro, the V505-H19 jogs my memory slightly a possibility of the 50-plod Konka U5-series I right reviewed. It’s a tiresome ringer as some distance because the itsy-bitsy blue coloration skew and backlighting are concerned; nonetheless, it suffers a exiguous much less moiré, shimmer, and varied artifacts when processing detailed areas in movement.

The V505-H19 provides a exiguous more coloration saturation, but due to the heavy blue state of the backlight/filter technology, reds skew slightly orange; greens, slightly lime. Very slightly, I’m able to also honest soundless suppose. Many users is no longer going to even thought. All over again, same because the Konka.

Additionally, put out of your mind the selling about Dynamic Motion Price 120. Must you be taught the outline fairly, nowhere does it suppose tender action or no judder. There’s no movement compensation of any kind—same as with the Konka. That acknowledged, within its 60Hz/no compensation limits, it’s higher than some I’ve seen. And scenes that invent the judder decide up, rapid pans and big objects inviting swiftly across conceal conceal, are fairly uncommon.

Vizio

While the V505-H19 helps the preferred HDR codecs, it doesn’t if truth be told delight in the contrast to determine up a lot with them. Blacks are slightly higher than with the Konka, but it completely’s soundless array backlighting without a native dimming. We’re speaking charcoal grey more than dim. Assuredly, it handles HDR, but doesn’t lend it the drama that technology can bring with bigger-contrast—and more costly—TVs. 

In the case of sound, the V505-H19 is okay for casual, occasional, listening, but I stumbled on it annoyingly muddy. If I delight in been you, I’d hook up one thing more sonorous briefly suppose. Present that after a firmware replace, the sound disappeared and didn’t reappear till I switched to the free curated state. Must you experience the same phenomenon, that’s the trick. 

The omission of Bluetooth isn’t surprising at this ticket level, as it became with the company’s some distance more costly OLED, the absence of Bluetooth give a must does slightly irritate the inclined sound enlighten. In suppose so that you can hear privately on headphones, you’ll need to desire a separate Bluetooth transmitter ($30 and up) or accomplish varied preparations, though it is most likely you’ll well well also utilize your cellular telephone and the SmartCast app to hear the usage of headphones. That’s no longer an supreme solution in my book. 

Conclusion

The V505-H19 is a great entry-level TV with a slightly higher total describe than the Konka I’ve been comparing it to. Must you’re comparing it to bigger-quit 50-inchers, revise amazing to decent.

Unexcited, entry-level is the no longer the painful, bereft-of-coloration viewing experience it became right a few instant years ago. Certainly, the $300 V505-H19 compares favorably with $1,500 sets in our first roundup in 2015.

• Vizio V-series 4K UHD LCD TV (50-plod class model V505-H19)

  You is no longer going to head some distance frightful with this budget TV from Vizio. For the cost the describe is terribly excellent, though the colors don’t seem like particularly excellent and there is not any movement compensation. With most area matter, you is no longer going to please in any complaints.

  Pros

  • Supreme describe for the cost
  • Mountainous reasonable for aa 50-plod-class TV
  • Very excellent state and streaming facets

  Cons

  • No movement compensation
  • Coloration is not as excellent as subsequent-tier TVs

Jon is a Juilliard-trained musician, broken-down x86/6800 programmer, and prolonged-time (boring 70s) laptop enthusiast living within the San Francisco bay space. [email protected]