Key takeaway: Vizio TVs are good and reliable, boasting a customer satisfaction rating of nearly 90%. The Vizio brand also consistently gets 4- and 5-star reviews from owners across the United States.
Are Vizio TVs worth the investment? Dive into an insightful examination of Vizio’s TV lineup, its reputation, and reliability.
From Consumer Reports’ findings to Vizio’s rebuttal and personal observations, this review sheds light on the brand’s true standing in the market.
A quick overview of Vizio TVs
The Vizio TV lineup is straightforward, as they have very few models.
Their entry-level 4K TV is the V-Series, while the D-Series has 1080p or 720p options.
The lineup also includes the mid-range M-Series Quantum and P-Series Quantum, followed by the flagship P-Series Quantum X. It’s hard to tell a TV’s release year from its model name.
However, model codes provide clarity.
For instance, 2021 TVs have ‘J’ in their model code. 2020 models use ‘H’ in their codes. For instance, M65Q7-J01 is from 2021, while M65Q-H1 is from 2020.
Known as a budget brand, Vizio TVs have become quite popular recently because of their premium QLED panel technology that doesn’t break the bank.
The Vizio brand was deemed unreliable by Consumer Reports
Although the Vizio brand got a rating of “Good” for owner satisfaction, it got a rating of “Fair” for predicted reliability, which is not enough to get a recommendation from Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports, a non-profit organization reviewing products, estimates that 20 percent of Vizio TVs will experience a problem within the first five years of use.
Consumer Reports asked consumers about their TV issues, even though the findings didn’t specify the types of problems.
Based on the survey, the most common complaints about Vizio TVs were streaming apps freezing and slow or inconsistent internet connectivity.
Compared to Vizio, Sony TVs, rated as “Very Good” for predicted reliability by CR, are estimated to have issues in only 11 percent of cases within the same period.
A “Fair” reliability rating doesn’t mean that you’ll definitely get a faulty TV from Vizio. It means that you’ll be more likely to experience a problem within your first 5 years with a Vizio TV.
Vizio claims its TVs are reliable
As you would’ve imagined, Vizio did not like the negative reviews about its products.
Vizio sent an email comment, stating it “strongly disagrees” with Consumer Reports’ results. They believe the review might mislead consumers instead of offering clear insights.
Vizio released a statement in response to Consumer Reports’ assessment.
“We at VIZIO strongly disagree with Consumer Reports’ results, which are inconsistent with actual VIZIO data, and it is disappointing that Consumer Reports has chosen to allow the results of a deeply flawed survey to impact the overall assessment of our products.”
– Scott Patten, SVP of Operations and Tech Support
Vizio believes that the problems mentioned, such as internet disruptions and “third-party streaming services that failed to load quickly,” are not tied to the TV’s quality.
For example, “inconsistent internet connectivity” might be more related to a home’s internet setup, ISP, or other external factors rather than the TV itself.
According to Vizio, their TVs have a nearly 90% customer satisfaction rating. Vizio owners across the United States have given consistent 4- and 5-star reviews.
Moreover, Vizio has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has earned many awards for its customer service, with over 100 awards since 2012.
My review of Vizio TV’s reliability
I can understand the arguments from both Consumer Reports and Vizio. Both parties presented strong points. However, I find Consumer Reports’ review a bit unfair.
Here are a few reasons why.
1. Vizio TVs are getting better
First of all, the survey done by Consumer Reports covers 97,554 TVs owned by its members who purchased a new set between 2010 and 2018.
The survey’s time range suggests that it doesn’t differentiate between TVs from 2010 and newer models. Most major manufacturers didn’t make exclusively Smart TVs until 2015.
During the survey’s timeframe, TVs changed. They went from being non-internet devices to ones using apps and services like Netflix. Vizio, with many Smart TVs in its lineup, might appear differently in the survey compared to other brands.
I have to give credit to Vizio. It’s the first TV maker in America to embrace technologies like smart functionality, full array local dimming, and faster refresh rates.
Vizio has also promoted the widespread use of bigger TVs.
With so many technological innovations, Vizio TVs are bound to improve with each update. In fact, I believe post-2022 Vizio TVs are reliable and offer great value.
The Vizio M-Series, for instance, includes new technologies that excel for gaming and lifestyle.
2. Vizio is a budget brand, not a premium brand
Secondly, comparing premium brands like Sony and Samsung to Vizio seems unfair. Vizio is a budget brand. It’s not fair to compare it directly with high-priced brands.
For instance, Sony got a “Very Good” reliability rating, and Vizio got a “Fair” one. However, these brands target different buyers.
Overall, given its price, I view Vizio as a reliable TV brand. While their TVs might not last beyond 5 years, they boast top-tier picture quality and minimal input lag.
A low-reliability rating doesn’t mean a Vizio TV will surely fail. Still, a better rating can increase your chances of a smooth experience.