Update! Irvine, Calif. — Vizio has begun rolling out smart LED LCD TVs in its 2015 opening-price E series, which consists of 11 models with screen sizes of 24 to 70 inches at prices from a suggested $179 to $1,399.
Compared with the 2014 series, the new series is shorter (11 SKUs instead of 21) but expands smart-TV capability to all models and expands full-array LED backlighting to all models but one. The number of active LED zones runs up to 16, compared with up to 18 in the previous line.
The collection will be available in such stores as Amazon, Best Buy, BJ’s Wholesale, Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Target, Vizio.com and Walmart.
The lineup starts with the $179-suggested 24-inch Razor with edge-lit LED lighting. Screen sizes with full-array LED backlighting are as follows: 28-inch, $199; 32-inch, $259; 40-inch, $349; 43-inch, $389; 48-inch, $479; 50-inch, $529; 55-inch, $629; 60-inch, $799; 65-inch, $999; and 70-inch, $1,399.
Most full-array backlit models feature active LED zones. The number of active LED zones on the 40- and 43-inch models is five, with six on the 48-inch model and 12 on the 50-, 55- and 60-inch models. Sixteen zones are in the 65- and 70-inch models.
Vizio positions full-array LED backlighting technology as delivering superior light uniformity and picture performance compared with edge-lit LCD TVs. Active LED zones dynamically adjust LED backlighting to match the light and dark portions of onscreen content to deliver deeper black levels and brighter colors, the company said.
In another change, the 65- and 7-inch models get V6 six-core processors, whereas the 2014 line featured single-core processors.
Most models also come with Clear Action 240 technology with 120Hz effective refresh rates and image processing to deliver sports and fast-action scenes with reduced motion blur and to minimize retina burn. The 65- and 70-inch models, however, feature ClearAction480 with 240Hz effective refresh rates.
The TVs also feature more smart-TV apps than before, and they come with built-in Wi-Fi to access Cloud content. The new apps are Plex, Hungama, Toon Goggles, and Aircast Live, with more coming soon, a spokesman said. They join Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, iHeartRadio, Hulu Plus, Spotify, YouTube and other services.
Vizio’s Internet Apps Plus smart-TV platform also enables users to surf for Netflix or YouTube content on a smartphone or tablet and have the content play back on the TV.
