Vizio D Series TV, my experience

[radioandtventhusiast]

Back in 2021, I purchased a Vizio D Series at Target. It's relatively cheap compared to the non smart Samsung TV. It works OK but it definitely is a bit slow at times. Here are the pros and cons.

The pros include a wide selection of Apps, a decent looking menu to find content and browse, plus a great picture.

The cons are, you can't download apps directly from the Smart TV compared to other Smart TV software. The Sound is average and sometimes there's this loud popping or crackling noise, especially when the picture changes quality or goes blank. The biggest problem is its slow at times. You can't use apps smoothly without lag, and sometimes this causes the TV to crash. Sometimes pressing a button on the remote won't do anything for a few seconds. I use an Amazon Fire TV Cube and it's so much faster and user friendly.

I've heard Vizio's newer TV's are faster, but the brand is also being acquired by Walmart. When it comes to other brands, Samsung and LG are great as I've used their Smart TV software, so those may be an option if I ever get a new TV.

[radiofann]

My neighbor has a Sony smart tv from 2016 and the ability to download an app like Netflix is disabled. Where’s the FTC, FCC, WTO when one needs competition?

[kager]

I still have some of the smaller 'smart' Vizio TVs from back in the day. Spares, not real quality products, but they still work after all these years.

Sony - from the first PlayStation and crossings of that 'OS' to their TVs, Blu-ray players, etc. - is well-known for dropping support for the shiny features and reasons why many bought them in the first place. Seemed to me that they did the absolute minimum to power and future-proof their designs and partnerships, to the point where a 5+ year old product either had so many features deleted, disabled or limited in capabilities that it was a mere shell of what was purchased new. Updates to their Android TV OS made it so slow that many HAD to move to Apple TV, ROKU, or Fire streamers just to keep the set somewhat useful.

My neighbor has a Sony smart tv from 2016 and the ability to download an app like Netflix is disabled. Where’s the FTC, FCC, WTO when one needs competition?

I bought a Sony 65XBR850C new (about the same vintage or a bit older than your neighbour's Sony) - foolishly for its 3-D capabilities - and while I still have it, I am thankful that I did not take that final crippling Android OS (Oreo?) upgrade. Even though it still works, it's now used primarily for streaming from another device, and it is the last Sony I will ever pay money to own due to their abandonment of support and maintenance of so many of their products so early. Good luck finding some entity that will take them to task for it.

LG and Samsung can still lighten my wallet when looking for something new...

[MWmetalhead]

If blooming and inaccurate black color rendering are only minor concerns, I agree that lower end LG and Samsung models are a decent option.

TCL sets are worth a look, too. I have no strong opinion on Amazon Fire TV sets yet.

Hisense is completely random with regard to reliability, and Vizio (once a great brand) is now complete trash. I'd also steer clear of Toshiba and Insignia.