A lot of TV companies are announcing impressive new sets, but Vizio is one of the only ones to keep affordability and bang for the buck at the forefront of its 2014 offerings. The company's entire 2014 lineup will feature full-array backlit LCD panels with local dimming — usually a feature you'll only find at the upper, most-expensive reaches of HDTV land — and it will also have a couple of 4K/Ultra HD sets available by the end of the year.
Full-array LED backlight technology normally has a couple of benefits as compared to an edge-lit set. There's no visual banding from the top of the set, as you might see with an edge-lit panel. Coupled with local-dimming technology, a full-array set also exhibits sharper contrast and finer details, as sets without local dimming sometimes show blooming halos of light around bright objects on dark backgrounds.
All of Vizio's new 1080p sets from the entry-level E series on up will have full-array backlit panels with local dimming. The higher-end the series, the more zones of local-dimming will be featured in the set; more zones are generally better, as they allow the set to fine-tune contrast with more detail.
They also have very slim bezels, making them all look like edge-to-edge picture frames. Built-in Wi-Fi and smart features also come standard on all the lineups. Vizio has not announced pricing on all the new TVs yet, but the company's products never disappoint in terms of performance for a lesser price.
With that in mind, keep your eye out for the company's new P series UltraHD/4K set when it comes out later this year. It's likely to be the first 4K TV a lot of people can afford.
It'll have 64 zones of local dimming in a 120Hz panel with a simulated refresh rate of 960Hz. It's powered by a six-core processor that offers the ability to run 120fps input for gaming and display 24fps movie content without the standard 3:2 pulldown. It'll be available in sizes ranging from 50 to 70 inches.
The entry-level Vizio E series sets, available in sizes from 23 to 70 inches, will have a 16-zone local dimming system and a native refresh rate of 60Hz that simulates a 180Hz panel via some in-set voodoo.
The M series is the step-up line, with 32 zones of local dimming and a 120Hz/720 "Clear Action Rate" refresh spec. It'll be available in screen sizes of 32 to 80 inches.
