VIZIO M422i-B1 42-Inch 1080p Smart LED TV
CUSTOMER REVIEW
Just so you know: Before buying this HDTV, make sure that the model number has a "B" in the number and not an "A", which is the 2013 model (unless it's the 80 inch, which doesn't have a "B" model). The 2014 "B" model is definitely better. Also, different sizes of this model will have different statistics.
I did countless hours of research and comparing HDTV's in stores. After much thought and many comparisons, I concluded that Samsung HDTV's had the best picture quality (at least to me). Their colors were very strong, vivid, and real, and their whites and blacks were amazing. The problem was the cost. Probably second or third best in picture quality came Vizio, and at a much more affordable price.
When looking to buy an HDTV, I found this Vizio HDTV, and compared it to the Samsung HDTV's for sale on Amazon. There were three Samsung HDTV's with a 120Hz refresh rate (like the Vizio) in the size I was looking at (40-42 inches): The UN40H6203 Smart LED TV, the UN40H6350 Smart LED TV, and the UN40H6400 3D Smart LED TV. The latter two were too expensive for my budget, and the first one didn't have as good stats and features (only 2 HDMI ports, no back-lit keyboard on remote, etc.) Because of these things (and the fact that most of the one star reviews for this HDTV at the time were on the 2013 model), I chose this over the Samsung's, and I'm very glad I did. It has everything I could possibly ask for, especially at this price!
COLORS:
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The colors are not quite as good as good as a really nice Samsung HDTV, but incredible nonetheless.
CONTRAST RATIO:
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With the active LED zones, this HDTV can dim different parts of the screen for darker blacks. The blacks are so dark, that if you are viewing a blank black screen, you wouldn't easily be able to tell if the HDTV is on or off! The whites are really white, not yellowish or grayish.
SMOOTH MOTION:
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The 42-80 inch HDTV's in this model (the 2014 "B" model) are 120Hz true refresh rate, and the 32 inch is 60Hz. Motion is so smooth that it takes my breath away. Incredible for sports and movies with a lot of movement.
SOUND:
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The built-in speakers on this HDTV are slightly above average, for built-in speakers. They aren't muddy or tinny, and there is a very small amount of bass. You can always hook up a speaker system if you want great sound.
DESIGN:
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This HDTV is so beautiful that I sometimes just sit and stare at it, even when it's off. It is not ultra thin, but it is quite thin. The bezel, or frame, surrounding the screen is extremely thin, which makes it look very nice whether it's on or off. Everything about this HDTV looks like it was well thought through.
REMOTE:
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I love the remote! After a while, you can find most of the often used buttons by feel. This remote has all the important buttons, and has a keyboard at the back that lights up. It looks really nice, too.
FEATURES:
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This baby has hundreds of apps, including YouTube, Facebook, Amazon Instant Video, AccuWeather, Netflix, Twitter, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, and much more. It also has a USB port for viewing your personal pictures, videos, and music. It is wall mountable as well. It also has a built-in digital tuner, so you can plug your antenna right into the HDTV without a nasty converter box. You can even name the inputs, so that you know which input is for which device. There are lots of settings and calibrating you can do with it, but I won't go into detail.
VALUE:
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This is one of the top LED HDTV's, yet at an affordable price. Although it isn't quite as nice as an expensive Samsung HDTV, It comes extremely close (and surpasses in some areas) and is a good amount cheaper. You can't go wrong with Vizio, especially this Vizio HDTV!
Two more notes:
♪#1: Most TV Manufacturers exaggerate the refresh rate. They come up with names such as Clear Motion Rate, SPS, or MotionFlow, and label their HDTV's with higher refresh rates than they actually have (for example: 240Hz Clear Motion Rate). When reading statistics, check for the true refresh rate, often called "Native Refresh Rate." These Vizio M-Series HDTV's are 120Hz true refresh rate (except for the 32 inch, which is 60Hz). In case you were wondering, the refresh rate tells you how many times the screen "refreshes," so generally, the higher the number, the smoother the motion will be.
♪#2: Vizio has three different series of TV's: The E Series, which is nice, but not as high-end as the M Series; the M Series (this TV), which is very nice, and a noticeable step up from the E Series; and the P Series, which is somewhat similar to the M Series, but is 4k Ultra HD, meaning it is four times the resolution of full HD.
As of January 2015, the Vizio Reference Series UHDTV's aren't out yet, but are coming soon (this year, I think). They will come in 65 and 120 inch sizes (and will be very expensive).
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment or rate my review helpful or unhelpful.
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