Vizio’s E-Sequence TV is the best-performing low-cost TV I’ve examined this yr. There are a couple of TVs in the marketplace that value even much less, and when you’re nice with simply “ok” image high quality, go forward and get one. However the E continues to be super-budget-friendly, and if you’d like a greater image however cannot afford Vizio’s M-Series or TCL’s 6 series, it is an important comfort prize.

The key is its full-array local dimming (FALD), which permits it to ship higher distinction and punch to just about each scene, however specifically in darkish rooms. It beat the TCL 5 series Roku TV in our direct comparability, and I am keen to wager it additionally outperforms different units that lack native dimming. And that is just about each cheaper TV, and fairly a couple of dearer ones.

The E is not good although. Its Good TV system cannot maintain a candle to Roku TV, and its styling is something however fashionable. And at last, not each dimension delivers the identical type of image high quality.

For individuals who prioritize saving cash first, image high quality second and every little thing else a distant final, nevertheless, none of these points spoil the E-Sequence price range TV glory.

Keep away from the 50-inch E-Sequence 

(and watch out with the 75-inch, too)

Earlier than I’m going any additional it is price mentioning a few exceptions to this overview. It would not apply to the lone 50-inch mannequin, the E50-F2, or to one of many two 75-inch fashions, the E75-F2.

That is as a result of these fashions are the one ones within the 2018 E-Sequence that use IPS-based (“in-plane switching“) LCD panels as an alternative of the VA (vertical alignment) panels used on different sizes, together with the E65-F1 I examined for this overview. VA usually delivers superior distinction and black ranges, so I like to recommend avoiding these two IPS fashions if you’d like an E-Sequence.

If you would like a 50-inch TV it is best to get one thing else fully, or perhaps stepping as much as the 55-inch E-Sequence fashions. However if you’d like a 75-inch dimension there’s another, the E75-F1, that makes use of a VA panel. The image high quality feedback on this overview apply to that dimension in addition to the entire different sizes within the 2018 sequence.

Begin with the unhealthy information: Design

I will simply come out and say it: The E-Sequence is the ugliest TV I’ve reviewed this yr. You won’t object to its angled bezel, shiny black plastic and the strip of silver working alongside the underside, however you in all probability will not adore it both. The body across the picture continues to be skinny sufficient, fortunately, however even the ultrabudget TCL S405 seems nicer in my e book.

I additionally dislike Vizio’s many-buttoned distant, and I stored having to look down reasonably than function it by really feel. I want the simplicity of TCL’s Roku TV distant or the developed clickers of Samsung and LG.

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The second strike towards it: Weak streaming

Cord cutters on a price range are one potential E-Sequence viewers, they usually’ll possible boo its lackluster built-in streaming choices. That is hardly a deal-breaker since you may at all times join an external streamer just like the Roku Streaming Stick Plus or, if you’d like Dolby Vision, an Apple TV 4K, however it’s nonetheless a strike within the destructive column in comparison with rivals like Roku TVs, Samsung and LG — all of which have higher sensible TV implementations than Vizio.

The onscreen residence web page takes too lengthy to load after you press the “V” button on the distant and as soon as it does arrive, there’s not a lot there. Simply 20 apps seem alongside the underside, and whereas a couple of are heavy hitters (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, YouTube, YouTube TV and Plex) the remaining are minor, and it would not have loads of different huge apps like DirecTV Now, HBO, ESPN, CNN or Pandora. You may’t take away or reorder apps, or in any means customise the Uncover part, which occupies a lot of the display screen with films and exhibits you in all probability do not care about.

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The system is nice when you love utilizing your cellphone as an alternative of onscreen menus. The TV’s Chromecast built-in system helps you to go into any supported app in your cellphone and hit the Forged button to disclose the Vizio TV as an choice; choose it and video from the app will play again on the TV. There are millions of supported apps, and the system works properly typically, however I nonetheless want an actual onscreen menu system — simply not Vizio’s.

The WatchFree service is a brand new addition aimed toward wire cutters who need free TV. It is a partnership with the Pluto TV free service and makes use of the identical grid-style structure as a typical cable field. A lot of the channels are from Pluto itself, with names like Failarmy and Journey TV, or free feeds from on-line sources like Bloomberg and Cheddar. Even the acquainted channels, like Fox Sports activities and one thing referred to as “NBC Information / MSNBC” aren’t the identical as these channels. There’s a variety of free stuff there to look at, so it is robust to complain, however the Roku Channel does a greater job typically of delivering free, ad-supported video.

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Talking of free TV, Vizio has lastly addressed a evident omission in previous TVs: All of its 2018 units embrace a built-in over-the-air TV tuner, identical to these of rivals.

Though it lacks its personal built-in voice assistant, the Vizio is ready to be to managed to some extent by Google House (details here) and Alexa (here) sensible audio system. I did not take a look at that performance this time round, however Google House labored comparatively properly to regulate the 2017 M-Series.

And now for the nice: low-cost native dimming

Bringing FALD to cheaper price factors is Vizio’s wheelhouse, and for 2018 the E-Sequence is the most affordable Vizio with dimming. This characteristic is my favourite enchancment for LCD image high quality as a result of it improves all-important distinction and black ranges, particularly with HDR, and has higher uniformity than edge-lit dimming. The variety of dimmable zones is a vital specification as a result of it controls how exact the dimming will be. Extra zones would not essentially imply higher image high quality, however it normally helps.

The E-Sequence has 10 dimming zones on the 43- and 55-inch sizes, 12 on the 65- and 70-inch sizes, and 16 on the 75-incher. The M-Sequence ranges from 32 to 48 zones relying on dimension, which helps clarify its superior picture high quality. Only a few zones are higher than none, nevertheless.

The E-Sequence has a 60Hz refresh rate panel — Vizio’s declare of “120Hz efficient” is fake news. So is Vizio’s “Clear Motion” spec, which it says is decrease on the E-Sequence than the M sequence as a result of “Because of the M-Sequence’ higher panel brightness, the responsibility cycle will be decrease, which affords higher movement readability.” Since you may have to interact the dim, flicker-prone Clear Motion setting to note, nevertheless, that is not an enormous deal (see beneath for extra).