Justin Duino
Vizio is kicking off CES 2020 with a handful of new smart 4K HDR televisions. Instead of just updating the internals on its most popular models, the company is coming out swinging with two brand new variants with OLED displays and its very first 85-inch TV.
Starting at the top of the line, Vizio’s P-Series Quantum X includes the company’s highest-quality and brightest displays with 792 zones of local dimming and up to 3000 nits of peak brightness. The company’s first 85-inch television will be available in this series.
Following that, we have the P-Series Quantum, M-Series, and V-Series, each decreasing in local dimming zones, peak brightness, and cost. A full breakdown of what each series offers can be found in the table below.
The star of the show, though is Vizio’s first-ever OLED models. Coming in at 55- or 65-inches, these new sets use the company’s new IQ Ultra processor to power its self-emitting pixels to get the best true blacks, color, contrast, and clarity. The 4mm display allows the television to fit into almost any room easily.
If you’re a console gamer (specifically Playstation 4 or Xbox One X), Vizio has introduced its ProGaming Engine that is meant to improve gaming performance. The engine takes advantage of variable refresh rates, AMD FreeSync, and resolutions up to 4K at 120Hz to create a gaming experience that most should enjoy. The ProGaming Engine will automatically turn on in all of Vizio’s 2020 TVs (other than the V-Series) when it detects console gameplay.
Unfortunately, Vizio was unable to provide us with pricing or availability for its upcoming televisions. The company states that more information will be available closer to the product’s launch—whenever that might be.
Vizio Enhances its Soundbar Lineup
What’s the point of having a visually-impressive television if the audio quality doesn’t match? Well, Vizio has you covered with new additions in its M-Series and V-Series soundbars as well as a completely new “Elevate Sound Bar.”
The new 5.1 and 5.1.2 M-Series audio systems include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X cinematic experience to the mid-range market with the 2.1 and 5.1 V-Series soundbars added improved speakers for those on a budget.
The Elevate Sound Bar is an entirely new system. It includes two-way left, center, and right front speakers, a separate tweeter, dual-midbass drivers, and passive radiators. Paired with an optional eight-inch wireless sub and six various surround sound speakers, you can get up to 107dB of output for crystal clear Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio.
What’s most impressive is that Vizio has added a new integration that makes it easier for you to use your favorite virtual assistant such as Google Assistant or Alexa through the soundbar. Using automatic signal detection and switching through analog and Bluetooth inputs, you can use the assistant’s hotphrase to trigger the connected smart speaker, automatically lower the volume of what is playing on the soundbar, and then hear the virtual assistant’s response through the audio system.
As with the company’s upcoming televisions, Vizio hasn’t announced any specifics as to when the soundbars will be available or how much they will cost.
SmartCast 4.0 Introduces Improved Voice Control and New Controller
Finally, Vizio has announced SmartCast 4.0, an update to the company’s smart TV software. In addition to bringing a faster streaming experience for televisions new and old, it also includes improved content curation. Combined, users will be able to turn on their TVs, switch inputs, and watch their favorite shows faster than ever.
All of these changes come alongside the launch of a brand new controller with enhanced push-to-talk features. Although SmartCast was already compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri, the improved voice functionality allows for better integrations with virtual assistants.
