Vizio D series is a budget TV with real apps, but it's no Roku
With the entry-level D series you don't need to cast to watch Netflix, but Roku TVs have been our favorites in the past.
Vizio TVs often do well in CNET reviews, but I'm not a big fan of the company's SmartCast function, aka "Chromecast built-in."
Unlike the Vizio E series, the D series doesn't use SmartCast. Instead there's a standard on-screen smart TV interface, which you'll use to launch and control apps such as Netflix. In general I find that a lot more convenient than using your phone, which SmartCast requires.
The best built-in smart TV system is found on Roku TVs, however, and they provide the D series' chief competition. Roku's app coverage is second to none and they're super simple to use.
But what about picture quality? Although I haven't tested one yet, I don't expect much difference between most sizes in the Vizio D series and basic Roku TVs from makers such as TCL. That's because most of these Vizios lack local dimming, which has the biggest impact on LCD picture quality.
Let's take a closer look.
Vizio D series 2017
Model | Size | Price | Resolution | Local dimming |
---|---|---|---|---|
D24h-E1 | 24-inch | $140 | 720p | No |
D32f-E1 | 32-inch | $200 | 1080p | No |
D39f-E1 | 39-inch | $300 | 1080p | No |
D40-E1 | 40-inch | $320 | 1080p | No |
D43f-E1 | 43-inch | $350 | 1080p | No |
D43-E2 | 43-inch | $420 | 4K | No |
D48f-E0 | 48-inch | $400 | 1080p | No |
D50f-E1 | 50-inch | $420 | 1080p | No |
D50-E1 | 50-inch | $500 | 4K | No |
D55f-E0 | 55-inch | $480 | 1080p | No |
D55-E0 | 55-inch | $570 | 4K | 10 zones |
D65-E0 | 65-inch | $900 | 4K | 12 zones |
The gaggle of models in Vizio's budget lineups can be really confusing, and the 2017 D is no exception. There's a wide range of screen sizes, many available in both 4K and 1080p resolution, and the biggest sets also have local dimming. And the models above aren't everything; I saw a handful on Vizio.com that aren't listed here.
I plan to review one or two models in the D series soon, which could help cut down on the confusion. In the meantime I'll default to my takeaway from the 2016 E series review: Not every TV in this series is created equal.