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Quick Take: Vizio M49-C1 (49-inch M series)

The M49-C1 is the 49-inch member of Vizio's 2015 M series of 4K TVs. We excluded it from our review of the main M series because we don't expect it to perform as well. Instead, we recommend the 50-inch version.

David Katzmaier Editorial Director -- Personal Tech
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
Expertise A 20-year CNET veteran, David has been reviewing TVs since the days of CRT, rear-projection and plasma. Prior to CNET he worked at Sound & Vision magazine and eTown.com. He is known to two people on Twitter as the Cormac McCarthy of consumer electronics. Credentials
  • Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
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David Katzmaier

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The M49-C1 is the 49-inch member of Vizio's 2015 M series of 4K TVs. We excluded it from our review of the main M series because we don't expect it to perform as well.

That expectation is based on the fact that the 49-inch size uses IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panel technology instead of VA (Vertical Alignment). The other sizes in the series use VA panels. In our experience, VA panels deliver superior black level performance and overall picture quality compared to IPS panels.

We never reviewed the 49-inch size, but based on this difference alone, we recommend that buyers who want this size of TV purchase the 50-inch size instead.

For more details, see the "VA or IPS" section of CNET's Vizio M series review.