Home Theater Geeks 522: What's Up With Vizio TVs?

Host: Scott Wilkinson (Home Theater Geek)
Date: March 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This week, Scott Wilkinson responds to a listener question about the current state of Vizio TVs. Noticing how the brand has faded from the spotlight, Scott investigates what happened to Vizio, what products they currently offer, and whether they’re worth considering compared to other brands like TCL and Hisense.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Inquiry – What Happened to Vizio?

• Listener Brad Marmon asks:
  • Does Vizio still make TVs?
  • Why don’t we hear about them anymore?
  • Has their quality declined, or have competitors gotten better?
• Scott’s Reaction:
  • Admits he hasn’t heard much about Vizio lately, sparking his own curiosity.
  • "It reminded me that I hadn't heard of Vizio TVs for some years either. And you got me to wondering what the heck happened to them." (01:37)

2. Vizio’s Acquisition by Walmart

• Key Detail:
  • Vizio was purchased by Walmart in December 2024 for $2.3 billion.
• Reason for Acquisition:
  • Walmart aimed to expand its reach into the connected TV ad market.
  • Vizio became one of about 90 Walmart private label brands.
• Scott’s Observations (02:13 – 03:32):
  • "On the Walmart website I see only the ONN—pronounced 'on' I assume, but it's O-N-N. This is the brand of Walmart TV, some of which say 'powered by Vizio smart television.' I don't see any TVs with the Vizio brand..."

3. Where Can You Find Vizio TVs?

• Walmart’s Offerings:
  • No Vizio-branded TVs visible, only ONN, sometimes 'powered by Vizio.'
  • Other ONN TVs use Roku or Google TV.
• Vizio Website:
  • Full lineup of Vizio-branded TVs is still available.
  • Options to buy from Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Amazon, and others.
• Quote:
  • "So I don't quite understand how Walmart could have bought Vizio, made it a private brand but you can still buy it from other retailers and it's a Vizio brand. Unlike on Walmart's website where it's not. I don't get that." (05:49)

4. Vizio’s Current TV Models (03:32 – 04:47)

• Breakdown of Current Lines:
  • VQM Series: Mini LED Quantum 4K (55", 65", 75")
  • M Series: Conventional LED Quantum 4K (up to 100")
  • V4K Series: 4K without quantum dots (up to 86")
  • VFD Series: 1080p Full HD (32", 40", 46")
  • VHD Series: 720p HD (24", 32")

5. Pricing and Value for Money (05:49 – 06:36)

• Remarkable Pricing:
  • 75" Mini LED: $498
  • 100" Conventional Quantum 4K: $1298–$1498
  • "Under $1500 for a hundred inch TV, that's quite remarkable." (06:11)

6. The Big Question: Quality & Reviews

• Lack of Recent Reviews:
  • Last major review on Rtings.com was from November 2023 (Vizio Quantum Pro).
  • Scored 7.5/10—decent, but not outstanding.
• Problem Areas (cited by Rtings and Scott):
  • Quality control issues
  • Subpar upscaling and HDR performance
  • Laggy, crash-prone smart interface
• Quote:
  • "Ratings also has an article titled the two best Vizio TVs of 2026 but the TVs that are mentioned there are from 2023. They're the TVs that were reviewed on Vizio… way back then." (06:36)
  • "Ratings cited problems with quality control, subpar upscaling and HDR performance, and Vizio's smart interface they said was laggy and crashed often. Well, that doesn't sound too good now." (07:18)
• Scott’s Conclusion:
  • Vizio doesn’t release many TVs each year anymore.
  • Presence in North America has "declined dramatically."

7. Rise of TCL and Hisense (08:27 – 09:17)

• Historical Value Player:
  • Vizio used to be known for good quality at a low price.
  • Now, Scott gives that edge to TCL and Hisense.
• Quote:
  • "I used to recommend them often, but that spot has been taken over by TCL and Hisense." (08:52)
  • "These days I would have to recommend those over Vizio, mainly because I don't know what has happened to Vizio quality." (09:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It reminded me that I hadn't heard of Vizio TVs for some years either. And you got me to wondering what the heck happened to them." (01:37)
• "I don't quite understand how Walmart could have bought Vizio, made it a private brand but you can still buy it from other retailers and it's a Vizio brand. Unlike on Walmart's website where it's not. I don't get that." (05:49)
• "Their Quantum 4K which is conventional LED at a hundred inches is 1298 at Walmart or 1498 at Sam's Club. So under $1500 for a hundred inch TV, that's quite remarkable." (06:11)
• "Ratings cited problems with quality control, subpar upscaling and HDR performance, and Vizio's smart interface they said was laggy and crashed often. Well, that doesn't sound too good now." (07:18)
• "I used to recommend them often, but that spot has been taken over by TCL and Hisense." (08:52)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:37 – Listener question introduction and Scott’s reaction
• 02:13 – Details on Vizio’s acquisition by Walmart
• 03:32 – Vizio’s current TV models explained
• 05:49 – Buying Vizio TVs and retailer confusion
• 06:11 – Pricing details and value analysis
• 06:36 – Discussion on recent reviews and performance concerns
• 08:52 – TCL and Hisense surpassing Vizio as value brands
• 09:17 – Scott’s current recommendations and wrap-up

Final Thoughts and Recommendations (09:06 – end)

Scott emphasizes that while Vizio TVs are available (at least online), the lack of recent credible reviews and reported quality issues make him hesitant to recommend them. For those seeking quality/value in 2026, TCL and Hisense are safer bets.

"These days I would have to recommend those over Vizio, mainly because I don't know what has happened to Vizio quality." (09:06)

For listener questions or to share your own home theater setup, contact: htgwit TV
Until next time – 'Geek out!'