Skip to main content

Looking for a new TV? Vizio’s 2018 lineup is sure to have something for you

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Earlier this year, Vizio announced its 2018 4K TV lineup, including new models in its P-Series, M-Series, D-Series, and E-Series lines. We knew that was coming. What we didn’t see coming is the new P-Series Quantum, a quantum dot TV that looks like the biggest upgrade to Vizio’s P-Series in years — and now it’s available for purchase.

Vizio says the P-Series Quantum is its brightest TV yet, with up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. nearly 200 local dimming zones mean that while it won’t get quite as black as an OLED panel is capable of, it will have some of the deepest black levels we’ve seen from a Vizio TV to date. Combined with high dynamic range support, including Dolby Vision, Vizio says the TV serves up a complete palette of over one billion colors.

This photo of the new P-Series Quantum demonstrates the deep blacks, thanks to 192 local dimming zones. It won’t get as black as OLED, but it gets very close — and most eyes won’t notice unless they view the two competing panels side by side. Image used with permission by copyright holder

The rest of the P-Series is more similar to last year’s models, but they do share the same bezel-less design, so they’re more attractive looking. These TVs don’t use quantum dot technology and are dimmer, with up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, but they do feature 120 local dimming zones, as well as Dolby Vision HDR.

The P-Series Quantum is only available in one 65-inch size option and is priced at $2,100. The pricing for the rest of the P-Series is $2,600 for the 75-inch model, $1,300 for the 65-inch model, and $900 for the 55-inch model. Read more about the P-Series here.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The M-Series models, which come in 55, 65, and 70-inch sizes, feature a similar bezel-less design on three sides The M-Series represents the sweet spot in terms of price and features. With 600 nits of brightness and 48 local dimming zones, it achieves decent black levels — not as black as the P-Series or P-Series Quantum models, but noticeably so when compared to the entry-level E-Series. From a value standpoint, the M-Series is most likely the more attractive model for most consumers.

The D-Series and E-Series TVs also offer 4K and HDR, but at a more affordable price point. Local dimming in the E-Series is restricted to 16 zones (D-Series uses full-array backlighting), but the TVs do offer Dolby Vision, even in the E-Series. The D-Series lineup consists of six models in sizes from 70-inch for $1,000 to 43-inch for $350. The E-Series also offers six models, starting from a 75-inch model for $1,550 to a 43-inch model for $350.

Compared to the P-Series Quantum, above, the 16 local dimming zones and 400 nits of peak brightness in the E-Series shows you what spending less money will get you. It won’t achieve black levels as deep. Image used with permission by copyright holder

All of these TVs are powered by Vizio’s 2018 SmartCast OS, which offers standard smart TV features and apps including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Crackle, Xumo, Pluto TV, and iHeartRadio. The Universal Search feature helps you search for a movie or TV show across multiple services at once. Earlier this year, Vizio brought Amazon Alexa integration to its existing TVs alongside the already-present Google Assistant integration. Both voice assistants are supported across the entire Vizio 2018 lineup.

The 65-inch P-Series Quantum retails for $2,100 and is available now via retailers like Best Buy, Costco, and Sam’s Club. If any of these TVs seem interesting, but you’re not sure what you need, be sure to take a look at our TV buying guide to help you make a decision. For more information on Vizio’s 2018 lineup, see the company’s website.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
YouTube TV finally gets the 4K Plus plan’s price right
YouTube TV 4K Plus channel.

The price of the 4K Plus add-on for YouTube TV always has been a bit weird. Technically the add-on has been $20 a month since its launch in mid-2021, but subscribers have always gotten the first year of service for half that. And that will remain true come April 2023, when the YouTube TV base plan goes up to $73 a month and the add-on changes price to $10 a month, with the first year of service at $5 a month.

That's a much more palatable price for an add-on that's absolutely an extravagance.

Read more
YouTube TV price hike is a reminder that you have to do the math
Dark theme on YouTube TV.

The news that YouTube TV — the largest streaming provider of live TV in the U.S. with more than 5 million subscribers — is getting more expensive is neither welcome nor surprising. It's just the latest price increase among multi-platform video distributors, which is industry parlance for services like YTTV, Hulu With Live TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. And prices for four of those five providers are dangerously close to what you'd pay for traditional cable.

But in a slightly strange turn of events, the monthly bill for some YouTube TV subscribers — myself included — actually will go down slightly starting in April, when the new rates take effect.

Read more
The Beats Pill is back, baby!
A pair of Beats Pill speakers.

In what's been one of the worst-kept secrets of the year -- mostly because subtly putting a product into the hands of some of the biggest stars on the planet is no way to keep a secret -- the Beats Pill has returned. Just a couple of years after Apple and Beats unceremoniously killed off the stylish Bluetooth speaker, a new one has arrived.

Available for preorder today in either black, red, or gold, the $150 speaker (and speakerphone, for that matter) rounds out a 2024 release cycle for beats that includes the Solo Buds and Solo 4 headphones, and comes nearly a year after the Beats Studio Pro.

Read more