Vizio 55 4k Ultra Hd D Series Review

If you lot want something sleek and filled with streaming content options, this is a solid pick.

All told, you're getting decently shadowy black levels, excellent color accuracy, and good video processing. Just be enlightened that with these smaller TVs, y'all're not getting the upgraded tech that has debuted on bigger, more expensive TVs: there are no quantum dots, no Ultra High Definition, no HDR. The series is 720p and 1080p simply, and the backlight—while nevertheless using a full-array of LEDs beyond the whole console—doesn't have local dimming. That's right on par for TVs in this size/price course, though; they're meant as affordable TVs that don't make you pay for features you don't need in a smaller, secondary TV.

But if yous don't listen a basic picture and desire something sleek and filled with streaming content options, the 2021 Vizio D-Serial is a solid pick. Still, you might want to store around our picks for the all-time 32-inch TVs before you brand a final determination. For example, our current top choice, the 32-inch TCL three-Series, tin be constitute for around $199 (a bit more money than the 32-inch 720p D-Series), and gets yous more brightness and the built in Roku platform. But keep in mind that it's also two years older, and so information technology may be difficult to rails down eventually.

Near the Vizio D-Series

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Vizio'southward D-Series is bachelor in 6 sizes, from 24 to 43 inches. Nosotros tested and reviewed the 40-inch model.

This year, Vizio'south D-Series is available in six screen sizes across ii different resolutions:

• 24-inch 720p (Vizio D24h-J), MSRP $139.99
• 32-inch 720p (Vizio D32h-J), MSRP $179.99
• 24-inch 1080p (Vizio D24f-J), MSRP $159.99
• 32-inch 1080p (Vizio D32f-J), MSRP $219.99
• 40-inch 1080p (Vizio D40f-J), MSRP $249.99
• 43-inch 1080p (Vizio D43f-J), MSRP $299.99

Yous might run across some confusion differentiating between the 24- and 32-inch models, every bit they're available in both 720p (Hd) and 1080p (full-Hd) resolutions. If you're having trouble determining which 24- or 32-inch Vizio D-Series you're looking at, notice the "h" or "f" in the model names. The "h" is for "HD" (720p), while the "f" is for "total-HD" (1080p).

Information technology'southward likewise worth pointing out that Vizio has technically introduced 2 "D" series this year: the D-Series and the D4-Series. To clarify, this review covers the old, the range of half-dozen TVs listed above. The D4-Series is available in fewer sizes and is a bit of a stride upwardly by way of features (you get back up for AMD FreeSync, for example).

The 2021 D-Serial is bachelor in 6 sizes across ii different resolutions.

Besides the resolution differences, the specs are the same across D-Series sets:

• Pattern: New Bezel Design
• Backlight: Full Array (no local dimming)
• Processor: IQ Processor
• Gaming Engine: V-Gaming Engine
• HDR Support: No
• Native refresh rate: threescore Hz
• Smart platform: Vizio SmartCast 5.0

That about sums it upwardly for the D-series. If you want modern picture enhancements like HDR or gaming extras like Variable Refresh Rate, yous'll need to step upward in price to something like Vizio's Five- or M-Serial line. That said, this series offers some of the smallest and most affordable models effectually that nonetheless internet y'all smart features.

The results and observations below were gathered by evaluating a twoscore-inch D-Series, received on loan from Vizio, but we await our takeaways to use across sizes in the series.

Operation data

Like every TV nosotros examination, we ready the Vizio D-Serial up in our Cambridge Idiot box lab and gave it 24 hours of warm-up time prior to testing and evaluation. As always, we sourced test patterns from a QuantumData 780A signal generator via SpectraCal's CalMan Ultimate software, and took measurements using ii meters: the Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter and the SpectraCal C6 HDR colour meter.

Equally with other Vizio TVs this year, we ran our tests in the TV's "Calibrated" movie manner. Because none of the D-Series TVs support HDR, we only ran the standard (non-HDR) battery of tests. Hither are the key takeaways from that procedure:

• Dissimilarity (blackness level/brightness, ANSI checkerboard): 0.023 / 171.70 nits
• Peak effulgence measured during testing: 193.threescore nits
• SDR (rec.709) color gamut coverage: 93.35%

Audio

When people ask if a Telly's speakers are whatever skillful, nosotros ordinarily point them toward a slap-up soundbar. The dual 10-watt speakers in this TV fire into the flooring from the bottom of the panel, and they don't sound amazing (well-nigh no stock Tv speakers exercise, though). You lot won't get keen bass presence or super-clear dialogue here, merely for coincidental viewing purposes it's fine.

Something to go along in mind earlier buying are your available audio formats. The D-Series TVs support DTS-HD loftier definition audio and DTS Virtual:10, simply without Dolby Digital Plus support or an eARC-capable HDMI input, you lot won't be able laissez passer through Dolby Atmos content.

Connectivity

As Vizio's entry-level TV for 2021, the D-Series models aren't exactly kitted out with a ton of connectivity options, simply what's included here is standard for this size/toll range. Here'due south what you'll discover on the back/side of the Television receiver:

• two x HDMI (ane ARC)
• 1 x USB two.0
• 1 10 SPDIF (optical) audio out
• i x composite/AV input
• one x ethernet (LAN) input
• 1 10 analog audio out

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The smaller D-Series TVs aren't as rich with connectivity options equally pricier series, simply yous're still getting two HDMI inputs and a litany of other options.

What we like

A pretty sleek pattern for the money

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

For being as small and affordable as they are, the D-Serial TVs are quite sleek.

For a series that starts at $140, the D-Series could wait a lot worse. This TV isn't as refined equally a high-end reckoner monitor, but information technology's piece of cake on the eyes overall. It features slim bezels around the screen, minimalist curved anxiety, and narrow plenty panel depth in profile that you could wall mountain them (though they're a chip on the pocket-size size for that, in my opinion).

You're also getting a standard IR (infrared) remote control—this yr, the clicker is admittedly blimp with hotkey buttons for launching specific apps, including Peacock, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Crepitation, and Tubi. You're also getting total-size volume/channel rockers, a full number pad, and a navigational circle. The remote is in no way trying to exist minimalist or sleek, merely it makes up for information technology in functionality.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

The included remote is full of useful buttons, including a cornucopia of app hotkeys.

Every bit noted higher up, you're getting 2 HDMI inputs (one with ARC), every bit well as USB, ethernet (LAN) in, and an sometime blended/AV (ruddy, white, and yellowish) input for legacy devices. Perhaps rightly so, Vizio seems to be bold D-Series buyers might be using older source devices like final-gen gaming consoles, DVD players, or even VCRs. If you're in that crowd, you're taken care of hither. Lastly, I like that this Tv set includes an analog audio output option, as that's hard to find these days. Y'all could hook it upward to some monster legacy speakers in your garage and stream Spotify right from the SmartCast platform.

As durability goes, our 40-inch D-Serial model feels sturdy enough, though being as thin/sleek equally it is, you wouldn't want to be too rough with it. Information technology also has a cut-out/carrying handle in the middle of the back, making information technology fairly like shooting fish in a barrel to tote from place to place. I imagine this is peculiarly convenient for the smaller models.

Picture quality that's notably… just fine!

The D-Series TV isn't a bad-looking Idiot box at all from a picture quality perspective. For existence a 1080p resolution option in 2021—which has go exceedingly rare in the last couple years—it checks off all the bones boxes.

Even in Brilliant manner, it's not super bright, so yous wouldn't want to apply it in a room that gets a ton of sunlight—but it'due south also non then dim that you couldn't utilize it with a couple of lights on. Since it doesn't support whatsoever HDR functions or HDR picture modes you don't really need it to be too much brighter than it is, but if yous're considering a purchase you lot may as well be aware of what this TV is and isn't capable of, as well.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

There's no HDR hither, and y'all're only getting 720p or 1080p resolution, but the core film quality is solid overall.

During lab testing, we measured a maximum brightness (in the "Calibrated" picture mode) of a little under 200 nits (nits being shorthand for candelas per meter squared, a measurement of luminance). I imagine you'd become more than than 200 nits from the D-Series Telly in 1 of the brighter moving-picture show modes, just in our tests Vizio's "Calibrated" mode is i of the more authentic ones, meaning overall it looks amend even if it'southward not giving you maxed-out effulgence. On boilerplate, you can expect about 170-180 nits during nearly scenes, paired with a blackness level around 0.02 nits. Compare that to the 2019 TCL iii-Serial, for example, which yields higher brightness (over 300 nits) but notably worse black levels (0.055 nits).

The D-Series would look a bit better in a dim/nighttime room, however. Effectually 200 nits brightness is quite average for not-HDR TVs over the last decade, simply the black levels we measured are very good for what you're paying. I watched a good bit of content—1080p stuff on YouTube, Vizio's "WatchFree+" Wi-Fi-based cable service, and shows on Hulu and Netflix—and found that it all generally looks good.

A full assortment backlight, accurate colour, and decent video processing mean virtually content looks pretty good.

On the other manus, even at the 40-inch size, I was aware that what I was watching was at 1080p resolution, in some cases being downward-sampled from native 4K. Color held up well, only admittedly in "Calibrated" style it doesn't pop very much: after years of watching HDR TVs with colour that extends beyond the standard color space, still, that's to be expected. The occasionally fuzzy resolution probably wouldn't show upward on the smallest sizes, simply I personally find that 1080p is about the bare minimum viable resolution for TVs over 32 inches, especially if yous're only sitting a few feet away.

The 60Hz refresh rate you're getting (some TVs exercise 120Hz, merely tend to be upper mid-range and loftier-end sets) does occasionally evince some blurring and trailing during fast-moving content. Equally is typically the case, difficult camera pans over complex scenes, especially during film (24fps) content, result in some judder. Merely while the TV isn't entirely platonic for fast-paced sports and video games, it's generally fine for most other kinds of content.

Decent smart features, likewise

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

SmartCast, Vizio'due south smart platform, gives you access to a ton of pre-installed and installed apps for streaming content.

We've never beaten around the bush when it comes to Vizio's rather basic SmartCast platform, the suite of streaming apps built into many of the company's TVs. Most of the fourth dimension the platform works just fine, though nosotros still generally prefer solutions like Roku or Apple Tv set. But overall information technology's a very welcome improver to a Tv set in this price range.

Vizio's SmartCast makes the D-Series into a veritable content machine. All yous need is electricity and Wi-Fi, and this (literally) totable little TV delivers a solid range of apps correct to your eyes, including Apple Telly+. Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video.

And that's the best thing about SmartCast hither: it's really just a collection of apps with no extra bloat similar browsers or calendars you won't utilize. Many apps are pre-installed, only yous can install/uninstall from the Vizio SmartCast app drove equally yous cull.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Pretty much all of the mainstream content streaming apps are available—just remember that you notwithstanding need a subscription to use nearly of them.

As you lot might guess from the name, SmartCast besides functions almost identically to Chromecast, allowing many mobile device apps to observe the TV as a castable screen and send content directly to it over Wi-Fi. The D-Series shows up in my phone as "Office TV," and casting worked every bit expected.

Some of our favorite smart TVs have Roku built right in, which is great. But from a content/app perspective, you're not losing out on annihilation hither except possibly a slightly more streamlined navigation feel. 1 issue you might encounter has to do with processor power/processing speed over time: one or two years on, the D-Series' SmartCast experience may be a touch sluggish. It'due south already simply a smidge slower than I'd prefer fresh out of the box, and these things don't tend to speed up over time.

Finally, smart dwelling lovers will be happy to know that even the basic D-Serial is equipped to operate alongside Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Hey Google.

What we don't like

Not very hereafter-proof

There are a lot of weather where the D-Series Tv set isn't going to allow you take advantage of the latest content advances. There's a ton of 4K/HDR content available beyond services like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and even some cable providers, and y'all won't be able to feel that here—not in any way that matters. You tin nonetheless lookout man notwithstanding content as everything else, just the Television receiver can't really show any of the newer advances from the last few years.

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

If you lot lock into ownership a D-Serial model, just keep in mind that there'south a whole swath of new content out at that place—stuff in 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision, for example—that you won't be able to take advantage of.

This is especially relevant for gamers: even the now last-generation Xbox 1 S/Ten and PlayStation 4 Pro consoles could output in 4K/HDR, and so anyone with an Xbox Series Southward/10 or PlayStation 5 won't really be able to take advantage of their pricy new console. While the D4-Series offers you lot AMD FreeSync tech to make for a smoother gaming experience, the bones D-Series merely gets y'all Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is all but negligible on a 60Hz TV: it more often than not only varies betwixt 48Hz and 60Hz, which is something you're unlikely to notice often. VRR tends to be of much higher value when included on a 120Hz Television receiver.

Of class, this is true for almost whatsoever Television in this toll range. Withal, if yous can rails down the 2019 TCL 4-Series, you lot can get the 43-inch version for around $250-$350, which is a adequately big footstep up, simply will net you lot newer picture quality enhancements such equally 4K resolution and HDR compatibility.

Should you purchase information technology?

Yes—if yous just want a portable content machine

It'd exist piece of cake to tell you to throw more money at a TV that did more than, just realistically, if all you need is a perfectly functioning Television receiver without the (expensive) add-on of 4K resolution, HDR color, advanced gaming features, or local dimming backlights, the 2021 D-Series won't permit you down. The portable, sleek, apps-stuffed D-Series is competing more often than not with off-brand sets (call up Insignia, Element, and and so on), and in this size/price range, I'm willing to bet it's i of the best. Kudos to Vizio for the added marketplace flexibility hither: The D-Serial is a welcome option in an ecosystem where TV manufacturers only seem to update 55-inch or larger TVs—and non all of us have room for those.

The D-Series is especially valuable because of the dearth of 24-to-40-inch options from proper name-brand manufacturers: yous'd be hard-pressed to find TVs of this size from Samsung, Sony, or LG unless you start tracking downwards models from 3-5 years ago. If you're looking for equally loftier-quality an experience as y'all can go for under $300, the D-Series is a good starting bespeak. It'due south also an especially skilful choice for gamers with older hardware just looking for something decent to play on, since yous won't get the input lag traditionally introduced past upscaling to 4K.

Notwithstanding, you should be aware of your options if you're willing to spend a trivial more and/or search a little harder. If you were interested in the 43-inch D-Series, for example, you might also consider the slightly older 43-inch TCL 4-Serial, which costs $fourscore-$90 more only gets you 4K resolution, HDR compatibility, and more than overall brightness. If you were aiming for a 32-inch TV and want to put it in a room that'south brighter than average, the 32-inch TCL 3-Series is virtually the aforementioned price and is also a good chip brighter overall—and as well packs an extra HDMI input. Just recall that brightness isn't everything: betwixt the two, the D-Series is the better pick for movie night.

Meet the testers

Lee Neikirk

Editor, Home Theater

@Koanshark

Lee has been Reviewed's betoken person for nigh idiot box and dwelling theater products since 2012. Lee received Level Two certification in Television set calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Domicile Theater vertical, Lee oversees reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviews headphones, and has a groundwork in music performance.

Jonathan Chan

Senior Managing director of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with information technology, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of information, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

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