Vizio V-Series 43-inch V-Series 43" 2023 Review

A solid budget 4K TV for a spare room. The Dolby Vision HDR and free WatchFree+ channels are great for the price, but the picture is just average. Worth buying for a bedroom, not for a home theater.

The VIZIO V-Series is a budget 4K TV that tries to punch above its weight. For around $275, you get Dolby Vision HDR, a decent smart platform, and a whole lot of free streaming channels built right in.

It's a solid pick for a secondary room or a first apartment TV. Just don't expect it to compete with the big boys on picture quality. It's good for the money, not great in an absolute sense.

The picture is fine for the price. 4K content looks sharp, and Dolby Vision HDR helps with contrast, but our data shows its overall picture quality lands in the 43rd percentile. That means it's average at best. The 60Hz panel with FreeSync is okay for casual gaming, but it's not a gaming TV—that score sits at the 54th percentile. Where it shines is in social proof; it's in the 90th percentile there, meaning people who buy it tend to be pretty happy with the value.

At $275, it's hard to complain too much. You're getting a full 4K HDR smart TV that works. It's not going to wow you, but it also won't break the bank. For a bedroom, guest room, or kitchen, this is a perfectly sensible purchase. Just don't buy it as your main living room TV if you're a movie buff.

Compared to a similarly priced TCL Series 4, the VIZIO wins on HDR support (Dolby Vision vs. basic HDR10) and free live TV. But TCL's Roku TV platform is often smoother and more reliable. Hisense's A4 Series is another direct rival; picture quality is a toss-up, but Hisense often includes more HDMI ports. If you can stretch your budget another $100, a TCL Series 5 with mini-LED will run circles around this VIZIO in contrast and brightness.

Skip this if you're setting up a home theater. The mediocre contrast and basic audio won't do movies justice. Also, avoid it if you rely heavily on an over-the-air antenna, as several users report frustrating tuner issues.

Buy this if you need a decent, no-fuss 4K TV for a secondary space and want to keep costs as low as possible. The free live TV is a legit bonus for cord-cutters. But if this is going to be your primary TV for movies and sports, you'll want to save up for something with better contrast.