Vizio M Series 2016  TV Review

Review updated Mar 01, 2017 at 06:31am
Tested using Methodology v1.0 

Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more

Vizio M Series 2016

Track

0.0
Mixed Usage 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

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Movies 
Value for price beaten by

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TV Shows 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

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Sports 
Value for price beaten by

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Video Games 
Value for price beaten by

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HDR Movies 
Value for price beaten by

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HDR Gaming 
Value for price beaten by

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PC Monitor 
Value for price beaten by

Not at the latest test bench

Track

 0
 TV Settings
Notice: This TVs was replaced by Vizio M Series XLED 2017
The Vizio M Series 2016 LED TV provides great picture quality and overall performance, excelling in motion performance for watching sports or playing video games. Unfortunately it can't get very bright and doesn't have good 4k HDR support. Overall it is an improvement on the Vizio M Series 2015, and the performance is close to the higher end Vizio P Series 2016.

Our Verdict

0.0
Mixed Usage 

Good all-round TV. Excels in dark scene performance thanks to great picture quality. Great motion for sports and low input lag for video games.

Pros
  • Great picture quality, especially for watching movies in a dark room
  • Great motion handling and low input lag for sports and video games
Cons
  • Picture quality degrades from the side
  • Can't get very bright
  • Lacks TV tuner
  • Sub-par upscaling of lower resolutions
0.0
Movies 

Very good for watching movies in a dark room. Local dimming works well, and native contrast ratio is high. Blu-rays play smoothly.

0.0
TV Shows 

Average performance for TV shows in a bright living room. Can't get very bright to combat glare but deals with reflections well. Picture quality is great from in front, but deteriorates when viewed from the side. Lacks TV tuner.

0.0
Sports 

Good TV for watching sports. Fast movement is handled very well with a minimum of motion blur. Average field uniformity.

0.0
Video Games 

Excels in video game performance. Low input lag on HDMI 5 with game mode which is good. Great handling of fast camera movement with minimum motion blur.

0.0
HDR Movies 

Good for HDR. Supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 but average peak brightness. Slightly above average colors but not enough to take full advantage of HDR.

0.0
HDR Gaming 

Good for HDR gaming. Support HDR10 and Dolby Vision but doesn't really benefit from HDR signal. Picture quality is great, but can't get bright highlights or display a wide range of colors. Input lag for HDR is good for casual gaming.

0.0
PC Monitor 

Good when use as a PC monitor. Supports a wide range of resolutions. Very good motion handling and feels responsive. Chroma subsampling is displayed correctly at many resolutions.

  • 0.0
    Mixed Usage
  • 0.0
    Movies
  • 0.0
    TV Shows
  • 0.0
    Sports
  • 0.0
    Video Games
  • 0.0
    HDR Movies
  • 0.0
    HDR Gaming
  • 0.0
    PC Monitor
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Mar 01, 2017: Review published.
    2.  Updated Jul 13, 2016: Our testers have started testing this product.
    3.  Updated Jul 07, 2016: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Vizio M Series TV that we bought is the 70" with SKU M70-D3. Note that the M60-D1 has an IPS panel. This means we expect it to have a worse contrast ratio, and wider viewing angle. 

    The 50" and 55" models  have 60Hz panels so some of the motion interpolation options are not available (i.e. 'Reduce Judder' and 'Reduce Motion Blur'). For those who like the soap opera effect, it is maybe better to get an 120Hz version of the M series 2016.

    Update 05/30/2017: The M50-D1 and M55-D0 cannot perform motion interpolation at all.

    Different sizes have different panel provenances, so it is possible our review doesn't represent exactly all sizes. If someone's Vizio M Series doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review.

    Size Model Effective Refresh Rate Real Refresh Rate HDMI # Speakers Panel Local Dimming Zones
    50" M50-D1 120 Hz 60 Hz 4 10W x 2 VA 32
    55" M55-D0 120 Hz 60 Hz 4 15W x 2 VA 64
    60" M60-D1 240 Hz 120 Hz 5 10W x 2 IPS 64
    65" M65-D0 240 Hz 120 Hz 5 15W x 2 VA 64
    70" M70-D3 240 Hz 120 Hz 5 10W x 2 VA 64
    80" M80-D3 240 Hz 120 Hz 5 10W x 2 VA 64

    Popular TV Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    Top left: Vizio M Series 2015 (M60-C3). Bottom left: Sony X850D (XBR55X850D). Middle: Vizio M Series 2016 (M70-D3). Top right: Vizio P Series 2016 (P65-C1). Bottom right: Samsung KU6300 (UN55KU6300).  Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

    The Vizio M Series 2016 provides great movie and TV watching performance, especially for the price.  

     

    How We Test TVs
    How We Test TVs

    We buy and test dozens of TVs yearly, taking an objective, data-driven approach to deliver results you can trust. Our testing process is complex, with hundreds of individual tests that take over a week to complete. Most of our tests use specially designed test patterns that mimic real content, but we also use the same sources you have at home to ensure our results match the real-world experience. We use two main tools for our testing: a Colorimetry Research CR-100 colorimeter and a CR-250 spectroradiometer.

    Test Results

    Older Test Bench: This product has been tested using an older TV test methodology, before a major update. Some of the test results below aren't directly comparable with other TVs. Learn more

    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    0.0
    Style
    CurvedLockedLocked

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    Stand

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    Back
    Wall MountLockedLocked

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    Borders
    BordersLockedLocked

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    Thickness
    Max ThicknessLockedLocked

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    Temperature
    Maximum Temperature
    LockedLock °C
    Average Temperature
    LockedLock °C

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    Picture Quality
    0.0
    Contrast
    Native Contrast
    LockedLock : 1

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    0.0
    Local Dimming
    SAMPLE
    JOIN NOW

    for videos & test results

    Vizio M Series 2016 Local Dimming Video Sample
    Local Dimming
    LockedLocked
    Backlight
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    SDR Peak Brightness
    SDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 10% Window
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    SDR Peak 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Peak 50% Window
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    SDR Peak 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 50% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²

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    0.0
    HDR Peak Brightness
    HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 50% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Peak 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 2% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 10% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 25% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 50% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²
    HDR Sustained 100% Window
    LockedLock cd/m²

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    0.0
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%
    50% DSE
    LockedLock%
    5% Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%
    5% DSE
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Viewing Angle
    SAMPLE
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    Vizio M Series 2016 Viewing Angle Video Sample
    LCD Type
    LockedLocked
    Color Shift
    LockedLock°
    Brightness
    LockedLock°
    Black Level
    LockedLock°

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    0.0
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    LockedLock Bit

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    0.0
    Pre Calibration
    White Balance dE
    LockedLock
    Color dE
    LockedLock
    Gamma
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    Post Calibration
    White Balance dE
    LockedLock
    Color dE
    LockedLock
    Gamma
    LockedLock

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    0.0
    480p Input

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    0.0
    720p Input

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    0.0
    1080p Input

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    0.0
    4k Input

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    0.0
    Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    LockedLocked
    DCI P3 xy
    LockedLock%
    DCI P3 uv
    LockedLock%
    Rec 2020 xy
    LockedLock%
    Rec 2020 uv
    LockedLock%

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    0.0
    Color Volume
    Normalized DCI P3 Coverage
    LockedLock%
    10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage
    LockedLock%
    Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage
    LockedLock%
    10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage
    LockedLock%
    0.0
    Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    LockedLock%
    0.0
    Reflections
    Reflection
    LockedLock%
    Screen Finish
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    3D
    3D
    LockedLocked
    3D Type
    LockedLocked
    2D to 3D
    LockedLocked

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    Pixels
    TypeLockedLED
    Motion
    0.0
    Motion Blur
    Refresh RateLocked120 Hz (except 55" and smaller)
    Response Time
    LockedLock ms
    Overshoot
    LockedLock ms

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    0.0
    Image Flicker
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    LockedLocked
    BFI
    LockedLocked
    BFI Frequency
    LockedLocked
    BFI In Game Mode
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    24p Playback
    Judder-free 24p
    LockedLocked
    Judder-free 24p via 60p
    LockedLocked
    Judder-free 24p via 60i
    LockedLocked

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    0.0
    Motion Interpolation
    Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
    LockedLocked
    Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
    LockedLocked

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    Inputs
    0.0
    Input Lag
    1080p @ 60Hz
    LockedLock ms
    1080p With Interpolation
    LockedLock ms
    1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
    LockedLock ms
    1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60Hz
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60Hz + HDR
    LockedLock ms
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4 + 8 bit HDR
    LockedLock ms

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    0.0
    Supported Resolutions
    ResolutionLocked4k
    1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLocked
    1080p @ 120Hz
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 30Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 60Hz
    LockedLocked
    4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
    LockedLocked

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    Side Inputs
    Rear Inputs
    Total Inputs
    HDMILockedLocked
    USBLockedLocked
    Digital Optical Audio OutLockedLocked
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mmLockedLocked
    Analog Audio Out RCALockedLocked
    Component InLockedLocked
    Composite InLockedLocked
    Tuner (Cable/Ant)LockedLocked
    EthernetLockedLocked
    DisplayPortLockedLocked
    IR InLockedLocked
    SD/SDHCLockedLocked
    Inputs Specifications
    HDR10
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Passthrough ARC Dolby Digital
    LockedLocked
    Dolby Vision
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Passthrough ARC DTS
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Passthrough Optical Dolby Digital
    LockedLocked
    5.1 Passthrough Optical DTS
    LockedLocked
    HDMI 2.0 Full BandwidthLockedLocked
    ARCLockedLocked
    USB 3LockedLocked
    HDCP 2.2LockedLocked
    CECLockedLocked
    MHLLockedLocked
    Variable Analog Audio OutLockedLocked

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    Sound Quality
    0.0
    Frequency Response
    Std. Dev. @ 70
    LockedLock dB SPL
    Std. Dev. @ 80
    LockedLock dB SPL
    Std. Dev. @ Max
    LockedLock dB SPL
    Max
    LockedLock dB SPL
    Low-end Cutoff
    LockedLock Hz

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    0.0
    Total Harmonic Distortion
    Distortion @ 70
    LockedLock
    Distortion @ 80
    LockedLock
    Distortion @ Max
    LockedLock

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    Smart Features
    Apps

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    0.0
    Interface
    Smart OSLockedLocked

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    0.0
    Ads
    Ad-free
    LockedLocked
    Opt-out
    LockedN/A
    TV Controls

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    Remote
    RemoteLockedLocked

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    In The Box

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    Misc
    Power ConsumptionLockedLock W
    Power Consumption (Max)LockedLock W
    FirmwareLockedLocked