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We published new results of an investigative study on the long-term durability of TVs, revealing significant durability issues with popular edge-lit models. Read the full details here.

Vizio V5 Series 2021 TV Review

Tested using Methodology v1.6
Review updated Nov 10, 2023 at 04:15 pm
Latest change: Retest Sep 11, 2024 at 03:26 pm
Vizio V5 Series 2021 Picture
6.9
Mixed Usage
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.1
Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.0
TV Shows
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.6
Sports
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.1
Video Games
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
6.7
HDR Movies
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.1
HDR Gaming
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
7.4
PC Monitor
Value for price beaten by
: Not at the latest test bench
This TV was replaced by the Vizio V Series 2022

The Vizio V5 Series 2021 is an entry-level 4k TV from Vizio's 2021 lineup. It replaces the Vizio V Series 2020 and sits below the Vizio M6 Series Quantum 2021 and the Vizio M7 Series Quantum 2021. It's a very basic, cheap TV with very few additional features and no advanced gaming features. It runs the Vizio SmartCast operating system, which is unique because it doesn't have an app store to download extra apps besides the pre-installed ones. However, you can cast any content you want from your phone thanks to the Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay support. It's also available in a variety of sizes, from 43 to 75 inches, so you can get the one that suits your needs the most.

Our Verdict

6.9 Mixed Usage

The Vizio V655-J09 is okay for most uses. It's decent for watching movies in dark rooms because it has a high native contrast ratio with incredible black uniformity, meaning blacks look deep and uniform, but it lacks a local dimming feature to improve its dynamic range. It's also decent for watching TV shows and okay for sports in a bright room, thanks to its good reflection handling, but it has a narrow viewing angle, so the image degrades as you move off-center. Unfortunately, although it technically supports HDR, this adds nothing as HDR content looks dull and flat due to its low peak brightness and lack of a wide color gamut.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Colors are accurate out of the box.
Cons
  • Has trouble upscaling 480p and 720p content.
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Visible motion smear.
7.1 Movies

The Vizio V655-J09 is decent for watching movies in dark rooms. It has a fantastic native contrast ratio to display deep uniform blacks in simple scenes, but since there's no local dimming feature, the entire screen looks washed out if there are bright highlights visible in otherwise dark scenes. It removes judder from 24p sources, which is great for watching movies, but it has some trouble upscaling lower-resolution content like DVDs.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
  • Removes judder from native 24p sources.
Cons
  • No local dimming feature.
  • Has trouble upscaling 480p and 720p content.
7.0 TV Shows

The Vizio V655-J09 is decent for watching TV shows in well-lit rooms. Although it doesn't get very bright, it has good reflection handling if you want to use it in a room with a few lights, but don't place it opposite a bright window. Unfortunately, it has a narrow viewing angle, so the image looks washed out from the side, and there are some upscaling artifacts with 720p content, like from cable boxes.

Pros
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Colors are accurate out of the box.
Cons
  • Has trouble upscaling 480p and 720p content.
  • Doesn't get bright in SDR nor HDR.
  • Narrow viewing angle.
6.6 Sports

The Vizio V655-J09 is okay for sports. It has a decent response time, but there's still noticeable black smearing behind fast-moving objects. It has good reflection handling if you have a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare in a very well-lit room. Also, it has a narrow viewing angle, so it isn't a good choice to use in a wide seating arrangement as the screen looks washed out from the side.

Pros
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Colors are accurate out of the box.
Cons
  • Doesn't get bright in SDR nor HDR.
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Visible motion smear.
7.1 Video Games

The Vizio V655-J09 is decent for gaming. It's fairly limited on gaming features as it has a 60Hz panel and doesn't support any advanced gaming features like VRR to reduce tearing. Despite the lack of extra features, it's okay for casual gamers thanks to its low input lag and quick response time, but there's visible motion smearing. It's also great for dark room gaming thanks to its high contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity, but there's no local dimming feature to improve its dynamic range, and the screen looks washed out when bright highlights are visible in otherwise dark scenes.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Visible motion smear.
  • No VRR support.
6.7 HDR Movies

The Vizio V655-J09 is alright for watching movies in HDR in a completely dark room. Its fantastic native contrast and incredible black uniformity make it a great choice for use in dark rooms. However, it lacks a local dimming feature, and it has low peak brightness, so bright specular highlights in HDR don't stand out at all. It also can't display a wide color gamut. Overall, although it technically supports HDR, this doesn't add anything to the overall viewing experience, and HDR looks similar to SDR.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
Cons
  • No local dimming feature.
  • Doesn't get bright in SDR nor HDR.
  • Can't display wide color gamut.
7.1 HDR Gaming

The Vizio V655-J09 is decent for HDR gaming. Even though it's limited to a 60Hz panel and doesn't support VRR, it still provides a responsive gaming experience with low input lag and a quick response time. However, it still has black smearing with fast-moving objects. Also, HDR content doesn't look good due to the low brightness and lack of a wide color gamut, so highlights and colors don't stand out against the rest of the image.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Doesn't get bright in SDR nor HDR.
  • Visible motion smear.
  • Can't display wide color gamut.
7.4 PC Monitor

The Vizio V655-J09 is decent for use as a PC monitor. It has low input lag for a responsive desktop experience. It displays chroma 4:4:4 at any supported resolution, which helps with text clarity. Sadly, it has a narrow viewing angle, so the edges of the screen look washed out if you sit too close. It also has good reflection handling if you have a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight glare.

Pros
  • High native contrast ratio displays deep blacks.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Doesn't get bright in SDR nor HDR.
  • Narrow viewing angle.
  • Visible motion smear.
  • 6.9 Mixed Usage
  • 7.1 Movies
  • 7.0 TV Shows
  • 6.6 Sports
  • 7.1 Video Games
  • 6.7 HDR Movies
  • 7.1 HDR Gaming
  • 7.4 PC Monitor
  1. Updated Sep 11, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  2. Updated Jul 17, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  3. Updated May 02, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  4. Updated Feb 13, 2024: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  5. Updated Dec 05, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  6. Updated Nov 10, 2023: We've updated the text in the review to reflect our latest test methodology updates and for consistency with more recent TV reviews.
  7. Updated Oct 12, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  8. Updated Aug 09, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  9. Updated Jun 07, 2023: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  10. Updated Apr 03, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for four months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  11. Updated Feb 06, 2023: We uploaded the brightness measurements and uniformity photos after running the TV for two months in our Accelerated Longevity Test.
  12. Updated Nov 17, 2022: We uploaded the initial brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
  13. Updated Oct 11, 2022: Clarified that the newer version of this TV, the Vizio V Series 2022, has variable refresh rate support.
  14. Updated Aug 01, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  15. Updated Aug 26, 2021: We corrected a mistake in our test results. There's no opt-out from ads because there are no ads.
  16. Updated Jul 12, 2021: Review published.
  17. Updated Jul 07, 2021: Early access published.
  18. Updated Jun 28, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  19. Updated Jun 25, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  20. Updated Jun 09, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 65-inch Vizio V5 Series, and for the most part, the results are also valid for the 43-inch (Vizio V435), 50-inch (Vizio V505), 55-inch (Vizio V555), 58-inch (Vizio V585), 70-inch (Vizio V705), and 75-inch (Vizio V755) models. There's also a V6 Series version that's available in 70 and 75 inches, and it's different because it supports FreeSync.

Size Model
43" Vizio V435-J01
50" Vizio V505-J09
55" Vizio V555-J01
58" Vizio V585-J01
65" Vizio V655-J09
70" Vizio V705-J03
75" Vizio V755-J04

You can see our unit's label here.

Compared To Other TVs

The Vizio V Series 2021 is an okay low-cost TV. It's good as an entry-level TV because it displays deep blacks without much blooming. However, the built-in SmartCast system lags behind competitors in terms of features because it lacks an app store, and there are better options available for a bit more, like the Hisense U6G.

See our recommendations for the best TVs, the best Vizio TVs, and the best budget TVs.

Vizio V Series 2022
43" 50" 55" 65" 65" 70" 75"

The Vizio V Series 2022 is the newer version of the Vizio V5 Series 2021. Both TVs are very similar overall, with the main difference being that the 2022 model has VRR support for gaming, which the 2021 model doesn't have. The 2022 model improves in a few areas, like its peak brightness and response time, while the 2021 model has better upscaling, so choosing one over the other depends on which aspects are important to you.

TCL 4 Series/S435 2020
43" 50" 55" 65" 75" 85"

The Vizio V5 Series 2021 and the TCL 4 Series/S435 2020 are both okay entry-level TVs. They have the same panel type and many of the same features, but the Vizio has better dark room performance because of its superior contrast and black uniformity. However, each of these can vary between units. The Vizio is also better for gaming because it has a much better response time and lower input lag. The TCL has better smart features because the built-in Roku is less laggy than Vizio's SmartCast system, and it doesn't have any issues upscaling lower-resolution content like the Vizio does.

Vizio V Series 2020
40" 43" 50" 55" 58" 60" 65" 70" 75"

The Vizio V5 Series 2021 is similar to its predecessor, the Vizio V Series 2020. The 2021 model comes with Vizio's new remote that features a built-in mic for voice control, which the 2020 model doesn't have. The 2021 model also gets slightly brighter in SDR, but it's not a significant difference, and other than that, both TVs deliver similar picture quality.

Vizio D3 Series 2021
40" 43" FHD - 24" FHD - 32" HD - 24" HD - 32"

The Vizio V5 Series 2021 is a significant step up from the Vizio D3 Series 2021. The V5 is a 4k TV with much better black uniformity, HDR support (although this doesn't add much), and a faster smart interface. The V5 series is also available in much larger sizes, up to a maximum size of 85 inches.

Hisense U6G
50" 55" 65" 75"

The Hisense U6G is significantly better than the Vizio V5 Series 2021. The Hisense has more features like full-array local dimming, a wide color gamut for HDR content, and the built-in Android TV has a Google Play Store. The Hisense gets significantly brighter, so it's a better choice for watching HDR content or using it in well-lit rooms. Lastly, the Hisense even has a quicker response time for smoother motion.

Samsung TU7000
43" 50" 55" 58" 60" 65" 70" 75" 82" 85"

The Vizio V5 Series 2021 and the Samsung TU7000 are both okay TVs. The Vizio has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms, but it still doesn't get very bright. The Vizio also removes judder from 24p sources helping movie motion, which the Samsung can't do. However, the Samsung's built-in Tizen is better overall than the Vizio's OS as it comes with an app store, and the Samsung does a better job at upscaling lower-resolution content.

Samsung AU8000
43" 50" 55" 60" 65" 70" 75" 85"

The Samsung AU8000 and the Vizio V5 Series 2021 are both decent TVs. They have the same panel type, so they each have high contrast but lack local dimming. The Samsung is a better choice for well-lit rooms because it gets brighter and has better reflection handling. Samsung's Tizen OS is better overall than Vizio's SmartCast because it has an app store, which the Vizio doesn't, and menu navigation feels smoother.

Vizio M6 Series Quantum 2021
43" 50" 55" 65" 70" 75"

The Vizio M6 Series Quantum 2021 and the Vizio V5 Series 2021 are both okay TVs. The M6 is higher up in the Vizio lineup than the V5, so it has a few more features like a wide color gamut and VRR support. Picture quality is similar as they both have high contrast, lack local dimming, don't get bright, and have good reflection handling. Choosing one over the other comes down to whether or not you need the extra gaming features on the M6.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved No

The Vizio V655-J09 is a basic entry-level TV made entirely out of plastic. It looks like the Vizio V Series 2020 from the front, but the back looks different. It has thicker bezels than most modern TVs, but they're not too distracting.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures

The brightness of this TV has shifted a bit since the start of our Accelerated Longevity Test, but overall, it doesn't seem to be affected much.

Design
Stand

The TV comes with the same V-shaped feet as other Vizio TVs. They're wide-set, so you'll need a large TV cabinet if you're not planning on wall-mounting it. It raises the screen enough so you can place a soundbar without blocking the image.

Footprint of the 65-inch TV: 47.6" x 12" x 3.25"

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 400x200

The back panel is smooth plastic, and the bottom part where the inputs are sticks out more. Sadly, there's no cable management, and because the inputs are set towards the center of the TV, they're tough to reach if you wall-mount it.

Design
Borders
Borders 0.56" (1.4 cm)
Design
Thickness
Max Thickness 2.43" (6.2 cm)
6.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is okay. It's plastic throughout and feels solid, but it's nothing special. There's some flex on the back, especially near the logo in the center, but this is very common to all TVs and won't cause any issues. The TV wobbles a bit on the stand, but it isn't too bad considering its size.

Picture Quality
9.4
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
8,117 : 1
Contrast with local dimming
N/A

This TV has a fantastic native contrast ratio. Blacks are deep and true in simple scenes. Since it lacks a local dimming feature, when there are bright highlights on the screen in an otherwise dark scene, the black levels rise in the dark areas and the TV looks washed out.

5.5
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene Peak Brightness
219 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
237 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
236 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
235 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
235 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
236 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
236 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
235 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

This TV has disappointing SDR brightness. It doesn't get bright enough to combat glare in a well-lit room.

These measurements are after calibration with the following settings:

  • Picture Mode: Calibrated Dark
  • Color Temperature: Warm
  • Gamma: 2.2

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The videos above are for reference only, so you can compare the Vizio V655-J09 to a TV that does have a local dimming feature. It's a direct-lit LED TV, which means that the backlights are placed directly behind the screen, which is different from edge-lit TVs and isn't the same as local dimming.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming In Game Mode
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Direct

This TV doesn't have a local dimming feature. The videos above are for reference only, so you can compare the Vizio V655-J09 to a TV that does have a local dimming feature. It's a direct-lit LED TV, which means that the backlights are placed directly behind the screen, which is different from edge-lit TVs and isn't the same as local dimming.

4.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
Real Scene Highlight
218 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The HDR brightness is poor. It doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out. The EOTF follows the target perfectly, but near blacks are raised a bit due to the lack of a local dimming feature. This means that most dim scenes and midtones are displayed at the brightness level the content creator intended. There's a very sharp cutoff at the TV's peak brightness, though, causing a loss of fine details in bright scenes.

These measurements are with no calibration with the following settings:

  • HDR Picture Mode: Calibrated Dark
  • Color Temperature: Standard
  • Gamma: 1.8

4.6
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness In Game Mode
Real Scene Highlight
214 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
234 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
234 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
234 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The HDR brightness when gaming is exactly the same as outside of it. There's no noticeable change in brightness when you enable the low latency setting.

These measurements are with no calibration with the following settings:

  • HDR Picture Mode: Calibrated Dark
  • Game Low Latency: On
  • Color Temperature: Standard
  • Gamma: 1.8

6.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
4.720%
50% DSE
0.214%
5% Std. Dev.
0.728%
5% DSE
0.093%

This TV has some issues with the gray uniformity. The edges of the screen are darker due to bad vignetting, which you'll notice when using it as a PC monitor, and there's noticeable dirty screen effect in the center, which is distracting when watching sports.

9.2
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
0.584%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is fantastic. There's no noticeable backlight bleed or cloudiness throughout the screen, even in very dark scenes. Although very uniform, blacks are raised when there are bright highlights on the screen due to the lack of a local dimming feature; this makes the background look blue instead of black.

5.1
Picture Quality
Viewing Angle
Color Washout
20°
Color Shift
17°
Brightness Loss
29°
Black Level Raise
36°
Gamma Shift
12°

This TV has a narrow viewing angle. It isn't ideal for wide seating areas as the image looks washed out as you move off-center, even at narrow viewing angles.

This TV has an optional Enhanced Viewing Angle setting that's marketed to improve the viewing angle. The results are with the setting off, but you can see the graphs with it on below. Unfortunately, it doesn't improve the viewing angle:

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-gloss
Total Reflections
4.9%
Indirect Reflections
0.4%
Calculated Direct Reflections
4.5%

This TV has good reflection handling. It absorbs indirect reflections from small light sources well, and glare isn't an issue unless you place it opposite strong light sources like a window.

8.5
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
White Balance dE
2.33
Color dE
1.50
Gamma
2.15
Color Temperature
6,706 K
Picture Mode
Calibrated Dark
Color Temp Setting
Warm
Gamma Setting
2.2

The Vizio V655-J09 has excellent accuracy out-of-the-box with just a few quick settings changes. Only saturated blues and reds are slightly inaccurate, and the white balance is just a bit off. Color temperature is also close to the 6500K target. Sadly, gamma doesn't follow the 2.2 target very well, so bright scenes are over-brightened.

9.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
White Balance dE
0.16
Color dE
0.89
Gamma
2.19
Color Temperature
6,518 K
White Balance Calibration
20 point
Color Calibration
Yes

The accuracy after calibration is remarkable. It's easy to calibrate, and any remaining inaccuracies are nearly impossible to spot, but dark red is still a bit off. Both the color temperature and gamma are nearly spot-on with the targets.

You can see our full calibration settings here.

7.0
Picture Quality
480p Input

The Vizio V655-J09 does a decent job at upscaling lower-resolution content like from DVDs. However, it doesn't look as good as other 4k TVs because content doesn't look as clear, and the image is blurrier.

7.0
Picture Quality
720p Input

This TV displays 720p content fairly well, but there are more artifacts than other 4k displays. Once again, the image isn't as well-defined as other displays, so the image is blurrier.

9.0
Picture Quality
1080p Input

The Vizio V655-J09 displays 1080p content nearly as good as native 4k content.

10
Picture Quality
4k Input

There aren't any issues displaying native 4k content on this TV.

0
Picture Quality
8k Input

It's a 4k TV that can't display an 8k signal.

Picture Quality
Pixels
Type LED
Sub-Type
VA

This TV has a BGR subpixel layout, which negatively impacts text clarity when using it as a PC monitor. However, it isn't a big issue and doesn't affect the overall picture quality. You can read more about it here.

6.8
Picture Quality
Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
75.43%
DCI P3 uv
81.03%
Rec 2020 xy
54.52%
Rec 2020 uv
60.46%

The color gamut in HDR content is just okay. It has good coverage of the commonly-used DCI-P3 color space, but its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is limited. The tone mapping is very bad in either color space, so most colors in HDR are inaccurate.

5.9
Picture Quality
Color Volume
Normalized DCI P3 Coverage ITP
68.3%
10,000 cd/m² DCI P3 Coverage ITP
24.8%
Normalized Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
50.3%
10,000 cd/m² Rec 2020 Coverage ITP
18.2%

Due to the lack of a wide color gamut, the color volume is disappointing. It displays dark colors well thanks to the high contrast but struggles with brighter colors.

8.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit
Red (Std. Dev.)
0.097
Green (Std. Dev.)
0.090
Blue (Std. Dev.)
0.082
Gray (Std. Dev.)
0.077

This TV has excellent gradient handling. There's only a bit of banding in the darker shades, especially green and red, but it's minimal. Using Contour Smoothing helps smooth out banding, and setting it to 'High' helps best with real content, but this comes at the cost of losing fine details.

10
Picture Quality
Temporary Image Retention
IR after 0 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 2 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 4 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 6 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 8 min recovery
0.00%
IR after 10 min recovery
0.00%

There are no signs of temporary image retention after displaying a high-contrast static image.

10
Picture Quality
Permanent Burn-In Risk
Permanent Burn-In Risk
No

We don't expect VA panels to experience permanent image retention, as the VA panel in our long-term test appears immune.

Motion
7.0
Motion
Response Time
80% Response Time
6.7 ms
100% Response Time
15.6 ms

The Vizio V655 has a decent response time, and bright scenes especially look good, with minimal motion blur behind fast-moving objects. Dark scenes and shadow details don't look as good, though, as there's noticeable overshoot when the TV goes from a very dark shade to a brighter one, and it's slow to stabilize. This causes the black smearing to be noticeable in the motion blur photo.

7.9
Motion
Flicker-Free
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
480 Hz

This TV has a flicker-free backlight if you set the Backlight setting to anything above '45' in the 'Calibrated Dark' and 'Calibrated' Picture Modes, and anything above '40' in the other modes. However, the TV uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to dim the backlight below those settings and flickers at 480Hz. It always flickers at 480Hz in Game Mode.

2.9
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Optional BFI
No
Min Flicker For 60 fps
480 Hz
60Hz For 60 fps
No
120Hz For 120 fps
N/A
Min Flicker for 60 fps in Game Mode
480 Hz

This TV doesn't have an optional backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, and the backlight always flickers at 480Hz in Game Mode, which you can't change. The score is based on that flicker frequency and the fact that you can't change it and not its actual performance.

Motion
Motion Interpolation
Motion Interpolation (30 fps)
No
Motion Interpolation (60 fps)
No

The TV doesn't have a motion interpolation feature.

7.8
Motion
Stutter
Frame Hold Time @ 24 fps
26.1 ms
Frame Hold Time @ 60 fps
1.1 ms

There's very little stutter when watching most movies or TV shows on this TV, but it's still somewhat noticeable with slow-panning shots.

7.8
Motion
24p Judder
Judder-Free 24p
Yes
Judder-Free 24p via 60p
No
Judder-Free 24p via 60i
No
Judder-Free 24p via Native Apps
Yes

This TV removes 24p judder from the native apps and connected sources that can send a 24p signal, like a Blu-ray player or a streaming device with a 'Match Frame Rate' feature. It can't remove judder from 60Hz sources like a cable box or older streaming devices, though.

0
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
HDMI Forum VRR
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC Compatible
No
4k VRR Maximum
N/A
4k VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1080p VRR Maximum
N/A
1080p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
1440p VRR Maximum
N/A
1440p VRR Minimum
No VRR support
VRR Supported Connectors
No VRR support

The Vizio V5 Series doesn't support any VRR technology, but the higher-end V6 Series models and the newer Vizio V Series 2022 support it.

Inputs
9.6
Inputs
Input Lag
1080p @ 60Hz
11.5 ms
1080p @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
52.3 ms
1440p @ 60Hz
11.4 ms
4k @ 60Hz
11.4 ms
4k @ 60Hz + 10-Bit HDR
11.3 ms
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
11.4 ms
4k @ 60Hz Outside Game Mode
35.1 ms
4k @ 60Hz With Interpolation
N/A
8k @ 60Hz
N/A
1080p @ 120Hz
N/A
1440p @ 120Hz
N/A
4k @ 120Hz
N/A
1080p with Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
1440p with VRR
N/A
4k with VRR
N/A
8k with VRR
N/A

This TV has low input lag as long as Game Low Latency is enabled. It's low enough outside Game Mode that you won't notice too much delay while scrolling through the TV's menus or using the on-screen keyboard.

8.3
Inputs
Supported Resolutions
Resolution 4k
1080p @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes (forced resolution required)
1440p @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz @ 4:4:4
Yes
4k @ 120Hz
No
8k @ 30Hz or 24Hz
No
8k @ 60Hz
No

This TV supports any common resolution up to 60Hz. It displays chroma 4:4:4 at any supported resolution as long as you enable the Full Color 4:4:4 setting. This helps it display clear text when using it as a PC monitor.

Inputs
Advanced Console Compatibility
Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)
Yes
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
PS5, 4k @ 120Hz
No
PS5, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
PS5, 1440p @ 120Hz
No
PS5, 1080p @ 120Hz
No
PS5, Variable Refresh Rate
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz + HDR
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, 4k @ 60Hz + HDR
Yes
Xbox Series X, 1440p @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, 1080p @ 120Hz
No
Xbox Series X, Variable Refresh Rate
No

Since the Vizio V655-J09 doesn't support any signal above 60Hz and is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, it doesn't support any 120Hz signal from the PS5 or Xbox Series X. It has an Auto Low Latency Mode that automatically switches the TV into Game Mode when a game from a compatible device is launched.

Inputs
Inputs Specifications
HDR10
Yes
HDR10+
Yes
Dolby Vision
Yes
HLG
Yes
HDMI 2.0 Full Bandwidth
Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
CEC Yes
HDCP 2.2 Yes (HDMI 1,2,3)
USB 3.0
No
Variable Analog Audio Out Yes
Wi-Fi Support Yes (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz)

Vizio advertises that this TV supports HDMI 2.1, but unfortunately, this isn't true, and it's still limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.

Inputs
Input Photos

The composite inputs are great if you still use an old gaming console or any other device that uses this connection.

Inputs
Total Inputs
HDMI 3
USB 1
Digital Optical Audio Out 1
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 0
Analog Audio Out RCA 1
Component In 0
Composite In 1
Tuner (Cable/Ant) 1
Ethernet 1
DisplayPort 0
IR In 0
SD/SDHC 0
Inputs
Audio Passthrough
ARC
Yes (HDMI 1)
eARC support
Yes
Dolby Atmos via TrueHD via eARC
Yes
DTS:X via DTS-HD MA via eARC
Yes
5.1 Dolby Digital via ARC
Yes
5.1 DTS via ARC
Yes
5.1 Dolby Digital via Optical
Yes
5.1 DTS via Optical
Yes

There's eARC support on HDMI 1, allowing you to pass high-quality, uncompressed audio to a compatible receiver through a single HDMI connection.

Sound Quality
6.4
Sound Quality
Frequency Response
Low-Frequency Extension
113.14 Hz
Std. Dev. @ 70
3.52 dB
Std. Dev. @ 80
3.35 dB
Std. Dev. @ Max
5.48 dB
Max
87.2 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression
4.48 dB

The Vizio V655-J09 has a mediocre frequency response. It gets fairly loud and has a well-balanced sound profile, so it's good for listening to dialogue. Sadly, it doesn't produce much bass, if at all.

6.4
Sound Quality
Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80
0.614
Weighted THD @ Max
1.302
IMD @ 80
2.36%
IMD @ Max
9.02%

The distortion performance isn't bad. There isn't too much at moderate listening levels, but there's more at its max volume.

Smart Features
7.0
Smart Features
Interface
Smart OS SmartCast
Version 1.50
Ease of Use
Easy
Smoothness
Average
Time Taken to Select YouTube
3 s
Time Taken to Change Backlight
3 s
Advanced Options
Many

The Vizio SmartCast system is decent and easy to use. However, it can feel laggy, so menu navigation isn't the smoothest. You can move your apps around on the home page, making them easier to access.

10
Smart Features
Ad-Free
Ads
No
Opt-out
No Ads
Suggested Content in Home
Yes
Opt-out of Suggested Content
No

There's suggested content on the home screen, but we didn't see any ads.

6.5
Smart Features
Apps and Features
App Selection
Great
App Smoothness
Average
Cast Capable
Yes
USB Drive Playback
Yes
USB Drive HDR Playback
Yes
HDR in Netflix
Yes
HDR in YouTube
Yes

Unfortunately, you can't download any extra apps besides the ones that come pre-installed. On the plus side, you can cast anything you want from your phone thanks to the Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay support.

6.5
Smart Features
Remote
Size
Medium
Voice Control
Search, Some Other Features
CEC Menu Control
Yes
Other Smart Features
No
Remote App Vizio SmartCast Mobile

This TV comes with a new Vizio remote that lacks a Numpad and has a mic for voice control, which past models didn't have. You can ask the voice control to change inputs, open apps, and ask the weather, but you can't search for specific content in apps or change settings.

Smart Features
TV Controls

There are three buttons on the back right side to change the volume, inputs, and power the TV on/off.

Smart Features
In The Box

  • Remote (with 2x AAA batteries)
  • User guides

Smart Features
Misc
Power Consumption 50 W
Power Consumption (Max) 89 W
Firmware 1.20.16.1-6