Vizio’s new big

Vizio’s 60-inch E601i-A3 sells for $999.

Is it too early to think about holiday shopping? Not if you’re a TV maker like Vizio.

We recently reviewed two impressive, high-value Vizio TVs, the 32-inch E320i-A0 and the 47- and 55-inch M3D0KD series, but the company is just getting warmed up. Today it announced a slew of new big-screen TVs, highlighted by the 60-inch E601i-A3, which is available now for $999.

That’s just about the lowest price I’ve seen for a 60-inch LED TV with smart TV. The E601i-A3 offers Vizio’s VIA apps suite, which has one of the most comprehensive content lineups around, albeit nested in a ho-hum interface. Vizio also includes its “flipper” remote with the backside QWERTY keyboard to ease searches within apps, although unlike some smart TV suites VIA omits a Web browser. The edge-lit LED panel has a matte finish and refreshes at 120Hz.

A remote with a QWERTY keyboard makes Vizio’s Smart TV apps easier to use.

Vizio also offers the same TV in 70 inches for another grand, model E701i-A3. Again, that’s one of the lowest prices anywhere for a 70-inch TV. Both of these sets compete directly against Sharp’s value-priced LC-LE640U series.

In addition, Vizio launched three new models in its step-up M series, one at 55 inches and two at 65. Aside from screen size their specifications seem similar to the 60- and 70-inch E models, so at first blush the E models seem like the superior bargain. One of the two new M-series 65-inchers, model M3D651SV, has passive 3D Vizio calls “Theater 3D”.

Here’s the full rundown in order of screen size.

  • M550VSE (55-inch, $949)
  • E601i-A3 (60-inch, $999)
  • M650VSE (65-inch, $1,499)
  • M3D651SV (65-inch, 3D, $1,699)
  • E701i-A3 (70-inch, $1,999)

I have the 60-inch, $999 E601i-A3 in the lab now, so expect a full review soon. It lacks the edge-lit local dimming of the M3D0KD I reviewed earlier so I don’t expect it to reach that level of picture quality, but it could rival that of our reigning favorite 60-inch LED value, the Sharp LC-LE640U. In the 60-inch range both also have to compete against the likes of the excellent Panasonic TC-P60U50 plasma — although that last is a “dumb” TV.

Vizio will also send us the M3D651SV for review in the next few weeks.

Check Also

The Absolute Best Horror Movies on Hulu

Looking for the perfect chiller to watch around Halloween? Hulu’s got you covered. Below is a list of great horror flicks on the streaming service that will fit right into your binge-watching queue. But before we get into that, let’s cover some worthy alternates.  Hulu is home to M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense (1999), …

Leave a Reply