VIZIO's latest high-end TV series is impressive. With features such as HomeKit, integrated AirPlay 2, Dolby Vision, 384 local dimming areas, etc., this screen is worthy of a home theater. In the last few weeks, I've had a great time with VIZIO premium television, 2019 edition, which is at the top of my list of recommendations for a number of reasons. Keep reading to find out why I like VIZIO's latest 4K compatible HomeKit TV.
Nomad base station
Note: VIZIO has provided this P-Series review unit free of charge to 9to5Toys. This review is just our opinion and is not sponsored content.
Initial configuration
VIZIO makes the experience ready for use very fluid and easy, in my opinion. I configure this unit in both directions. mounted on the wall and standing on an entertainment center. Mounting the stand was simple and the TV was easily hooked to the wall instead of my old VIZIO P-Series. Once on the wall, I made all the necessary connections: Apple TV 4K, U-Verse Receiver, Xbox One X , PlayStation 4 Pro and NVIDIA SHIELD TV. However, I forgot a technical part of my old TV, the Chromecast. The latest VIZIO TVs feature built-in Chromecast technology, so you do not need additional hardware. Also noteworthy is the inclusion of AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, although we would come back to this later.
Once all my devices were plugged in, I plugged in the power and my Ethernet cable (although if you wish, Wi-Fi is available) and I turned on the TV. The initial registration and configuration were followed, which led me to fill a few prompts. Once that was done and the TV updated its software, it was time to start searching.
VIZIO HomeZit Series 4K 65-inch 4K (PX65-G1) TV Test
VIZIO offers a friendly user interface
VIZIO's smart TV operating system is called SmartCast because of its inclusion of Chromecast technology. Although VIZIO designed these TVs for use primarily with Chromecast, there is an easy-to-use user interface. You'll find a selection of top quality TV shows and movies to watch, as well as several options for apps such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. It's great for those who do not have a dedicated streaming media player like Apple TV, but in general I do not use the TV's built-in user interfaces. The menus, however, make me spend a lot of time and I love the way VIZIO has introduced everything.
Another advantage of recent VIZIO TVs is that your phone is also a remote control. This goes under the interface because you can to avoid using the TV's user interface for a number of things via the phone application. The application will give you full access to everything the remote control could have, whether it's volume or power controls, audio levels, play buttons or even of menu options. If your remote can do it, your phone can, which is phenomenal for those (like me) who constantly lose the remote.
Features and specifications
The VIZIO P series is the highest-end model proposed by the company. With Quantum-X display technology, you'll have a Dolby Vision display and an HDR10 display that can produce breathtaking images. The P series also fully supports Dolby Atmos on ARC, which is fantastic when paired with an Atmos soundbar. VIZIO's P series also features 384 local dimming zones, allowing it to deliver as deep blacks as possible without going through an OLED panel. In addition, the display offers an effective refresh rate of 240 Hz with a ClearAction refresh rate of 960Hz. This will give you a smooth look when watching action sequences or sports at high speed.
On the back of this TV, you'll find five HDMI ports, all Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10 compatible. There are also Ethernet ports, optical audio, component, USB and an OTA TV tuner. One of the HDMI ports is ARC compatible, which is necessary for Dolby Atmos in the high end.
Quality of display
Although I've been a big fan of OLED since its announcement, this TV does a fantastic job producing great colors and deep blacks, even though it's still an LCD. Whether you're watching improved Dolby Vision content or normal 1080p broadcasts on a regular TV, this display is absolutely fantastic. I did not find that it really whitened the color or erased the whites (or crushed the blacks) ... that is, once you've set the parameters correctly. It probably took me about twenty minutes for the display settings to be to my taste, as you can see in the photo above.
Really, the local gradation is what takes the cake here. Basically, when you have an OLED panel, the only pixels that are enabled are those that should be. This helps create a darker black by actually turning off pixels to create deeper contrast in these areas and making other colors, such as yellow or white, brighter than blue. Standard LCDs simply can not do this because there is a backlight that covers the entire screen to illuminate the whole thing. When local dimming was introduced, it allowed certain areas of the lighting to turn off or turn off the backlight, thus replicating the OLED function for a fraction of the cost. Thanks to the presence of many local dimming zones, the VIZIO P Series TV offers incredible contrast and deep colors without sacrificing the rest of the brightness or clarity of the screen.
HomeKit and AirPlay 2 occupy a central place in our review of VIZIO's latest news.
This is probably my favorite part of the TV, without the fantastic display. At first, I almost ignored VIZIO's inclusion of AirPlay 2 and HomeKit compatibility in my review, as I already had a 4K Apple TV connected to this home theater monster. However, after using both software for a few weeks, I can definitely say that the HomeKit feature is essential for my next TV purchase. Although AirPlay 2 is nice, I probably will not this a must (although usually HomeKit and AirPlay 2 come hand in hand.)
Why HomeKit is a must for my next 4K UHDTV
I love having a stylish apartment, but anything that is compatible with HomeKit is essential for me. Although I use tools such as Google Assistant, which is supported by VIZIO for some time, it's just not as fluid.
I have some HomeKit automations configured for my apartment. One of them is that when I leave the house, everything stops. Whether I leave the lights on in the bathroom or forget to close the TV, everything closes when I leave, without any invitation from me.
I also have a Philips Hue Switch at my bedside, which can be reprogrammed via the Home app on your iOS device. The third button on my remote that I programmed to turn everything off in the apartment. With a single tap, all lights and all appliances, including TV, turn off. I do not need to use voice commands, I do not need a phone app, just a little support to stop everything, and it's pretty amazing.
Another great feature of HomeKit is being able to cross the living room, watch the TV on and lift the wrist to say to Siri "Turn off the TV in the living room" and watch the guests be knocked out when the TV stops. Siri extends even further by allowing you to easily change the inputs or volume of your home theater by voice or even by the dedicated application for the home.
AirPlay 2 is fine, but it will still not replace my Apple TV
The inclusion of AirPlay 2 is very nice. There are times when I just like to throw content from my MacBook, from my iPad or from my iPhone to the TV. The problem is that I already had an Apple TV capable of doing it.
This feature is really for those who do not already have a dedicated streaming media player, such as a 4K Apple TV. Having AirPlay 2 on my TV is fine, but I do not really use it. My Apple TV offers a better interface and frankly, it is a little faster to perform tasks than using AirPlay 2 itself. If you do not already have Apple TV, AirPlay 2 works perfectly. I was able to easily extract a movie from the TV application on my iPhone and press "Living Room TV" to start watching instantly. The playback controls worked very well, the volume controls for changing the TV's audio levels and working exactly as expected. But if you have an Apple TV, you will probably use your dedicated device via AirPlay 2 built into your TV more often.
VIZIO 3.1.2 Channel Dolby Atmos Sound Bar (SB36312)
Dolby Atmos is a must for a truly immersive experience
The soundbar associated with my PX65-G1 is VIZIO's Dolby Atmos 3.1.2-Channel compatible soundbar. This means that there are three channels facing forward (center, left, right), one subwoofer channel and two upwardly oriented channels (top left, top right). That's right, this soundbar pulls the sound from the ceiling (when you're watching supported content). This really gives you a much more immersive experience when viewing your favorite Atmos compatible movie. Thanks to this new technology, when a sound passes through a film (think of a helicopter or a plane), you hear it as if it were Actually above your head. This only adds to the immersion factor.
Choppy bass
The subwoofer with this soundbar is crazy. I am a bass-head (read: I really appreciate the deeper audio, because my two vehicles are equipped with secondary subwoofers), so it takes a lot of time to impress. Needless to say, VIZIO does not disappoint. Normally, when you have a built-in subwoofer with a soundbar, especially such a small one, you do not expect much from it. In general, I kept the basement mainly turned down, if not a few clicks above 0. This is more than enough for the average film, and the ride will provide entertainment that will shake the seat. It's as much fun as noisy, but make sure to keep the subfolder down, otherwise easily drown the film.
Conclusion
If you want the ultimate home theater setup, you really can not go wrong with any of these products. At first, I was not fully sold to the local dimming that this TV pack. I had in mind "The OLED is the only way to really enjoy darker scenes," but it's just wrong. Of course, OLED offers deeper blacks and brighter colors than normal LCDs, but local dimming and Quantum X technology here have really impressed me.
Dolby Vision is another star of the series here, as it offers dynamic frame-by-frame adjustments, allowing better scene control for more realistic rendering. I much prefer Dolby Vision to the HDR10, and it's really visible with this TV thanks to the local dimming zones.
Plus, with the inclusion of HomeKit and AirPlay 2, this TV fits nicely into my stylish apartment, so you can not only watch content, but also make sure the TV never stays on when I'm leaving home.
All in all, for those looking for the ultimate home theater companion, but simply can not justify a 65-inch OLED TV, this is a great option that will please. In addition, the P65-G1 and SB36312 already benefit from discounts at retailers like Best Buy.
The VIZIO P Series Dolby Vision Smart 4K 65-inch UHDTV Smart TV is available at retail price $ 2,199.99although it is often on sale at retailers such as Best Buy
The VIZIO Dolby Atmos 3.1.2 Channel Sound Bar (SB36312) is available at a retail price of $ 469.99although it is often on sale at retailers such as Best Buy
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