Our own Ian White was just talking up VIZIO's 21:9 XVT Series, which will be coming later this year. However, that's not all VIZIO has planned for the year. Not even close.
The company just announced a whopping 40 LED HDTV models coming this year, with sizes ranging from 16 to 71 inches. The size isn't the only thing to matters, since many of the models include features such as Theater 3D, built-in Wi-Fi, VIZIO Internet Apps, and VIZIO's super-unique Bluetooth remote, which includes its own QWERTY keyboard.
"LED's will account for about 21 percent of LCD TV shipments in North America for 2010, but jump dramatically to more than half of all LCD TV shipments in 2011 as the premium for them falls and a new range of more affordable edge-lit LED solutions are brought to the market," says Paul Gagnon, director of North American TV Research at DisplaySearch.
The new E and M Series will include VIZIO's Edge-Lit Razor backlighting, which lines rows of LEDs around the edges of the screen. Many of those models also have Smart Dimming to control LEDs in up to 32 zones. The top-of-the-line XVT Series will have Full Array TruLED backlighting with Smart Dimming. These models promise over 120 zones, which allows the TruLED to dim specific areas of the screen, boasting images that really pop.
Select models in both the E and M Series, as well as the entire XVT Series, will feature Theater 3D. Earlier this week, we reported on the 22 models that will feature this new technology, which uses a circular polarized filter to support Frame Packing, Side-by-Side, Top and Bottom, plus SENSIO HiFi 3D and the RealD Format. Unlike active-shutter 3D TVs, these models use passive eyewear, which eliminates the need for heavy, bulky batteries. Depending on the model, VIZIO plans to include up to four pairs of Theater 3D glasses with each TV.
E series models have SRS TruSurround HD, with most M and all Theater 3D and XVT models getting SRS StudioSound HD. Most of the new sets will also include either single or Dual-Band 802.11n Wi-Fi, as well as VIZIO Internet Apps. This on-screen service includes content from partners such as Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, VUDU, Twitter, and much more. Those services should be easy to access via VIZIO's unique IR or Bluetooth remote controls. Many of the new models will come packing one of these remotes, which also has a convenient QWERTY keyboard.
Two of the models to definitely get that remote are the XVT3D476SP and XVT3D556SP. These newly announced sets are part of the new VIZIO VIA Plus ecosystem, which ties the HDTV into the newly announced VIZIO Phone and VIZIO Tablet. Aside from the keyboard, the remote also has a touchpad. Other features include built-in dual-band 802 and Google TV as part of the VIA offering.
For a look at the various LED models for the year, check out the chart below. VIZIO will announce release dates and pricing closer to each set's actual ship date.
