Vizio OLED55-H1 Review

Vizio OLED55-H1

★★★★☆

Finally, a more affordable OLED TV

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PROS
✔ Excellent image quality
✔ Priced lower than the vast majority of comparable OLED televisions
✔ AirPlay 2 and Google Cast support is included.
CONS
❌ The panel does not shine as brightly as its rivals.

When it comes to televisions, we have long extolled the virtues of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology for its ability to pack incredible contrast with perfect black levels and excellent color performance into thinner panels than LED-backlit LCD models. This is due to OLED technology’s ability to emit light in an organic form rather than a fluorescent one. However, Sony also offers some models, and now Vizio is entering the race with a range of OLED panels. LG has been at the forefront of this movement since its inception, but Sony and Vizio are not far behind. Vizio’s televisions provide the same kind of high-end performance that we have come to anticipate from OLED technology, but at much more wallet-friendly prices than models from LG and Sony; the 55-inch OLED55-H1 that we tested can be purchased for $1,299.99, which is several hundred dollars less than models from competing manufacturers. And because of its comparable performance at a significantly reduced cost, the new series from Vizio has earned our Editors’ Choice award as the most inexpensive OLED TV.

Vizio OLED Design and Ports

The OLED55-H1 is a sleek and uncomplicated television that has a glass display that goes all the way to the edges and is surrounded by a band of dark metal. The television does not have a bezel, and there is no Vizio logo anywhere on the device. The metal frame is broken up very little by a small bump in the lower left corner that serves as the infrared receiver. When you turn on the television, a large Vizio logo appears on the screen in a dazzling white color against the background of an OLED display that is black.

Although the panel itself is only a few thousandths of an inch thick, the lower half of the rear of the television is protruded due to the presence of a plastic casing that houses the electronic components and connections of the television. On the left side of the back of the TV is where you’ll find the HDMI port, the USB port, and the RCA composite video inputs. In addition to the aforementioned connections, there are three extra HDMI ports, an Ethernet port, a connector for an antenna or cable, RCA stereo outputs, and optical audio outputs that face downward. Near the edge of the left side of the back of the TV is where a small panel of control buttons is located. The television is supported by a broad metal base that is shaped like a huge foot and curls forward, and there is a smaller stabilizing foot attached to the back of the television. If you would rather mount it on the wall, you can do that as well.

Remote control as well as SmartCast

The remote control that is provided is quite standard and does not have any fancy extras like motion controls, a touch pad, or a microphone. It’s a wand made of black plastic that’s packed with buttons and has a noticeable navigation pad in the shape of a circle towards the top. Above the navigation pad you’ll find the power button, an input button, a menu button, and dedicated service buttons for Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, Redbo, Vudu, and Xumo. There’s also a Watch Free button, which launches Vizio’s Pluto TV-powered feed. Below the navigation pad are some rockers for the volume and the channels, a number pad, and a home button. Pressing the home button brings up the SmartCast home screen.

Access to major apps and services such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube can be gained through the SmartCast smart TV platform offered by Vizio. This interface is straightforward but functional, and it enables this access. Additionally, it is compatible with AirPlay 2 and Google Cast, allowing you to stream content from your Android or iOS mobile device, Chrome tab, or Mac. There is no voice assistance available on this platform, however the functionality for streaming media is excellent.

Vizio OLED Performance

High dynamic range (HDR) video may be displayed in HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision on the Vizio OLED55-H1, which is a 4K TV from Vizio.

When evaluating televisions, we use a Klein K-80 colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G signal generator, and the Calman software from Portrait Displays. This program employs a methodology that is based on the calibration methodologies developed by the Imaging Science Foundation.

Even though it is an OLED TV, the OLED55-H1 is capable of producing black levels that are as perfect as they go, but it cannot get nearly as bright as some of the LED-backlit LCD models that we have tried. We generated a full-screen white field by using an HDR10 signal, and we were able to record a peak brightness of 117.968 cd/m2 using that signal. The screen produces a luminance of 419.107 cd/m2 with an 18 percent white field and 522.205 cd/m with a 10 percent white field. The brightness of the screen increases as the percentage of white field decreases. It is definitely bright enough to watch without straining your eyes, but it is just a third as bright as the Hisense 55H9G can get (1,492.606cd/m2), and it is a little bit dimmer than other OLEDs such as the LG C9 (667.89cd/m2) and the Sony A9G (504.27cd/m2).

The OLED55-H1 certainly impresses when it comes to the performance of its colors, despite the fact that it won’t win any prizes for its luminance. The charts that are located above compare the color levels produced by the TV while using a standard dynamic range (SDR) signal to the Rec.709 broadcast standards, and when using a high dynamic range (HDR) signal to the DCI-P3 digital cinema standards. Straight out of the box, the colors on the TV are virtually identical to those of both streams, and they almost entirely encompass the DCI-P3 color space. There is a slight tendency toward warmth in white and yellow, and there is a slight tendency toward green in cyan, but these are our only small issues. The color performance of this place is outstanding by default.

Even if it doesn’t have the same level of brightness as an LED-backlit model, the OLED55-H1 produces an excellent picture thanks to the performance of its colors. The television presentation of BBC’s Planet Earth II looks fantastic, with the vegetation appearing both vibrant and natural on the screen. It showcases a wide range of rich and varied greens and green-yellows without appearing oversaturated or cartoonish. The blues of the sea and sky offer an abundance of natural variation as well, ranging from a chilly blue-white to a verdant blue-green. Both the shadow and the sunlight bring out the finer elements of the creature, such as its fur and its scales.

Even though the opening of Deadpool takes place during a cloudy day, the reds of Deadpool’s suit are well-balanced and bright, and the skin tones appear to be entirely realistic. In the combat scene that takes place in the blazing lab, the flames appear bright, but the details in the shadows are made evident.

The Great Gatsby is a film that makes full use of the OLED TV’s capacity to showcase great contrast. Black outfits appear to be the correct shade of black, but the cuts and shapes of the suits, as well as fine textures like dark hair, can be seen very clearly. Because the blacks are so intense, the whites appear to be quite bright, and the skin tones, once again, look very natural in between the two extremes of the monotone spectrum.

The length of time that passes between a television receiving a signal and the display being updated is referred to as the “input lag.” A mediocre input lag of 66.7 milliseconds is displayed by the OLED55 when Game Mode is not active. When Game Mode is used, the delay is reduced by a third, to 21.1 milliseconds. It is not quite below the threshold of 20 milliseconds that we use to designate a TV one of the finest for gaming, but it should satisfy all players except those who are particularly frame-obsessed.

An Excellent OLED TV for Less

The OLED55-H1 from Vizio is an outstanding first attempt at merging high-end technology into the company’s selection of products that are still within a reasonable price range. The screen isn’t able to reach as bright as some of the greatest LCD TVs, but it has excellent contrast thanks to its ideal black levels, and the color performance is among the best we’ve seen. It is a credible competitor to more established models from LG and Sony, and the fact that it is offered at a reduced price makes it even more attractive. As a result, our OLED line from Vizio has been awarded our Editors’ Choice award. The Hisense H9G series continues to be one of our top picks for LED-backlit LCD televisions, even if you wish to reduce your expenditures even further.

VIZIO 2022 Product Series Comparison Chart

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