2017 Vizio P and M series will soon receive an automatic update to bring back the TV user interface as well as apps. The experiment with Chromecast-only TVs is officially over.

TV user interface returns
Last year, Vizio released a full range of connected TVs without any apps. In fact, the TVs had no on-screen user interface at all. The company imagined that users would use their phone or tablet as a control center for the Chromecast-enabled TVs. 

It turns out that users want an actual TV user interface.

And Vizio has now started rolling out exactly that. The company’s experiment with Chromecast-only TVs is officially over.

- “We are excited to announce today the rollout of VIZIO SmartCast TV! SmartCast TV is the latest way for you to quickly access popular apps right from the big screen with just a tap of the remote. The intuitive home screen greets you with content recommendations along with top apps such as Amazon Video, Crackle, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Pluto TV, Vudu and XUMO,” the company said.


The update is rolling out now for 2017 Vizio P and M series models. It will be available “later this summer” ´for 2017 E series models. The company has promised to also bring it to 2016 models but no timeframe was announced.

You can of course continue to use the built-in Chromecast features, if you prefer this method, even if it is now only supplementary to the on-screen user interface.

Vizio’s 2017 P and M ranges feature 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, and local dimming LCD technology. They are available from vizio.com in 50 to 75-inch sizes.

- Source: Vizio