Vizio M-Series Quantum M658-G1 65"

The Vizio M-Series Quantum M658-G1 is a 65-inch 4K QLED TV that delivers excellent HDR and deep blacks thanks to 90 local dimming zones, all for around $530. It's a killer value for movie lovers, though the smart platform is sluggish and the built-in audio is weak. Pair it with a streaming stick and a soundbar, and you've got a setup that rivals TVs costing twice as much.

The picture quality here is the main event. In our database, this Vizio lands in the 88th percentile for picture quality, which is impressive for a budget-friendly QLED. The 90 local dimming zones do real work, keeping black levels deep without too much blooming around bright objects. It's not OLED-level black, but it's one of the better full-array implementations we've seen at this price. HDR performance is a standout, sitting in the 94th percentile. Dolby Vision content looks rich and detailed, and the quantum color tech gives you that extra saturation without looking cartoonish.

Gaming is decent but not a headliner. The 120Hz panel helps with motion clarity, and input lag is low enough for casual play, but you're not getting HDMI 2.1 features like VRR or 4K at 120fps. It's a solid TV for a PS5 or Xbox Series S if you're okay with 60fps gaming. The display itself is middle of the pack in our rankings, mostly because the 600-nit brightness and viewing angles are just average. Off-angle, the picture washes out a bit, so this is a TV you want to sit directly in front of.

Stacked against the Sony BRAVIA 5 K55XR50, the Vizio holds its own on picture quality but falls behind on processing and upscaling. Sony's motion handling and color accuracy out of the box are better, but you'll pay a premium for that. The Samsung QN85D is a step up in brightness and gaming features, with HDMI 2.1 and lower input lag, but it costs significantly more. If you're a serious gamer, the Samsung is the better pick.

The TCL QM7K and Hisense U7 Series are the Vizio's real rivals. Both offer Google TV, which is smoother than SmartCast, and similar full-array dimming performance. The Hisense tends to get brighter, which helps in well-lit rooms, while the TCL often has better contrast. The Vizio's advantage is its Dolby Vision implementation and that 120Hz panel, which you don't always get at this price. If you mostly watch movies in a dark room, the Vizio edges ahead. For bright living rooms or gaming, the Hisense or TCL might make more sense.

At around $530 for a 65-inch QLED with full-array local dimming, the value here is tough to beat. You're getting Dolby Vision, a 120Hz panel, and quantum dot color for less than most mid-range sets from Samsung or Sony. The trade-off is the clunky smart platform and weak audio, but a $50 streaming stick and a budget soundbar solve both problems. Compared to something like the TCL QM7K Series or Hisense U7 Series, this Vizio often undercuts them on price while delivering similar or better HDR performance. If you're willing to overlook the smart TV experience, this is a lot of screen for the money.

The Vizio M-Series Quantum M658-G1 is one of those TVs that makes you question why you'd spend twice as much on a big-name brand. This 65-inch 4K QLED set uses quantum dot tech to pump out way more color than a standard LED TV, and it backs that up with a full-array backlight and 90 local dimming zones. If you're hunting for a big screen that does HDR well without emptying your wallet, this model has been a go-to pick for a while. At around $530, it sits in a sweet spot where the picture quality punches well above its price.

Vizio loaded this thing up with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG support, so you're covered no matter what kind of HDR content you throw at it. The 600-nit peak brightness isn't going to blind you like a high-end OLED, but it's enough to make highlights pop in a dark room. And with SmartCast 3.0, you get built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant. It's a solid streaming hub even if the interface itself feels a little clunky compared to Roku or Google TV.

For a 65-inch TV in this price range, the M658-G1 is best for movie nights and streaming. It's not a portable monitor, obviously, and the built-in audio is pretty weak, but those are easy fixes with a soundbar. If you care more about picture quality than smart TV polish, this set still holds up surprisingly well.

Skip this TV if you need wide viewing angles for a big family room, the picture washes out pretty quickly when you're off to the side. Gamers who want HDMI 2.1 features like 4K at 120fps or VRR should look at the Samsung QN85D or a newer TCL model instead. And if you hate the idea of buying a separate streaming stick or soundbar, the sluggish SmartCast interface and weak built-in audio will probably annoy you. In that case, a Hisense U7 Series with Google TV built in might be a better fit right out of the box.

The Vizio M-Series Quantum M658-G1 is still a fantastic buy if you prioritize picture quality over smart TV bells and whistles. The HDR performance and local dimming are genuinely impressive for the price, and the 65-inch screen size makes movies and shows feel immersive. It's not the brightest TV on the block, and the audio is pretty sad, but those are compromises you can fix with a soundbar and a dark room.

Should you buy this? If you want a big, colorful 4K TV for streaming and movie nights and don't want to spend over $600, yes. It's one of the best values in the budget QLED space. Just know that you'll probably want to plug in a streaming device and a soundbar to get the full experience. If you need great off-angle viewing or next-gen gaming features, look elsewhere.