Vizio V-Series V655M-K04 65"

A massive 65-inch screen with surprisingly good HDR format support for under $400. Just don't you dare use the built-in speakers.

The HDR performance genuinely surprised us. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support on a sub-$400 set is rare, and it lands in the 93rd percentile in our database, which is best-in-class territory for budget TVs. The full-array backlight helps, but don't expect miracles with peak brightness. The picture quality overall is a mediocre 36th percentile, so while the TV can accept a great HDR signal, it doesn't have the raw horsepower to make it look stunning. The IQ Active Processor does a decent job upscaling 1080p content, but fast motion can get a little smeary with the 60Hz panel.

The TCL QM8K Series is the new budget king if you can stretch a little, with mini-LED brightness that embarrasses this Vizio. The Hisense U8 Series is the direct step-up competitor, offering better brightness and gaming performance for a couple hundred dollars more. If you can stretch your budget, skip this Vizio and grab the Hisense. But if $400 is a hard ceiling, the Vizio beats out no-name brands and older clearance models. The LG OLED evo C5, Samsung QN990F, and Sony BRAVIA 9 are in a completely different league and price bracket, so don't even bother comparing them unless your budget suddenly triples.

At around $380, this is a steal for a 65-inch screen from a known brand. You're not getting a premium picture, but you're getting a huge canvas for sports, cartoons, and casual streaming. If you just need a big screen for a bright living room and you don't want to spend real money, this is it.

The Vizio V-Series V655M-K04 is the TV you buy when you want a massive 65-inch screen for under $400 and you're not going to overthink it. The one thing to know is that its HDR support is shockingly good for the price, but the built-in audio is a total afterthought. This is a budget panel that punches above its weight in some very specific areas, and falls flat on its face in others. If you're already planning to pair it with a soundbar, you're on the right track.

If you care about deep blacks, vibrant colors, or smooth motion for sports and gaming, this isn't your TV. Go get the Hisense U7 Series instead. It costs more but the step up in picture quality is massive.

Buy it for the size and the price, not the performance. The Vizio V655M-K04 is a perfectly fine secondary TV for a bedroom or a kid's playroom where sheer screen real estate matters more than perfect black levels. Just budget another $100 for a basic soundbar because those built-in speakers are rough.