Model number Vizio TV decode, explained 2013-2023

You should know that Vizio does not manufacture Vizio TVs, and yes, that is indeed true. Electronics OEMs make Vizio TVs. These companies design the TV models, negotiate prices, and then produce the TVs under the VIZIO brand. Custom TV production for companies that own a particular brand is standard today. Large Chinese companies produce TVs for well-known brands. According to the website https://themoney.co, VIZIO TVs are manufactured by OEM companies BOE, Foxconn, Innolux, KIE, Tolly, TPV, and Zylux.

TV Vizio 2023 model: Regarding TV equipment, VIZIO, a well-known brand in the industry, traditionally releases new models in the second half of each year. However, deviating from that norm, VIZIO has announced its 2023 models, namely the M55Q6-L4 and VQPC-84, in the fourth quarter of 2023.

A closer look, especially on Amazon’s platform, reveals an intriguing situation. VIZIO models released in 2022 are sold as 2023 models. This discovery is confirmed when examining the “Additional Information” section of the TV listings, where it is revealed that these models were first listed in 2022. This raises the question of the nature of these models – are they truly new releases or are they simply updates to previous year models. Given the available information, this seems unlikely. Such a strategy, while not uncommon in the consumer electronics industry, requires a critical analysis of the technical differences between TVs.

TV VIZIO serial and model number lookup

When registering your TV or contacting customer support, you will need the model number and serial number of your Vizio TV. Also, if you decide to buy a used Vizio TV, finding out how old it is is not unreasonable. As usual, you can find the TV’s serial and model numbers in three places.

• The sticker on the TV
• On the TV menu
• On the box, if you bought your TV online, you will see your purchases in your account. You will be able to find the model number of your TV.

The first way to find the serial and model number of your VIZIO TV set

Suppose you find out the model number or serial number of your VIZIO TV. The easiest way is to find the model number on the sticker on the back of the TV. 

The place where the sticker will be may differ; it depends on the year of manufacture of the TV and the factory (OEM company) where it was manufactured. Therefore, you need to inspect the entire back panel of the TV; some models may have two information stickers. The first is a giant sticker, and the second is a barcode with the model number and serial number on the side of the back panel, closer to the edge. Of course, there is another solution if the TV is mounted on the wall and access to the back panel is difficult.

The second way to find the serial number of VIZIO TV

If you can’t find the model number on the sticker, or if you don’t want to take the TV off the wall, here is the second way to find the model number and serial number of your VIZIO TV. You can find the model number of your TV from the menu. To do this with a few keystrokes on your remote control, follow these steps. Depending on the version of your operating system the procedure may be different, I will show you a few options, if your TV has a slightly different menu, the search will still look something like this

• Press the menu button on the remote control
• select Admin&Privacy, press OK on the remote control
• Select System Info press ok

You’ll see information about your TV with the model number at the top.

• Press the Menu button on the VIZIO remote control.
• Highlight and select Help or System
• Select System Information and press OK.
• Your serial number is next to “TV SN“.

The third way to find the serial number of your VIZIO TV

The third way is a bit specific, but I’ll still remind you of it. You can find the model number and serial number of your VIZIO TV in these ways.

• Check the purchase documents, if you still have them
• Look at the sticker on the box, if you didn’t throw it away.
• If you bought your TV online, try to remember where you bought it and check the TV’s purchase history.

Either way, at least one of these three ways will be helpful to you.

Vizio TV model number decoding

Since the TVs are made by OEM companies, VIZIO TV model numbers do not give much information about the technical characteristics of the TVs. The model number is only needed for information on screen size, TV series, and year of development. More detailed specifications can be found in the description of the particular TV. However, you can get some information from the model number of your TV as well. VIZIO TVs are divided into series, e.g. M, P, D series. Depending on the series, the technical characteristics of the TVs differ greatly. But you should know that VIZIO TVs mainly belong to the budget segment.

In 2018 there are some changes to the model number of the TV, the model number is slightly larger, although this has not added to the information about the TV.

Understanding Vizio TV Model Numbers: Decoding Guide

Vizio TV model numbers, such as M55-C2, are designed to provide detailed information about the TV series, screen size, model variation, year of development, and design aspects.

1. Series Indicator (first letter): The initial letter, such as ‘M’ in M55-C2, indicates the series of the TV. Vizio categorizes its TVs into different series, indicated either by a letter (e.g., M, P, V) or by the complete spelling for some types, such as OLED or Quantum. It is important to note that a series can exist for several years. For example, the M series has been around since 2013. However, a 2013 M Series model will significantly differ from its 2022 counterpart regarding technology and features.
2. Screen Size: The number following the series letter indicates the screen size in inches. In the M55-C2 example, “55” indicates a 55-inch screen.
3. Model Number in Series: The model number may contain additional characters after the screen size. These characters identify specific models in the series. Do not look for a pattern here: these differences may be due to different manufacturing processes or design features.
4. Year of Development (following letter): The letter following the screen size and model number indicates the year the TV model was developed. This chronological identifier helps distinguish between the year of manufacture and the level of technology. For example, the letter “C” in M55-C2 corresponds to 2015. Here’s a quick reference for determining the development year of a Vizio TV:
   • L: 2023
   • K: 2022
   • J: 2021
   • H: 2020
   • G: 2019
   • F: 2018
   • E: 2017
   • D: 2016
   • C: 2015
   • B: 2014
   • A: 2013
5. Design Variation (last number): The last digit in a model number often indicates a design variation, usually related to the TV stand or general aesthetics. 

Vizio TVs Overview

VIZIO televisions are sold in the North American market in the United States and Canada. It is an American company that was among the first to realize that it is unnecessary to produce TVs yourself. You can order them from other companies under your brand and sell them for a profit. As I have already mentioned, Vizio does not have its own factories; TVs are assembled to order by electronics assemblers, which are usually factories in China or Mexico. Vizio has taken the path of aggressive pricing: TV sets, the declared parameters similar to the leading manufacturers, are 10-30% cheaper.

This is because buyers in the U.S. and Canada pay less attention to technical characteristics. Buyers pay attention to image quality, price, and access to network resources such as Netflix, etc. VIZIO has capitalized on this by building a business model focused on the North American market. The company’s employees work in sales, design, and service. The company tries to keep up with other manufacturers’ technology, and it succeeds. True, the image quality is worse than that of LG or Samsung, but the TVs are popular with customers. For example, I compared 55-inch TVs, and Vizio has thick TVs; for example, the thickness of the TV model V555M-K01 is 3.2 inches, which is a lot. Other manufacturers had such TVs in 2014-2016, indicating the use of previous generations’ displays.

How to find out the year of manufacture of your Vizio TV

Vizio’s approach to model numbering can give you an idea of the assembly year of your TVs, although it’s important to note that this method gives an approximate, rather than exact, time frame. Historically, Vizio typically began production of new TV models in the third quarter (Q3) of the year, labeling them with the following year’s model number. This practice continued until 2018. However, in recent years, due to increased competition and the entry of many other brands, such as TCL, Hisense, and Amazon, this practice is no longer used; Vizio prefers to indicate on the models “NEW,” and the buyer has to figure out what year he buys a TV.

For example, consider a Vizio TV with model number M55-C2. The letter “C” refers to the 2015 model in this context. Thus, we can infer that the TVs of this particular model were assembled between the third quarter of 2015 (Q3 2015) and the third quarter of 2016 (Q3 2016). This methodology helps approximate the assembly period of a Vizio TV based on its model number. However, it should be recognized that this approach needs to provide an accurate production date.

Evolution of the Vizio TV lineup: 2018-2023

• 2018: Introduction of P-Series Quantum. In 2018, Vizio expanded its P-Series lineup with the introduction of the P-Series Quantum. These TVs utilize quantum dot technology, which has significantly improved the display capabilities. Aside from this innovation, the P-Series Quantum models retained similar features to the 2017 models. Notably, Vizio did not re-release these particular models in subsequent years.
• 2020: Vizio’s OLED experiment. In 2020, Vizio embarked on an experimental endeavor by launching OLED TVs with screens sourced from LG. However, this initiative was a one-off experiment as the brand did not go on to launch new OLED TV models in its future lines.
• 2021: Focus on budget models and no premium models. The year 2021 was a year of strategic change for Vizio. The company did not introduce new models in the premium TV segment. This decision was influenced by the disappointing sales results of premium models in previous years. Vizio’s 2021 line of TVs was characterized by displays with a maximum frequency of 60 Hz. While this specification was sufficient for standard viewing, it did not suit users who needed high-performance displays, particularly for gaming consoles.
• 2022: updates to the D, M and V series; no new P series or OLED models. In 2022, Vizio refreshed its D, M and V series TVs, demonstrating its commitment to these lines. However, the brand did not introduce new models in the P series or resume production of OLED TVs. This decision was probably influenced by previous market reactions and the company’s strategic focus on certain segments of the TV market.
• 2023: new models are presented only in the fourth quarter and there are few of them, the M series is advertised as 120 Hz, but if you read the technical specifications, the TV supports such a frequency only when receiving FullHD content, which does not correspond to modern high-end TVs.