Vizio M Series Quantum 50 inch 4K Smart TV M507 G1 Review A Great Balance
Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1) Review: A Great Balance Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Home Theater & Entertainment > TV & Displays
After connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable during the guided setup process, you’re likely to encounter some software updates before you can begin using the set. In my case, the TV spent more than 20 minutes downloading and applying updates before it was completely up to date. Lifewire / Andrew Hayward
It also supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10 flavors of High Dynamic Range (HDR), which boosts the contrast by delivering a wider disparity between white and black parts of the image. The colors are especially vivid thanks to Quantum Color technology, the same kind seen in many higher-end Samsung sets, which really amplifies the effect. The end result is rich and vibrant across all kinds of media, whether it’s movies, games, or streaming TV shows. If you’re upgrading from a few-year-old 1080p set without HDR, then the result is sure to impress in a big way. That said, there are pricier sets with a bit more punch and finesse to their image quality. The 16 local dimming zones in the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV help deliver strong contrast, but with some rival televisions offering several times that many zones, they’re able to deliver deeper black levels. There are also much brighter TVs out there than this one. Viewing angles do suffer a little if you’re off to either side a fair bit, but not enough to be troublesome… unless you’re regularly packing big crowds into a small space. Overall, I’m very happy with what this mid-range Vizio can do—any limitations and deficiencies are minor.
The SmartCast platform also has a WatchFree feature with 100+ free, ad-supported streaming channels powered by streaming service Pluto. All of the streaming services I tried worked well on the Vizio, although the SmartCast menu interface is a little sluggish overall. Lifewire / Andrew Hayward
Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1) Review
A strong mid-range 4K HDR set with a sharp picture and a stellar price
By Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward Writer Lewis University Andrew Hayward specializes in smartphones, wearables, smart home tech, and video games. His work has been published by TechRadar, Macworld, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 7, 2021 Tweet Share Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 4.2Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1)
Lifewire / Andrew Hayward What We Like Vibrant, colorful image Crisp 4K resolution Lots of streaming options What We Don't Like Missing some key streaming apps Non-uniform space around screen Amidst Vizio’s very broad lineup, the M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1) finds the right balance between quality and value. View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy 4.2Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1)
Lifewire / Andrew Hayward View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy in this article Expand Design Setup Process Bit of a wait Image Quality Audio Quality Software Price Competition Final Verdict Specs We purchased Vizio's M-Series Quantum 50-Inch 4k Smart TV so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review. Vizio has carved out its place as the leading budget TV brand in the United States, and while companies such as Hisense and TCL are trying to steal its thunder, Vizio consistently offers some of the best entry-level and mid-range sets around. Part of that comes from the fact that Vizio has so many different models that there’s bound to be something for everyone—even if sorting through the various model numbers and advantages to each can be confusing at times. The Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV (M507-G1) seems to hit a sweet spot for a reasonably priced 4K TV set: it’s large and super sharp, sporting some of the features you’d find on pricier, higher-end rivals, but to a lesser degree in some respects. And while the minimal design is certainly solid, it doesn’t attempt to look flashy or expensive. It’s just a great TV at an even better price, and should meet the needs of most 4K buyers today. I tested the M507-G1 for more than 80 hours across games, movies, and streaming media. Lifewire / Andrew HaywardDesign Stands up not out
Given the modest price, it’s no surprise that the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV’s design doesn’t really stand out or look overly fussed over. That’s fine, though: it strikes a pretty minimal silhouette overall. The matte black frame has a fairly sizable Vizio logo in the lower right, but otherwise, it’s straightforward and simplistic. The included legs are thin and wide, although you can always wall-mount the TV instead of using them. Looking closely at the TV, however, it’s a bit odd that the screen has a small amount of unused space along the top. It’s not uniform across the board, and while you won’t notice it from afar (it just fades into the frame above), it does look a bit strange up-close. Given the modest price, it’s no surprise that the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV’s design doesn’t really stand out or look overly fussed over. The Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV is fully loaded on ports, with four HDMI inputs, composite and USB inputs, an optical audio output, a coaxial input, and an Ethernet port for wired internet access. You also get a remote control with quick-access buttons for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU, Xumo, and Redbox, along with all of the usual buttons.Setup Process Bit of a wait
The feet are interchangeable and can go in either side, with a couple of included screws needed to secure each to the set. Alternatively, wall-mounting the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV requires separate VESA 200x200 mount hardware.After connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable during the guided setup process, you’re likely to encounter some software updates before you can begin using the set. In my case, the TV spent more than 20 minutes downloading and applying updates before it was completely up to date. Lifewire / Andrew Hayward
Image Quality It s a beauty
Despite the budget branding, Vizio’s modern sets match up well to pricier competition—and that’s definitely true with the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV. This LED-backlit LCD screen is crisp and clear at 3840x2160 (4K Ultra HD) resolution, with a rating of 400 nits delivering solid brightness.It also supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10 flavors of High Dynamic Range (HDR), which boosts the contrast by delivering a wider disparity between white and black parts of the image. The colors are especially vivid thanks to Quantum Color technology, the same kind seen in many higher-end Samsung sets, which really amplifies the effect. The end result is rich and vibrant across all kinds of media, whether it’s movies, games, or streaming TV shows. If you’re upgrading from a few-year-old 1080p set without HDR, then the result is sure to impress in a big way. That said, there are pricier sets with a bit more punch and finesse to their image quality. The 16 local dimming zones in the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV help deliver strong contrast, but with some rival televisions offering several times that many zones, they’re able to deliver deeper black levels. There are also much brighter TVs out there than this one. Viewing angles do suffer a little if you’re off to either side a fair bit, but not enough to be troublesome… unless you’re regularly packing big crowds into a small space. Overall, I’m very happy with what this mid-range Vizio can do—any limitations and deficiencies are minor.
Audio Quality Sounds great
With a pair of 10W stereo speakers onboard, the Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV produces solidly clear sound that can ably fill a room. Flat screens often fall short on this front, but the M-Series’ speakers ought to do the trick for most. Still, you’ll surely get an upgrade by attaching a soundbar—even a basic 2.0-channel stereo one, like Vizio offers for cheap.Software Missing a few things
The Vizio M-Series Quantum 50-inch 4K Smart TV runs the Vizio SmartCast 3.0 platform, which implements streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, VUDU, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Tubi, and Disney+. Although dozens of apps are already built into the interface, SmartCast has the frustrating deficiency of not offering any sort of app store for downloading additional services such as Sling TV or Twitch. If you’re upgrading from a few-year-old 1080p set without HDR, then the result is sure to impress in a big way. That’s disappointing for a modern smart TV, especially since Android TV and Roku TV-powered sets let you download and add further services/channels. The alternative here is the titular SmartCast feature, which lets you stream from video services on your smartphone or tablet via Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast functionality. That works well, but I’d rather have a native app on the TV than rely on my phone to fling over video—even if the quality is about the same.The SmartCast platform also has a WatchFree feature with 100+ free, ad-supported streaming channels powered by streaming service Pluto. All of the streaming services I tried worked well on the Vizio, although the SmartCast menu interface is a little sluggish overall. Lifewire / Andrew Hayward