Deciding on the right TV brand for your home can be overwhelming when there are so many different features and price points. This article takes out the guesswork by directly comparing two brands— Element and Vizio. But how can you figure out which one is better for you?

Element TV is better than Vizio in terms of providing quality TVs at the lowest price, but for a slightly higher cost, Vizio offers newer technology and a higher customer satisfaction rate.

To help you learn which brand is the best fit for your needs, this article compares the 55” 4K Smart TVs from both brands based on some of the most relevant specs.

Which TV Specs Matter?

While looking at TVs online, you will probably find yourself staring down a long list of specifications, detailing everything from which wall mounts are compatible to how much the TV weighs. However, these are the most important specs to consider:

  • Display typeScreen resolutionHDR compatibilityRefresh RateConnections portsPrice

Some other specs to consider are weight, size, and the amount of USB and HDMI ports.

And here is how those specs look when comparing similar TV models from Element and Vizio: 

Both Element and Vizio are budget-friendly TVs. They offer many of the qualities that luxury brands offer, so you won’t always have to worry about breaking the bank for quality.

Display Type

The Element TV we’re looking at has an LED display while the Vizio TV has a QLED display, but what’s the difference?

All TVs utilize LED lights to illuminate the screen; however, QLED is a type of LED display that utilizes Quantum Dot material to increase “overall efficiency and brightness” compared to regular (AKA full array) LED displays.

QLED is a newer technology that boasts higher picture quality; however, it also has a bigger price tag. When deciding which display type is right for you, you’ll need to consider which is a higher priority: picture or price? 

Screen Resolution

Screen resolution is another important spec to consider when comparing TVs. Both TVs we’re comparing have 4K displays with a resolution of 3840 x 2160, meaning that the displays are similar when it comes to picture quality. 

4K resolution is great for most TV users; however, there are 8K TVs on the market (at a much higher price) if you want an image that goes above and beyond the usual TV picture quality. 

HDR Compatibility

HDR compatibility is a newer technology that allows TVs to display a wider range of brightness and colors. Essentially, it makes the picture look more life-like.

The Element TV is HDR10 certified, while the Vizio TV is HDR10+ certified. These technologies offer the same depth of color, but the Vizio can reach a higher brightness. 

Refresh Rate

Both the Element and the Vizio have a refresh rate of 60Hz, which means that the display image refreshes 60 times every second. Rates between 60Hz and 120Hz are normal for modern TVs, and a small difference in refresh rate within this range won’t be super noticeable. 

However, higher refresh rates mean there will be less blur during fast-moving shots like those in action movies or sporting events.

Connection Ports

Both TVs have 3 HDMI ports and 1 USB port. There’s nothing very high-tech to compare when it comes to these connection ports; however, you should consider how many devices you’ll be connecting to your TV and what kind of port they need to make sure your TV can accommodate all the devices you use regularly, like Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and gaming consoles.

Price

Element is one of the most affordable TV brands on the market, while Vizio is a bit more expensive. The Element TV we’ve been looking at can be purchased for around $300, while the Vizio sells for close to $450.

Customer Reviews for Element and Vizio TVs

Since the specs on these TVs are so similar, another easy way to compare the two is to check out their customer reviews. Here’s how our TVs’ reviews break down.

The Element TV we’re looking at has a 4-star overall rating, with 61% of reviews giving the product 5 stars, but 16% giving it only 1 star. On the other hand, the Vizio TV has a 4.4-star overall rating, with 74% of reviews giving it 5 stars and 7% giving it 1 star. 

So, the Vizio TV comes out ahead regarding customer satisfaction.

Which TV is Really Better, Element or Vizio?

The specs on Element and Vizio TVs are pretty similar, with the main difference being Vizio’s display type and HDR compatibility. Element has consistently lower prices than Vizio; however, the average customer seems to be more pleased with their Vizio TV than Element. 

If you’re looking for a good quality TV at the lowest price, Element is the best fit. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit extra, the improved display quality of a Vizio TV might be worth it.