Vizio Says 2016 4K SmartCast TVs Will Support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit

Friday January 11, 2019 2:18 PM PST by Juli Clover
AirPlay 2 and HomeKit functionality will be available on all of Vizio's 2016 4K UHD SmartCast Displays, the company recently confirmed on Twitter.

Vizio's Twitter account for support questions supplied the information in response to a question from a MacRumors reader.


Apple recently shared a list of all AirPlay 2-enabled television sets on its HomeKit website, but only 2017, 2018, and 2019 Vizio models are listed.

From Apple's list:
- Vizio P-Series Quantum (2019 and 2018)
- Vizio P-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
- Vizio M-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
- Vizio E-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)
- Vizio D-series (2019, 2018 and 2017)

2017 SmartCast models feature the same hardware as earlier 2016 models, which means the integration will work with 2016 TV sets as well.


Vizio is one of the only companies implementing AirPlay 2 support on older television sets. Sony, Samsung, and LG are also enabling HomeKit support, but only on 2018 and 2019 models.

Samsung, for example, will support HomeKit on its 4 to 8 series TVs from 2018 and 2019, while LG and Sony are limiting the feature to new 2019 models.

Tags: HomeKit Guide, AirPlay 2, Vizio
38 comments

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lsutigerfan1976
14 months ago
Proof that they can put this stuff on older models if they choose to do so. I was getting backlash from ppl saying that older models weren’t powerful enough etc. But in reality it’s totally up to the tv manufacturer to do this. Or to force ppl to buy a newer tv.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Spock
14 months ago
Again, I’m glad that my last tv purchase was Vizio. A fairly high end feature added via software update on a 3 year old tv is impressive.
Rating: 4 Votes
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69Mustang
14 months ago

Vizio used Twitter to deliver very, very stale news!

C'mon Vizio. Wake up. Your website gave this info long ago!

Yeah, but no one -figuratively- visits their website. Stale or not, you put your news where the eyes are.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
freezah
14 months ago
As a long-term user of top Samsung’s TV sets I advise against buying them. Once they sell it, they never introduce any new features in the software updates - even worse, in my c8000 they have removed YouTube app after a while sending an info that the YT won’t be available any longer after specific date.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
jettredmont
14 months ago
Honest question: why is this exciting?

Airplay if you don’t have an AppleTV hooked up, or do people find it exciting for their TV to support it directly somehow?

What HomeKit integration are you expecting with the TV? Is it just on/off/volume, or full search/play support like an ATV with Siri remote?

(Personally, I avoid “smart” TVs as I prefer to have my ATV box separate and upgradable, and trust Apple to protect my privacy more than Samsung, LG, or Visio. Recent news’s about Visio monetization of viewing history data tells me that stance isn’t changing any time soon.)
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
mattopotamus
14 months ago

Although LG OLED is my TV of choice, I would seriously recommend Vizio for anyone who doesn't want to spend $$$ on TV (P and PQ series). Their level of support, especially given their low price, is incredible. If only they value user privacy, but I guess that's one reason why their TVs are priced so low.


OLED in the movie room and a Vizio in the living room (p-series 2016). It’s been an excellent set, and by far the best for buck since plasma sets.
[doublepost=1547325197][/doublepost]

Honest question: why is this exciting?

Airplay if you don’t have an AppleTV hooked up, or do people find it exciting for their TV to support it directly somehow?

What HomeKit integration are you expecting with the TV? Is it just on/off/volume, or full search/play support like an ATV with Siri remote?

(Personally, I avoid “smart” TVs as I prefer to have my ATV box separate and upgradable, and trust Apple to protect my privacy more than Samsung, LG, or Visio. Recent news’s about Visio monetization of viewing history data tells me that stance isn’t changing any time soon.)


AirPlay is a welcomed feature for easily sharing video/photos on the big screen. As I mentioned above, the Vizio is my living room TV and stuff like this will keep me buying them. I can seriously play everything on the P-series.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Sasparilla
14 months ago
Seems like there are issues with Vizio monetizing your viewing (and presumably anything else it can).

Here's the thing that kicked this off - one of the Verge's people noticed how much data the Vizio was sending through his parents router (the most of any device in the house by far) even though it wasn't being used for direct viewing through the TV: https://twitter.com/reckless/status/1081787683515490305

Their CEO had an interview where he said he only needs a price to break even on the TV to sell it, because he makes a recurring stream of money from monetizing what you watch (and who knows what else).

https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019

While Vizio seems like one of the worst, it seems like all the Mfrs do this with their smart TV's - just reading it makes me wish Apple made TV's.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Mac Fly (film)
14 months ago

Yes!!! I’ve been telling everyone to buy Vizio for years and my 2016 Vizio P65-C1 is singing right now!

That’s Vizio CEO singing about all the personal watch information he’s stealing on you.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
ipedro
14 months ago

Proof that they can put this stuff on older models if they choose to do so. I was getting backlash from ppl saying that older models weren’t powerful enough etc. But in reality it’s totally up to the tv manufacturer to do this. Or to force ppl to buy a newer tv.


The only new TV LG is forcing me to buy is a Vizio.

All LG has demonstrated with this is that they won’t support their products, even brand new ones that were just purchased. Thanks for the tip LG. I’ll make sure to keep that in mind when I buy my next television.
Rating: 2 Votes
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nutmac
14 months ago
Although LG OLED is my TV of choice, I would seriously recommend Vizio for anyone who doesn't want to spend $$$ on TV (P and PQ series). Their level of support, especially given their low price, is incredible. If only they value user privacy, but I guess that's one reason why their TVs are priced so low.
Rating: 2 Votes
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