Vizio review: Watchfree antenna integration on smart tvs

An update was recently pushed to Vizio Smart TVs. This update moved antenna functionality under the umbrella of their Watchfree app.

On the surface, this could have been a net neutral update. However, this update has 3 big issues in my opinion.

1) Channel surfing is no longer possible - You are forced into a "guide" experience now. In the past, you could simply scroll up and down the channels with one button push. This is gone. The main way to scroll through channels now is: Step 1 - Go to channel guide. Step 2: Scroll up or down to next channel. Step 3: Select that channel. So, even if you simply wanted to go up one channel, from say, channel 33 to channel 34, it would require multiple button presses.

2) Access to numerical pad has been moved to a separate button now. It was an adjustment for me to not have a numerical pad actually on the remote. I got over it, though, cause there was an easily accessible on screen numerical pad. It was integrated into the OK button. But now, the OK button bring sup the guide, and the numerical keypad is located on a different button. Fine on the default remote, but for anyone with a universal remote of any kind, this functionality means you now need one more button dedicated to something.

3) Factory reset no longer resets to how it came off the factory floor. This Vizio TV was bought about a year ago. After this update, the factory reset only resets it back to a firmware with this new Watchfree functionality. The factory reset no longer is a reset back to the original factory settings.