Bookmark and Share

Vizio E231-B1 (E231i) Review

23" 720p 60Hz Razor LED TV

by , Senior Reviewer

Vizio E231-B1 Razor LED TVThe smaller of the 2014 E series Vizio LED TVs are pretty standard fare. The E231-B1 doesn't feature the full-array LED backlighting that larger sizes have this year. Instead, its got the Razor LED backlighting that we've seen before, and this is fine for a small TV. It's got an attractive look as well to help it keep up with some of the more flashy LED TVs out there.

Picture Quality Rating: 84/100

Picture and Viewing Features

The E231-B1 has a bright and clear 720p picture thanks to the Razor LEDs. 720p really isn't a bad spec for the TV because it will be very hard to tell the difference on a 23 inch screen. Most over the air broadcasts are still in 720p as well. This is starting to change, but that will not make the TV useless by any means. The 60Hz refresh rate is another thing not to worry about. Once again, motion blur is going to be hard to spot on a TV of this size. Vizio shedded the local dimming feature on this model of the E-series.

Vizio E231i-B1 LED TV
This is a shot from an HD broadcast. Detail and sharpness are high points here while color seems a bit lacking

Features Rating: 81/100

Vizio Internet Apps Plus

The Vizio E231i-B1 has the Vizio Internet Apps Plus platform included. The built-in wifi allows for instant access and plenty of speed for HD content streaming. The 'Plus' in the name means the interface is much more user friendly and the overall performance is faster than before. Some of the most useful apps included are Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, MGO, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Facebook. There are plenty more too.

Vizio E231i-B1 Streaming Netflix
The Netflix app works wonderfully on the Vizio Internet Apps Plus platform

The Smart TV gets good marks as far as performance goes. There were a few initial hiccups in the set up process, but all was smooth once we got past those and connected to our wifi network. Streaming content loaded up quickly and provided a high quality image over wifi. This is a big plus since not all smart TV platforms handle streaming so well.

Appearance and Design

Vizio E231-B1 LED TV Design

The E231-B1 has also recieved some upgrades to the appearance. The bezels are now slimmer than they were last year. The profile on this E series TV has done some thinning as well, but not to the level of some of the slimmest edge-lit LEDs. An excellent addition to the size is the low profile branched arm stand. This sets it apart from other plain looking smaller TVs out there. All in all, this is an average looking value LED TV.

Value Rating: 90/100

The Vizio E231i-B1 presents a decent value as a TV for a small room. The internet enabled model goes for $179. Shave $20 off the price for the model without wifi and smart TV features. Strong contrast and picture depth from front and center is the highlight in the picture quality realm. Vizio Internet Apps Plus don't do anything new for the platform, but everything works well and doesn't leave much to be desired. Some downsides are a non-backlit remote, 2-point white balance, and a non-swivel stand. But these are dealbreakers by any means.

Overall Rating: 85/100

Standout Features

  • 720p
  • Diagonal Screen Measurement: 22.95"
  • 60Hz Razor LED
  • Speaker output: 2W x 2
  • 1 HDMI, 1 USB inputs
  • With Stand: 21.49”W x 14.67”H x 4.43”D
  • Without Stand: 21.49”W x 13.94”H x 2.11”D


Jack Burden Jack Burden has been reviewing and writing reviews in the consumer electronics category for 7 years with CEAG. He considers grayscale gradation, film patterned retarders, and focus field drives to be fun topics. Read more about Jack


icon icon



Bookmark and Share


(As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
icon icon
Recommended TVs By Size
[an error occurred while processing this directive]