After using a Vizio Smart TV for over 5 years, I planned on upgrading to a new Vizio 4K HDR Smart TV.
After shortlisting 65″ P-Series and M-Series 4K Smart TVs, I came across the Clear Action Rating while going through the specifications of both TV models.
I started Googling to learn more about the Clear Action feature and how it impacts the overall viewing experience on Vizio TVs.
Reviewing product reviews and discussion threads revealed that the Clear Action feature may lead to flickering on Vizio TVs.
I finally found out how the Clear Action feature impacts the picture quality on Vizio TVs and also confirmed if it causes flickering when enabled.
The Clear Action feature on Vizio TVs reduces motion blur in fast-paced action scenes. It achieves this by rapidly flickering the backlight to keep up with the refresh rate of the content playing on the TV screen. The Clear Action rate varies depending on the Vizio TV model.
How Does The Clear Action Feature Work On Vizio TVs?
The Clear Action feature on Vizio TVs helps to compensate for motion blur in fast-moving action scenes on the screen.
When enabled, it can highly enhance the viewing experience on your Vizio TV while watching action movies or live sports.
Motion blur is a visual effect caused by the blurring or streaming of fast-moving objects appearing on the TV screen.
The refresh rate is defined as the number of times a TV screen refreshes the images displayed on it.
For instance, if a display has a refresh rate of 60Hz, it refreshes the image 60 times per second.
The Clear Action feature flickers the backlight of your Vizio TV to match the refresh rate of the content playing on the screen, thereby reducing motion blur.
However, as the backlight keeps flickering it can dim the picture to a certain extent. Additionally, when Clear Action is turned on, it automatically limits the range for backlight settings on Vizio TV.
Turn The Clear Action Feature On/Off On Vizio TVs
The Clear Action feature is usually located in the Picture Settings of your Vizio TV.
Follow these instructions to turn the Clear Action feature On/Off:
- Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote to launch the on-screen menu
- Navigate to the Picture option using the Arrow buttons and select it
- From the Picture menu, go to More Picture and select the Clear Action feature
- Note: For select Vizio TV models, you may need to select Advanced Picture and go to the Motion Control menu to find the Clear Action feature
- Use the Left/Right Navigation button on the remote control to turn the Clear Action feature On/Off based on your preferences
Note:
- Based on your Vizio TV model, the location of the Clear Action feature may vary. Refer to your TV’s user manual if you’re unable to find the option.
- Some Vizio TV models may not have the Clear Action feature available.
Does The Clear Action Feature Cause Flickering On Vizio TVs?
The Clear Action setting can cause flickering if the backlight is set too low.
As the backlight flickers when the feature is enabled, it can make the picture appear too dim and may lead to eye strain for some viewers.
To avoid flickering, try increasing the Backlight level from the Picture Settings of your Vizio TV.
To do this:
- Press the Menu button on your Vizio Remote
- Navigate down to the Picture option from the on-screen menu
- Find the Backlight setting and select it
- Use the Left/Right Arrow buttons to adjust the backlight level
- You can also go to More Picture or Advanced Picture Setting to enable Backlight Control
- The Backlight Control option dynamically improves the contrast ratio of the picture by adjusting the backlight
- Try playing any movie or TV show to check if the flickering is still noticeable
It is recommended that you try using the Clear Action feature to test if it improves your viewing experience without causing any eye strains due to flickering.
You can then choose to either continue keeping the feature enabled or turn it off from the Picture Settings as mentioned above.
Clear Action Rate For Vizio TVs
The Clear Action Rate for Vizio TVs usually ranges from 180 to 960 and highly varies depending on the TV model.
For instance, the Vizio M-Series Q6 65″ 4K Quantum Color Smart TV has a Clear Action Rate of 180 with 60Hz Refresh Rate.
The Vizio P-Series Quantum 65″ Class 4K HDR Smart TV has a Clear Action Rate of 960 with 120Hz refresh rate which is the highest available on Vizio Smart TVs.
To determine the Clear Action Rate of your Vizio TV, refer to the TV’s Tech Specs section on the official Vizio website.
You can also refer to the User Manual of your TV to learn more about the Clear Action Rating and how to turn it On/Off on your Vizio TV model.
Does The Clear Action Feature Improve Gaming On Vizio TVs?
As most multiplayer competitive games require split-second response times, the Clear Action feature can highly improve the gaming performance on your Vizio TV.
Note that the response time measures the amount of time it takes for each pixel in your TV to switch from white to black or any shade in between.
With the Clear Action feature enabled on high-end Vizio TVs having an effective refresh rate of up to 240Hz, the reduced motion blur can deliver smoother gameplay.
Additionally, features like Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Game Mode make the high-end Vizio TVs an ideal choice for gaming.
Get A Smooth Viewing Experience On Your Vizio TV
Unlike other Vizio TV models, the OLED TVs have Black Frame Insertion that works similar to the Clear Action feature.
The Vizio OLED TV simply inserts a black frame after every other frame to reduce motion blur and keep up with the refresh rate of the content playing on the screen.
Most TV manufacturers including Vizio advertise various terms such as Motion Rate, Clear Motion Index, MotionFlow, etc. instead of revealing the actual refresh rate.
In the case of select Vizio TV models, the Clear Action Rate is typically provided in the specifications.
For example, a Vizio TV may have a Clear Action Rate of 240 but the actual refresh rate can be limited to 60Hz only.
Even higher Clear Action Ratings such as 720 or 960 may also seem irrelevant when it comes to refresh rates.
Note that all Smart TVs have 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rates only. No modern TV has a refresh rate of 240Hz. Any number above 120 does not represent the actual refresh rate of your TV.
Similarly, the term Effective Refresh Rate means that the TV refreshes its image at a lower refresh rate but might appear to have a similar effect as a TV with a higher refresh rate.
This means that if your Vizio TV has an effective refresh rate of 240Hz, it means that while your TV refreshes its image at 120Hz, it would appear as if the refresh rate is up to 240Hz instead.
The Effective Refresh Rate simply refers to the motion smoothing effect of a Vizio TV that compensates for the lower refresh rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clear Action work for all content types on Vizio TV?
Clear Action can be effective for various types of content, including sports, action movies, and fast-paced TV shows. However, its impact may vary depending on the specific content and the TV’s capabilities. The Clear Action feature can be highly effective while watching fast-paced content such as live sports or action movies. Additionally, it can help deliver a smoother gaming experience while playing competitive multiplayer games on a Vizio TV.
Do all Vizio TVs have the Clear Action feature?
Most Vizio TVs have the Clear Action feature that reduces motion blur in fast-paced action scenes or fast-moving images on the screen. However, some select Vizio TV models may not have the Clear Action feature available. You can go through the TV’s user manual to confirm the Clear Action rate of your Vizio TV. Note that Vizio OLED models do not have a Clear Action feature due to the absence of a backlight. Instead, they have a feature called Black Frame Insertion that works similar to Clear Action and reduces motion blur to provide a smoother viewing experience.
Why is the Clear Action feature greyed out on my Vizio TV?
The Clear Action feature may be greyed out on your Vizio TV if you’ve got the Variable Refresh Rate setting enabled. Press the Menu button on your TV remote to open the on-screen menu. Now go to Picture > Advanced Picture > ProGaming Engine. Navigate to the Variable Refresh Rate setting and disable it. Now go back to the Advanced Picture menu and navigate to Motion Control. You can now turn On Clear Action on your Vizio TV/
What are the Clear Action ratings for different Vizio TV models?
The Vizio D-Series Smart TVs usually have a Clear Action rating of 180 or 240. The Vizio M-Series and V-Series models may have a rating of 180, 360, or 720 as well. The highest Clear Action Rating of 720 or 960 is available on the Vizio P-Series TVs. Always prefer going through the technical specifications of your Vizio TV on the website or user manual to find the exact Clear Action rating for your specific model.