Vizio shows off three low-cost, Wi-Fi Blu-ray players

Vizio recently introduced three new standalone Blu-ray players that feature built-in Wi-Fi and streaming features as the company continues to expand its low-cost product portfolio.

The Vizio VBR210, VBR220, and VBR231 all have Wi-Fi and include the Vizio Apps platform -- opening the door for Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, and other partner providers to stream content.  Each player also provides 1080p support and is able to upscale DVDs so their playback is offered in higher quality resolution.

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All three players also include 7.1 channels of audio, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and have a competitive price advantage over some competitors.

The VBR231 is different because it uses dual-band Wi-Fi, so the wireless performance should be higher.  The two lower models have 2.4 GHz bands, but the VBR231 uses 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, Vizio said in a statement.

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The Vizio VBR210 and VBR220 models are available now for $189.99, while the VBR231 is scheduled for release next month for around $199.99.

The earlier VBR200W Blu-ray player had Wi-Fi support, but some reviewers complained about the iffy Internet connectivity.  It'll be interesting to learn more about the changes made to help make all three models more reliable.

In a market that has matured and settled a bit, a low-cost, strong showing could help Vizio.  For an extra $10, the VBR231 with its 5 GHz wireless band is a solid deal.  Vizio is battling Samsung atop the U.S. LCD TV market, with Vizio most recently losing its lead to Samsung.

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