Vizio Co-Star VAP430

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 7 expert reviews

Excellent:

2
Good:

2
Average:

1
Bad:

2

Pros:

HDMI passthru provides for overlaid user interface.
PrimeTime combines content from multiple sources.
Full QWERTY keyboard.

Cons:

Online game play resolution depends on consistency of Internet connection.
Bluetooth and IR division of labor must be remembered for proper function.

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Last revision on January 23, 2016

Reviewers Liked

HDMI passthru provides for overlaid user interface
PrimeTime combines content from multiple sources
Full QWERTY keyboard
Lots of online services and apps
OnLive support adds gaming functionality

Reviewers Didn't Like

Online game play resolution depends on consistency of Internet connection
Bluetooth and IR division of labor must be remembered for proper function
Lack of dedicated apps for HBO GO, Crackle
With great power comes great responsibility
Very simple programming process
Set DVR recordings, and access other functions on the box

Competitors and Related Products

Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets.

Expert reviews and ratings

The two biggest problems with “Smart TV” type devices is that they require all of your attention,...

By GadgetReview on July 08, 2013

In the end, the $99 question is this: is the Co-Star ready for a starring role? Or is it - and the Google TV platform - still an understudy in the shadow of Apple TV and the Roku 3? Frustratingly, the answer is: it depends. If you're looking for a...

By Big Picture Big Sound on April 23, 2013

100

A few years ago, when the concept of GoogleTV was first unleashed upon the press and thus the populace, I, along with many of my colleagues, made it a point to unjustly attack it. While it wasn't as good then as it is now, we were shortsighted and,...

By Home Theater Review on April 01, 2013

The Vizio Co-Star VAP430 puts a twist on the functional, if clunky, Google TV interface. But it's not the best choice for getting Google TV on your...

By PC Mag on December 27, 2012

Two years ago, the initial launch of Google TV on the Sony TV and Logitech Revue media streamers was a real disappointment. I was excited to try out the first of the new generation of Google TV devices, but found them plagued by a preponderance of...

By soundandvision.com on October 19, 2012

After being unceremoniously abandoned by key hardware partner Logitech last fall, the Google TV platform seems to have found a worthy replacement in Vizio.The Co-Star is Vizio's first venture into the set-top box space. It offers the full Google-curated...

By Wired on October 02, 2012

The Vizio Co-Star is an affordable way of getting the Google TV experience, but the software remains underwhelming and hampered by...

By CNET Australia on September 14, 2012

Watching

By Computerworld on December 21, 2012

Will anyone ever get Google TV right?Here's where I try to review the Vizio Co-Star. It's the second-generation Google TV box that had everyone excited, because of OnLive and the $99 price tag. On paper, it looked like this would be the one. ARM...

By Android Central on November 18, 2012

To see if so-called Google TV 2.0 is worthy of another try, we decided to put one of the newest devices - Sony's NSZ-GS7 streaming media player - to the test. But just as we were about to finalize testing, we also got our hands on Vizio's new Co-Star,...

By soundandvision.com on September 25, 2012

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Vizio Co-Star VAP430

Overview

Pros & Cons

Reviews

TechSpot Metascore

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewers Liked

Reviewers Didn't Like

Competitors and Related Products

Google Nexus Player

Roku 3

Apple TV G3 MD199

Amazon Fire TV

Expert reviews and ratings