TikTok’s global dominance continues as the app lands on Vizio smart TVs (opens in new tab).
O update is currently being released (opens in new tab) with a new app on the homepage. Vizio is a little slow in supporting TikTok as competitors Samsung and LG had the app when it launched in North America in November 2021. TikTok TV is essentially the same as the mobile app, but on a larger screen and without the ability to record video.
What’s noteworthy about this particular release is that Vizio TVs are known for being cheap. You can buy, for example, Vizio V Series 43-inch 4K HDR TV for just under $300. Compare that to Samsung 4K TVs. You’ll likely pay upwards of $400 for one, and that’s assuming it’s for sale.
TikTok coming to Vizio TVs means you have a popular app being made more widely available to the TV consumer.
There is a catch, however. A Vizio representative confirmed that the app will be available on all Vizio TVs that have SmartCast, which is the company’s own app platform. If you don’t know if your TV has SmartCast, you can check by going to Vizio website (opens in new tab) and looking for your model; it will be listed on the product page.
According to the website, all Vizio TVs from 2021 and newer come with SmartCast. This implies that if you have an older model, you may not have the app’s platform and therefore there is no way to get TikTok TV.
Aside from its availability on low-end TVs, TikTok TV is pretty much the same. You can connect your TikTok account to the Vizio screen to watch videos from your personalized feed. The app also has AutoPlay enabled for a continuous stream of content.
Analysis: Trying new things
As TikTok moves away from its mobile roots and onto new platforms, you can’t help but wonder what parent company ByteDance has in store for its app. Launching to low-end 4K TVs will likely give them an even bigger audience, but you can only do so much with the same content.
As a result, TikTok has been experimenting with new things. In February, the app extended the maximum video length to 10 minutes, apparently taking over YouTube. And May reports reveal that ByteDance is considering implementing video games at your service. But they are very simple mobile games, like running along a track and avoiding obstacles. It’s interesting to see what TikTok is doing to spur growth, even if it’s pretty random.
Also, you may not know this, but it is entirely possible to download TikTok videos. has a guide on how to save your favorites to get lost in the gigantic library of content.
