"Vizio Settles for $3 Million Over Misleading TV Refresh Rate Advertising"

Vizio has settled a class action lawsuit by agreeing to pay $3 million and to cease using the term "effective refresh rate" in its advertising, which was deemed misleading. The term referred to software enhancements that create the illusion of smoother images, rather than actual hardware capabilities. Customers who purchased a Vizio TV between April 30, 2014, and the settlement date can claim up to $50. Vizio's latest TVs no longer use the "effective" term but still advertise a "Dynamic Motion Rate" of 120Hz on a native 60Hz screen. The settlement serves as a caution against taking high refresh rate claims at face value.