4K monitors are considered as a luxury units nowadays. Despite the familiarity and the “just right” advantages provided by 1080p monitors, 4K is the new frontier. Those seemingly sharp images can still be improved given that you have the necessary magical hardware and peripherals to output it. This luxury, however, comes at a steep price. Yet, there are still some exceptions. One such is Viewsonic’s VX2475Smhl-4K monitor, a 24-inch TFT-paneled monitor that’s blessed with a very long and tedious name.
To better present this review, I’ll just refer to the monitor’s name as “the monitor” or “it” since it’s quite a handful to type down and read.
Looks
This picture shows how the monitor looks versus a very unkempt background.
One thing is certain with Viewsonic’s monitor: it looks nothing special. Although it is capable of displaying higher than nigh resolutions, Viewsonic did neither try to make things look special nor ergonomical. For one, it comes in three parts that you have to Lego in order for it to stand, making it rickety and prone to the whims of wind. Second, the menu and control buttons require intense understanding of placement as there’re no indicators save for the near invisible indentions. Lastly, it does not look something like a premium monitor.
Behind, we have an HDMI, two Display Ports, and an Audio Out. The monitor is VESA mountable and can be used with Kensington locks.
Manual, Power Cable, HDMI Cable, and the Trunk
The package comes with an HDMI cable and lamentably, no Display Port cable despite offering two ports for it. This monitor supports MHL out for mobile phones and tablets
Ooh, 4K!
What this Viewsonic monitor lacks in aesthetic and structural integrity is its very own display. The controls, if you can find them, opens up a number of the standard features spliced with a couple of presets.
In terms of having it in 4K, there’s really nothing to complain about. The images are crisp and with the right balance and mix of image controls, you’ll definitely land into a setting that’s preferable to your eyes.
I gamed with this one using Witcher 3 as a benchmark. With 4K, one need not configure the settings for anti-aliasing since the purpose and end is essentially the same: remove jagged edges. Below is a photo of the game with the left one as an in-game screenshot, whilst the right one is a shot of the monitor screen.
What I found troublesome is its size. 23-inch does not render justice on a 4K monitor. It’s just to freaking small. See this picture of a Peso coin, an average Filipino fingernail, and this monitor’s rendition of a desktop icon.
Aside from blasting your desktop with a shrink ray, everything else should be zoomed in order to be read. Browsing becomes tedious as characters are smaller and scrolling down through Facebook is similar to reading dots on a screen. The advantage is that you can read more posts in just one browser screen, although a magnifying glass (or zooming) absolutely comes in handy.
Audio
It’s pretty standard. It’s neither too good nor abysmal. Best stick to your usual cans or speakers.
Verdict
The Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K monitor may not be the monitor that you’ll show around in front of your friends or relatives. You might even want to try and hide it. However, if you have that itch to showcase your “guns”, then best have it turned on and in 4K, revealing its full glory to everyone.
The innate size of the screen may have been made for those with smaller desks or for those who wish to enjoy 4K on a budget. Do take note that the small screen size, coupled with the all too fine resolution may force you to squint or manually zoom in at times.
As unimpressive as the exterior is, the Viewsonic VX2475Smhl-4K makes up with its color palette and premade configurations making it easy to find a particular setting depending on the need. I can say that I am satisfied with its image quality and controls.
The price is at US$469.99 or roughly at PHP 21,200. For the full specs, click here.
