Skilled’s Score
Professionals
- Included stand helps panorama and portrait mode
- Simple wi-fi setup with modest enter lag
- First rate bundled audio system
Cons
- Average brightness
- Very restricted coloration efficiency
- Battery life is proscribed at greater brightness ranges
Our Verdict
The ViewSonic VG1656N presents a easy, dependable wi-fi connection, however disappointing coloration efficiency holds it again.
Worth When Reviewed
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Moveable displays are a dime a dozen (virtually actually, in the event you purchase them on sale). However what if you would like a conveyable monitor that’s additionally wi-fi? That’s precisely what the ViewSonic VG1656N presents at an inexpensive value. Sadly, ViewSonic sacrifices the monitor’s picture high quality to make it occur.
ViewSonic VG1656N specs and options
The ViewSonic VG1656N’s fundamental specs are similar to dozens of rivals. It has a 16-inch IPS show panel with a 16:10 side ratio, 1,920 x 1,200 decision, and a 60Hz refresh charge. None of those specs are exceptional on their very own, and the VG1656N’s practically $300 MSRP could be arduous to justify with out its distinctive options.
● Show measurement: 16-inch 16:10 widescreen
● Native decision: 1920×1200
● Panel kind: IPS
● Refresh charge: 60Hz
● Adaptive sync: None
● HDR: None
● Ports: 2x USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 60 watts Energy Supply-in
● VESA mount: None
● Audio system: 2x 2-watt audio system
● Wi-fi show: Sure
● Worth: $299.99 MSRP
Wi-fi connectivity is what units the VG1656N aside. Although not unusual, wi-fi transportable displays are usually costly, with many fashions offered above $300. That makes the VG1656N comparatively inexpensive.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the perfect transportable displays to find out about competing merchandise.
ViewSonic VG1656N design
Unboxing and establishing the ViewSonic VG1656N was a bit complicated, because of the fabric-covered magnetic stand that attaches to the transportable monitor. I used to be capable of set it up with out consulting the handbook, but it surely took me a couple of minutes to puzzle out the precise orientation. It’s an excellent factor I didn’t want a handbook, as a result of my evaluation unit didn’t have one within the field.
The bundled stand is first rate. It seems to be flimsy however proved remarkably steady—it takes important drive to knock it over. The stand will be folded to help a number of tilt angles and is steady as soon as in place. The removable stand additionally helps ViewSonic hold the VG1656N’s weight and bulk to a minimal: The show panel weighs 1.8 kilos and measures solely 0.38 inches thick.
The stand helps each panorama and portrait orientation. That’s an enormous perk, as portrait orientation is commonly a greater use of a conveyable monitor’s actual property, and the VG1656N’s 16-inch show panel is the right measurement for portrait-mode placement subsequent to a 27-inch monitor.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The VG1656N is a wi-fi show with a built-in battery, so it might connect with a PC or Mac with none wires. That is made attainable with a bundled Wi-Fi dongle. The monitor and dongle pair routinely, and I had no hassle with interference or combined connections.
The dongle connects to your PC over USB-C. It’s giant—about twice the dimensions of most USB flash drives—so it’ll be a decent squeeze in case your laptop’s USB-C ports are shut collectively. You’ll additionally wish to hold monitor of the dongle, because it’s required for a wi-fi connection.
ViewSonic VG1656N connectivity
The ViewSonic VG1656N’s wi-fi connectivity is clearly its headline characteristic.
As talked about, the monitor connects wirelessly to a USB-C dongle that you simply’ll have to plug into your PC. There’s no setup required; as long as the enter mode is ready to Wi-Fi, the VG1656N will routinely seek for and connect with the bundled dongle (although a pairing mode is included if it’s worthwhile to pair with a distinct dongle).
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The monitor’s wi-fi connectivity is okay, but it surely’s no miracle. Wi-fi shows are inclined to endure noticeable enter lag, and the VG1656N is not any exception, although it’s not too unhealthy.
Sluggish-motion recording at 240 frames per second confirmed enter lag of round 100 to 200 milliseconds. I couldn’t visually discover a delay in real-time, however the monitor felt somewhat sluggish. Even so, most individuals on the lookout for a wi-fi monitor will discover the lag acceptable, and I think much less crucial homeowners received’t discover it.
Wired connectivity continues to be out there, via two USB-C ports. Each help DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Energy Supply, so both can be utilized for video enter or to energy the monitor. There’s one port on every flank, making the monitor simpler to make use of with brief USB-C cords.
The VG1656N’s 16-inch show panel is the right measurement for portrait-mode placement subsequent to a 27-inch monitor.
ViewSonic VG1656N options
There’s not a lot to speak about in terms of the VG1656N’s menu system. Managed by the facility and quantity rocker, it presents just some picture high quality changes: brightness, distinction, and 4 preset picture high quality modes.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The two-watt audio system are first rate, with good quantity and readability. Nonetheless, there’s no bass, so video games, films, and music sound skinny, although they’re acceptable in a pinch.
The monitor’s built-in battery claims as much as 3.5 hours of battery life. This varies broadly with brightness settings—at full brightness, I noticed it drain in about 1.5 hours. The battery can solely energy the monitor and may’t be used as an exterior battery for different gadgets.
Viewsonic VG1656N SDR picture high quality
The Viewsonic VG1656N isn’t a conveyable monitor that’s marketed on picture high quality. A take a look at the corporate’s official net web page reveals little details about picture high quality except for decision. As a substitute, the VG1656N is marketed principally for its wi-fi connectivity and help for each panorama and portrait mode.
A fast be aware: I examined the monitor’s picture high quality when it was linked to energy and once more on battery energy. It appeared to function identically in each conditions.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
First up is brightness. That is an space the place transportable displays are inclined to publish mediocre outcomes, and the Viewsonic VG1656N is not any exception. It achieved a most brightness of 251 nits, which has similarities to most rivals. This degree of brightness is okay to be used in a room with just a few shaded home windows however can look a bit dim if sunlit home windows are close by.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The VG1656N’s distinction additionally falls in keeping with the alternate options, such because the Asus ZenScreen MB16HG. A distinction ratio of 1260:1 is okay for the standard transportable monitor. Nonetheless, because the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED makes plain, OLED transportable displays can present a richer, extra immersive picture.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Colour efficiency is the place the VG1656N runs into hassle. The monitor displayed solely 64 p.c of sRGB and 49 p.c of DCI-P3. Most transportable displays can show a far wider vary of colours masking as much as 100% of sRGB and 74 to 81 p.c of DCI-P3.
The Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED as soon as once more takes issues to a different degree, hitting 100% of each sRGB and DCI-P3. Put merely: The VG1656N’s vary of colours is comparatively slim, which suggests colours can look uninteresting and muted. It’s high quality for workplace productiveness and net searching however not nice for leisure or content material creation.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The VG1656N’s coloration gamut disqualifies it to be used by photographers, videographers, artists, and different content material creators, so it’s no shock to see that it additionally falls brief in coloration accuracy. The monitor’s accuracy continues to be okay, but it surely’s nowhere close to the perfect transportable displays available on the market. The colour was most blatant in cyan and inexperienced, and I felt every shifted barely, however noticeably, in direction of yellow.
Whereas the VG1656N’s coloration accuracy wasn’t the perfect, it did properly sufficient in gamma and coloration temperature exams. The monitor hit a gamma curve of two.3, which is only a tad off our goal of two.2 and means the picture seems to be very barely darker than it ought to. The colour temperature was spot-on our goal of 6500K, so the picture doesn’t look hotter or cooler than most popular.
Sharpness is stable, too. 1920×1200 isn’t exceptional, but it surely works out to about 142 pixels per inch, which is significantly better than a 27-inch 1440p monitor’s pixel density of about 109 pixels per inch.
General, the VG1656N’s picture high quality is a weak point. It’s high quality for writing in Phrase, browsing the net, and sending emails, however in any other case received’t stand out. Content material creators like photographers, videographers, and digital artists might want to give the VG1656N a cross.
ViewSonic VG1656N HDR picture high quality
The ViewSonic VG1656N doesn’t help HDR. That’s good, as any try to help HDR would fail. A wi-fi monitor with built-in battery has little hope of competent HDR. That’s as a result of HDR requires excessive brightness, and better brightness means greater energy draw, one thing that doesn’t go properly with a wi-fi show designed to perform on battery energy.
ViewSonic VG1656N movement efficiency
Very like HDR, movement efficiency isn’t a precedence for the VG1656N. It sticks to a 60Hz refresh charge and quotes a excessive gray-to-gray pixel response time of 9.5 milliseconds. Movement blur is clear when taking part in fast-paced video games and even when scrolling a window throughout the monitor.
Is the ViewSonic VG1656N price it?
The ViewSonic VG1656N is an affordable alternative for customers prioritizing wi-fi performance over picture high quality. Its wi-fi setup is straightforward and dependable, and enter lag is modest sufficient for productiveness. Battery life is proscribed however usable. Nonetheless, its subpar picture high quality and slim coloration gamut maintain it again. Nonetheless, in the event you simply desire a wi-fi transportable monitor and aren’t too fearful about picture high quality, the VG1656N is smart.
