GoKawiilThe ViewSonic VX2730D-4K is speedy, responsive and colorful. It’s nearly perfect in SDR mode and offers excellent video processing with a convenient resolution switch between 144 and 288 Hz. And at $280, its value is hard to beat.
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I’ve been reviewing video tech long enough to remember the advent of 4K displays. In 2013, my first experience was with an Asus PQ321Q. It cost around $3,500, delivered 3840x2160 pixels at 60 Hz, and only worked with a handful of graphics cards that had a DisplayPort 1.2 output.
As prices dropped and choices multiplied, I saw that one of the most common searches on Tom’s Hardware was “budget 4K”. Even though you still need a powerful video card to game at 8.3 megapixels, most users want that high pixel density on their desktops.
The good news is that 4K monitors are no longer $3,500. The ViewSonic VX2730D-4K I’m reviewing here isn’t even $350. It’s $280 and works with many video cards. And it runs at 144 Hz with a dual-mode switch that lets you reach 288 Hz at 1080p resolution. And you get wide-gamut color and HDR on a 27-inch IPS panel with high contrast and high performance. Let’s take a look.
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ViewSonic VX2730D-4K Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight IPS / W-LED, edge array Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 27 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution and Refresh Rate 3840x2160 @ 144 Hz Row 3 - Cell 0 1920x1080 @ 288 Hz Row 4 - Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native Color Depth and Gamut 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) / DCI-P3 Response Time (GTG) 2ms Brightness (mfr) 250 nits Contrast (mfr) 1,500:1 Speakers 2x 2w Video Inputs 1x DisplayPort 1.4 Row 11 - Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.1 Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB None Power Consumption 24w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 24.2 x 15.4-20.2 x 8.8 inches (614 x 392-512 x 225mm) Panel Thickness 2.2 inches (57mm) Bezel Width Top/sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) Row 18 - Cell 0 Bottom: 0.8 inch (20mm) Weight 13.7 pounds (6.2kg) Warranty 3 years
The VX2730D-4K has an impressive feature set wrapped up in an IPS panel that delivers an impressive 1,500:1 contrast ratio. That’s claimed by ViewSonic and verified by me. In fact, I measured over 1,600:1 after calibration, which isn’t necessary because it’s nearly pro-level accurate out of the box. There’s plenty of color coverage too, over 98% of DCI-P3. It also supports HDR10 signals, and there I found a couple of issues that I’ll get into later.
A 144 Hz refresh rate anchors gaming performance at the full 3840x2160 pixels. You can run that signal over DisplayPort or the two HDMI 2.1 inputs. A dual-mode switch changes the resolution to FHD 1920x1080 and 288 Hz. In both cases, you get G-Sync with Nvidia certification and FreeSync Premium. It’ll also do VRR with consoles. There’s a three-level overdrive to smooth out motion blur, and you get MPRT backlight strobing to use when speeds drop below 120fps.
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