ViewSonic takes aim to make 4K the desktop display a standard
The first wave of 4K monitor designs didn't exactly overwhelm me, because they either didn't do more than 30Hz or they cost a fortune.
ViewSonic's VX2475SMHL-4K is a strong indication that the 4K market and products are maturing, for those that want 3840 x 2160 and resolution and 60Hz displays.
The big change here is that instead of using TN technology, this panel uses an IPS design that ViewSonic calls SuperClear PLS.
This technology promises true 8-bit colour rendition, a decent response time, very high dynamic contrast and excellent 178 degree viewing angles.
That combination provides this monitor with a potentially wide appeal, as it will work well for both business users and casual gamers, if their PC is capable of driving it at full resolution.
By default, the VX2475SMHL-4K supports HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2a, and you'll need one of those technologies in your PC to get the full resolution available.
Once you've got it running, you'll need to do some modest calibration work and also tweak Windows to scale the interface.
I wish this scaling aspect worked all the time, but it doesn't. While reviewing the VX2475SMHL-4K, I was also testing the RTM version of Windows 10, and a new AMD Catalyst control panel installed and it was microscopic on this display.
When you need a magnifying glass to read the messages, you know there isn't the synergy that you were hoping for between the software and hardware makers.
The other problem I had with this design is that normally displays that cost this much have an adjustable telescopic stand, but this just has a foot. It does have a VESA mount, but for this money I'd expect better.
If the ViewSonic VX2475SMHL-4K comes with a major caveat, it's the size, which at 24 inches would be fine working scale for 1080p. At 4K it seems very small, and you'll need to use scaling to use the Windows desktop interface.
And if you wish to actually see pixels, you probably have to be only 18 inches away from it, I estimate. That's not a very natural distance, unless you're very myopic.
That put me in a quandary, because I like what the VX2475SMHL-4K does, though I'm not actually convinced that it's practical for many normal applications.
Perhaps I'm over-analysing this. If you want an affordable 4K panel on your PC, then this is a good one, regardless of whether you can actually use that resolution or not.
For photographers, the resolution and colour presentation is critical, but sadly ViewSonic for whatever reason doesn't support AdobeRGB on this panel.
That leaves the VX2475SMHL-4K as a display that gamers who want 4K on the cheap might like, and perhaps someone with limited space and access to 4K movie streams.
As lovely a display as it is, 24 inches just doesn't seem big enough for this resolution, unfortunately. Mark Pickavance
A 4K monitor for gamers and designers alike.
Specifications
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Screen size: 24 inches, 23.6" viewable diagonally
Contrast ratio: 1000:1
Colours: 16.7 million colours (8-bit)
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Screen Lighting: LED
Response time: 2 ms grey-to-grey
Viewing Angles: 178 degrees horizontal and vertical
Connectivity Ports: 1 HDMI 2.0, 1 DisplayPort 1.2, MHL 2.0, 1 HDMI 1.4, headphone jack
Power: 35W (typ.) / 50W (max.)
Weight: 4.6kg with stand, 3.7kg without stand