Portable monitors are nothing new, but finding one designed for gaming – with a high refresh rate and low input lag – is never easy. That’s why the ViewSonic VX1755 comes in as an interesting monitor that, not only, boasts seamless portability, but is also game-ready with a 144hz panel, low latency, and decent smoothness. It’s also got all the ports you’d need to work with various setups, and its speakers and headphone jack provide even more flexibility.
Also owing to how portable gaming monitors are, the ViewSonic VX1755 rings a price that’s fairly high than your usual portable monitor. The hefty price notwithstanding, it still offers terrific value to anyone looking for a gaming monitor that’s portable and responsive, but screen ghosting and dull colors make it an underwhelming choice compared to desktop gaming monitors.
About the ViewSonic VX1755
Here are the main specs of the portable gaming monitor we reviewed:
- Display size: 17.2 inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080pixels
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Peak brightness: 250 nits (rated)
- HDR support: No
- Color depth: 8-bit (6-bit + FRC)
- Contrast ratio: 800:1 (rated)
- Pixel response time (GtG): 4.5ms
- Ports: 1 x Mini HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB-C video/data/power, 1 x USB-C data/power
- VRR Support: Yes, FreeSync Premium
- Other features: Built-in speakers, adjustable kickstand, USB pass-through
The ViewSonic VX1755 packs decent features, especially for a portable monitor. We especially like both the mini-HDMI port and USB-C connection that can support the display at its full 144Hz refresh rate in 1080p. We’re surprised that ViewSonic went further to even include speakers on the monitor, even if their audio output and watts can’t compare to what you get from most laptop speakers.
Another interesting addition here is the fairly adjustable stand. While the stand isn’t unique in any particular way, it’s the type that you’d ordinarily find on the back of a tablet or 2-in-1 laptop, and not what you’d attach to a monitor. It holds the display well, and although it’s a little low, it offers a wide range of angle adjustments. The kickstand’s adjustment is limited to a landscape orientation, however. Well, it can still be flipped into portrait orientation, but you’ll lose angle adjustment and some amount of stability.
What we Like
Vivid, smooth display
The main highlight of the ViewSonic VX1755 must be its gorgeous visuals. It uses a 17.2-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and like most portable monitors, it uses a matte finish to tone down reflections. Notably, it has wide viewing angles with minimal color-shifting even when viewed from extreme angles.
We feel that the screen’s 144Hz refresh rate is what makes everything pop, since it’s now able to deliver deep, smoother gameplay visuals that make gaming action more immersive. However, its pixel response time is fairly slow, which causes some ghosting, or hints of blurry pixelations behind moving objects on demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077.
This isn’t uncommon, we’ve seen the same effect on lots of monitors and even high-ed gaming laptops that simply struggle to keep up with the response times of desktop monitors. In general, we can applaud ViewSonic for bringing this level of smoothness and incredible visual fidelity into a portable monitor, though not a unique one. The ViewSonic VX1755 is rated at a maximum brightness of 250 nits, and during lab tests, the monitor hit that figure and some more. At this rating, the monitor isn’t overly bright, but you’ll find it comfortable and easy to read and play in a well-lit office environment and outside on a cloudy day.
While we’d argue that the panel’s 17.2-inch screen is its standout feature, the 144Hz refresh rate backed with AMD FreeSync Premium technology is equally impressive. Not only can you pair the VX1755 with a laptop to create a wider workspace or simply get a wider space to game one (for example, if using a 13-inch laptop), but you could easily use it with an Android smartphone/tablet (via USB-C) or with your next-gen gaming console, it supports the Xbox Series X as well as the PlayStation 5.
If you have a laptop capable of pushing 144 fps at 1920 x 1080, you’ll be able to max out the ViewSonic VX1755’s gaming capabilities. For instance, it can extend the display on the 15.6-inch Alienware x15 R2 with an RTX 3070 Ti GPU, and you still play games like Cyberpunk 2077 ( 94 fps) and Battlefield 2042 (101 fps) at high settings, which is around the same frames you get on the laptop’s native screen.
- ULTRA-PORTABLE MONITOR: 17.2 Inch Full HD (1920x1080p) IPS portable gaming monitor with...
- SMALL AND COMPACT: With a weight of 2 lbs and a thickness of 0.6 in, this 17.2 inch...
- FreeSync PREMIUM: FreeSync Premium technology enables fluid and tear-free gameplay
Good I/O options and speakers
Like the ViewSonic TD1655, the gets a good choice of I/O ports and nice-sounding speakers. On the left side of the display, ViewSonic gives you two USB-C ports (supports DisplayPort Alt-Mode), a Mini-HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the right side, there’s a Power LED and five identical buttons for controlling the On-Screen Display (OSD). This is a clever move from the 5-way joystick found on the smaller, 15.6-inch ViewSonic TD1655.
If you’ve kept tabs on the latest in screens, you might have noticed that nearly all of them support HDMI, and that makes it a truly dependable standard for transferring audio and video. However, USB-C is the most preferable standard among portable devices, meaning HDMI isn’t highly preferred. Keep in mind, USB-C can output to HDMI and DisplayPort, depending on the type, meaning it’s more useful for folks on the move. By including both HDMI and USB-C, ViewSonic gives you a solid connection hub that you can use with the full refresh and resolution.
At home, you can connect the VX1755 to a gaming PC with a USB-C power cable and an HDMI cable coming from a graphics card. When out and bout, the monitor can connect and get power from a single USB-C port on your laptop, since HDMI doesn’t carry any power and need auxiliary power via USB-C.
At the bottom of the monitor, there are two 0.8-watt speakers that aren’t anything spectacular regarding volume or sound quality but are still usable. At mid-volume, the monitor sounds a bit hollow and tinny, lacking any bass but if you have no option, they’re a worthwhile inclusion. They’ll work fine for you, but keep in mind your laptop’s built-in speakers are probably far superior.
Stylish, Portable design
In addition to having a gorgeous 17.2-inch screen, ViewSonic ensured that the VX1755 looks great and doesn’t take up more room than it should. The bezels on the top and sides are fairly narrow (almost a quarter of an inch), and the whole thing measures only 0.7 inches thick, making it easy to slide into a medium-to-large backpack.
The ViewSonic VX1755 is lighter than most laptops at a measly 2.2 pounds, which adds to its portable profile. Ince this monitor is designed to be carried along on travel, ViewSonic includes a tri-fold display cover that attaches magnetically to the back of the top, and flips over to protect the entire front. However, it doesn’t provide 360-degree protection like a full case, but we appreciate its level of protection.
What we don’t like
Middling color quality
While the VX1755 comes with a splendid 144Hz refresh rate and IPS technology, it its color quality doesn’t match up to the competition. It misses out on a whole third of the sRGB color space and doesn’t even reach 50% of the AdobeRGB or dcipp3 color space in tests. As a result, you have dull colors and a lot of drops from the table, all that while, competing portable gaming monitors like the Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE cover 100% of the sRGB space.
Also, while the 144Hz refresh rate helps create a vivid picture that makes action in games immersive, it creates unforeseen issues on the display. A high refresh rate requires a fast response time, and it’s here that the ViewSonic VX1755 is a bit lacking; depending on the content on the screen, fast-moving content will leave long trails of ghosting behind it. While this type of ghosting doesn’t entirely derail the benefits of the 144Hz refresh rate, it nonetheless reduces its usefulness compared to a monitor with a faster response time.
Should you buy it?
Just maybe, unless you absolutely need a portable gaming monitor.
For the price, the ViewSonic VX1755 is a reasonable bargain in the portable monitor space. In addition to offering a large 17.2-inch IPS panel, ViewSonic went a notch higher to include AMD FreeSync support and support for up to 144Hz refresh rates. The next closest competitor in this range is the Asus ROG XG17AHPE, which boasts a 240Hz display and a built-in battery but costs a few more.
Still, for gamers who need a large panel and high refresh rates, the ViewSonic VX1755 should be more than ideal for most laptop-based GPUs at 1080p resolution all wrapped into a stylish exterior with great build quality. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better value at this price.
While the washed-out color holds it from being our top pick award, and we feel the OSD controls could be better; the ViewSonic VX1755 offers lots of features, robust connectivity, and a sturdy case for keeping your investment safe while making it easily portable. It lacks the charm of the Asus ROG XG17AHPE, but it represents a solid niche that will excite gamers and productivity users alike.
The Review
ViewSonic VX1755
The ViewSonic VX1755 is a portable gaming monitor that packs exciting features including a 144Hz refresh rate and a stylish design without being too expensive.
Recommended Configuration
ViewSonic VX1755 17 Inch 1080p Portable IPS Gaming Monitor with 144Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium, 2 Way Powered 60W USB C, Mini HDMI, and Built in Stand with Cover for Home and Esports
3 used from $199.99
PROS
- Large, 17.2-inch IPS display
- Supports 144Hz refresh rates
- Includes AMD FreeSync support
- Well priced
CONS
- Mediocre brightness
- Middling OSD controls
Review Breakdown
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OUR RATING
Last update on 2024-12-21 at 20:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
