Viewsonic VG2401mh Review (featuring VX2363Smhl)

Today we take a look at two displays from Viewsonic. The value focused VX2363Smhl and our main subject, pitched at a more demanding market, their VG2401mh. So lets start with the packaging and bundle before getting into the the main model in our Viewsonic VG2401mh Review.

Viewsonic VG2401mh Review – Packaging and Bundles

As is often the case for displays, Viewsonic send out their screens in fairly plain boxes which feature plenty of info on the specifications and features of the product. Our first bundle of cables above shows the contents of the VG2401mh, other than the manuals/disc. That is a USB cable for the on-screen hub, audio cable, power cable and DVI cable. This differs a bit from the VX2363Smhl which goes with compact PSU, mains cable, HDMI cable and VGA cable.

Viewsonic VG2401mh Review – The VG2401mh

Shown above is the main focus of our article today, the VG2401mh. As the model number suggests it is a 24″ display and Viewsonic are marketing this as a gaming display, though that also means it is a high spec monitor for most other uses, especially media. As is common we get the option to rotate our screen on the stand, alter the height and remove it entirely for wall mounting. (Tilt 20 to -5 degrees, height up to 120mm, 120 degree swivel). Although not visible the display also has dual 3w built in  stereo speakers.

Viewsonic go with an all black plastic chassis, other than the red flash on the back of the stand but what about the key specifications?

Panel Type: 24″ TFT LCD
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Display Area: 531.36 x 298.89mm
Pixel Arrange: 0.28mm
Contrast Ratio: 1,000:1 (typ)
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 120M:1
Viewing Angle: 170° / 160°
Colors: 16.7 M
Brightness: 350 cd/m2
Response Time: 1 ms (Gdelta)
Frequency: 144Hz
Backlight Life: 30,000 Hrs (Min)
Panel Surface: Anti-Glare type, Hardness 3H

Weight 6.5KG (3.5kg without stand).
Power 27-37w.

What are the key features. With being a gaming monitor, the 144 Hz refresh rate is of course key as is the 1ms response time. Viewsonic also offer a gaming preset with options configured to best suit gamers. Aim-Point helps our display stay centred in fps and is activated by a hotkey and the Blue Light Filter can be enabled to reduce eye fatigue in longer usage scenarios.

Looking around the screen a little more we get a set of touch controls on the bottom bezel. These open the OSD which we will look at shortly.

Turning the screen over we then find the mains input, a DisplayPort connector, DVI and two HDMIs. Then round on what is the left side of the screen as we look at the front, is a USB port/hub which connects to our system and two standard USB 3.0 connectors which take devices to pass through this hub. Our final items of note are the 3.5mm audio in and out ports.

Viewsonic VG2401mh Review – OSD

We bring up the on screen menu for Viewsonic’s screens using the buttons on the bezel and for anyone who has played about in menu settings for a monitor, they should all be pretty familiar. We can of course choose which of our inputs is active/displayed, what the colour, brightness and audio settings are. We can also alter power saving modes and delve a little deeper into the more technical options such as response time.

Really though, most people will want to consider the colour and view mode options. These allow quick tweaks to the overall experience which allow us to quickly identify the tone (for example) which we most prefer, or overall brightness.

Viewsonic VG2401mh Review – The VX2363Smhl

The VG2401mh was an all black design and with the VX2363Smhl Viewsonic go with the complete opposite, all white (but again plastic). There is a very, very slim bezel on the left, top and right edges of the display, just 1-2mm with a more substantial area below the screen which houses our controls. Those match the GX model above and control a near identical OSD. Our stand mounds on the back of the display, at the base and allows tilting but not height adjustment and a single status LED can be seen in the bottom centre of the front surface of this 23″ display.

The key specifications of the VX2363Smhl are:

Type: 23″ diagonal color active matrix TFT LCD
Display Area: 23 inch
Optimum Resolution: 1920×1080
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typ), 50M:1 (max)
Brightness: 250 cd/m2 (typ)
Viewing Angles: 178°/178° (typ)
Response Time: 2ms
Panel Surface: Anti-Glare type, Hardness 3H
Light Source: 30,000 Hrs
Colors: 16.7 M (6-bit + FRC)
Frequency: Fh: 24-82KHz; Fv: 50-75Hz

Weight: 3.2kg
Power: 15-21w

And the key features? Those start with the MHL connectivity which allows us to connect a compatible tablet/smartphone to our HDMI port and have it display on the Viewsonic screen. The added bonus? being connected in this way charges the tablet/smartphone as we watch. The flicker free technology from Viewsonic also features here, as does the Blue Light Filter. Finally the 2ms response time makes it an option for gaming too.

Before we go on to the conclusion, it is worth taking a quick look at the ports on offer here which are all found on the back of the unit, facing downwards. They are power in 2x HDMI, VGA and 3.5mm audio in/out. As with the VG display above, this model also has built in speakers, this time 2×1.5w.

Viewsonic VG2401mh Review – User Experience and Conclusion

Starting with the VG2401mh we have a display which gives off a good first impression as it is unboxed. The main body of the display feels solid and the touch controls add a nice feel of quality. The display is very easy to assemble, we just screw on the base, and it is also simple to adjust in terms of height and tilt with plenty of range available as well as the 90 degree twist to portrait mode. The built in speakers are passable, the USB ports useful and range of connectors ideal.

Once turned on, it is immediately clear that this is a quality display. The anti-glare finish looks great and the sharpness offered by the panel is very good as are the viewing  angles. The range of brightness available is also good and colours represented well. Firing up a game only improves our overall opinion of the VG2401mh with not noticeable ghosting or lag and flicker free experience.

Turning to the VX2363Smhl for a moment we obviously loose a few features in this lower priced model. There is no DVI for example, or USB ports but dual HDMI and VGA suit the target audience. The build quality is decent and the use of white plastic with minimal bezel makes it ideal for many rooms where a big black lump would stand out. The overall quality of the panel is also decent. It is plenty sharp, flicker free and has a good response time. Viewing angles and corner brightness are good for the price range but we did feel that the overall brightness range could be increased by Viewsonic. Setting this apart from many displays though is the mhl connectivity, which means we can use this as a display for our smartphone/tablet which is pretty nice… and charge it as we do that.

Back to the VG2401mh we have a screen which shares the same OSD, and it is nice and simple to use, which is ideal and the bundled items are reasonable. Maybe a free HDMI cable would have been nice… but overall for the spec of the screen mixed with the expected price tag we have a competitively priced product.

Summary: Well built and easy to use/assemble, mixed with some great gaming (and overall) display quality win the VG2401mh our performance award.

More information on both screens available from Viewsonic.