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Image: Matt Smith/Foundry
At a look
Professional’s Rating
Pros
- Extremely luminous
Affordable high contrast ratio 100Hz refresh rate for enhanced clarity of motion
Cons
- Poor balance and poor ergonomics
It would be preferable to have a revitalise rate of 144 hertz for medicore colour efficiency.
Our Verdict
For the price, the Viewsonic Omni VX2716 delivers excellent picture quality and smooth motion.
Viewsonic Omni VX2716 – Best Buy Right Now
Gaming monitors are a significant investment. Even moderate favourites like the Acer Nitro XV272 are routinely about $300, while the top designs, such the Alienware AW3423DWF, consistently offer beyond $1,000. For $150, the Viewsonic Omni VX2716 outperforms most competitors and delivers a satisfying gaming experience despite some compromises in build quality.
For more reading on wrapping up loose ends, check out our compilation of the finest gaming monitors.
Viewsonic Omni VX2716 specifications and functions
The Viewsonic Omni VX2716 is a standard, budget-friendly 27-inch 1080p LCD monitor. It has an edge-lit LED backlight and an in-plane switching (IPS) LCD screen.
- Widescreen display, 27 inches
Initial pixel dimensions are 1920 by 1080.
IPS LCD panel technology
Refreshing at a rate of 100 Hz
Display Adaptation using AMD FreeSync
None of the above for HDR
One HDMI 1.4 port, one DisplayPort 1.2 port, and one 3.5 mm audio-out port.
Shift in stance: Tilt
Yes, 100x100mm VESA mount compatible.
Two-watt speaker systems: yes
Prices: $149.99 (List)
There is just one stipulation that jumps out: a refresh rate of at least 100Hz. That’s lower than the 120Hz or 144Hz typical of other entry-level gaming monitors, but the VX2716 is cheaper with an MSRP of around $150.
The limited features and low price tag of the Viewsonic Omni VX2716 are immediately obvious. The display’s design is dull, using cheap polymers for the screen bezel and the stand. It lacks any distinctive design features, giving off an unremarkable and generic overall impression. Of course, this is the norm for inexpensive monitors, but I find that competitors like Acer and Dell look far better in the sub-$200 price range.
The display is held up by a cheap, lightweight stand that is prone to shaking. When using the on-screen menu or if the screen is accidentally touched, it might be easy for it to tilt or tip. To keep the stand stable, you’ll need to screw in two screws (included). It’s an annoyance, but more expensive screens usually just click into place.
The stand is also quite short, with only a limited tilt capability in place of more crucial ergonomic adjustments like height and swivel. The viewing angle may be adjusted by placing the stand on a shelf, book, or box for those who are taller. Viewsonic has a VESA mount with a minimum 100x100mm hole pattern to accommodate external monitor stands and arms.
Matt Smith/Foundry
Viewsonic Omni VX2716 functions and menus
The VX2716 accepts video input from both HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 sources. That’s an acceptable, if unremarkable, connection for a screen priced at less than $200. A 3.5 mm audio jack is also included on the display for use with external speakers or headphones. The lack of USB means that the display cannot serve as a hub for USB devices.
Similar to previous Viewsonic displays, an on-screen menu allows you to make adjustments to the display, albeit the available options are more limited. Screen options (such real-time strategy and multiplayer online battle arena) are muddled and difficult to decipher. These are followed by a few finer adjustments, such as a shift in colour temperature and a shift in colour across all three axes. There is no gamma adjustment on the screen. In low-light situations, players can use a black stabiliser to make their enemies stand out more clearly.
The colour gamut of the VX2716 extends to 98% of sRGB and 85% of DCI-P3. In terms of the range of speeds shown, that’s excellent news.
Instead of a joystick or side buttons, the front buttons control the menu. The light stand scarcely resets the force required to trigger the buttons, so while this makes them easy to find, it also makes using them a bit of a chore. My left hand now holds the screen while my right hand navigates the options.
The speakers that come with the Viewsonic are 2 watts each. However, they are rather feeble and are best used for basic Windows system noises or perhaps a podcast. The audio in games, music, and movies is muddy and muddled, thus using headphones or an external speaker is highly recommended. Reasonably, this is true for all low-cost TVs: no screen in this price range provides a satisfying aural experience.
Viewsonic Omni VX2716 SDR image quality
Budget displays have a wide range of quality from best to worst, making image quality just as important as it is for more expensive ones. The SDR image quality of the Viewsonic Omni VX2716 is excellent for the price.
Matt Smith/Foundry
With a maximum brightness of 354 nits, the VX2716 easily wins our comparison for brightness, behind just the roughly $50 more expensive Dell G2723H. The VX2716 may be used in a variety of settings, and it holds up even when subjected to direct sunlight from windows or bright overhead illumination. You’ll have a hard time finding a screen in this price range that has really impressive brightness.
Matt Smith/Foundry
The contrast is acceptable, with a 900:1 dynamic range at its best. That’s not a fantastic result, but the chart shows that it compares favourably to other displays in the same price range. When seen in a well-lit area, the VX2716’s moderate use of depth and dimension holds up admirably. The screen might appear foggy and grey when it needs to appear dark, revealing its contrast limitations.
Matt Smith/Foundry
The colour gamut of the VX2716 extends to 98% of sRGB and 85% of DCI-P3. As far as rate diversity goes, that’s a fantastic result, on par with or better than displays like the BenQ GW2785TC and Acer K242HYL. When compared to more expensive alternatives in the budget screen market like the Dell G2723H, the colour on this screen may seem muted.
Matt Smith/Foundry
The colour accuracy is poor, especially in comparison to comparable budget monitors. When viewed singularly, the VX2716 does not stand out as inaccurate or unsuitable; yet, there is a subtle change in the hues of blue and yellow. Still, I consider this to be a satisfactory result for a budget panel, and it is not likely to stand out when compared to other displays in its price range.
The VX2716’s lacklustre accuracy may be related to the fact that it has a colour temperature setting of 7100K by default, rather than the more ideal 6500K. This provides a professional, clinical vibe. Warming the display’s colour temperature to fix the problem brings the temperature up to 6100K, which is too high.
Matt Smith/Foundry
The use of sharpness is warranted. The pixel density of this 27-inch, 1080p panel is close to 81 PPI. That’s towards the bottom of what’s easily accessible on modern screens, and it gives a lot away. Tiny writing often seems distorted and blurry. However, the screen uses a conventional subpixel and does not display a large gap between pixels, both of which increase the usable pixel count. The VX2716 may provide a hazy and blurry image, but it gets the job done.
The Viewsonic Omni VX2716’s is a capable budget monitor, but it has several obvious drawbacks. Because of the lack of pixel density, I would not recommend this screen to developers that place a premium on colour accuracy. These flaws are mitigated by the display’s adequate contrast ratio, dazzling maximum brightness, and wider than usual colour gamut for its price range. The screen’s SDR image quality isn’t fantastic, but it’s really good considering the price.
Viewsonic Omni VX2716 HDR image quality
The HDR format is not supported by the Viewsonic Omni VX2716. This is to be expected, considering the display’s maximum SDR brightness of 350 nits and its rather low contrast. While a few cheap TVs make the promise of HDR support, no panel in this price range can deliver adequate HDR efficiency. The Cooler Master Tempest GP27Q, at $530, is a good HDR monitor, but the best HDR screens cost $1,000 or more.
How does the Viewsonic Omni VX2716 Motion carry out?
Viewsonic markets the Omni VX2716 as a gaming monitor, and the screen’s 100Hz refresh rate supports that claim. It’s disappointing that Viewsonic didn’t spend a little more money and go with a more standard refresh rate (120Hz or 144Hz). The monitor is compatible with AMD FreeSync, allowing for fluid framerates when using AMD graphics cards.
Some clarity in motion is appropriate, and fast-moving items can still be understood. It’s good enough to sketch out broad outlines, but it won’t do a good job of conveying the finer details. League of Legends test images that scrolled indicated that character outlines, map data, and hitpoint bars appeared, but that character names and tick marks inside hitpoint bars were illegible. The effects of spells and great map information, such as the precise layouts of trees or undergrowth, might be obscured by their surroundings.
The VX2716 is an improvement over a standard 60Hz performance or office monitor, although a faster refresh rate would have been preferable. Options with a 120Hz, 144Hz, or 165Hz refresh rate are more expensive, but usually by just $20 or $30.
Should you purchase the Viewsonic Omni VX2716?
The Viewsonic Omni VX2716 is a great option for gamers looking for a monitor around $150. It has excellent picture clarity and smooth motion for the price. To attain these results on a small budget, however, means sacrificing build quality, and a refresh rate of 100Hz is rather low for a gaming monitor.
Finest Prices Today: Viewsonic Omni VX2716
Author: Matthew S. Smith
Independent innovation writer Matthew S. Smith has been reviewing consumer electronics for 15 years. His articles have appeared in PCWorld, Wired, Ars Technica, Digital Trends, Reviewed, IGN, and Lifewire, among others. Additionally, Matthew manages Computer Gaming Yesterday, a YouTube channel devoted to the history of personal computer video games, and writes on artificial intelligence and the metaverse for IEEE Spectrum.