ViewSonic VX2458 gaming monitor review

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PC monitors are getting good, and good PC monitors are getting cheap these days. That’s exactly what applies to today’s product on review, the ViewSonic VX2458, a budget gaming monitor. What sets it apart from other monitors available is its refresh rate. Instead of sitting on the more budget friendly 60Hz or 75Hz, it instead goes with a 144Hz TN panel.

So, how exactly did ViewSonic pull this off? Did the company have to cut many corners to get this result? How exactly does the monitor perform compared to similarly priced monitors? Is it actually a good deal overall? Find out all of this in our review of the ViewSonic VC2458-MHD budget gaming monitor.

Design and build quality

The first thing we notice about the ViewSonic VX2458-MHD’s design is how it’s very different from other gaming monitors on the market. While usually this is a good thing, allowing a product to diversify itself next to its contemporaries, in this case we’re not too sure about it.

Eschewing the gaming aesthetic, the monitor instead adopts a basic look, similar to more budget monitors you’d find anywhere. Still, some nice touches are added here and there to help it stand out. There’s a nice matte black finish around the main chassis, with a few red highlights adding to the look. Despite this, the main base is plain glossy back, and the thick bezels flank every edge of the screen.

On the bright side of things, the simpler look of the ViewSonic VX2458-MHD means that it it’s not too large sitting on your desk. Once fully assembled, it remains quite manageable in terms of size. You can basically put it anywhere and it should sit nicely as long as the base fits. On a desk, it leaves ample amounts of room for other peripherals.

Mounting the monitor to a wall is also pretty simple and hassle free. It’s lightweight so it doesn’t sag or give trouble during installation, and the flat shape lets it sit flush against walls. Generally a good and inexpensive monitor to use in a multi-monitor setup in terms of design and look. Outside of the presence of the thicker bezels around its display that is.

Now then, putting aside the design, what’s the build quality like? Well, we’re happy to say that the monitor’s build quality is quite good considering the device’s cost. Most of the plastics used here are solid and tough, which is always nice to see. While it’s not going to take any big drops, it’ll definitely live through some minor hits or light damages.

On the other hand, we do have some issues with the monitor’s stand. The built-in stand limits the display to only tilt adjustments, meaning it’s difficult to get a comfortable view during use. On top of that, there’s a bit of wobble present. Thankfully, there’s a solution for this as you can swap this out for a VESA stand. Not only will this be more stable, but it will also allow for greater adjustability and much better durability.

Features and connectivity

Now then, what’s the monitor’s I/O and connectivity like? Well, when it comes to connectivity options, there aren’t too many choices here available. For display capabilities, we have a DisplayPort 1.2 connector, as well as two different HDMI 1.4 slots. These are a nice selection of ports for display, and once again is good for multi-monitor setups.

Unfortunately, that’s really all that’s available on the monitor. There aren’t any USB ports on the ViewSonic VX2458-MHD, which is a real big shame. It would’ve made the monitor a better deal for the price, as well as make it an even better proposition for prospective buyers. Still, we can’t complain too much considering what the monitor offers otherwise.

Outide of that, we also get a pair of speakers on the monitor, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack which is nice. They’re 5-watt speakers, so while they’re adequate, they’re also nothing really special or worth listening to. We do appreciate them being here though, as they add further value to the monitor.

Display quality

Now we get to the part that we’re sure everyone’s actually curious about, what is the display itself actually like? We’ve got a 24-inch 1920 x 1080p TN panel here, with a refresh rate of 144Hz and a 1ms response time, all excellent stuff. On top of these, it also has a 300cd/m2 backlight and a decent 1000:1 contrast ratio. It’s practically designed specifically for gamers on a budget.

The size works perfectly with the resolution, being big enough to view everything happening in-game without stretching pixels out too much. Paired with the 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, it makes it perfect for competitive entry level gamers. It even supports AMD FreeSync, which by also allows it to work with G-Sync to some degree. If you’re just looking to get involved in esports, this monitor is perfect for you.

Unfortunately, in every other regard, it’s very much an average everyday monitor. Thanks to the presence of a TN panel, the monitor is only capable of producing 93% oft the sRGB gamut, which reasonable but not exactly top notch. Colours are slightly off, but not overly so. It’s reasonable for everyday usage, but if you’re a graphic designer you’ll want to steer clear.

How about the backlight on the ViewSonic VX2458-MHD? It’s surprisingly decent, getting really nice and bright, moreso than most people could ever need. Because it’s a TN panel the viewing angles aren’t anything special, but overall, everything is serviceable. Nothing to complain about, with some really strong points to scream about.

Conclusion

Overall, the ViewSonic VX2458-MHD is an excellent choice for gamers, a good choice for the average user, and not a very good one if you’re planning on using your PC for design in any way. The specs are all built with gaming in mind, and as such gamers will benefit the most from its features. We also like the design, which although rather simple, is nice and practical in the best way.

The TN panel’s color inaccuracies and more basic features unfortunately make it a harder sell for more design-centric users, but for everyone else, you can’t really go wrong at this price.

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Design and build quality

Features and connectivity

Display quality

Conclusion

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