The ViewSonic XG275D-4K is a fantastic pick for gamers who want a monitor that covers a wider array of genres. It’s a dual-resolution dual refresh rate monitor, designed to satisfy both desires for eye candy and blazing speed, depending on the title at hand. It’s considerably cheaper than popular models like the Acer Predator X32 X3 since it’s not OLED, so let’s take a closer look at what it can do.
ViewSonic XG275D-4K Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD/1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 160Hz/320Hz
- Response Time: 0.5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 300 cd/m2
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4a x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.18″ x 17.39″ x 9.60″
- Weight: 13.89 lb
Design and Features
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K has a simpler design than its closest competitors, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The monitor has a matte black chassis, so it looks clean and discreet enough to be placed in an office space. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most options.
ViewSonic produces a lot of affordable options, but most of them have excellent build qualities. The plastic panels used for the housing are thick and sturdy, plus there are no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or shake while gaming intensely.
It’s a 27-inch model, but it seems like it doesn’t take up as much space as it used to back in the day. The monitor needs less than ten inches of depth from your desk, so it shouldn’t offset your other peripherals too much. The whole device weighs in at 13.89 pounds, so it’s very easy to move it around as needed.
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K has a joystick for its OSD, so it is still very easy to adjust a setting on the fly. The button flanking it is the hotkey for switching between the two resolutions, so you won’t have to dig into the OSD when you want to swap over. Other monitors might include remotes, but that’s not necessary this time.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. It’s easy to get an angle for extended hours of use, even if you don’t add upgrades. You can still use VESA mounts, but it’s highly unnecessary since the default base is good enough.
One aspect that took a hit to lower the price is the ViewSonic XG275D-4K’s connectivity layout. It does have DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a PD65W USB-C port for video inputs, but it doesn’t have valuable extras like USB-A ports. That’s fine in most cases, but we know some will be looking for these missing add-ons.
The included speakers sound dismal, but that’s understandable since it’s a low-powered built-in set. You are better off with headphones since those will help you focus and get immersed in your game. I don’t think the built-ins will get a ton of use, but it’s nice to have them in case they become needed.
Display and Performance
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution and a 160Hz refresh rate. This is a dual-model display, so you can switch it to a faster 320Hz refresh rate on the fly at the expense of dropping the resolution to 1080p. This model doesn’t have HDR certification, but that’s okay since its special skill makes it more useful and suited to mixed-use setups.
4K at 27 inches is great for gaming and movies since it’s sharp, and images are extra crisp and detailed. However, it can be difficult for some to read or process documents with it because of the high PPI. This is where the dual resolution comes in, making the second mode useful for more than just E-Sports.
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K covered 100% of sRGB and 96% of DCI-P3 for stunning color in any use. The monitor had a deltaE average of 1.31, so it’s balanced and good to go from the factory. Most users won’t have to do anything to it apart from adjusting the brightness and activating VRR at first use.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 1.03, which is a bit cleaner and more balanced than other value-oriented models have offered in the past. However, we’ve seen better results from other modern IPS monitors, which go below dE 1.0. It’s also not worth getting a colorimeter unless you want to tune the monitor regularly for color-critical work.
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K’s backlight reached 299 cd/m2 at 100% so it can produce good brightness in most indoor setups. It’s not HDR-level, but it’s very usable for most instances. Its contrast is its weakest characteristic since it only reached 977:1 at 60% brightness.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some backlight bleeding issues at the side edges of the screen. They showed up as clouding in dark scenes, but lighter backgrounds like browsers or Office apps,s can conceal them. Note that this varies with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better and worse units out there.
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K’s pixel response time is already excellent at 160Hz in 4K. It gets even better when its other mode is switched on, since the doubled refresh rate boosts some of the already minor persistence out of the way. It’s great for fast-paced games either way, so some might find themselves using the 4K mode more often for games like Battlefield 6 when it comes out.
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. Dual VRR compatibility is necessary now so you don’t get stuck without it if you switch GPU brands. Its minimum input lag sits at 3ms at 320Hz, making it more than sufficient for E-Sports gaming.
Thoughts on the ViewSonic XG275D-4K
The ViewSonic XG275D-4K is capable of excellent performance thanks to its dual mode for the vibrant IPS panel. It doesn’t have a lot of extras, but it’s built well, like every ViewSonic monitor we’ve seen over the years. Its pricing is questionable since its MSRP can get you an OLED with fewer features but better image quality overall.
However, this model goes on sale regularly, so that caveat above might be inadmissible anyway. Other limitations we saw are, of course, the poor contrast and its lack of extra features. But if you think about it, there isn’t a real deal-breaker for this monitor, so it should be a satisfying buy for most users.
Pros:
- Excellent Colors
- USB-C Included
- Fast and Responsive Dual Mode
Cons:
- Low Contrast
- Limited Features
About the Author: 
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.</span
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