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4K monitors have long been in the realm of the exotic, but they’ve come very far from their $3,500 roots. That you can buy a 27-inch UHD screen with 144 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and extended color for $280 is a clear indication of progress to the positive.
The ViewSonic VX2730D-4K delivers tremendous performance and quality for the price. Not only is it 4K at 144 Hz, but it is also Full HD at 288 Hz. Gaming is super quick and smooth thanks to excellent video processing and a convenient resolution switch, and I was even able to toggle it without leaving the game, which is a first in my experience. The overdrive removes nearly all motion blur, and gameplay is precise and satisfying at either resolution. There’s MPRT backlight strobing for smoothness at lower frame rates, but I found it was only usable in the FHD/288 Hz mode.
My only complaint here is with the VX2730D-4K’s HDR presentation. It is less bright than SDR by around 30% and its bluish grayscale is visible in content. Though the monitor supports HDR10 signals, it doesn’t give them much love. I found that after some time, I preferred playing everything in SDR mode.
Minor issue aside, the ViewSonic VX2730D-4K is a 4K gaming monitor for $280. That forgives a lot and at this point in time, it has no serious competition. If you’re looking for a budget monitor that’s speedy, responsive and colorful, you should definitely check it out.
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