ViewSonic XG2530 240Hz FreeSync Monitor Review
Brightness & Contrast
To read about our monitor tests in depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test Monitors and TVs. Brightness and Contrast testing are covered on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
The XG2530 is the fifth 25” 240Hz monitor we’ve tested so far. The previous four are Asus’ PG258Q, Acer’s XB252Q, Alienware’s AW2518H, and AOC’s AG251FZ. The first three are G-Sync screens while the fourth is FreeSync. To round out the group, we’ve included a 27” IPS display, ViewSonic’s XG2703-GS with G-Sync and a 165Hz refresh rate.
- 01 maxwhite
- 02 maxblack
- 03 maxcontrast
ViewSonic claims 400cd/m2 for the XG2530 but we only measured 356.0925cd/m2. This isn’t a big deal, because there is no backlight strobe to compensate for. G-Sync monitors always include ULMB which can reduce output by 60% or more. FreeSync screens don’t have this limitation. There’s more than enough light for any indoor environment.
Of the TN panels, the XG2530 offers the best black level, mainly due to its slightly dimmer backlight. You can see when contrast ratios are calculated that ViewSonic takes the top spot with its 27” IPS screen and runs mid-pack with its TN offering. It should be noted that the differences shown here are barely visible, and with a little room light they will be impossible to spot. Only a significant rise in contrast will make an appreciable change to image depth. With more VA panels and zone-dimming HDR screens just around the corner, that wish will soon become reality.
Uncalibrated – Minimum Backlight Level
- 04 minwhite
- 05 minblack
- 06 mincontrast
The XG2530 can only go down to 78nits or so, which is a tad brighter than we’d prefer in a totally dark room. Once calibrated, minimum output drops to 58nits which is less fatiguing during those all-night gaming sessions. Contrast remains very consistent at 964.3:1. Don’t be tempted by the DCR option in the OSD—it will only clip detail and make dark areas of the image more difficult to see.
After Calibration to 200cd/m2
- 07 calblack
- 08 calcontrast
During our calibration, we worked with the Black Stabilization control to optimize shadow detail and firm up low-end gamma. It worked well but cost us a little contrast, which is now down to 714.5:1. This is the weakest area of the XG2530’s image and something we can just forgive thanks to its excellent color accuracy and screen uniformity. We know this panel is capable of more given the numbers posted by the other 25” displays. And IPS remains the image depth winner with an excellent 1039.4:1 result. Remember that this monitor is designed for ultimate gaming performance, not perfect image fidelity.
ANSI Contrast Ratio
ANSI contrast comes down a little from the sequential number due to a couple of tiny hotspots in our checkerboard pattern. Overall uniformity is quite good but again. TN is not the technology to deliver impressive contrast numbers. IPS makes a good showing here, but what we really need is 240Hz and adaptive refresh behind a VA panel.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: Best Professional Monitors
MORE: How We Test Monitors
MORE: How To Choose A Monitor
MORE: All Monitor Content
I'd rather have the extra resolution.
Oh wait, nothing of the sort is available until 2H2018. All we've got is garbage that 'supports' HDR signal input without actually displaying it.
I have a 144 Hz monitor (on which colors and contrast look lile garbage) to play Rainbow 6 Siege on, and a separate 4K one so I can enjoy my Forza Horizon 3 in glorious 4K 60. 144Hz monitor gives you the ability to sharpen your skills if you desire to do so. Not everyone can afford that, but there is certainly a market for it.
Did you even read the review? They were both in the comparison charts.
Is this the "cool" thing to do now- proclaim that anything less than the ultimate *whatever* (that doesn't even exist) is beneath your high standards? Here are a few facts to chew on, which apparently you haven't thought about:
a) There's barely any HDR content in any format available right now. You do realize that feeding any old thing into an HDR monitor does not give you an HDR picture, right? The content has to specifically offer HDR support.
b) There is no GPU in existence that can come close to 4K 120Hz. Not even the first gen of Volta will be able to. Certainly nothing from AMD for years to come.
This dream monitor of yours doesn't exist yet for a reason.
So it's not for you, therefore it shouldn't exist? Really?
There's heaps of HDR media, even Dolby Vision content (12-bit colour). Many TV's are already capable of the above specs, but monitor tech lags behind tv's.
Not everything is about gaming, or I'd have mentioned input ms as well.
the 1080p/240Hz market is so niche and silly that *yet another* edition of the panel probably shouldn't, no. Maybe if manufacturers would move past a resolution standard from a decade ago and put some effort into 1440p/144Hz, there would be more than a handful of actually decent monitors.
I'd imagine many 1080p/240Hz gamers would say the 1440p/144Hz monitor is actually the niche product here, as they require an expensive GPU that many people can't afford. Hamburger and filet mignon have coexisted for ages, so I don't see how 1080p is somehow holding back 1440p. It certainly isn't holding back other advances, like HDR and Quantum Dot.
Speaking of choices, I'm on a 3440x1440p/120Hz/Gsync/1900R/IPS monitor (my 1080 Ti has its hands full), and there are exactly two of those on the market. At least with 1440p/144Hz, Newegg has around 30 to choose from. Obviously, I'm not a 1080p fanboy- I just disagree that mfrs should start "herding" people into 1440p by fazing out 1080p. It's a big world and a big market; there's plenty of room for both.
I declare that any monitor with lower than 240hz refresh rate is obsolete trash and should be discontinued. Call me when we have true 480hz displays.
See how that works? If the display isn't for you, move on. Every single time they review a gaming monitor we get the whiners deriding a product that isn't even targeted at them. Unbelievable.