The ViewSonic VX2252MH is proof that you don’t always have to spend lots of money for a good do-it-all monitor. Priced below most 22-inch monitors, this panel brings a speedy two-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response, decent image detail, and a bright picture, and it doesn’t use a lot of power. As with most budget gadgets, however, there are sacrifices to be made.
For one, its gray-scale performance and color accuracy would be better, its view-angle viewing is a bit narrow, and its feature set is limited. Granted you’re not looking for high-end picture quality, the VX2252MH easily impresses on pricing and performance.
Design & Features
A simple design in a glossy black cabinet with a matte 3H screen coating is what you have on the ViewSonic VX2252MH. The 3H coating helps eliminate sunlight reflection and the monitor is VESA mount compatible with 100 x 100 mm pattern, meaning you can hook it up to a wall or a mounting arm for a multi-screen setup. This monitor doesn’t get much in terms of ergonomics, only featuring 20 degrees tilt adjustment (forward-and-backwards). If you need height adjustment, swivel and pivot, you’ll sadly have to look elsewhere.
Connectivity comes in way of an HDMI port, VGA and DVI-D port. Also, there’s an audio line-out and an audio line-in port as well as a pair of built-in 2W speakers. These are basic speakers, so you really don’t expect them to produce the kind of bass and audio quality you find on more expensive gaming monitors.
Performance
The main highlight on the VX2252MH monitor must be the two-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response, dubbed ClearMotiv 11 technology that enables the monitor provide acceptable gaming action. While most of its budget competitors – like our Editors Choice the Acer SB220Q bi – only suffice for basic productivity tasks with 5ms response rates, this one takes the action a notch higher to deliver a fast response rate that easily rivals more expensive monitors.
When firing zombies in Call of duty: Black Ops on Xbox 360, enjoy smooth 1080p motion handling, with no noticeable ghosting or streaking artifacts. The same applies to Burnout Paradise on PS4 that plays out clean and free of any blurring.
Overall, picture quality is sharp, although the panel had some trouble with very light and very dark shades of gray, a common issue with TN panels. Also, color shifting and dimming occurs when viewing the panel at off angles (45 degrees); this, too is characteristic of TN panels.
The ViewSonic VX2252MH consumes 21 watts of power with ECO mode set to standard, which is quite good, but nothing to write home about especially when compared with the Dell P2314T, that only uses 16 watts. However, when you switch to Conserve mode, the consumption drops to a very efficient 14 watts, and the on-screen picture remains relatively bright.
Verdict
With the ViewSonic VX2252MH, you don’t get much in way of features, but it does get smooth gaming and productivity performance for under $200 and sharp 1080p picture. Its color accuracy would be better, though, and it struggles displaying the darkest and lightest shades of gray. Still, it’s a solid choice for anyone shopping for an affordable monitor for multimedia and gaming.
If your budget allows, the BenQ ZOWIE XL2540 gaming monitor offers better all-around gaming performance and packs loads of features including a 240Hz refresh rate, an ergonomic stand and brilliant picture quality.
Our Pick
