In this review, we are taking a closer look at the Omni VX2728. This is a gaming monitor from ViewSonic, featuring a 27″ Full HD IPS panel with a 180 Hz (OC) refresh rate.
With a price point of ₱10,995 PHP ($169 USD, Amazon) , the gaming monitor also offers a 2.5 ms (GtG) response time, HDR10 support and good color coverage as well. That said, it should be competitive enough around that space.
Disclosure: ViewSonic sent the Omni VX2728 for the purpose of this review. The brand did not ask me to say anything particular about it.
Technical Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Panel Size | 27 in |
| Panel/Backlight | IPS |
| Surface Treatment | Anti-Glare, Hard Coating (3H) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Pixel Density | 81.59 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 165 Hz, 180 Hz (OC) |
| Variable Refresh Rate | FreeSync Premium, Adaptive-Sync |
| Brightness | 250 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1,000:1 |
| Response Time | 2.5 ms (GtG) |
| Color Coverage | 132% sRGB, 90% DCI-P3, 94% NTSC |
| Color Depth | 8-bit (6-bit + FRC) |
| Connectivity | |
| Display | 2x HDMI (1.4), DisplayPort (1.4) |
| USB | N/A |
| Audio | 3.5 mm (Headphone-out), 2x 2 W Speaker |
| Ergonomics | |
| VESA Mount | 100 x 100 mm |
| Pivot | N/A |
| Swivel | N/A |
| Tilt | -5°/+20° |
| Lift | N/A |
| Anti-strain | Blue Light Filter |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 615 mm |
| Width | 46 mm |
| Height | 364 mm |
| Weight | 3.7 kg |
Packaging and Accessories
The Omni VX2728 is sandwiched between two molded EPS foam inserts.
Scope of delivery are as follows:
- ViewSonic Omni VX2728
- HDMI cable
- DisplayPort cable
- Power adapter
- 2x Power cord (US, EU)
- Documentation(s)
Pretty basic bundle we got here. In true ViewSonic fashion though, it comes with two regional power cords.
Design, Build and Connectivity
Compared to the older VX series, the VX2728 is a step ahead when it comes to both design and build quality. Gone are the plastic stands in favor of a sturdier and more appealing cast aluminum tripod.
Plastic quality seems better too, along with the tactile buttons and a more muted design towards the back. This comes with VESA mounting holes (100 x 100 mm) so the option to use a third-party stand or mount is feasible as well.
OSD buttons are again very tactile yet soft enough to warrant a feeling similar to lets say, an actual mouse button. A Kensington slot is located at the opposite side of the frame.
Output wise, the VX2728 has dual HDMI ports, a single DisplayPort and a line-in port. Power is unfortunately external but I understand the choice made here.
Build quality, design and connectivity options are good enough for its price point. I wish the speakers are comparable to its XG series siblings though. Just decent based on my experience so nothing to write home about.
OSD
Now the On-Screen Display is pretty much the standard ViewSonic experience which is middle of the road if used with buttons instead of a joystick for navigation.
The OSD menu comes with six main menus – with up to three layers of sub menus and or options to play with.
While I find other setting locations acceptable, the Adaptive-Sync, MPRT, HDR and overclocking should have their own menus for better navigation with anything gaming related. Note that you have to enable overclocking to reach 180 Hz. Otherwise, this monitor defaults to 165 Hz which is basically its factory rated refresh rate.
Ergonomics
The Omni VX2728 comes with a 27 inch panel featuring a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, translating to an 81.59 ppi. That said, it is not the best when it comes to pixel density as I find the resolution and panel size combination already stretched to the limit of what I find acceptable. To fully enjoy this monitor, a desk with at least 60 cm in depth is recommended. Back2Gaming did a review of the smaller VX2428 monitor so if a comparable monitor with better PPI level is your thing, you might want to check that out.
While the stand is made out of quality material, it only allows the monitor to tilt. It is basic but I find its eye level on a 73 cm height desk acceptable for the average Asian.
OSD Settings
The VX2728 comes with 9 presets. Standard is our pick here which is also the default. Stock, the white point could be better though so a calibration is just appropriate.
| Spyder5 ELITE | OSD Settings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Brightness (cd/m²) | Black Level (%) | Contrast (:) | White Point (K) |
| Standard | 221.5 | 0.35 | 640:1 | 7600 |
| FPS | 219.3 | 0.33 | 660:1 | 7500 |
| RTS | 175.4 | 0.19 | 920:1 | 7600 |
| MOBA | 174.8 | 0.14 | 1240:1 | 7600 |
| Movie | 220.6 | 0.35 | 630:1 | 7900 |
| Web | 214.8 | 0.33 | 650:1 | 7300 |
| Text | 201.6 | 0.35 | 580:1 | 6700 |
| Mac | 117.3 | 0.19 | 630:1 | 7600 |
| Mono | 202.2 | 0.35 | 580:1 | 9000 |
OSD settings are as follows:
- Preset = Standard (Default)
- Brightness = 49 (120 cd/m²)
- Contrast = 70 (Default)
- Color Temperature = User (R97, G77, B70)
- Gamma = N/A
- Color Space = N/A
Shoot me an email if you need the ICC or ICM profile for this particular monitor.
Gamut
Color coverage is quite good across the board.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Gamut, Percent (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Space | sRGB | AdobeRGB | DCI-P3 | NTSC |
| Measured | 100 | 90 | 95 | 87 |
Tone Response
Gamma level is locked at 2.1 with a curve closer to our 2.2 target. With further tweaking, you could get this to 2.2.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Tone Response, Gamma (γ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Measured | N/A | N/A | 2.1 | N/A | N/A |
Brightness and Contrast
Brightness level is rated between 4.5 to 241.7 cd/m². Contrast on the other hand is recorded at 720:1 the highest at 100% brightness and contrast level. White point could be better but at the calibrated level, it is good enough at 6400 K (D65 target).
| Spyder5 ELITE | Brightness and Contrast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Settings | Brightness (cd/m²) | Black Level (%) | Contrast (:) | White Point (K) |
| 0% | 4.5 | 0.02 | 270:1 | 5800 |
| 25% | 25.9 | 0.15 | 180:1 | 6000 |
| 50% | 76.9 | 0.21 | 360:1 | 6400 |
| 75% | 160.8 | 0.28 | 580:1 | 6700 |
| 100% | 241.7 | 0.34 | 720:1 | 8300 |
Screen Uniformity
Color uniformity is excellent for its class.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Color Uniformity, Delta-E (ΔE) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.7 |
| 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
Luminance hotspots on the other hand could be better, especially at the lower area of the panel.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Luminance Uniformity, Percent (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | 5 | 8 |
| 21 | 12 | 13 |
Color Accuracy
The monitor passed the 12-patch color accuracy test with an average Delta-E of 3.13. This is acceptable but I was expecting more from ViewSonic considering their older model’s color performance.
| Spyder5 ELITE | Color Accuracy, Delta-E (ΔE) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Patch ID | sRGB | Measured |
| 1E | 249, 242, 238 | 3.83 |
| 2E | 202, 198, 195 | 3.99 |
| 3E | 161, 154, 157 | 4.49 |
| 4E | 122, 118, 116 | 4.47 |
| 5E | 80, 80, 78 | 3.63 |
| 6E | 43, 41, 43 | 2.40 |
| 1F | 0, 127, 159 | 3.09 |
| 2F | 192, 75, 145 | 1.83 |
| 3F | 245, 205, 0 | 2.37 |
| 4F | 186, 26, 51 | 2.34 |
| 5F | 57, 146, 64 | 2.18 |
| 6F | 25, 55, 135 | 2.95 |
| Minimum | 1.83 | |
| Maximum | 4.49 | |
| Average | 3.13 | |
Response Time
Respite comes in the form of an average perceived response time at 6.07 ms with basically zero overshoot using the monitor’s Advanced response time setting. GtG response time on the other hand is recorded at 3.2 ms (best) which is not far off the marketed claim. Results considered, the monitor scored an average visual response rating of 86.24 which is good considering its price point.
| OSRTT | Response Time, Millisecond (ms) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 51 | 102 | 153 | 204 | 255 | |
| 0 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 5.8 | |
| 51 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 6.6 | 5.2 | |
| 102 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 4.7 | |
| 153 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | |
| 204 | 7.1 | 9.5 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 3.2 | |
| 255 | 8.0 | 10.9 | 9.2 | 6.6 | 4.1 | |
The monitor also supports strobing under its MPRT mode and comes with Adaptive-Sync support.
Input Lag
The VX2728’s input lag is excellent, featuring an average of 2.8 ms On Display Lag.
Power
At 120 cd/m², we measured about 18.74 W of power consumption. Increase is steady from 0% to 100% brightness level which is nice.
Final Thoughts
The ViewSonic Omni VX2728 showcases notable advancements in design, build quality and performance, surpassing its predecessors. The transition from plastic to a cast aluminum stand not only enhances the monitor’s sturdiness but also contributes to a more visually appealing aesthetic.
Connectivity options are ample enough with dual HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and a line-in port. While the external power source may be perceived as a trade-off, it aligns with a more practical design choice – allowing the internals to run cooler for its overclocked mode.
Now the On-Screen Display (OSD) presents a familiar ViewSonic experience, featuring tactile buttons for navigation. However, the OSD’s navigation, particularly for gaming-related settings such as Adaptive-Sync, MPRT, HDR, and overclocking, could benefit from a more intuitive menu structure. The volume menu for example, could be used instead for such.
Ergonomically, the 27-inch panel with a Full HD resolution provides a satisfactory experience, though the pixel density might be considered at the upper limit of acceptability – personally speaking. The monitor’s stand, while basic, offers tilting functionality, contributing to an acceptable eye level on standard desks. The inclusion of VESA mounting holes expands customization options though so you are still covered should the stock stand wont suffice.
As for performance, the VX2728 exhibits commendable color space coverage and color uniformity within its class. While luminance hotspots could be improved, the overall screen performance meets my expectations – sans its color accuracy. The monitor’s perceived response time along with its GtG response time are also notables in this regard.
In terms of input lag, the VX2728 excels with an impressive average of 2.8 ms On Display Lag which is one of the fastest I have ever tested. Power consumption measurements demonstrate a steady increase from 0% to 100% brightness, showcasing efficiency at various brightness levels.
In summary, the ViewSonic VX2728 strikes a balance between performance and affordability, making it a compelling choice for users seeking a well-designed and feature-rich monitor within its price range.
ViewSonic Omni VX2728 $ 169.99 USD
Product Name: Omni VX2728
Product Description: OMNI VX2728’s fast IPS panel caters for superior color performance, both in accuracy and brightness, so you can get your head in the game. Revel in life-like details while achieving incredible responsiveness. Paired with the monitor's wide viewing angles, you'll always have the best seat in the house.
Brand: ViewSonic
Summary
The ViewSonic Omni VX2728 impresses with enhanced design, build, and gaming performance over its predecessors. While the OSD could be more intuitive for gaming settings, the 27-inch panel delivers satisfactory performance with a quick response time, and low input lag – making it a compelling choice for gamers seeking an affordable gaming monitor.
