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We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

ViewSonic VG1655 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Reviewed Jun 11, 2021 at 10:56 am
ViewSonic VG1655 Picture
6.1
Mixed Usage
6.4
Office
6.1
Gaming
6.0
Multimedia
5.9
Media Creation
4.4
HDR Gaming

The ViewSonic VG1655 is an acceptable portable monitor. Like most portable monitors, it lacks many features found on typical desktop monitors, and it's designed for use as a secondary screen. It's good for viewing messages or reading documents thanks to its 15.6 inch screen and 1080p resolution, resulting in high pixel density and clear text. The stand has adjustable tilt settings, and you can use the screen in portrait mode. It has two USB-C inputs that support DisplayPort Alt Mode and power delivery of up to 60W. Sadly, it's not good for content creators because of its narrow color gamut, and colors look washed out. Also, it doesn't get bright, so it's not a good choice to use in really bright environments.

Our Verdict

6.1 Mixed Usage

The ViewSonic VG1655 is an acceptable monitor for most uses. It's for on-the-go use, so it doesn't have as many features as desktop monitors. The 15.6 inch screen may seem small, but with a 1080p resolution, it has a high pixel density that delivers clear text for office use. However, it's mediocre for content creators due to its narrow color gamut, and it has slow response times if you want to use it for gaming.

Pros
  • Excellent text clarity thanks to high pixel density.
  • Adjustable incline stand.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
  • Doesn't get bright.
  • Narrow SDR color gamut; colors look washed out.
6.4 Office

The ViewSonic VG1655 isn't bad for office use. It's meant for use as a secondary screen, and it's good for reading documents because it delivers clear text thanks to its high pixel density. It has decent reflection handling but doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Sadly, it has a narrow color gamut, and its viewing angles aren't the best, so colors look washed out if you view it a bit from the sides.

Pros
  • Excellent text clarity thanks to high pixel density.
  • Adjustable incline stand.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
  • Doesn't get bright.
6.1 Gaming

The ViewSonic VG1655 is mediocre for gaming. It's not designed for this use, as it's a portable monitor, and we don't suggest using it for gaming. It's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, doesn't have variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and motion looks blurry. However, it has low input lag if you still want to use it for gaming.

Pros
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Limited to 60Hz panel and no VRR support.
  • Slow response time makes motion look blurry.
  • Low contrast ratio.
6.0 Multimedia

The ViewSonic VG1655 is unremarkable for watching multimedia content. It's fine for watching YouTube videos thanks to its 15.6 inch screen and 1080p resolution, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare in well-lit rooms. For dark rooms, it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray when viewed in the dark.

Pros
  • Excellent text clarity thanks to high pixel density.
  • Adjustable incline stand.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
  • Low contrast ratio.
5.9 Media Creation

The ViewSonic VG1655 is disappointing for content creators. It has a narrow color gamut, so it can't display colors as they should, and they look washed out. Its viewing angles aren't the best either, so the image starts to look darker as you move off-center. The screen may be small for some, but the 1080p resolution helps deliver crisp images.

Pros
  • Excellent text clarity thanks to high pixel density.
  • Adjustable incline stand.
Cons
  • Image looks darker at wide viewing angles.
  • Doesn't get bright.
  • Narrow SDR color gamut; colors look washed out.
4.4 HDR Gaming

The ViewSonic VG1655 doesn't support HDR.

  • 6.1 Mixed Usage
  • 6.4 Office
  • 6.1 Gaming
  • 6.0 Multimedia
  • 5.9 Media Creation
  • 4.4 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Jun 11, 2021: Review published.
  2. Updated Jun 09, 2021: Early access published.
  3. Updated Jun 01, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated May 31, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Apr 17, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 15.6 inch ViewSonic VG1655, which is only available in this size. There's also the ViewSonic TD1655, which appears to be similar but has a touchscreen instead; we haven't tested this model. These are the only two portable monitors from ViewSonic.

Model Size Resolution Panel  Notes
VG1655 15.6" 1080p  IPS -
TD1655 15.6" 1080p IPS Touchscreen

If you come across a different type of panel or your VG1655 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Our unit was manufactured in January 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The ViewSonic VG1655 is an acceptable portable monitor. It has two USB-C inputs that support DisplayPort Alt Mode and power delivery up to 60W, which is convenient. However, colors look washed out, and there are other options available with wider color gamuts, like the Lenovo ThinkVision M14, or more versatile models, like the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE.

See our recommendations for the best office monitorsbest 1080p monitors, and best budget monitors.

ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC

The ViewSonic VG1655 and the ASUS ZenScreen MB14AC are acceptable portable monitors with similar performance. The ASUS gets brighter, so it performs better in well-lit rooms, and it feels much better built with a solid frame. However, the bigger ViewSonic has two USB-C inputs that support power delivery, while the ASUS only has one USB-C input that doesn't support PD. The ViewSonic also has a Mini HDMI input, and you can adjust the incline settings as you wish.

ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP

The ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16AHP and the ViewSonic VG1655 are both acceptable portable monitors. The ASUS is a better choice to use in a bright environment because it gets brighter, and it feels better built as there are some issues with the kickstand on the ViewSonic. The ViewSonic has more inputs available because it has two USB-C inputs while the ASUS just has one, and it also has an analog audio output.

ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT

The ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT is a bit better overall than the ViewSonic VG1655, but they each offer different features. The ASUS has a built-in battery and a touchscreen feature which is only fully compatible with Windows PCs. The ASUS is a better choice for well-lit rooms thanks to its good reflection handling and higher brightness. On the other hand, the ViewSonic has two USB-C inputs, while the ASUS only has one, and it has an audio analog output.

Lenovo ThinkVision M14

The Lenovo ThinkVision M14 is better than the ViewSonic VG1655. The main advantage of the Lenovo is that it displays a much wider color gamut, making it a better choice for content creators. It also gets much brighter, making it a better choice for bright environments, and the monitor feels better-built as the stand is more solid. On the other hand, the ViewSonic has a Mini HDMI port, which the Lenovo doesn't, and it's a bit bigger, giving you more screen real estate space.

Lepow Z1

The Lepow Z1 and the ViewSonic VG1655 are both acceptable portable monitors. They each have a 1080p resolution with a 15 inch screen, and each delivers clear text. They both have two USB-C inputs, but only one supports DisplayPort Alt Mode on the Lepow while both support it on the ViewSonic. The Lepow supports HDR, which the ViewSonic, but it doesn't add much. The ViewSonic has better ergonomics because it has an adjustable incline stand, while you can only set the Lepow's stand to three settings.

MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD

The MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and the ViewSonic VG1655 are two different monitors. The MSI is a standard monitor with a 1440p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. It has more gaming features than the ViewSonic, like VRR support, a very quick response time, and low input lag. Since it's a regular desktop monitor, it also has a stand with much better ergonomics. The ViewSonic is a portable monitor with a 1080p resolution, but it has much better text clarity with its smaller screen.

Lepow Z1 Gamut

The Lepow Z1 Gamut is a better portable monitor than the ViewSonic VG1655. They each have a 15 inch screen with a 1080p resolution, but the main difference is that the Lepow has a much wider color gamut, so colors don't look washed out like on the ViewSonic. The Lepow also has better reflection handling, making it a better choice to use in well-lit rooms. On the other hand, the stand on the ViewSonic is better because you can set the incline to anything you want up to 60 degrees, while Lepow's stand only has three settings.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 15"
Curved No
Curve Radius Not Curved
Weight (without stand)
N/A
Weight (with stand)
1.8 lbs (0.8 kg)

The ViewSonic VG1655 is a simple portable monitor. The bezels are dark gray, while the back and the stand are silver. It's metal and matte plastic, and there's a glossy strip on the bottom bezel. The stand is attached to the screen, and it comes with a detachable screen cover.

Design
Stand
Width
12.4" (31.5 cm)
Depth
4.1" (10.4 cm)

The monitor comes with an easel-style stand that attaches to the back of the screen and can't be removed. ViewSonic suggests using the screen cover underneath the stand to help keep it stable. The measurements above are for the stand itself, but with the cover, it measures 13.98" W (35.5 cm) x 10.24" D (26.0 cm).

2.7
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range No swivel
Tilt Range -60° to -15°

The ViewSonic VG1655 has limited ergonomics, which we expect from a portable monitor. You can tilt the stand from 15 degrees and higher because the monitor is unstable with anything less. When the monitor is in portrait mode, the right side has to be on the bottom because of the inputs on the left, and the screen is tilted back 22.5 degrees. It feels somewhat stable in that position unless you have wires plugged in that are pulling it back.

Design
Back
Wall Mount No Mount

The back of the screen is simple, and there aren't any slots for mounting it. Naturally, there's no cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.2" (0.5 cm)
Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
7.9" (20.0 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
0.6" (1.6 cm)

The 'Thickness (with stand)' measurement above is taken with the stand in its most inclined position. We measured 'Thickness (without stand)' without the cover, but with the cover, it's 0.7" (1.8 cm) thick.

6.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is okay. It has a solid metal frame, except the thinner top portion of the monitor flexes more. The bottom bezel also feels a bit loose. The screen feels a bit unstable with the stand, and you have to be careful with it in the portrait orientation so that it doesn't fall. Sadly, one of the hinges for the stand on our unit isn't glued to the screen properly, as you can see here. This is likely a problem with our unit alone, so let us know if you experience the same issue.

Picture Quality
5.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
935 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The ViewSonic VG1655 has a low contrast ratio, which is typical for an IPS panel. Blacks look gray when viewed in the dark, and there's no local dimming feature to improve it. It's a bit higher than the advertised 800:1, but this can vary between units.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There's no local dimming feature. The video above is provided for reference only.

5.6
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
188 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
153 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
153 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
158 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.002

The ViewSonic VG1655 has disappointing SDR peak brightness. It doesn't meet its advertised 250 cd/m² and it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare in well-lit settings. We tested the brightness after calibration using the following settings:

  • View Mode: Office - Custom 1
  • Contrast: 70
  • Black Stabilizer: 50
  • Brightness: 100
  • Color Temp: Custom
  • Color Range: Full
  • Gamma: 2.2

We tried measuring the brightness before calibration to see if it affected it at all. We measured a real scene brightness of 212 cd/m² and around 170 cd/m² for our test slides. It's somewhat brighter uncalibrated, but it's not a noticeable difference and still not enough to meet the advertised 250 cd/m². We used the following settings:

  • View Mode: Off
  • Contrast: 70
  • Black Stabilizer: 50
  • Brightness: 100
  • Color Temp: Native
  • Color Range: Full
  • Gamma: 2.4

Lastly, we tried different settings to get the brightest image possible. We reached a peak real scene brightness of 266 cd/m² with the following settings, but the image is so inaccurate it's almost unusable:

  • View Mode: Custom 2
  • Contrast: 100
  • Black Stabilizer: 100
  • Brightness: 100
  • Color Temp: Native
  • Color Range: Full
  • Gamma: 2.8

0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
N/A
HDR Peak 2% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 10% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 25% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 50% Window
N/A
HDR Peak 100% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 2% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 10% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 25% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 50% Window
N/A
HDR Sustained 100% Window
N/A
HDR ABL
N/A

The ViewSonic VG1655 doesn't support HDR.

6.8
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
24°
Color Washout From Right
24°
Color Shift From Left
49°
Color Shift From Right
49°
Brightness Loss From Left
28°
Brightness Loss From Right
28°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
29°
Gamma Shift From Right
31°

The ViewSonic VG1655 has an IPS panel with fairly wide viewing angles, but it's still not as good as other IPS panels. Colors start to look washed out, and the image gets darker at about 30 degrees off-center. It's fine enough if you need to share your screen with someone sitting next to you, but we don't suggest looking at it from very wide angles.

6.6
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
27°
Color Washout From Above
27°
Color Shift From Below
26°
Color Shift From Above
40°
Brightness Loss From Below
27°
Brightness Loss From Above
29°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
32°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°

Once again, the vertical viewing angles are okay, but they're not as good as most IPS panels. You'll see an accurate image if you tilt the screen too far back.

8.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.367%
50% DSE
0.093%
5% Std. Dev.
1.043%
5% DSE
0.054%

The gray uniformity is excellent. The left and right edges are darker, especially near the bottom, but there's no dirty screen effect in the center. Uniformity is better in near-dark scenes, but there's a bit of backlight bleed along the edges. Keep in mind that uniformity can vary between units.

3.0
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
4.040%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is bad, but this can vary between units. It has noticeable backlight bleed and clouding throughout. Blacks also look gray due to the low contrast.

6.5
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
Off
Luminance
151 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Controls
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
2.4
Color Temperature
6,440 K
White Balance dE
1.07
Color dE
6.03
Gamma
2.18

The ViewSonic VG1655 has okay out-of-the-box accuracy. Most colors are significantly inaccurate because the monitor doesn't have a wide color gamut, so it can't display the primary colors properly, and magenta is also very off. However, white balance and gamma are both excellent, except some dark scenes are a bit over-brightened. Color temperature is close to our 6500K target. Keep in mind that accuracy can vary between units.

There's an sRGB mode available but it results in a less accurate image:

  • Luminance Setting: 96
  • Color Temperature: 6451K
  • White Balance dE: 3.63
  • Color dE: 7.09

8.6
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
Custom 1
Luminance
101 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
73
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Controls
83-81-90
Gamma Setting
2.2
Color Temperature
6,471 K
White Balance dE
0.50
Color dE
2.91
Gamma
2.15

The accuracy after calibration is excellent, but it's still not as good as most monitors. Due to the narrow color gamut, primary colors can't get to their target, so magenta, blue, green, red, and cyan are still off. Gamma is actually worse because we had to get the colors accurate, so more scenes are too bright.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit due to manufacturing tolerances, even for the same model.

5.3
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
60.5%
Adobe RGB xy
46.3%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom 1

The ViewSonic VG1655 has a narrow SDR color gamut, worse than most desktop monitors. It can't display colors as they should be, so they look washed out, and we don't suggest using the monitor for accurate color reproduction.

4.8
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
53.0%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
42.2%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom 1

Due to the narrow color gamut, the color volume is poor. The ViewSonic VG1655 can't display colors at a wide range of luminance levels.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI P3 xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 xy
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

The ViewSonic VG1655 doesn't support HDR.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

The ViewSonic VG1655 doesn't support HDR.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

There aren't any signs of image retention after displaying a high-contrast static image, but this can vary between units.

7.9
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

The ViewSonic VG1655 has good gradient handling, but since it's an 8-bit monitor, there's visible banding throughout, especially in the darker shades. We could only send an 8-bit single over an HDMI connection, as it's limited to 6-bit over USB-C.

10
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.001%

There are no signs of color bleed on the ViewSonic VG1655.

7.4
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.3%
Indirect Reflections
2.8%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.5%

The ViewSonic VG1655's reflection handling is decent. It's fine with a few light sources around, but we don't suggest using it in a very bright room.

8.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is excellent. Due to its 1080p resolution and small size, it has an increased pixel density which helps with text clarity. Windows ClearType (top photo) makes letters look bolder, but it's not necessary to use.

Motion
4.8
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Advanced
Rise / Fall Time
13.2 ms
Total Response Time
25.8 ms
Overshoot Error
1.1%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
12.1 ms
Dark Total Response Time
23.7 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
3.6%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
AdvancedChartTablePhoto
Ultra FastChartTablePhoto

The ViewSonic VG1655 has a poor response time, which is normal for portable monitors. Motion looks blurry and you might even see some artifacts when scrolling through a long document. The recommended overdrive setting is 'Advanced' because it's quicker than 'Standard' and there's less ghosting than 'Ultra Fast'.

4.8
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Advanced
Rise / Fall Time
13.2 ms
Total Response Time
25.8 ms
Overshoot Error
1.1%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
12.1 ms
Dark Total Response Time
23.7 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
3.6%

Since this is a 60Hz monitor, the response time at 60Hz is the same as at the max refresh rate.

6.0
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free No
PWM Dimming Frequency
240 Hz

The ViewSonic VG1655 uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to dim its backlight with the Brightness setting at '95' and below. Above it, the backlight is flicker-free.

0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
No BFI
BFI Maximum Frequency
N/A
BFI Minimum Frequency
N/A

There's no Black Frame Insertion feature.

5.9
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
No VRR
Native
60 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
No
FreeSync
No
G-SYNC
No
VRR Maximum
N/A
VRR Minimum
No VRR
VRR Supported Connectors No VRR

The ViewSonic VG1655 is a basic 60Hz monitor without any variable refresh rate support. For a better portable gaming monitor, check out the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE.

Inputs
9.0
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
8.9 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.9 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
N/A
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
N/A
10 Bit HDR
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
N/A

The ViewSonic VG1655 has a low input lag, and you won't notice any delay.

6.9
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 2.1 MP
Pixel Density
142 PPI
Screen Diagonal 15.6"
Screen Area 103 in²

Even though the 15.6 inch screen may be too small for opening windows side-by-side, the 1080p resolution helps increase pixel density. It has about the same pixel density as a 32 inch 4k monitor.

Inputs
Inputs

All inputs are on the left side, which is great if you want to use the monitor in the portrait orientation, as you can place it on the right side without blocking any inputs.

Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort No
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 1 (Mini HDMI)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB No
USB C 2 (2x DP Alt Mode, PD)
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply Internal

Each USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing you to display an image from a compatible device and charge it at once. They support power delivery of up to 60W and can charge a laptop using a USB-C power adapter.

Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
Yes
HDR10 No
Multiple Input Display
No

The ViewSonic VG1655 has a few extra features:

  • Black Stabilizer: Raises the gamma to make objects more visible in shadows, like in games.
  • Low Input Lag Mode: Minimizes the input lag for gaming
  • Dynamic Contrast: Automatically adjusts the contrast according to the content.
  • OSD Pivot: Setting that allows the on-screen display to rotate when in portrait mode. You need to manually enable it for it to rotate.

If you prefer something that has a built-in battery and a touchscreen, then look into the ASUS ZenScreen Touch MB16AMT.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

There's a single knob on the back right side to control the on-screen display.

Features
In The Box

  • USB-C to USB-C cable
  • USB-A to USB-C cable
  • Mini HDMI to HDMI cable
  • Power adapter
  • Screen wipe
  • User guides