By To maintain their reputation for affordability and portability, portable monitors frequently have to make compromises. Even OLED screens are frequently affordable; certain types can be purchased for less than $250. The Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED employs an alternative methodology. It is priced to reflect its desire to produce exceptional image quality in both SDR and HDR content. Luckily, Viewsonic succeeds where it should.
Features and specs of the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED
On paper, the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED has excellent specifications. It provides a 4K OLED panel, which is often only seen in pricey laptops and portable monitors—though it is undoubtedly not exclusive to this monitor. Additionally, the panel has VESA DisplayHDR 500 certification, which is uncommon for a portable display. The majority do not have a VESA DisplayHDR label.
- 16-inch widescreen display
- OLED panel; native resolution: 3840 x 2160
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- Adaptive synchronization: Not
- HDR: Indeed, verified by VESA DisplayHDR 500
- Ports: 1x Mini-HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm audio-out, 2x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 60 watts Power Delivery, and 1x USB-C power-in VESA mount: Not present
- Speakers: Contains
- Price: $449.99 retail / $499.99 MSRP
The premium MSRP of $499.99 for these premium specifications is available for $449.99 at select online stores. That is a steep price for a portable monitor, and it can make customers on a tight budget want to run for the hills. You will, however, be pleased with what you see if you are prepared to spend more for higher-quality images.
Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED design
It was a challenging task for Viewsonic engineers to design the VX1655-4K-OLED. Given that it’s a costly portable display, one would think it would appear more elegant than its rivals. Thankfully, Viewsonic succeeds in doing so because of three sides with thin bezels and a glass panel that completely encloses the display’s front. The portable monitor’s rear has a wonderfully robust chassis and is likewise sturdy, with a metallic feel. When handling the display, there is almost no flex visible, which is unusual for a portable monitor.
Since the VX1655 is a 16-inch widescreen monitor, carrying it around calls for a sizable purse or backpack. On the other hand, the monitor is tiny, with a thickest point of only 0.6 inches, and weighs only 1.5 pounds by itself. It fits easily into any bag that can hold a 15- or 16-inch laptop, and if the laptop isn’t very fat, it can even fit side by side.
The monitor’s chassis includes an integrated kickstand that is fixed in place. This is different from the majority of competitors, who usually include a detachable stand that frequently functions as a cover or case. However, the integrated kickstand increases stability because it won’t suddenly break or collapse when the display is jostled or tilted.
The monitor has a retractable cover that can be used to shield its front. Although it feels thin in my hands, it will protect against scratches and minor bumps, thus I suggest getting a protective sleeve. Positively, packing the monitor is not made more challenging by the cover, which increases its weight by only a few tenths of a pound.
Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED menus and connectivity
The two USB-C ports on the kickstand—which are integrated within the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED—support DisplayPort Alternate Mode and provide 60W of power delivery to power the monitor. Completing the possibilities are a 3.5mm audio jack and a single mini-HDMI connection. The communication range is decent, however a full-sized HDMI port would have been nice.
If the monitor is connected to a device that can supply adequate power, it can be powered by a single USB-C connection (Viewsonic lists the maximum power consumption at 24 watts). If not, you can use the provided USB-C power adaptor to supply power. It can be awkward because the accompanying power adaptor is larger than I would have thought—roughly 3.5 inches deep, 2 inches high, and an inch thick. A lot of tourists will prefer to use a USB-C charger they already own; any that can output at least 30W ought to be functional.
The kickstand’s right side has a joystick that opens the monitor’s on-screen menus. The menu controls on many rival portable monitors are significantly inferior to this one, which is snappy and simple to operate. They frequently come incorporated into the power and volume buttons, requiring users to hit them in certain combinations or for a set amount of time (which is easy to forget).
Should you buy the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED?
An excellent portable monitor is the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED. It features an OLED display with great brightness, vividness, and contrast that produces high-quality images in both SDR and HDR content. The monitor’s robust chassis and integrated kickstand make it a unique design. There were only a few small problems that I could find: the included display cover seemed flimsy, and occasionally it was difficult to traverse the on-screen menus. It’s difficult to top the VX1655 if you’re looking for a monitor with outstanding visual quality that you can conveniently carry in your backpack.
