Dimensions and Specifications
The dimensions (length, width, and height) of the ViewSonic X2-4K LED projector are 4.8 inches × 13.9 inches × 9.9 inches. The type of engine is based on DLP technology. It includes input and connectivity interfaces such as an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-A port, a USB-C port, and Wi-Fi. The maximum display resolution is 3840 × 2160 pixels HDR; Full HD 3D. The native resolution is 3840 × 2160 using the XPR rapid shift DLP chip at a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. The estimated brightness is 2000 ANSI lumens. The warranty is 3 years. The weight is 7.9 pounds.
Introduction
Although gaming projectors have been around for a long time, the ViewSonic X2-4K LED projector ($1,599.99) is something new. The X2-4K focuses on gaming consoles rather than personal computers, like the BenQ X3000i, which is currently considered the best option for a 4K gaming projector. The ViewSonic X2-4K is an excellent choice for large-screen gaming, with low input lag and support for a 120Hz refresh rate at 1440p resolution. And when you’re not gaming, it can be used as a home projector capable of playing movies and videos thanks to its accurate colors, good shadow detail, and HDR support.
Design: More Green than Blue
Like all the 4K gaming projectors we’ve tested, the X2-4K is based on a DLP chip with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels that uses TI’s rapid pixel shifting technology to project 3840 × 2160 pixels on the screen. Surprisingly, this is paired with a four-channel LED light source in red/green/blue/green. The most common configuration for an LED light source is a four-channel light source that contains two blue lamps, with the second blue lamp used to boost brightness and, in some cases, to improve color accuracy as well. According to ViewSonic, the second green channel in the X2-4K serves the same two purposes.
Brightness and Weight
The estimated brightness is 2000 ANSI lumens, making it reasonably bright, but not as bright as the BenQ X3000i. (ViewSonic markets the maximum brightness of the X2-4K as 2900 LED lumens, which the company claims is equivalent to 2000 ANSI lumens in this case.) On the other hand, the light source in the X2-4K is estimated to have a lifespan of 60,000 hours at full power, which is two to three times the estimates for other LED light sources. (Credit: ViewSonic)
On a very positive note for gamers looking for a portable projector, the X2-4K weighs only 7.9 pounds, more or less half the weight of the X3000i. The low weight and compact size – 4.8 inches × 13.9 inches × 9.9 inches (length, width, height) – make it easy to handle during setup, which is simply done by pointing it at the screen and plugging in the power and data cables and turning it on. The short-throw lens allows you to get a large image in tight spaces, while the manual focus delivered a clear picture in my tests, and the 1.2x manual zoom makes it easy to match the image size to the screen. Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports and one USB-C port.
Performance
Although it is aimed at connecting to a gaming console, the X2-4K also has some advantages as a streaming projector, with a smart feature and a dedicated app store, along with some pre-installed apps. However, these features are much more limited than the streaming features of the Xbox or most other gaming devices, so you won’t find many reasons to use them. (Credit: ViewSonic)
The sound system is based on 6-watt Harmon Kardon speakers, providing good enough quality for use loud enough for a large family room. You can also connect to an external sound system using the 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth, and you can use the X2-4K as a Bluetooth speaker for other audio sources.
Testing
ViewSonic X2-4K: The Game Continues
For most home projects, the key factor lies in the quality of movies and videos. However, you won’t buy the X2-4K unless you plan to connect it to a gaming device, so let’s start our review with gaming quality instead.
The X2-4K provides a single game picture mode. If the ultra-fast input feature is not enabled when switching to this mode (which should be enabled to provide the shortest lag time), a message will appear on the screen asking if you want to turn it on, warning that it will change many settings (including digital angle adjustment and digital zoom adjustment) to default settings – which is a good argument to avoid those features in the first place. For my tests, I allowed the project to run fast input.
When connected to the Xbox, a message appeared on the project suggesting that setting the 4K resolution would be the preferred option. However, if you connect at 4K resolution, you will be limited to a refresh rate of 60Hz and longer input lag than you might want. One of the main features of the X2-4K connected to the Xbox is that both support a 1440p resolution at a 120Hz refresh rate, providing you with a higher resolution than 1080p (for a better picture) and a faster refresh rate than using 4K (to reduce lag time). For my tests, I connected at 1440p and 120Hz.
The short lag time is another major feature. With ultra-fast input enabled, I measured the lag using a Bodnar meter at 1080p / 60Hz and it was 16.7 milliseconds (ms), and at 4K / 60Hz it was about 16.8 milliseconds. For 1080p / 120Hz, it dropped to 8.8 milliseconds, and at 240Hz, it was just 4.2 milliseconds. All of these results are compared to several other gaming projects for the shortest available lag in each refresh rate. The lag for the X2-4K’s 1440p / 120Hz was 12.6 milliseconds. (Credit: ViewSonic)
For practical tests, I spent some time playing Diablo using the default game mode settings. The details were adequate for the resolution, and colors – including skin tones – were rendered well, with good shadow detail maintained in dark areas, at least to the extent that I didn’t feel anything hidden in shadows that I should have seen.
Picture Quality
As with any gaming projector, the X2-4K can also serve as a model for home entertainment for watching movies and videos. The menus offer five preset modes along with a user mode for standard dynamic range (SDR) input sources, and a matching set of options for high dynamic range (HDR) input sources. Both sets have the same names for their modes, with only one set displayed at a time, but any changes to settings are saved only in the mode version – either SDR or HDR – that you are using when making the change. (Credit: ViewSonic)
After some initial testing of the SDR display, I chose the movie mode as it provided the best color accuracy, although most people should find the TV and game modes more than acceptable as well. The only adjustment I made was in the light source setting, switching it from the normal mode (full-power setting) to dynamic black mode 2. There was no change in image quality in the brighter scenes, but shadow details improved in the dark scenes. The picture quality was at a good level for the price and category, offering solid color accuracy and contrast, while handling shadow detail well in dark scenes.
Regarding
To display HDR, I selected the game mode and also used Dynamic Black Level 2 for the light source setting. Bright scenes were generally slightly darker compared to the same scenes in the SDR versions of the same movies, and the colors were a bit darker in terms of hue/saturation/brightness, but not enough to be bothersome, or even noticeable to people who are not as familiar with our test clips as I am. For dark scenes, the picture showed more shadow detail compared to SDR versions. You should expect this from a projector capable of displaying HDR, but many do not deliver. (Credit: ViewSonic)
3D Support and Other Flaws
Although the X2-4K specifications list does not indicate any mention of 3D in this write-up, the projector does indeed support Full HD 3D using DLP-Link glasses. (ViewSonic says it plans to add that information to the product page on the web). I did not see any cross-talk in my tests in single 3D mode, and the motion artifacts related to 3D were less pronounced than those of other current 3D projectors.
Unfortunately for those who find rainbow effects bothersome, I saw these red/green/blue flashes regularly. The good news is that they were quick enough that if you don’t see them easily, you might not notice them at all. If you consider this a potential issue, our standard advice applies. Buy the projector from a dealer that allows easy returns with no restocking fees, so you can test it for yourself. (Credit: ViewSonic)
Conclusion: A Strong Contender, Not Just for Xbox
If you need a projector to go with a gaming device – particularly for the Xbox Series S or X models, but not limited to them – then the ViewSonic X2-4K is a strong contender. The BenQ X3000i remains our top pick in this category, thanks to its good picture quality, higher brightness, and more robust sound system. BenQ also offers a combined audio and video mode for three types of gaming: RPG, first-person shooters, and sports. But the X2-4K also delivers good picture quality and has the advantage of supporting 1440p at 120Hz, a solid balance in the pursuit of higher resolution and lower input lag. (Please note that the new BenQ X3100i also offers 1440p support, and we expect to review it in the near future.)
You may also want to consider lower-cost 4K lamp-based models, including the BenQ TK700STi and the competing Optoma UHD55. Between the two, the TK700STi has the advantage of offering the same preset gaming modes as the X3000i, while the UHD55 showed fewer rainbow artifacts in our tests compared to any of the other projectors mentioned here, which is enough in itself for some people to prefer it.
Overall, if you want the benefits of a solid light source (which includes a longer lamp life, slower brightness degradation, and the elimination of the cost of replacing lamps), and you also want to take advantage of a high refresh rate at 1440p, then the X2-4K is the only one that offers both.
Source: https://me.pcmag.com/en/projector-reviews/20865/viewsonic-x2-4k
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