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Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Rock-solid construct high quality
- Includes USB-C with DisplayPort
- Outrageously vibrant, vivid picture
- Excellent HDR efficiency
Cons
- Stand is just too giant
- Finicky on-screen menu controls
- Doesn’t carry out its greatest at default settings
- Mediocre movement regardless of 200Hz marketed refresh charge
Our Verdict
Viewsonic’s Elite XG341C-2K has loads of potential and delivers in HDR, however unusual choices within the on-screen menu and default settings plague the monitor’s controls and movement efficiency.
Price When Reviewed
$1,499
Best Prices Today: Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K
$1,499.00
Ultrawide followers are well-served by screens just like the Alienware AW3423DWF, which boasts a beautiful OLED panel. But it’s missing in a single space: brightness. Enter the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K. It bursts onto the scene with a VA show panel and Mini-LED backlight that achieves the coveted VESA DisplayHDR 1400 certification. It’s a beautiful show that may ship on the promise of eye-searing HDR, although just a few odd choices knock it down a peg.
Note: See our roundup of the best ultrawide monitors to study competing merchandise, what to search for in an ultrawide show, and shopping for suggestions.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: The specs
The primary specs of the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K are much like most 34-inch ultrawide screens. It has a most decision of 3440×1440, a 21:9 facet ratio, and helps a most refresh charge of 200Hz when overclocked (and 165Hz in any other case). It has a VA panel which, though much less frequent than an IPS panel, continues to be reasonably commonplace.
- Display dimension: 34-inch ultrawide
- Native decision: 3,440 x 1,440
- Panel kind: IPS Mini-LED
- Refresh charge: 165Hz (200Hz overclocked)
- Adaptive-sync: FreeSync Premium Pro
- HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 1400 licensed
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts Power Delivery, 3x USB-A downstream, 1x USB-B upstream, 1x 3.5mm audio out
- Stand adjustment: Height, swivel, pivot
- VESA mount: 100x100mm
- Speakers: 2x 5-watt audio system
- Price: $1,499 MSRP
Mini-LED is what makes this monitor stand out. It delivers a formidable 1,152 dimming zones, the best you’ll discover on the present technology of Mini-LED shows. Viewsonic additionally throws in a USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, a function that’s nonetheless uncommon amongst gaming shows.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: Design
Matt Smith
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K is a looker. The monitor’s matte-black plastics appear easy at first look, however various textures and angles add curiosity and attract to the monitor’s profile. Viewsonic leans into the theme set by the monitor’s curved show panel by including slight curves to different surfaces together with the stand neck and base.
It feels stable, too, with critical heft within the stand and stiff plastics alongside many of the panel. I do assume Alienware has Viewsonic beat on this space, because the Alienware AW3423DW and AW3423DWF each feel and appear as premium as high-end televisions. They additionally profit from the thinner profile an OLED panel can present. Still, the Elite XG341C-2K feels extra luxurious than cheaper manufacturers, comparable to Acer’s Nitro collection and AOC.
The monitor throws in some RGB lighting parts in a cross sample on the monitor’s rear. They’re managed by the on-screen menu and add a pleasant little bit of aptitude when the monitor is utilized in a darkish room. There’s additionally a flip-out headphone hanger on the left aspect.
However, the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K runs afoul of a private pet peeve: The stand is far bigger than it must be. Its hefty neck and large legs take up gobs of desk area and push the monitor too near the consumer on narrower desks (comparable to these typically bought at IKEA). You’ll want a giant, deep desk to make this monitor really feel at house. The monitor has a 100x100mm VESA mount, so third-party monitor stands and arms are an possibility chances are you’ll wish to train.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: Features and menus
Viewsonic scores factors with its video enter choices. These embody two HDMI 2.1 inputs, DisplayPort, and USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. The USB-C enter additionally helps as much as 90 watts of energy supply for charging a linked system. This stays a uncommon function amongst screens not bought for workplace or skilled use, so its inclusion within the Elite XG341C-2K is appreciated.
However, it’s a merely decent USB hub monitor. Its downstream connections are restricted to a few USB-A ports and one 3.5mm audio port. There’s no DisplayPort out or extra USB-C out. The monitor can operate as a KVM change when the USB-C and USB-B upstream ports are used to attach two PCs.
A single joystick controls the monitor’s menus. This is frequent, however the way in which Viewsonic implements it’s uniquely irritating. Giving a joystick a faucet will open a fast menu, or the primary menu, on most screens. On the Elite XG341C-2K, this turns the monitor off. The primary menu is opened by transferring the joystick up. This is counter-intuitive, as tapping the joystick is in any other case used to substantiate settings and enter menus as soon as a menu is open. I unintentionally turned off the monitor greater than a dozen occasions.
Matt Smith
Viewsonic’s menu choices are in depth, however navigating the menus stays a chore resulting from how the menu bushes are laid out. Once I received acquainted, I discovered the monitor has quite a few shade temperature, saturation, and gamma options, in addition to a complete of 5 backlight modes and 5 response occasions modes. The monitor consists of an sRGB mode, although it didn’t appear to precisely restrain colours, and it doesn’t embody modes for different shade gamuts comparable to DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. This will disappoint some content material creators.
The monitor additionally has gaming-centric options comparable to a black equalizer (which boosts brightness to see element in darkish areas of a sport) and a crosshair. A pair of 5-watt audio system are included. They’re moderately loud and sound clear when dealing with easy content material, comparable to podcasts. However, the shortage of bass is a giant drawback with music, video games, and films. BenQ’s premium monitors, which pair speakers with a built-in subwoofer, stay the king of monitor audio.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: SDR picture high quality
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K’s Mini-LED backlight has the potential for wonderful HDR, however SDR efficiency stays extra necessary, as most content material considered on a PC will probably be considered in SDR.
Matt Smith
Viewsonic leaps to an early lead, because the Elite XG341C-2K delivers a gob-smacking most SDR brightness of 706 nits. This clearly outpaces aggressive screens and leaves OLED options within the mud.
Indeed, it’s affordable to ask if this stage of brightness is significant. The Elite XG341C-2K might be uncomfortable to make use of at its most brightness. Still, brightness has its perks, and I favor {that a} monitor able to this stage of brightness provides customers the choice to make use of it. If you want a vibrant monitor as a result of your desk sits subsequent to eastward-facing floor-to-ceiling home windows, the Elite XG341C-2K could be for you.
Matt Smith
The monitor additionally delivers in distinction, with a most distinction ratio of 14290:1. This is a wonderful outcome for any monitor and defeated solely by OLED screens which, resulting from their potential to fully flip off particular person pixels, have an almost excellent distinction ratio.
There are some quirks to distinction. Mini-LED screens have a draw back referred to as blooming, which causes vibrant halos or spots to seem round small, vibrant objects. This occurs as a result of the Mini-LED dimming zones are round a half-inch huge, in order that they’re unable to completely align with what’s proven on-screen.
But it’s not all dangerous information. Mini-LED screens don’t typically undergo the dynamic brightness limitations of most OLED screens, which scale back brightness when displaying vibrant photographs full-screen. Because of this, the Elite XG341C-2K’s brightness is extraordinarily steady, with out noticeable dips or adjustments in brightness as various content material is displayed.
Strangely, the Elite XG341C-2K I acquired didn’t have native dimming turned on by default, which suggests the Mini-LED backlight was not working to its full potential. A manufacturing unit reset confirmed this was the default. I’m technically bending my very own guidelines on this graph, as I usually report solely the out-of-box distinction ratio: The out-of-box distinction ratio was solely 4430:1. Be certain to modify native dimming on within the monitor’s settings.
Matt Smith
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K can comfortably be referred to as a large gamut monitor, because it spans one hundred pc of sRGB, 96 % of DCI-P3, and 93 % of AdobeRGB. These figures fall a bit wanting OLED screens just like the Alienware AW3423DWF and top-notch IPS shows just like the Asus ProArt PA348CGV.
Still, the Elite XG341C-2K’s shade gamut is greater than satisfactory for on a regular basis use and most content material creation. It additionally supplies the vivid, super-saturated look that’s frequent right this moment, and which many individuals appear to favor.
Matt Smith
Color accuracy stays fairly good. In fact, the entire screens listed on this graph have a stage of shade accuracy enough for any use exterior of knowledgeable studio atmosphere, and a few are most likely satisfactory even for that. And, as talked about, the Viewsoinc Elite XG341C-2K provides a wholesome vary of image-quality changes for additional calibration.
The monitor’s default shade temperature was 6600K, which may be very near the goal of 6500K. I discovered that the picture’s shade temperature match my preferences nicely, with a practical look that wasn’t too heat or too cool.
Gamma was a distinct story. I instantly observed that the monitor appeared too darkish, and my outcomes confirmed that with a default gamma curve of two.7, which is approach off the goal of two.2. This made some content material so darkish that it could possibly be tough to see particulars. I used to be capable of repair this by altering the gamma setting to Gamma 2.0, which resulted in a measured gamma curve of two.2. Content appeared proper at this setting, however it’s disappointing to see a monitor require consumer intervention.
Sharpness was good due to the monitor’s decision of 3440×1440. This is roughly the identical as a 27-inch widescreen monitor with 2560×1440 decision. Games and films look spectacular and detailed, and small fonts are displayed with no noticeable pixelation at a typical viewing distance of two and a half toes. You will discover a discount in sharpness in contrast side-by-side to a 4K monitor, although.
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K’s general efficiency is a bit powerful to summarize. It can carry out extraordinarily nicely, but additionally falls brief on just a few points. Local dimming is off by default, the gamma curve is wonky at default settings, and the colour gamut falls barely wanting some rivals. Tweaks shortly resolve the primary two points and, as soon as that’s carried out, the monitor appears to be like completely very good. The monitor is a improbable alternative for gaming, as its wonderful distinction ratio, excessive brightness, and good shade gamut mix for a vivid, dazzling picture.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: HDR Image Quality
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K proudly carries DisplayHDR 1400 certification, which suggests it may possibly exceed a peak brightness of 1400 nits when displaying small, vibrant objects on an in any other case darkish display. It also can obtain 710 nits sustained throughout your entire show, which is the best sustained HDR brightness I’ve recorded from any monitor.
As talked about beforehand, the monitor has wonderful brightness stability. You gained’t discover wild swings in brightness because the monitor switches between displaying small, vibrant objects and huge, vibrant scenes.
All of this provides as much as wonderful real-world HDR efficiency that no less than meets the bar set by earlier top-notch HDR shows just like the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX and Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. Indeed, the Elite XG341C-2K achieves a greater sustained brightness than both, so it objectively performs a tad higher in relation to brightness. Bright particulars, just like the headlights of a automobile driving down a darkish alley, and broad landscapes, like a snowy mountain, have eye-searing brilliance and ultra-punchy presentation. It’s an actual visible deal with, and one which approaches the perfect HDR televisions I’ve seen.
However, the monitor’s HDR excellence is proscribed to HDR content material, and it’s necessary to be selective when enabling HDR. The monitor doesn’t deal with SDR content material nicely when HDR is turned on, inflicting a really washed-out look. It’s necessary to show the HDR mode off when it’s not wanted.
Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K: Motion Performance
Matt Smith
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K’s specs recommend wonderful movement efficiency. It has a most overclocked refresh charge of 200Hz, or as much as 165Hz with out, and helps AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. That sounds nice, however falls aside on nearer inspection.
Viewsonic’s overclocking mode is successfully ineffective. Turning it on disables each AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and native dimming, eradicating two of the monitor’s crucial options. It doesn’t make sense to spend $1,499 for a flowery Mini-LED monitor after which disable the perks of the Mini-LED backlight. The 200Hz Overclock is a gimmick I’d actively encourage homeowners to keep away from.
The commonplace refresh charge of 165Hz isn’t significantly better. This monitor makes use of VA panel know-how which, usually, can’t match the pixel response occasions of IPS panels. VA panels are additionally identified for “black smear,” an issue brought on by low response when transitioning by darker colours. This drawback shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for me, personally, however it does maintain again the monitor’s general movement readability.
Perhaps to compensate, Viewsonic provides 5 more and more aggressive response time modes. The default mode, “Fast,” introduces some reasonable overshoot seen within the type of trails round high-contrast objects and a shimmer in detailed textures. This drawback turns into comically apparent within the extra aggressive modes. “Fastest,” probably the most aggressive, introduces large shade shifts round transferring objects and vibrant borders and halos in high-contrast areas. It appears to be like as if the transferring picture is handed by a foul Photoshop filter.
The “Standard” response-time mode, which is the least aggressive, was my choice. Motion readability is okay on this mode however noticeably mushy in comparison with an IPS or OLED monitor at the same 144Hz or 165Hz refresh charge. Test photographs from League of Legends confirmed that character outlines and well being bars had been distinct, however names and character particulars had been obscured. Motion was easy, no less than, when AMD FreeSync Premium Pro was enabled.
The monitor has a black body insertion function referred to as PureXP. This strobes the backlight which, due to our eyes’ incapability to maintain up, improves movement readability. It’s efficient, and the brilliant Mini-LED backlight helps. Because backlight strobing shortly turns the backlight on and off, it has the aspect impact of reducing brightness. But, with a most brightness of over 700 nits, you’re nonetheless getting over 300 nits with PureXP turned on. Despite these benefits, PureXP as soon as once more disables AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and the native dimming function. So, that’s one other no from me.
Finally, in a single remaining pinch of salt into this monitor’s wounds, turning on AMD FreeSync Premium Pro disables the monitor’s brightness setting, which is odd. Turning on the Local Dimming function does the identical. Adjusting distinction sorta works round this, however the minimal stage of brightness that may be achieved would possibly nonetheless be too vibrant for SDR gaming in a darkish room.
Together, these points critically restrict the Elite XG341C-2K’s potential. In principle, it must be a improbable gaming monitor. In observe, I discovered myself banging my head towards the monitor’s many restrictions and underwhelmed by its readability.
Should you purchase the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K?
The Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K is a wonderful monitor held again by quite a few minor points. It advantages from the unbelievable distinction and brightness a Mini-LED backlight can present and actually struts its stuff in HDR content material, which appears to be like beautiful. Unfortunately, Viewsonic makes just a few dangerous calls within the monitor’s on-screen menu controls and default settings, and the monitor’s movement efficiency falls wanting expectations. Even so, the Elite XG341C-2K can nonetheless make sense if nice HDR is your number-one precedence, because it places the brightness of OLED rivals to disgrace.
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