ViewSonic X2-4K Review: A Full-Featured Gaming Projector Worth Considering?

[mufcroberts]

First Impressions​

The ViewSonic X2-4K is the short-throw version of two similar Designed for Xbox gaming projectors announced by ViewSonic, with the X1-4K offering a standard throw lens. The X2-4K reviewed here is listed as a full 4K-resolution, HDR LED projector capable of delivering 60,000 hours of lamp life in full power mode, with fast boot-up time, and a max of 2,000 ANSI lumens of brightness. Utilizing a single 0.65-inch DLP chip from Texas Instruments assisted by TI's rapid, four-phase pixel-shifting, the X2-4K is capable of resolving the 8.3 million pixels on screen to meet the 3840x2160 resolution of a UHD projector. This results in a sharp and detailed image for gaming and movies alike in both SDR and HDR. During my time viewing content with the X2-4K, I luckily did not experience any rainbow effects—a common artifact that can be seen in many single-chip DLP based projectors.
The X2-4K is stated to cover 125% of the Rec.709 color gamut, which it achieves in specific picture modes (such as TV) where it firmly places the red, magenta, and blue color points well outside of the specified points of that color space. Most HDR sources today are mastered with DCI-P3 wide color gamut, though ViewSonic makes no claims here to coverage of the DCI-P3 or BT.2020 color space and does not list these in a published specification. I measured P3 coming in at 78.81% in 1931 xy, and 83.71% in 1976 uv. The BT.2020 gamut measured at 57.58% xy and 65.23% uv. These values are not awful, but I would have liked to see a higher percentage of P3 coverage nowadays with all of the HDR content available.

Introduce​

Parameter	ViewSonic X2-4K​
Picture​	​
Reference Price​	$1549.99​
Recommended Uses​	Home Cinema, Gaming​
Built-In Media​	User Manual, Power Cord, Remote​
Highlight​	• Lifespan: Up to 60,000 hours • Response Time: 4.2ms • Refresh Rate: Up to 240Hz • Resolution: Up to 4K UHD (3840x2160p) • Brightness: 2000 lumens • Audio: Built-in Dual Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers • Color Technology: Cinema SuperColor, 125% Rec. 709 wide color gamut • Connectivity: Dual HDMI, Wi-Fi, USB-C, USB

Display​

Parameter	ViewSonic X2-4K​
Screen Size​	60 Inches - 120 Inches​
Throw Distance​	3 Feet - 7 Feet​
Contrast Ratio​	3,000,000:1​
Maximum Resolution​	3840 x 2160 Pixels​
Native Resolution​	3840 x 2160​
Brightness​	2000 Lumen​
Display Type​	LED​
Picture Enhancement​	HDR​
Viewing Experience​	The ViewSonic X2-4K offers a versatile array of six picture modes catering to different viewing preferences, including options for both SDR and HDR content. The ability to store unique settings for each signal type enhances customization, allowing users to fine-tune their experience based on content type. The light source brightness settings are flexible, with options ranging from Eco to Custom modes, which effectively cater to different ambient lighting conditions. Out-of-the-box performance is commendable, particularly in Movie mode, which delivers a more accurate color representation compared to other modes. The default 6,500K color temperature in Movie mode reduces oversaturation and provides a satisfying viewing experience, especially in darker environments. Users will appreciate the option to adjust brightness in increments, allowing for a tailored viewing experience that suits personal preferences. Overall, the X2-4K combines effective color management and brightness control, making it a strong choice for users seeking a customizable and accurate picture quality.

Features​

Parameter	ViewSonic X2-4K​
Video Encoding​	H.265​
LightSource Life​	60000 Hours​
Controller Type​	Remote Control, Button Control​
Control Method​	Remote​
Lamp Wattage​	236 Watts​
Wattage​	150 watts​
Connectivity Technology​	Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB​
Hardware Connectivity​	USB Type C, Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI, USB 2.0 Type A​
Compatible Devices​	Laptop, Gaming Console, Television, Tablet, Speaker​
Other Features​	Portable, Ultra-Fast Refresh Rate, 4K Ultra HD Resolution, Xbox Control, Harman Kardon Speakers​
L x W x H​	9.9"L x 13.92"W x 4.8"H​
System Experience​	The ViewSonic X2-4K is a versatile short throw projector that excels in both portability and installation flexibility, allowing for various mounting options such as front or rear, ceiling or tabletop. Its throw ratio of 0.69-0.83 enables impressive image sizes ranging from 60 to 120 inches diagonal, making it suitable for a variety of viewing environments. The manual focus lens and 1.2x zoom provide precise image alignment, ensuring a sharp picture with ease. The projector also includes multiple adjustment features, including horizontal and vertical keystone, as well as 4 corner adjust and auto keystone functions, although it is advised to minimize keystone use to preserve image quality. Overall, the X2-4K offers a well-rounded performance with user-friendly setup options, making it an appealing choice for those seeking a reliable short throw projection solution.

User Feedback​

Pros:
• Optimized for gaming, particularly with XBOX.
• Extremely fast response times for a projector.
• Great picture quality when functioning correctly.
• Good compatibility with external audio setups using HDMI to Optical Audio splitter.
• Recommended pairing with a high-quality projector screen enhances performance.

Cons:
• Lamp brightness significantly diminishes within a few months.
• Color accuracy issues, including a persistent green tint.
• Remote control malfunctions, affecting usability.
• Annoying pop-up notifications when using certain content settings.
• Frequent resetting of screen settings upon restarting the projector.

Overall Impression:
This projector offers strong gaming performance and picture quality, but it is plagued by significant reliability issues and poor color accuracy. Users may find themselves frustrated with the frequent need to recalibrate settings and the malfunctioning remote, overshadowing its initial appeal as a gaming projector. Proceed with caution if considering this model.