A speedy 4K gaming panel that falls just short of greatness
In the past two years, Fast IPS (FIPS) panels have taken over the premium gaming monitor segment, becoming the de facto choice in upscale releases like ViewSonic’s $999.99 Elite XG320U. It’s billed as a top-of-the-line 4K gaming panel for consoles thanks to the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 ports, but our time with the 32-inch, feature-filled Elite XG320U was as transcendent as it was frustrating, with superb color-testing results, but low standard brightness levels that left us running the monitor in HDR mode while gaming and watching content. If you prefer consuming your games or movies in HDR (whether from a gaming console or your desktop PC), you’ll find the XG320U one of the best 4K gaming monitors in its price range. If HDR isn’t in your plan, though, go with a better-rounded option, such as the $799 Gigabyte Aorus FI32Q, instead. Every Bell, All the Whistles First, the base specs: The Elite XG320U is a 32-inch-diagonal monitor with a 3,840-by-2,160-pixel native resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 150Hz), built around a LED-backed FIPS panel. It evolves its display tech up from some of the older VA-based models we’ve seen in the rarified 4K/144Hz space like the Acer Predator XB3, using more current display technologies that improve image quality and make gaming performance more responsive. The monitor is mounted on the same base we’ve seen on several Elite models now, and it remains friendly for gamers who prefer to tilt their keyboard left or right for less traditional hand placements during intense esports play. Adjustability overall was average, with -5 to 20 degrees of vertical tilt, wide 178-degree viewing angles (both side-to-side and up-and-down), and a swivel range of -30 to 30 degrees. The display cannot pivot 90 degrees between landscape and portrait modes. Pivoting the monitor means losing a lot of valuable horizontal screen real estate usually reserved for gaming or watching movies/TV shows, so unless you need your coding or Twitter windows to be really clear and crisp, consider a less expensive 1080p monitor to fill in on the side instead. ViewSonic’s recently overhauled onscreen display (OSD) menu system is controlled by a five-way joystick in the center of the unit, next to the power button on the right and an input shortcut button on the left. The OSD offers the usual mixture of customization and tuning options for both gamers and content creators. These include a six-way color and saturation calibration toolset, as well as a host of gaming goods, though anyone who relies on a hardware-based crosshair to nail their precision shots should look elsewhere. (That feature is not supported here.) This panel also has its share of « Didn’t know I needed that! » features. If you use a wired gaming mouse, oftentimes it can be tricky to keep the cord in place during frenetic play sessions. Much like we saw in the MSI Optix MPG341CQR, the ViewSonic Elite XG320U comes with two mouse bungees (one for either side) installed on the underside of the panel cabinet. You can hook up your mouse cord to a bungee, which will keep the cord set at a specific length to prevent it from tangling or getting caught on things. Of the same theme is a headphone holder that pops out from the left side of the monitor housing. It’s these little added touches that continue to elevate ViewSonic’s Elite brand beyond the standard.
