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The ViewSonic VG1457 is feature-packed and has a compact frame, but color performance and panel brightness are sore spots.
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Five years ago, there was very little variety in the types of portable monitors available for consumers. You had a few options from well-known desktop monitor brands, and that was about it. However, in the past few years, we’ve seen a large uptick not only in form factors for portable monitors, but also in the adoption of leading panel technologies like OLED.
ViewSonic is a well-known player among the best portable monitors , and we’ve reviewed several of its entries. The latest to grace our lab is the VG1457. This is a dual-display monitor that is quite different from the typical competitors in this space. Rather than having the two displays flank a laptop’s built-in screen with a “spine” connecting them, the VG1457 features two panels stacked on top of each other, joined by a 360-degree hinge.
Due to this design, the VG1457 can be used in several types of orientations across multiple screen modes. And with a sub-$350 price tag, it represents a relative bargain for mobile warriors.
The VG1457 features a remarkable design, incorporating two display panels in a relatively light and compact form factor. Since ViewSonic doesn’t have a thick and heavy frame that needs to support two outstretched panels, the VG1457 only weighs 2.6 pounds (about double that of a portable monitor with a single display). And when folded, it has roughly the same footprint as a single-panel portable monitor (albeit thicker).
Each panel measures 14 inches across and features 1200p resolution. In its default landscape orientation, the VG1457’s panels are stacked on top of each other, with two 360-degree hinges connecting them. However, if you prefer, you can stand the panels up so that they are in portrait mode, with the two panels sitting next to each other, book-style.
In either viewing mode, the twin panels are supported by an adjustable kickstand. The kickstand incorporates dual 2-watt speakers and three USB-C ports. The bottom USB-C port is used exclusively to power the monitor, while the other three USB-C ports can handle power and video, including two-way power delivery up to 65 watts. I was able to power the VG1457 using a single USB-C cable connection to an HP OmniBook X laptop.
ViewSonic includes two USB-C cables and a 65-watt USB-C wall adapter in the box. A felt carrying case is also included, which is sufficient for protecting the VG1457 while traveling. It’s not substantial enough to protect the displays from damage if you drop it, but it should prevent more superficial damage to the displays.
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The 360-degree hinge design allows the VG1457 to be used in various orientations. The most popular will likely be landscape mode, with the panels stacked. Portrait mode has the two panels side by side, which would be beneficial for editing two Word documents simultaneously, for example.
There’s also a “tent” mode, which would allow you to have one display facing you, and the second facing away from you (i.e., for someone sitting on the opposite side of the table from you). The VG1457 can automatically rotate the screens to the correct visual orientation using the Auto Pivot feature.
In addition to these orientations, there are also several operating modes. Mirror Mode will simply duplicate what’s on your laptop’s screen to both of the VG1457’s displays. Extend will allow you to have a separate image across each display (laptop and both VG1457 displays). Full Screen mode will display one source/image across both of the VG1457’s displays. Finally, dual source mode allows each of the VG1457’s panels to take input from a separate source. For example, one panel could use a laptop as a source, while the second panel could use a tablet as a source.
As for the OSD, it’s controlled by four circular buttons on the right side of the kickstand. It took a little while to get used to, as once a button is pressed, you have to pay attention to the position of the on-screen menus and what button they correspond to. I had to do some mental gymnastics to navigate the interface somewhat smoothly.
The Display Settings menu allows you to choose between Mirror, Extend, Full Screen, and Dual Source modes. The only other configurable options are under the Color Adjust Menu, where you can only adjust Contrast and Brightness. When you’re not in the OSD, you can use the buttons to individually control brightness and speaker volume.
The VG1457 uses twin 14-inch 1200p IPS panels with a standard 60 Hz refresh rate. Both panels are covered with an anti-glare finish to reduce distracting reflections.