The ViewSonic VG1656N ($299.99) is a nifty 16-inch mobile display that can operate—at least for a couple of hours—totally cable-free by virtue of its built-in battery and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can display content either from a laptop or an iOS or Android mobile device, either wirelessly or over a USB-C connection. This portable monitor is best for standard business use, as its mediocre color coverage makes it less than ideal for photo or video editing or watching full-length movies. The Editors’ Choice-award-winning Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2 is a better choice for demanding users who are okay with conventional cables.
Design: A Tall Screen With Built-in Battery, Wi-Fi Connectivity
Measuring 9.3 by 14 by 0.4 inches (excluding the stand) and weighing 3.1 pounds, the ViewSonic VG1656N is reasonably compact and lightweight for a portable monitor. Its 16-inch in-plane switching (IPS) panel with WUXGA (1,920-by-1,200-pixel) resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio gives a bit more vertical room to the display than you would get with a 1080p panel, which has a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. Portable monitors with a 16:10 ratio have become quite common; the ThinkVision M14t Gen2, which has a slightly higher 2,240-by-1,400-pixel resolution, is a good example.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
A nice extra is a built-in 4,000mAh battery that, according to ViewSonic, provides up to 3 hours of battery life, which seems about right based on our experience. Internal batteries are somewhat unusual for portable monitors. They’re found mostly on higher-end gaming, professional, and multimedia units such as the Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE, Asus ZenScreen Touch (MB16AMT), and Ricoh Portable Monitor 150BW. In most cases, it’s to supplement the power drawn over the display connection or to avoid a separate power plug.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
At the bottom of each side of the VG1656N is a USB-C port, which supports DisplayPort over USB Alternate Mode and up to 60 watts of power delivery—enough to power a laptop to which it is connected. To prevent the display’s battery from draining quickly in situations like that, though, you may want to connect the monitor via USB-C cable to the included power adapter.
What really sets the VG1656N apart is the included Wi-Fi transmitter, which plugs into a computer’s or mobile device’s USB-C port. (The only other Wi-Fi-equipped portable monitor we have reviewed in the past couple of years is the uber-expensive Ricoh 150BW.) Using the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD), you can choose between USB-C and Wi-Fi connectivity; if you opt for the latter, you will be prompted to plug the transmitter into your device.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
It takes a moment to pair, after which the monitor should mirror your device’s screen. In addition to my laptop, I tried pairing the VG1656N with my iPhone 15 Pro and then with my 10th-generation iPad. When I held either iOS device upright, its screen was mirrored to fill the height of the monitor, leaving black bars on either side, and when I held the device in landscape format, its image filled the display’s full screen.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The VG1656N’s removable gray cover, which protects both sides of the panel when you are transporting or storing it, doubles as an origami-style folding stand, wrapping around the lower front edge of the monitor and folding upward in back to form a triangle (like an A-frame) on which the back of the display neatly rests. The monitor felt sturdy enough in this configuration, though it lacks the tilt range and precision of a built-in hinged stand like the ones found with the ThinkVision M14t Gen2 or the ViewSonic VG1655. You can, however, tilt the VG1656N vertically so that one short edge of both panel and stand is flush to the ground and use it in portrait mode.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
On the VG1656N’s right edge, above the USB-C port, are two buttons for controlling the OSD, a large two-way switch for controlling brightness and navigating the system, and a smaller button for confirming choices. This system works well enough, though it is not as convenient as the mini-joystick controllers found on some portable monitors.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Testing the ViewSonic VG1656N: Limited Color Coverage
I tested the VG1656N’s brightness, contrast, and color coverage using our standard procedure for portable monitors, with a Klein K10-A colorimeter and Portrait Displays’ CalMAN Ultimate for Business software.
ViewSonic rates the VG1656N’s luminance at 250 nits (candelas per square meter); in my testing, it came close, tallying 224 nits. The VG1656N’s contrast ratio is rated at 1,000:1; it exceeded that in my testing, with a 1,151:1 ratio.
The VG1656N showed mediocre sRGB color coverage, typical of lower-end portable monitors, covering 64.5% of that space in my testing. (See the chromaticity chart below.) The triangle represents the colors that comprise sRGB—essentially, all the colors that can be made by mixing different percentages of red, green, and blue. The white boxes show where the data points would be for a monitor that covers the full sRGB space, and the circles represent our own measurements.
(Credit: Portrait Displays)
Several of our test points are well within the triangle, showing a cramped color gamut, particularly in the red, orange, and pink parts of the range. Notice, though, that the blue circle is slightly outside of the triangle.
This coverage pattern is very familiar, as we’ve seen it on IPS portable monitors many times since 2019—most of these panels likely come from the same manufacturer. Although the color coverage of midrange and high-end portable monitors has generally gotten much better in recent years, sometimes exceeding 90% for sRGB, we still see monitors with color coverage similar to the VG1656N’s (covering less than 70% of the sRGB palette), though most come in at a lower price than the ViewSonic. Some relatively recent examples include the AOC 16T3EA, the MSI Pro MP161 E2, the Plugable 15.6-Inch USB-C Portable Display (USBC-PDMON), and the Arzopa A1.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Although the VG1656N is not the best choice for photo or video editing, it’s fine for general-purpose personal and business use. Our formal image testing, in which I viewed our selected film clips and our photo suite on this monitor, bears this out. The monitor is perfectly usable—if less than ideal—for watching short videos or looking at photos. In both cases, colors seemed muted, with reds looking slightly orange, some greens appearing yellowish, and blues generally dull. I also noticed some loss of fine detail, particularly in dark areas in certain video clips.
Verdict: A Wireless One for the Road
The ViewSonic VG1656N is worth considering for your road-warrior repertoire because of its built-in battery and wireless connectivity to a laptop, phone, or tablet. It’s one of the few portable monitors that offers both of those features. If they aren’t important to you, a great alternative—for little more than you would pay for the VG1656N—is the Editors’ Choice-winning Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen2. A 16:10 aspect-ratio mobile display with higher resolution, it has a sturdy, hinged stand that offers a wide range of tilt angles. Its touch-sensitive panel offers great contrast and full coverage of the sRGB color space.
Cons
The Bottom Line
ViewSonic’s VG1656N portable monitor offers the rare combination of a built-in battery and wireless connectivity, but this panel’s mediocre color coverage limits it to casual use.
Like What You’re Reading?
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links.
By clicking the button, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our
Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
About Tony Hoffman
Senior Analyst, Hardware
