Viewsonic is a notable electronics company specialising in monitors and projectors. One such monitor that deserves some recognition is its Viewsonic VP3881 38-inch ultra-wide monitor that is great for work and play. 
With more and more visual display companies providing wide-angle monitors for consumers, Viewsonic takes things up a notch with its crystal clear display and a few extra features thrown in.
Visually Immersive
The Viewsonic VP3881 is 38-inches wide with a pixel resolution of 3,840 x 1,600. This makes it a Wide Quad HD (WQHD) monitor with an ultra-wide aspect ratio of 21:9. If you thought panoramic views were only achievable in the great outdoors, you have not seen this. Its curved screen is an IPS panel, promising an immersive performance with wider viewing angles than what conventional monitors offer.
Performance wise, images are sharp and vivid, featuring explicit crisp details and colour reproduction that are almost lifelike. This ensures most graphic work look like the real thing; this is an aspect that Viewsonic is focusing as it targets graphic designers and video editors. While I did work on this review with my Sony PlayStation 4 plugged in 80% of the time, I also jacked it into the PC.com Video Editing Rig as well.
Doing the latter is critical as it properly engages the HDR10 Content Support feature. This is great not for just enjoying movies, but also for the times when working with HDR content is necessary. This, of course, is important to me as I binge constantly on Netflix; specifically on most of its HDR content. For me, it make movies look even better than it should be. Binging Peaky Blinders with the monitor made 1920s Birmingham look amazing, making me wish I lived in that era – even with the fake British accents and all (you have to admit, for anyone who’s visited the UK, the accents are appalling).
Heavier Than It Looks
Weighing in at about 20 kg, the Viewsonic VP3881 is much heavier than it looks. While setting up may require at least two people, it is straightforward, and you’ll have it up and running in no time. Thankfully, it’s a two-step process, which requires no tools whatsoever. Simply place its quick release stand onto the base and you are good to go. The stand also comes with a latch at the back, making it easier to move around if you ever wanted to change its positioning.
It comes with large flat stand with two prongs to keep the monitor in place. This allows you it to swivel up to 120º vertically. It can also tilt, but unfortunately only 1º forwards and 21º backwards. Its height can also be adjusted, but sadly only by a few inches. While its large footprint may be daunting, its swivel allows you to work around a cramped workspace to great effect, something that really benefited my insanely messy table.
One great addition to the Viewsonic VP3881 is its inclusion of two 5W speakers. This means that I didn’t have to splurge on external speakers or having to plug my headset into my PS4 controller (as I mentioned, I’m a console pleb). There are also three audio modes to choose from: Standard, Music and Theatre. To be safe, I stuck rotated between standard and theatre when I’m streaming Netflix and gaming. This gave my movies and TV shows a much-needed audio kick while my games were amplified to a great extent.
Ports Galore
On its right at the back sits its controls with six buttons to choose from, which also includes its power button. This allows you to adjust the monitor to your preferred settings through the main menu. At the centre sits its power supply socket alongside a healthy dose of ports for you to play with.
There are three USB 3.0 Type A ports, one USB 3.0 Type B port and one USB 3.0 Type C port. This allows you to connect a plethora of devices to the Viewsonic VP3881, from your peripherals to printers, scanners and you can even charge your devices. There are also two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort for easier connectivity with other devices.
Verdict: Aside from its jaw-dropping price, the Viewsonic VP3881 is an investment, whether it’s for your own home office or gaming room.
