ViewX Liber 4K 3D Portable Monitor Review: Glasses-Free 3D at a Premium Price

The monitor has a 3840 x 2160 resolution, 350 cd/m² brightness, 60Hz refresh rate and 25ms response time. TechRadar lists 72% NTSC and 100% sRGB coverage, 8-bit color with 16.7 million colors, and a 1000:1 static contrast ratio. Its 3D technology uses a liquid crystal gradient refractive lens. The 2D viewing angle is 178 degrees, while the optimal 3D viewing angle is 40 degrees and the optimal 3D viewing distance is 40–70 cm. Ports include one mini HDMI 2.0, two USB-C ports for video transmission and power supply, one micro USB, and one 3.5mm headphone jack. It measures 356.7 x 216.8 x 16.3mm and weighs 1,274g.

Out of the box, TechRadar says the ViewX Liber looks like a well-made standard portable monitor. It has a 16:9 screen with a relatively thin bezel, a ViewX logo at the bottom, and a built-in camera at the top alongside two sensors that help 3D positioning work in 3D mode. A sturdy metal stand is offset from the centre but still provides good support and angle adjustment. Opening the stand reveals three ports: two USB-C and one mini HDMI. The two USB-C ports enable both video and power delivery. On the right-hand side are physical buttons for switching between 2D and 3D, opening the menu, adjusting volume, and changing brightness. The top button switches 3D to 2D, and a long press switches between the two modes.

The on-screen display is standard, and TechRadar says the brightness, black level, contrast and other options are nicely laid out, though each button has a dual function and it takes time to learn the correct combinations. To use the monitor, the software must be installed, but TechRadar says the process is straightforward and the instructions are clear. Once installed, little more is required. Games can be launched through the dedicated 3D Playground Lite game launcher or downloaded video through the 3D Spatial Gateway. TechRadar says downloaded video looked great, but the games all seemed to be connected to a Chinese system despite looking like they should connect through Steam. Launching games directly worked fine and with great effect, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looked pretty decent.

A problem TechRadar identifies is that not all settings are translated into English. The reviewer had to hover a phone over the screen using Translate to work out what some app settings mean and do, which TechRadar calls annoying for a product that is now on sale. In use, TechRadar describes the 3D monitor as an interesting new product that shows what technology can do, essentially similar to earlier 3D TVs but smaller and highly portable. It is an interesting proof of concept that will appeal to early adopters. The AI-enhanced video that took standard 2D video and made it 3D looked pretty good, and once the user got used to it, and to staying still in front of the monitor, it was quite engaging.

TechRadar says the ViewX Liber does not quite meet the needs of most people looking for the best portable monitors. It calls it a hyper-niche device for a very specific workflow. Even for users seeking a true three-dimensional effect, the review says it is not quite there. It notes several glitches, including screen flicker when moving the head, and says some background apps and games still are not 100% compatible. The review also lists cons including the need to be directly in front of the display, some flickering, and a drop in detail and resolution in 3D mode. The review adds that these are early days and that, considering the quality on offer already, it is still all pretty decent. The monitor can be purchased directly from ViewX's Kickstarter page, with prices starting from $1,099, and more information is available on the official website. TechRadar's score is 3.5 out of 5.