Agreed. I went ahead and pre-ordered one. I've definitely never done that with a monitor, I've always done tons of research before buying in the past. Hopefully this one is good, but if not I'm not too worried because of Amazon's return policy.
I concur except for one thing - 300 nits max brightness. I use my laptop (2017 15" MacBook Pro) for everything and take it to work. At work I've got an Elgato hub supplies full 87W power and that hooks to a second screen via Display Port. So was looking for at least a QHD (would've preferred 4k IPS, but hey, can't have it all) monitor that can double up for gaming at home while also providing FULL USB-C PD of 87W. And wanted a minimum 100Hz refresh.
Its amazing how few monitors out there meet that spec. This does, but seems a bit low on the brightness so I'm going to check it out in store before I buy it.
Initial specs sound good for the price, but can DP1.2/HDMI 2 (both ~18gbps) handle 8-10bit 100Hz at this resolution with 4:4:4 chroma? I tried one of the first gen LG 3440x1440 75Hz versions, with DP and HDMI, and it could NOT support the claimed refresh without serious issues (flashing black screen).
I'm also curious if manufacturers have solved the severe light bleed commonly found on curved screens. Screen/color uniformity is a huge factor for me.
They can indeed. This display's resolution and refresh rate need 14.86Gbps at 8bit - not sure why anyone would be outputting 10bit to it as it doesn't appear to be HDR certified, but even that's okay at 17.83Gbps.
The feature set is very similar to the Samsung SJ791, which I own and is a great display. That said, the CJ791 hovers around the $800 mark, which means it's a bit pricier (but can be found right now if you don't want to wait).
I don't, unfortunately. But I had debated some upgrade paths, like you seem to, in my head in the pasts. I had a 27" 1440p and then added a simple 19" 5:4 monitor a bit later. That was perfect for 3 part work, the 27" had a document on the left and right and then 19" a whole screen document (could be video, photos, PDF, website etc.). I then debated about going to get another 27" but thought that was too much real estate horizontally. Then slowly these ultra wife came into play, 1440p with either 3440 or 5120 (exactly double 2560). The 3440 one would be a good fit for 3 documents like my first setup (so you'd need some program to be able to easily dock applications to the various section of a screen). The 5120 would be exactly two normal 27" 1440p monitors. Great for immersive gaming, but probably too much horizontal real estate for my use case. Those 3440x1440 monitors have better high refresh rate support compared to most UHD displays. But they cost a pretty penny more compared to most entry level UHD displays. So you get more gaming features, less resolution and a wider screen where you would normally need a second display to the side. It is definitely a neater setup than mine (that 19" monitor looks kinda weird to most people). But I decided against it in the end and got a 32" freesync enabled Samsung UHD monitor. That extra vertical resolution and higher pixel density is nice (I run it at 125%, my 1440p 27" monitor was also 125%, maybe these 3440x1440 could be run at 100% which would help some things). But for the money they cost, I always thought they were more geared towards racing sim gaming and the like and cost accordingly (gamer tax) and not really that amazing for work and other tasks. Now, one of those 5k 21:9 displays on the other hand.... :D
If you are running Windows 10, Microsoft has a new PowerToys program that lets you create snappable zones on your screen. I use a 3440x1440 monitor, and I use PowerToys to enable easy snapped side by side document viewing in the middle of the screen.
I do wonder how fullscreen (video, games, apps) works with this aspect ratio. With two 1080p monitors I sometimes have fullscreen video on the left while continuing to work on the right. I think this is a common setup for streamers too (game on one screen, desktop on other). Maybe I should just stick with 2x1080p.
I used to, if same pixel density and monitor size, can be worth. If you're using 3 screens or use one where you can make it vertical instead, no.
I managed for about three months before swapping back, but if you're just dealing with e.g. Secretary or creative like graphic design or video editing, probably nice.
My two monitors at work are both the same size and resolution as this new monitor. They're Dell's. And they're amazing. Definitely better than the 4 other 16x9 monitors they replaced. They're also over $600 each, still. So this one for $479 at Amazon seems like a great deal to me. I've already pre-ordered one for home because I haven't seen one with this spec/feature list for that price yet. Can't wait to ditch the 16x9's at home.
Yep, I have 32", 40", and a 43" UHD monitors at different locations. From a productivity perspective, I find a single UHD monitor far better than any multi-monitor setup I've seen and tried (which is many). The vertical height, total usable working area, and flexibility I have found far better and easier than any other combination I've used.
From a sizing perspective, my order of preference would be: 40", 32", 43". I find the 40" to be the ideal balance between pixel density and sheer size and space for a normal desk. The 43" is great but can sometimes seem a bit too big. The 32" I also really like a lot but I find that other people find the pixel density too high for general usage without Windows scaling which I will always steer clear of unless absolutely necessary (particularly when using laptops with both external projectors and external displays).
I need to borrow one of these ultrawide type displays and try it - I'm so used to dual or even triple 16:9 displays that it's hard to use anything else, even when I have the same screen real estate. I didn't want to take up a ton of space on my workbench, so I used a single higher resolution monitor, and while I can have two windows side by side with nearly the same size as two regular displays, it's still a complete shift in how I work, and I tend to end up single tasking on that system. I do have the display on an arm so it doesn't use desk space, so something with a VESA mount is definitely a requirement. I don't need super high resolution - too many things STILL don't work right with scaling in Windows 10. For my eyes, the equivalent of a 26 or 27" monitor in vertical height at 1080 is an ideal readable size (I have eye issues). 14" laptop at 1080 100% scaled is too small. 27" at 4K would be damn near invisible. 1080 is fine for what I need the machine to do. Dunno if such an animal exists - 3840x1080, however wide that needs to be, but as tall as a 27" 16:9 display. That would be my idea attempt to replace dual displays with a single one..
I think it's primarily price, the last 3440x1440 at 100Hz was like $1400 and even now goes on sale for like $600-700. If you don't need other fancy features and just want a high speed ultrawide this looks like the cheapest way to get it (as long as it's reliable and image is good).
The thing is, you don't need any of those to hit this resolution and refresh rate. As for Thunderbolt 3, I'd really want a direct connection to peripherals needing it.
Will what this monitor provide now be enough for what you want to do with it in the future? If not, maybe you want to pay more. But many won't. Personally I'd be matching this up with a system that's likely to end up leaning on Freesync (down to 48Hz), so I doubt it'd be that big of an deal.
definitely DOA, it's all about the price. Very few need TB3 or HDR. HDMI is backwards compatible, so 2.1 is not needed at all when bandwidth isn't an issue, which it's not here.
You plug your laptop into your monitor via USB-C and the monitor into the wall via Ethernet, and you have an Ethernet connection. It's a Realtek USB Ethernet Network Adapter. Here's the manual: https://www.download.p4c.philips.com/files/3/346b1...
The same reason the USB C connection provides power to whatever you plug into the monitor. It's a laptop dock builtin to the monitor. You plug one cable into your laptop and you get all your desktop connections including charging the laptop.
This just looks like a really well rounded display with some smart features and a pretty solid price, too.
I looked it up on Amazon and it also states "Philips Monitors come with 4-year advance replacement warranty in the United States, minimizing downtime" in the description. Not sure on the dead pixel policy, but four years is pretty damn solid.
Agreed, this just made the top of my monitor wish list. Not the "best" on that list, but by far the best price/featureset, and it checks _a lot_ of my desired boxes. Too bad there's no HDR, but that's about it. Could also do with more ports, but I have a couple of HDMI switches lying around, so no worries there. The KVM switch is a brilliant addition, as is powered type-C docking coupled with FreeSync - not many monitors have that. Strikes a (seemingly) perfect balance between productivity and gaming use. I'll still need to see some reviews to see if it's actually any good (cheap VA panels are known for artifacting, and overdrive controls are important for high refresh rates), but I'm hopeful.
I don't think so, although that'd be a good idea. There's a manual and SmartControl install here, but the latter seems to be more related to rotation and timings and suchlike: https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/346B1C_00/curved-ult...
The manual suggests that the KVM auto-switches with the selected source - if using DisplayPort or HDMI as the source, it will link the peripherals to the "USB UP" B-A connector; if using USB-C for display it will attach them to the device linked by USB-C. You can override this via the OSD (p. 12).
I got a pair of these for Christmas. They are beautiful. And yes they come with a marked USB c cable, though the monitor only supports up to 90w of USB PD.
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cygnus1 - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I like this combo of features quite a bit and it looks like it's already listed for pre-order at Amazon for $479. I like that price quite a bit too.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y5ZZW3Y/ref=o...
BloodyBunnySlippers - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Yeah, as someone who works from home and swaps between his work laptop and a personal PC, this sounds really nice.cygnus1 - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Agreed. I went ahead and pre-ordered one. I've definitely never done that with a monitor, I've always done tons of research before buying in the past. Hopefully this one is good, but if not I'm not too worried because of Amazon's return policy.darklight69 - Wednesday, October 23, 2019 - link
I concur except for one thing - 300 nits max brightness. I use my laptop (2017 15" MacBook Pro) for everything and take it to work. At work I've got an Elgato hub supplies full 87W power and that hooks to a second screen via Display Port. So was looking for at least a QHD (would've preferred 4k IPS, but hey, can't have it all) monitor that can double up for gaming at home while also providing FULL USB-C PD of 87W. And wanted a minimum 100Hz refresh.Its amazing how few monitors out there meet that spec. This does, but seems a bit low on the brightness so I'm going to check it out in store before I buy it.
EliteRetard - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Initial specs sound good for the price, but can DP1.2/HDMI 2 (both ~18gbps) handle 8-10bit 100Hz at this resolution with 4:4:4 chroma? I tried one of the first gen LG 3440x1440 75Hz versions, with DP and HDMI, and it could NOT support the claimed refresh without serious issues (flashing black screen).I'm also curious if manufacturers have solved the severe light bleed commonly found on curved screens. Screen/color uniformity is a huge factor for me.
Spunjji - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
They can indeed. This display's resolution and refresh rate need 14.86Gbps at 8bit - not sure why anyone would be outputting 10bit to it as it doesn't appear to be HDR certified, but even that's okay at 17.83Gbps.commonmind - Tuesday, October 22, 2019 - link
The feature set is very similar to the Samsung SJ791, which I own and is a great display. That said, the CJ791 hovers around the $800 mark, which means it's a bit pricier (but can be found right now if you don't want to wait).Atari2600 - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Does anyone have an ultrawide and (a 32" 16:9 UHD or 40" 16:9 4k)?Do they find these almost as equally productive or less so?
Death666Angel - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I don't, unfortunately. But I had debated some upgrade paths, like you seem to, in my head in the pasts.I had a 27" 1440p and then added a simple 19" 5:4 monitor a bit later. That was perfect for 3 part work, the 27" had a document on the left and right and then 19" a whole screen document (could be video, photos, PDF, website etc.). I then debated about going to get another 27" but thought that was too much real estate horizontally. Then slowly these ultra wife came into play, 1440p with either 3440 or 5120 (exactly double 2560). The 3440 one would be a good fit for 3 documents like my first setup (so you'd need some program to be able to easily dock applications to the various section of a screen). The 5120 would be exactly two normal 27" 1440p monitors. Great for immersive gaming, but probably too much horizontal real estate for my use case. Those 3440x1440 monitors have better high refresh rate support compared to most UHD displays. But they cost a pretty penny more compared to most entry level UHD displays. So you get more gaming features, less resolution and a wider screen where you would normally need a second display to the side. It is definitely a neater setup than mine (that 19" monitor looks kinda weird to most people). But I decided against it in the end and got a 32" freesync enabled Samsung UHD monitor. That extra vertical resolution and higher pixel density is nice (I run it at 125%, my 1440p 27" monitor was also 125%, maybe these 3440x1440 could be run at 100% which would help some things). But for the money they cost, I always thought they were more geared towards racing sim gaming and the like and cost accordingly (gamer tax) and not really that amazing for work and other tasks.
Now, one of those 5k 21:9 displays on the other hand.... :D
Sttm - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
If you are running Windows 10, Microsoft has a new PowerToys program that lets you create snappable zones on your screen. I use a 3440x1440 monitor, and I use PowerToys to enable easy snapped side by side document viewing in the middle of the screen.Death666Angel - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Cool, thanks for the info! :Dstephenbrooks - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I do wonder how fullscreen (video, games, apps) works with this aspect ratio. With two 1080p monitors I sometimes have fullscreen video on the left while continuing to work on the right. I think this is a common setup for streamers too (game on one screen, desktop on other). Maybe I should just stick with 2x1080p.RSAUser - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I used to, if same pixel density and monitor size, can be worth. If you're using 3 screens or use one where you can make it vertical instead, no.I managed for about three months before swapping back, but if you're just dealing with e.g. Secretary or creative like graphic design or video editing, probably nice.
cygnus1 - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
My two monitors at work are both the same size and resolution as this new monitor. They're Dell's. And they're amazing. Definitely better than the 4 other 16x9 monitors they replaced. They're also over $600 each, still. So this one for $479 at Amazon seems like a great deal to me. I've already pre-ordered one for home because I haven't seen one with this spec/feature list for that price yet. Can't wait to ditch the 16x9's at home.CallumS - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Yep, I have 32", 40", and a 43" UHD monitors at different locations. From a productivity perspective, I find a single UHD monitor far better than any multi-monitor setup I've seen and tried (which is many). The vertical height, total usable working area, and flexibility I have found far better and easier than any other combination I've used.From a sizing perspective, my order of preference would be: 40", 32", 43". I find the 40" to be the ideal balance between pixel density and sheer size and space for a normal desk. The 43" is great but can sometimes seem a bit too big. The 32" I also really like a lot but I find that other people find the pixel density too high for general usage without Windows scaling which I will always steer clear of unless absolutely necessary (particularly when using laptops with both external projectors and external displays).
rrinker - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I need to borrow one of these ultrawide type displays and try it - I'm so used to dual or even triple 16:9 displays that it's hard to use anything else, even when I have the same screen real estate. I didn't want to take up a ton of space on my workbench, so I used a single higher resolution monitor, and while I can have two windows side by side with nearly the same size as two regular displays, it's still a complete shift in how I work, and I tend to end up single tasking on that system. I do have the display on an arm so it doesn't use desk space, so something with a VESA mount is definitely a requirement. I don't need super high resolution - too many things STILL don't work right with scaling in Windows 10. For my eyes, the equivalent of a 26 or 27" monitor in vertical height at 1080 is an ideal readable size (I have eye issues). 14" laptop at 1080 100% scaled is too small. 27" at 4K would be damn near invisible. 1080 is fine for what I need the machine to do. Dunno if such an animal exists - 3840x1080, however wide that needs to be, but as tall as a 27" 16:9 display. That would be my idea attempt to replace dual displays with a single one..EliteRetard - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-49-Inch-Curved-Moni...Samsung CHG90
lilkwarrior - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
We've already had monitors like this w/ better I/O (Thunderbolt 3) for like 2+ years now. Kind of eccentric this is getting fanfare at all.DOA not having HDMI 2.1, HDR (HLG + Dolby Vision HDR ideal), & Thunderbolt 3 for a 2019 monitor.
EliteRetard - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
I think it's primarily price, the last 3440x1440 at 100Hz was like $1400 and even now goes on sale for like $600-700. If you don't need other fancy features and just want a high speed ultrawide this looks like the cheapest way to get it (as long as it's reliable and image is good).GreenReaper - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
The thing is, you don't need any of those to hit this resolution and refresh rate.As for Thunderbolt 3, I'd really want a direct connection to peripherals needing it.
Will what this monitor provide now be enough for what you want to do with it in the future? If not, maybe you want to pay more. But many won't. Personally I'd be matching this up with a system that's likely to end up leaning on Freesync (down to 48Hz), so I doubt it'd be that big of an deal.
From a Chinese company - but headquartered in Hong Kong. Maybe buy it before the tanks roll in?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPV_Technology
Valantar - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
You're misreading the intended market segment for this monitor. With its size and featureset it is an impressive value at its rated MSRP.cygnus1 - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
definitely DOA, it's all about the price. Very few need TB3 or HDR. HDMI is backwards compatible, so 2.1 is not needed at all when bandwidth isn't an issue, which it's not here.cygnus1 - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
*definitely NOTaustinsguitar - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
seems like a good product. not super big and a good resolution and frame rate. price is reasonable. might sell a lot of these. good job philips.fist003 - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
sorry but what is the use for GE port in a monitor...?GreenReaper - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
You plug your laptop into your monitor via USB-C and the monitor into the wall via Ethernet, and you have an Ethernet connection. It's a Realtek USB Ethernet Network Adapter. Here's the manual:https://www.download.p4c.philips.com/files/3/346b1...
GreenReaper - Thursday, October 17, 2019 - link
Most likely, it's an RTL8153. You can get the chip for $5 so it makes sense as a value-add:https://www.realtek.com/en/products/communications...
cygnus1 - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
The same reason the USB C connection provides power to whatever you plug into the monitor. It's a laptop dock builtin to the monitor. You plug one cable into your laptop and you get all your desktop connections including charging the laptop.Slash3 - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
This just looks like a really well rounded display with some smart features and a pretty solid price, too.I looked it up on Amazon and it also states "Philips Monitors come with 4-year advance replacement warranty in the United States, minimizing downtime" in the description. Not sure on the dead pixel policy, but four years is pretty damn solid.
Well done, Philips.
Valantar - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
Agreed, this just made the top of my monitor wish list. Not the "best" on that list, but by far the best price/featureset, and it checks _a lot_ of my desired boxes. Too bad there's no HDR, but that's about it. Could also do with more ports, but I have a couple of HDMI switches lying around, so no worries there. The KVM switch is a brilliant addition, as is powered type-C docking coupled with FreeSync - not many monitors have that. Strikes a (seemingly) perfect balance between productivity and gaming use. I'll still need to see some reviews to see if it's actually any good (cheap VA panels are known for artifacting, and overdrive controls are important for high refresh rates), but I'm hopeful.FreckledTrout - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
Can the KVM be switched via hot keys like Scroll Lock + Scroll Lock + enter?GreenReaper - Friday, October 18, 2019 - link
I don't think so, although that'd be a good idea. There's a manual and SmartControl install here, but the latter seems to be more related to rotation and timings and suchlike: https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/346B1C_00/curved-ult...The manual suggests that the KVM auto-switches with the selected source - if using DisplayPort or HDMI as the source, it will link the peripherals to the "USB UP" B-A connector; if using USB-C for display it will attach them to the device linked by USB-C. You can override this via the OSD (p. 12).
ulflun - Sunday, December 1, 2019 - link
Does it include a USB-C cable in the package?ulflun - Sunday, December 1, 2019 - link
Does it include a USB-C to USB-C cable with 20Gb (?) and 100W PD capability?Sea Shadow - Saturday, January 4, 2020 - link
I got a pair of these for Christmas. They are beautiful. And yes they come with a marked USB c cable, though the monitor only supports up to 90w of USB PD.