It’s no secret that Philips absolutely nails workplace monitors with an equal blend of sexy and productivity. The latest Philips 49B2U6900CH goes bigger in pretty much all senses.
You can expect it to take up your entire desk at 48.8in, but you won’t need any other display. With a double QHD resolution (5,120×1,440), it acts as two monitors side by side without the intrusive middle bezel. You can call it extra-wide viewing without the hassle.
The screen packs just about everything you need for work in one simple package. There’s a webcam hidden in the top bezel that you can adjust up to 30° depending on your height. The noise-cancelling microphone is ready to go whenever you get into a call. And perhaps the best part is the Busylight.
Busylight is a blinker that automatically shines red whenever you’re in a meeting. If you’re in an office, this signals signalling that you’re busy to everyone around. You can pop this on manually whenever you want focus time, thanks to a button in the bottom-right corner. Remote workers aren’t left high and dry, either, as you can hook it up to Microsoft Teams for the digital equivalent. Philips doesn’t mention Google integration but might introduce it at a later date.
If you’re the type to run two or more systems at any given time, you’ll love the Smart KVM switch. As usual, you can plug your peripherals into the monitor directly to make it easier to switch between PCs with a single wire. Philips 49B2U6900CH connects to two setups simultaneously, and you can swap between them simply by pressing the Ctrl key three times in succession.
Since you’ll use this for work eight hours a day, there are several features to keep your eyes healthy. First, the gentle 1,800R curve prevents distortion in the corners, reducing eye strain. On top of that, there’s Low Blue Mode with Flicker-Free technology to prevent your peepers from getting bombarded with all the bad stuff.
The final features rounding off this behemoth are the easy-to-access 3.5mm headphone jack, a headphone stand that flicks down from the side, and VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification for a punchier brightness.
Philips 49B2U6900CH will hit shelves starting in February for £959.99. Availability will depend on your region, though.
