Philips has just launched a dual-mode monitor that enables you to switch between 4K (3840×2160) at 75Hz and FHD (1920×1080) at a super-fast 300Hz. The Philips 27E2N5901RW is now available in China, and aims to combine the best of both worlds, so you can enjoy sharp visuals for work and content consumption while getting smooth motion for gaming.
Available at ¥1,599 (£173), the 27E2N5901RW is priced aggressively even for the Chinese market, and still offers most of the essentials. You can even do some image/video editing on it, with Philips claiming it covers 95.5% AdobeRGB, 98.6% DCI-P3, and 100% sRGB colour gamut coverage. On top of this, Philips advertises a Delta E below 2 out of the box, suggesting that colour accuracy it decent too. Note, however, that this panel only supports 10-bit colour depth through 8-bit + FRC processing. That’s not a big deal for most users, but an important consideration if you plan to do some colour-critical work on it.
For gamers, the brand advertises a 0.5ms MPRT pixel response time, alongside a 1,200:1 static contrast ratio. As for HDR, the 27E2N5901RW doesn’t feature any local dimming zones, which is understandable at this price tier.
Moving to connections, we find one HDMI 2.1 input, one DisplayPort 1.4 socket, plus one USB-C port with 65W power delivery. Surprisingly for the price, there’s also a two-port USB hub with a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) feature, enabling you to easily switch between two PCs using the same monitor and peripherals. Lastly, for ergonomics, you get a somewhat slim stand, adjustable in height by 110mm and tilt between -5° and 20°.
If it ever reaches western shores at the same price of £173, the Philips 27E2N5901RW would be a hard monitor to beat. Its balanced combination of specs and price allows it to be competitive without crossing into market segments covered by QD-OLED displays, such as the Philips Evnia 27M2N6501L. Check out our full guide on how dual-mode monitors work for more information about the tech behind these displays.
