Philips has just announced the 34B2U5900C, a curved ultra-wide business monitor that can also turn its hand to gaming, thanks to its dual-mode refresh rate and high contrast ratio. Whether you’re looking for a sharp image with extended resolution for multitasking, or a fast monitor for gaming after work, this Philips monitor looks to deliver on both fronts.
Built first for professionals, the 34B2U5900C packs all the features you can expect from the brand’s business monitor series, in addition to some goodies you would normally only expect from gaming displays. For starters, you can choose between a WUHD (5120×2160) resolution at 120Hz, or a WFHD (2560×1080) pixel grid at 240Hz, switching between the two with a click of a button.
The former delivers a sharp pixel density of 164PPI, at a reasonable 120Hz refresh rate, while the latter bumps speed up to 240Hz at the cost of some sharpness. That said, the default WUHD mode is already fast enough for plenty of games, so you may never switch from it anyway, assuming your GPU can handle games at those settings.
Speed aside, a large part of the 34B2U5900C’s appeal is its 21:9 aspect ratio, which allows the display to fit more windows side by side, boosting productivity without having to deal with the hassle of multiple monitors. This is perfectly complemented by PIP and PBP mode support, allowing you to display two sources side by side and jump from one to the other seamlessly.
But this monitor’s flexibility doesn’t end here. Philips has also equipped it with a light sensor that allows it to manage brightness based on the user’s presence and ambient light conditions. Philips claims this feature can save up to 80% in energy costs.
For this model, Philips went with a curved VA panel, rated for 350nits of brightness, along with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and 2ms GtG pixel response time. All of these specs are typical for this panel type. We’ve previously found that VA panels are ideal for single-player cinematic games, as their deep blacks and high contrast make for a great image. However, they can also suffer from ghosting in fast action when compared to faster IPS screens, although that trend was notably bucked by the Alienware AW3226DM with its newer VA panel.
Philips also advertises DisplayHDR 400 certification and Delta E colour accuracy below 1 in the sRGB colour space. Speaking of which, the 34B2U5900C is Calman Ready, meaning it can communicate directly with software for automatic calibration, simplifying creators’ lives.
The connection side doesn’t disappoint either, packing two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 input, plus one 140W USB-C socket with DP Alt Mode. That’s all in addition to a USB hub comprising one 15W USB-C downstream port, one 1GbE LAN socket supporting MAPT, PXE, and WOL, plus three USB-A ports. There are also two 5W speakers for those who need sound through HDMI.
Lastly, on the ergonomics side, we find an adjustable stand offering adjustments for 180mm of height, 180° if swivel, and -5° to 30° of tilt movement. A 100mm VESA arm mounting is also available for those looking to mount it on their own setup. The Philips 34B2U5900C price is £574.99 at MSRP, backed by a five-year warranty.
