Review: Philips Brilliance 29” UltraWide 21:9 Monitor (298P4QJEB)

With computers that allow the user to work with many windows and perform simultaneous tasks, the “square” screens of computers seem increasingly limiting. Have a 19 or 22 inch monitor standard is no longer the best option for those who work with the creation and editing of images, videos or contracts, for example.

The solution may lie in the use of multiple screens or monitors widescreen, with screens elongated horizontally. the monitor Philips Brilliance 29” UltraWide 21:9 is one of these options, which we had the opportunity to analyze. See the result:

Design:

Consumers and companies interested in this option usually buy 2 monitors and a video card that supports connections with more than 1 monitor. the monitor ultrawide da Philips tries to go a step further, stretching the screen of a single monitor and eliminating splits in the middle of the screen. Thus, the user gains both in the use of several windows on one monitor and in viewing movies on the cinema format (21:9).

The model also has a simplistic design, practically composed of screen and minimal bezels, supported by a silver base. This base, by the way, has very practical mounting solutions: the monitor is connected to the pole by a support fitting (which, if necessary, is disconnected with the click of a button), and the pole is attached to the base with a screw with crank, allowing it to be fixed without the use of additional wrenches or tools.

Screen:

The display is stretched, but doesn't lose in resolution. It has 29 inches ultrawide and the impressive resolution QuadHD de 2560 × 1080 pixels, in the pattern of cinema (21:9), with sharp images and brilliant colors. he has technology AH-IPS, which improves color accuracy across its wide 178º view, making it possible to view the monitor from almost any angle. Below is a demonstration of this breadth of vision.

The model also has the technologies MultiView, which allows viewing the contents of different inputs on the same screen with two options: PIP(Picture in Picture) that small square in the corner of the screen or PBP(Picture by Picture) where the screen is divided in half. In the latter the two images present distortion, which disappointed me because I expected to have two proportional images in high definition side by side and not two squeezed together. Another problem is that the resource MultiView only works if you are using input DisplayPort and another input (HDMI or DVI), in the case of two HDMI or DVI connections with HDMI, it will not be possible to display both images at the same time. The screen also has the technology Philips Flicker-Free, which has a refresh rate above the 60Hz of common monitors, 75Hz in this case. This increased speed reduces that feeling of seeing the screen flicker or move.

To get a better idea of ​​the color range of this monitor, I consulted technical evaluations of color calibration, and the results shown by the expertreviews showed that the factory setting already shows 98% of the colors in the sRGB space, and after calibrating they managed to reach 99.2%, an impressive fact for an IPS display. The following are photos of the great color coverage before and after adjustment.

Connections:

In addition to the video connection options, this monitor can also function as a USB 3.0 hub. it offers the following options:

• 4 doors USB 3.0;
• 1 entry DisplayPort;
• 1 exit DisplayPort;
• 1 entry DVI-Dual Link (digital, HDCP);
• 2 tickets HDMI x 2 (with support for MHL);
• 1 entry of PC audio;
• 1 exit to Earphone;

As 4 USB inputs allow you to connect multimedia devices such as USB memory device, camera, portable hard drive, webcam, PDA, printer and many other devices to the monitors. They allow the transmission of signals to the computer, functioning as a USB hub.

The exit MHL-HDMI allows you to connect the monitor to any smartphone, tablet or other device that supports the standard MHL (Mobile High Definition Link). Once connected, the monitor charges the gadgets, while playing videos in HD quality.

Price and availability:

O dual monitor da Philips is already available in the Brazilian market and can be found in physical and virtual stores of Fnac, Fastshop, Magazine Luiza, among others. The suggested price for the model is at the house of R $ 1.729, but using price research sites we found in sight for R$1.329,00 or in installments by R $ 1.540,00, check it out here.

Liked

Sincerely this new format Cinema (21:9) surprised me, I had the same feeling as when I tested a widescreen monitor (16:9) for the first time. It fills the entire field of view in a comfortable way, and leaves much more space on the screen for those who use programs like Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator… where the sidebars often limit the workspace, I imagine the same applies to gamers .

The quality of colors and details on this screen is excellent, I only really realized how much I liked it when I had to go back to my old monitor.

Finally, one of the main differentials of this monitor is something that seems simple but makes all the difference, adjusting the height of the screen. It allows the screen to be exactly in front of your eyes, helping you to stay in the correct posture and in a much more comfortable way, your spine will thank you.

Did not like

One of the features that is even one of the advertisements of this monitor, the MultiView, is practically dispensable. First you need to be using the cable Displayport, otherwise the feature does not work. Second, when dividing the screen in two there is a narrowing of the image leaving it all squeezed.

Another option that would be to reduce the second image to a square in the corner of the screen is nice at first when you turn on the TV, but it's more for showing off to friends than really for everyday use. The monitor control buttons are hidden under the monitor in its right corner, they are not so easy to move and I lost my patience a few times trying to change the input or tweaking some feature in the menu.

As USB 3.0 inputs, will only work if you use the cable again DisplayPort, or directly connect a cable USB 3.0 Type B on the monitor. Finally, I talk about the monitor's internal speaker: don't count on it, it's merely a quick fix until you find a better speaker.

Conclusion:

a monitor ultrawide, really, can facilitate the work of many people who need to manipulate data or images on the computer screen. Whether for games, movies or activities that demand a lot of resolution, the monitor Brilliance UltraWide 21:9 (298P4QJEB) It won't disappoint, on the contrary, it will be hard to want to return to the old 16:9 standard once you get used to it.

The price is also fair, although it costs a little more than some televisions, the image quality and technology present are much superior.

Technical specifications:

See below for the complete list of monitor specifications:

For more information, visit the Philips website.