Does it change color according to game? This is the ideal monitor not only for photos, movies and web browsing, but also for professional applications which demand color accuracy and consistent brightness at all times. SmartContrast is a Philips technology that analyzes the content you are displaying and automatically adjusts colors and controls backlight intensity. Know more in Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA review.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Clean and Attractive Design
- Built-in speakers
- Trim-looking bezels
- Vibrant and precise colors
- Low input lag and quick response time
- Wide viewing angles
- Includes DisplayPort 1.4 and Two HDMI 2.0 ports
CONS
- Only supports tilt adjustment
- Tiny OSD buttons
- Mediocre Default Accuracy
- High Black Luminance
Specs – Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA
- Panel Type / Backlight IPS / W-LED
- Native Color Gamut sRGB
- Response Time (GTG) 4ms
- Screen Size, Aspect Ratio 27 inches / 16:9
- Max Resolution & Refresh Rate 33840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
- Connectivity 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- Power Consumption 20.3W
- Max Brightness 350 nits
- Contrast 1,000:1
- Dimensions (WxHxD w/base) 24.1 x 18.1 x 7.6 inches
- Weight 10.5 pounds
- Warranty 1 year
Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA review
Build
it’s a grey plastic affair with a look that mimics brushed metal. Visually, it looks pretty good; although, there’s a visible seam running all the way around, where the plastic of the outer edge of the monitor meets the back panel.
Design
Measuring 28 inches diagonally and standing just over 18 inches tall with the stand, the Philips 278E1A is fairly standard for a monitor of this size. The panel looks good out of the box, helped by the fact that the plastic shell is bezel-free, save for the lip at the bottom that’s about 0.75 inch tall.
Ports
Inputs around back are fairly standard for a budget-focused monitor. Aside from the power plug for the external brick and both audio in and a headphone jack, you get a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4.
Stand
The metal base attaches to the upright with a captive thumb screw. There’s also a slot in the back of the stand to route cables (an HDMI cable comes in the box), although it’s not roomy enough to handle all the cables you might like to hide here. There are VESA mounts on the back for an arm, which is how I mounted the monitor to my workbench.
Brightness – Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA
The Philips 278E1A looks good out of the gate. While the company advertises the display as capable of just 350 nits, our results show the panel can get even brighter. At 408 nits, it edges out the Dell (393 nits) and blows away the Lenovo monitor (313 nits).
But the Philips panel is less impressive on the black level front. At 0.39 nit, it’s close to the Dell’s 0.36, but the Lenovo wins here at 0.29. As is often the case with IPS screens, none of these panels excel when it comes to contrast, all sticking close to the 1,000-1,100:1 level.
sRGB
Things get better when switching to the monitor’s dedicated sRGB mode. The error drops under 3dE to 2.6dE, so you shouldn’t be able to notice any issues with the naked eye. If we’re nitpicking though, red and blue are still oversaturated in the same areas, but green is pulled more in-line with its targets.
If you want something color-accurate right out of the box, the S2721QS is a better option. At 2.65dE, it shouldn’t show any visible errors in the sRGB space, unlike the Philips with its 3.41dE error.
Game
So if you’re after something that can handle mainstream gaming, 4K media playback and occasional image or video editing on a budget, the Philips 278E1A is a solid all-arounder at a price that’s fairly pleasing. You could spend $115 or so more on the Dell S2721QS to get low-end HDR and slightly better performance overall. But unless you had the two monitors side by side, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference.
FreeSync
The Philips 278E1A is compatible with FreeSync, but it doesn’t work with Nvidia’s G-Sync Compatible mode. That’s a deal-breaker for many since there are a lot who own Nvidia GPUs, which have dominated the market for some time. Input lag is at 10ms at 60Hz, so delays won’t be an issue in games or in regular use.
Refresh rate
The Philips 276E8VJSB 4K monitor has an exceptionally low input lag of only ~9ms at 60Hz, which makes for no perceptible delays in video games or any other use.
Naturally, being locked to 60Hz/FPS (Frames Per Second) will repulse most PC gamers, especially those who prefer fast-paced games, as they can opt for a lower-resolution/higher refresh rate display at this price range instead. Keep in mind that 4K UHD is quite demanding even at 60Hz when it comes to the latest PC titles.
Audio
The Philips 278E1A has a pair of 3-watt speakers that fire out of the bottom of the screen. As you might guess, they don’t get very loud and don’t sound great. You should get external speakers–especially given Philips seems to sell a version of this same monitor without speakers at all, and it’s not easy to know which one you might be getting.
Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA Performance review
Pressing the up button first brings up volume, which you can then adjust up or down with either button, while pressing the down button first lets you easily switch between the three inputs. Pressing the left/back button brings up a SmartImage menu with various color presets for different types of games, as well as a LowBlue mode for reducing blue light and SmartUniformity, designed to make sure brightness and colors are uniform across the screen. The latter is, of course, best left to the panel itself and not for software to try and compensate for. I left these settings alone and stuck with leaving SmartImage on the Off setting.
The 272E1CA incorporates AMD FreeSync adaptive sync technology and has a 75Hz pixel refresh rate, modestly higher than the typical 60Hz found on non-gaming monitors. Although competitive gamers will want to look elsewhere, my experience in running the Final Fantasy XV benchmark indicates that the 272E1CA is fine for casual gaming.
Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA review
Great Visuals, Nice Features & Easy Set-up
We got this monitor from Amazon after my Samsung LED stopped working. For the price, these are some VERY impressive visuals, love the curved display (it’s not for everyone, so if you’re in the creative field, want a cheap dorm TV, for gaming or robust office work you’ll greatly enjoy it), it was shipped from Philips packaged well & was VERY easy to set up. The other thing I really liked was the ability to custom your visuals to suit your personal style as well as using the Low-Blue Mode if your eyes get tired from working long hours (me). The speakers are so-so, it would be best to use another wireless one with your computer but since most monitors don’t have built in one’s it’s a win win. All in all, we’re happy with this gem!
Yes, I recommend this product
Pros: Great visuals, control options, Low-Blue Mode, Easy To Set Up
Cons: So-so Speakers
By Customer at usa.philips.com
Alternate of Philips 278E1A 27 frameless monitor 4K UHD IPS 109 sRGB speakers VESA
AOC 24G2U / 24G2
For fast-paced multiplayer games, high refresh rate monitors make it easier to track moving targets and hit those headshots. The AOC 24G2U 144Hz monitor we’ve chosen is built around an IPS display, and therefore offers better colour accuracy and wider viewing angles than more common TN or VA alternatives. The downsides of an IPS display manifest in relatively low brightness (250 nits), only moderate contrast (1000:1) and slightly higher pixel response times (4ms GtG) compared to TN alternatives. Still, for mixed use that includes web browsing, content creation and gaming, it’s hard to argue against IPS as the best mix of features, especially as these panels have become more affordable.
Ergonomics are a strong suit too, with options for tilt, swivel, rotation and height adjustment. The 24G2U also comes with FreeSync support, helping to smooth out lower frame-rates on rigs with AMD or Nvidia graphics cards. The price for this monitor is a little higher than the popular BenQ XL2411P, but the newer panel used here more than justifies the extra expense. While 27-inch 144Hz monitors are also available, often at a relatively low premium, we prefer 24-inch models for this category as they offer better value, are easier to fit into your peripheral vision and look less grainy at 1080p.
Editor’s recommendations
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