Philips Momentum 279M1RV 4K Monitor Review

Rating: 8.5.

IPS panels have long held the higher ground when it comes to image quality, but they haven't been ideal for gaming due to longer pixel response times than TN. Now there is a new version of the technology called Nano IPS, which promises all the benefits of IPS but without this drawback. The Philips Momentum 279M1RV is our first look at this evolution of IPS, and a faster pixel response isn't the only standout feature for gamers this monitor has to offer. It's also 4K/144Hz with adaptive sync support, making it a real gaming contender.

The 279M1RV has a 27in diagonal, which feels quite small by today's standards, but is actually a good size for the average desk. The panel resolution is 3,840 x 2,160. The headline features is that Philips claims a 1ms grey-to-grey pixel response, where most IPS panels offer more like 3-5ms, usually hiding this behind the Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT) measuring system. This is based on pixel visibility, where grey-to-grey measures how long it takes for the pixel actually to change over, and is generally higher than MPRT.

This screen also offers 144Hz refresh at 4K, and supports Nvidia G-sync adaptive sync as well. With the adaptive synchronisation, 144Hz will be great for anyone playing fast-paced games such as first person shooters, and you will need quite meaty graphics for an A-list FPS running 144 frames per second at 4K anyway.

The colour gamut specifications are as you would expect for IPS, with a claimed 133 per cent sRGB, 98 per cent DCI-P3 and 110.1 per cent Adobe RGB. This screen is also clearly aimed at all your gaming and media devices, because the number of inputs is generous too. There are three HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4, and USB-C, with the latter doubling as an input for devices. There's also a regular USB Type B upstream port, alongside the four-port USB 3.2 hub. There's a minijack for headphones, as well as built-in stereo 2 x 5W speakers.

Adjustments are also generous, with tilt, swivel, and height variation available. But all this comes at a price, and that price is somewhere between £700 and £800. That's a lot for a 27in screen, but the true test will be in how it performs, so read on to find out as we put it through its paces.

Specification:

• Screen size: 27-inch, 16:9 aspect
• Native resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
• Curvature: No
• Refresh rate: 144Hz, NVIDIA G-Sync
• Panel type: Nano IPS
• Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 (typical)
• Brightness: 450cd/m2
• Response time: 1ms Grey to Grey
• Display inputs: HDMI 2.1 x 3, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, USB-C
• USB hub: Yes, Type B or USB-C input x 2, 4 x USB 3.2 outputs
• Tilt: 5 degrees forward, 20 degrees backward
• Raise: 130mm
• Swivel: 35 degrees left or right
• Portrait: No
• Other: Audio output minijack, 2 x 5W speakers

Retail Price: £759.95 (inc. VAT)

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