Philips 288E2UAE 28in 4K Monitor Review

Rating: 8.0.

Monitors with 4K resolution were premium products just a few years ago. But now you can get high-quality 4K panels for under £300, and the Philips 288E2UAE is a classic example of that. This 28in screen uses a high-quality IPS panel and offers a pin-sharp 3840 x 2160 resolution, but only costs £270. It is not aimed at gamers, but at a business user looking for top quality without breaking the bank. On paper, the features looks promising.

The panel specification is as you would expect for IPS. The typical brightness is 300cd/m2 and contrast 1,000:1. Pixel response time is 4ms Grey to Grey, which has also been the standard value for IPS panels for years, and as this isn't a gaming-focused screen, there are no mechanisms for improving this. The refresh is also limited to 60Hz, so although AMD FreeSync adaptive synchronisation is supported, you won't be able to enjoy the full benefit of high frame rates even if your graphics card can provide them.

However, this isn't what the 288E2UA is aimed at. Instead, it is meant to provide high detail and quality for more serious work applications. So it promises 106.9 per cent NTSC and 119.7 per cent sRGB gamuts. It also offers the requisite DisplayPort and HDMI inputs, plus a four-port USB 3.2 hub with one supporting fast charge. There's an analog audio output for routing sound from a digital video connection to headphones or speakers, although there are stereo 3W speakers built in. In other words, this is a businesslike screen for business users. The question is, does it deliver?

Specification:

• Screen size: 28-inch, 16:9 aspect
• Native resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
• Curvature: None
• Refresh rate: 60Hz, AMD FreeSync
• Panel type: IPS
• Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 (typical)
• Brightness: 300cd/m2
• Response time: 4ms Grey to Grey
• Display inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort
• USB hub: Yes, Type B input, 4 x USB 3.2 outputs
• Tilt: 5 degrees forward, 20 degrees backward
• Raise: 100mm
• Swivel: No
• Portrait: No
• Other: Audio output minijack, 2x 3W speakers

Retail Price: £269.99 (inc. VAT)

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