Old companies can learn new tricks and even set new trends, and an older company such as Philips can still provide products with a modern touch. With the help of a component from AMD, Philips was able to introduce a product that is both cheaper and powerful. While not a part of the best 27-inch monitor line-up, some of its benefits match, or even surpass, some of the specifications of the monitors on that guide. But, how does it stack up against the monitors on our best computer monitors guide?
Why We Like It – Philips 276E9QDSB
The Philips 276E9QDSB has full HD, a decent screen size, and contains adaptive synchronization technology that boosts the already beneficial attributes and fixes most of the preset issues. Behind the stylishly simple and frameless design are unexpected benefits for its price.
- Cheap price
- Lightweight
- Decreased power consumption
- Screen can only be adjusted by tilting
- No built-in speakers
- No USB ports
Performance
The IPS panel gives the screen wide viewing angles and breathtaking picture quality, but this panel type can have slower response times. To make up for that, the Philips 276E9QDSB contains AMD FreeSync technology. AMD FreeSync is what gives the monitor a refresh rate of 75 Hz, a response time of 5 ms, and ensures that lag is kept to a minimum. Philips 276E9QDSB also has a feature called LowBlue, which reduces blue light. Though it’s not the best at it, it’s also capable of decreasing power consumption.
Related: Also take a look at our Philips 323E7QDAB review.
Design
It adorns a thin and frameless design, with the stand’s appearance being a nice decorative touch. However, similarly to the Acer SB270 Bbix 27, Viewsonic VA2759, and the BenQ GL2760H, the screen can only be adjustable by tilting. Considering that the screen is flat and not curved, that means that users are more likely to be exposed to bad viewing angles. There’s also a nice assortment of ports: VGA, HDMI, DVI-D, and an audio-out port, allowing older and newer PCs to connect to it. Unfortunately, there are no built-in speakers or USB ports, which is why there’s an audio-out port.
Related: If you like this monitor, you might be interested in our Philips 226E9QDSB monitor review.
Value
The AMD FreeSync is definitely what mainly contributes to the overall pricing, but since the price is lower for a monitor with that kind of enhancement, it’s quite generous. Another contributing factor would be the IPS screen, with the trade being more money for better image quality. However, since it’s frameless, it may also be easier to break. Since the monitor is only 11 Lbs., it can easily be knocked off of the surface it’s occupying.
Philips 276E9QDSB Wrap Up
While it would require slight customization, the Philips 276E9QDSB has promise and room for potential, evident by its useful features underneath its modest appearance. If the user in question is fine with not having USB ports on the monitor itself and buying their own speakers, that price would be more than worth it.
