This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.
You can almost consider the Philips 34B1U5600CH as the spoilt older brother to the AOC CU34P3CV. They appear to share similar genes: both are 34in curved VA panels boasting a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and they gave near-identical (and strong) performances in our technical tests. Whites look good, DCI-P3 color coverage is strong at 85%, and an average Delta E of 0.58 means you can trust that colors are accurate.
The reason it’s spoilt is that this monitor gets many of the features that are missing on its AOC rival. There’s a respectable, albeit grainy, 1080p webcam that supports Windows Hello, a power sensor that switches the screen off if it detects no-one is there, plus an ambient light sensor. The speakers are also better; hardly hi-fi quality, but you can actually listen to music on the Philips 34B1U5600CH.
It wins the numbers game, too. Its refresh rate is better, at 120Hz to 100Hz. Philips also quotes a higher peak brightness, of 350cd/m2to 300cd/m2, although in our tests the gap narrowed with 368cd/m2versus 355cd/m2. And the one-upmanship stretches to the ports, with its main USB-C connector delivering 100W of power to the AOC’s 65W. It also adds two USB-C ports to the four USB-A ports found on the hub, with half on the left-hand side of the display and half at the rear.
The Philips also has a superior stand. That’s true for the numbers – note its excellent 180mm of height adjustment – but also for fit and finish, with its swivel option being far smoother. Philips’ OSD is also easier to navigate, but just like the AOC it’s difficult to see what buttons you’re pressing, and don’t expect a huge range of useful options. It’s worth using the SmartImage presets, though, as it can be useful to jump to, say, Easy Read or Low Blue Mode.
But here’s the challenge for Philips. At well over £500, it’s a hefty chunk more expensive than the AOC – its equal for panel quality – while the also excellent-value-for-money Iiyama ProLite XUB3293UHSN-B5 sits in the middle. And the Iiyama has a better warranty than the Philips, as it offers on-site swapout rather than return to base (where you have to cover courier costs to get it repaired).
The 34B1U5600CH is a fine screen, and if you’ll take advantage of its extra features then you can argue it’s worth the premium over the AOC. However, it needs to drop below £500 to compete for awards against this month’s ferocious competition.
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