Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA Review: Best Budget Monitor We’ve Tested?

The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is a fresh addition to the 3000 Series, offering some unexpected premium features. It boasts an exceptionally swift overclocked refresh rate of 260Hz, minimal input lag, and HDR compatibility, all while appearing affordable (currently priced at £209).

At first glance, the deal for this Evnia gaming monitor seems almost unbelievably affordable. However, I’ve been given the opportunity to test it out and find out whether its impressive specifications translate into real-world performance.

Design and Build Quality

The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA monitor, measuring approximately 27 inches (or 68.5 centimeters), is a versatile size that performs admirably across various gaming genres. It’s particularly suitable for rapid-action games like Rainbow Six Siege, and I found it extremely comfortable due to my eyes easily maintaining focus on the fast-moving on-screen action without feeling overwhelmed.

The monitor boasts a nearly three-sided borderless layout too, enhancing screen area and providing a sleek, contemporary aesthetic. Additionally, it weighs approximately 5.66kg with the stand attached, making it effortless to maneuver and enjoy its ergonomic features such as tilt, swivel, height adjustment, and pivot without much exertion.

To clarify, it’s important to mention that it is predominantly made of plastic, enhancing its portability but potentially giving it a less premium feel. Nonetheless, this is an affordable display option, and its design maintains a distinctive charm through a one-of-a-kind white textured surface adorned with Sci-Fi-inspired blue speckles on the base. This breaks away from the monotonous black or grey aesthetics commonly found in gaming monitors.

A thoughtful extra feature is the hook for headsets on the back, which I found incredibly practical for saving space and maintaining order on my desk. While some might already have a headset hook under their desk, having this option on the Philips monitor’s back certainly adds convenience to the overall design.

The screen features a matte, non-shiny surface enhanced by a 3H Anti-Glare coating (having 25% haze), which performs exceptionally well in practical scenarios. Notably, even with my desk facing a window that lets in a lot of bright light, I experienced no visibility problems whatsoever – the text and game visuals stayed crisp and transparent all along.

Display Performance

Regarding the screen aspect, the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA boasts a QHD (2560 x 1440) IPS LED display. To me, a 1440p resolution strikes a great balance for gaming, as it delivers sharper visuals compared to 1080p, yet without the same level of graphical demand as 4K. In this respect, this monitor aligns with my preferences. Furthermore, the IPS panel ensures broad viewing angles and a steady image quality, which I found to be reliable across various game genres and settings.

In this setup, gaming performance truly shines, boasting a native refresh rate of 240Hz that can be boosted up to an impressive 260Hz, coupled with low input lag and a SmartResponse time of just 1ms (GtG). The addition of a 0.3ms Smart MBR (Motion Blur Reduction) feature, which harmonizes the LED backlight with the refresh rate, creates a gaming experience that feels incredibly smooth and clear overall. However, I did encounter occasional stutters, but I suspect this might be due to my PC’s performance rather than the monitor itself.

Regarding its color range, the display boasts an impressive 1.07 billion colors and covers approximately 95% of DCI-P3, 90% of AdobeRGB, 120% of sRGB, and 105% of NTSC. On paper, this looks fantastic. However, in actual use, the colors are decent but not overly vibrant. Some scenes might appear a bit dull or less saturated compared to OLED screens I’ve used previously, like the AOC AGON PRO AG276UZD. Nevertheless, adjusting the HDR and color settings can slightly enhance the vibrancy.

Regarding the SmartContrast technology, it effectively adjusted contrast and backlight levels dynamically to make darker scenes stand out. Although the 300 cd/m² brightness isn’t the maximum, it might have contributed to the colors not popping as much as expected. Nevertheless, I believe it’s an acceptable level of brightness for most gaming setups.

Gaming Experience

Playing games on the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA display was generally a smooth, seamless experience, with just minor hiccups, which I suspect may have been caused by my computer configuration rather than any issue with the monitor.

As a gaming enthusiast, the smoothness of the 240Hz refresh rate (crankable up to an incredible 260Hz) paired with Adaptive Sync was simply a game-changer for me. I opted to keep the low input lag activated throughout my gaming sessions, and I can’t help but notice that it significantly enhanced my experience without any noticeable delay during gameplay. It’s tough to quantify its exact impact, but the seamless performance spoke volumes!

The screen is equipped with HDR10 technology, offering several modes like Game, Vivid, and Movie. Among them, I discovered that HDR Game, after some adjustments, provided an optimal blend of intensity and contrast. Indeed, enabling HDR noticeably enhanced the image’s depth and richness, making me keep it activated at all times as turning it off significantly diminished the overall quality.

Furthermore, there’s the Stark ShadowBoost, offering three degrees of shadow amplification. The ease of adjusting and personalizing these settings was greatly facilitated by the Evnia Precision Centre app companion. This tool allowed me to fine-tune Adaptive Sync, Smart MBR, HDR options, SmartResponse, among other features, all within a sleek, user-friendly design.

Using this app was a significant enhancement to my overall enjoyment, as it enabled me to easily customize the results according to particular games or personal tastes, all while avoiding the hassle of navigating through cumbersome on-screen menus – absolutely a notable advantage!

Connectivity and Ports

This monitor boasts a reasonable variety of connectivity options, including two HDMI 2.0 slots, a DisplayPort 1.4, and an audio jack for headphones. Although it would have been beneficial to include HDMI 2.1 support, especially considering the upcoming next-gen consoles, it’s not a significant issue since this is a 1440p monitor instead of 4K. Therefore, there’s no possibility for 120Hz gaming at 4K on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Having not one but two HDMI ports is indeed an advantageous feature, particularly if you’re managing a multi-console or dual-device arrangement. Furthermore, the port configuration is conveniently located at the back, facilitating easy setup and seamless transitions between your devices without any unnecessary hassle.

On-Screen Display (OSD) and Features

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my thoughts about the monitor’s user-friendly design. The controls are streamlined, featuring just one button strategically placed at the back for effortless access to settings. This single button empowers me to not only switch it on or off but also navigate through the On-Screen Display (OSD) with ease.

However, compared to other monitors in its class, it doesn’t offer a wide range of preset Game Modes such as “FPS” or “Racing”. Nonetheless, it boasts some exceptional features that deserve recognition.

One standout feature I’ve found particularly useful when playing shooter games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege is the Smart Crosshair. This tool might not be for everyone, but if you prefer having a consistent visual marker right in the center of your screen, it can certainly add to your gaming experience. Additionally, there’s a Smart Sniper mode tailored for those interested in trying something new.

To ensure comfort for your eyes, this monitor features a LowBlue Mode and Flicker-Free technology. These elements are designed to lessen eye strain during extended gaming or work periods, and they appear to perform effectively as intended.

Although there are some advantages in this device, the built-in stereo speakers (2W x 2) disappoint. The audio quality seemed dull, far away, and lacked depth, even compared to the speakers on my laptop. While it’s great that the device has built-in sound, you’ll likely need a headset or external speaker setup for more serious uses. I would only rely on these speakers in emergencies, and even then, don’t expect outstanding performance.

Ergonomics and Adjustability

The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA boasts an impressive level of customization, largely due to its SmartErgoBase feature, providing a flexible and comfortable setup experience. With 130mm of height adjustment, -5 degrees to 20 degrees tilt, a swivel range of ±30 degrees, and a pivot capability of ±90 degrees, the flexibility offered is quite robust.

Turning the screen on its side (vertically) is an excellent feature for creative professionals or productivity enthusiasts, but remember that you might need to tilt the monitor slightly upward to prevent it from bumping against the desk when rotating it a complete 90 degrees. Despite not utilizing this orientation extensively myself, I can see how this added flexibility could attract certain users.

The wide viewing angles of 178 degrees (horizontally and vertically) make it easy to adjust the placement of this monitor, allowing for versatility in where it can be set up. I found this useful by placing the monitor slightly off to one side in a dual-screen setup. Remarkably, even with the angle, there was no compromise in image clarity, which is a key benefit of an IPS panel.

In addition, you’ll find VESA mount compatibility (measuring 100x100mm), providing you with extra versatility in mounting configurations. Although I haven’t tested this feature myself, it’s a valuable asset for those aiming to minimize desk space or construct a more tailored setup.

Value for Money

The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA monitor, priced at only £209, offers features that rival those of higher-priced monitors. This includes a 1440p IPS display with an overclockable refresh rate of 260Hz, low latency, Adaptive Sync, HDR10 support, and specs that are usually found on more expensive models.

This monitor may have some minor flaws, but for PC gaming enthusiasts, it delivers seamless, swift performance, good color accuracy, and excellent ergonomic features – all housed within a sleek, robust design.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

260Hz overclockable refresh rate with low input lag and Smart MBR for smooth gameplay
1440p IPS display with wide viewing angles and solid clarity
Smart Crosshair, ShadowBoost, and Evnia Precision Centre app add useful, game-focused features
Anti-glare coating and Flicker-Free / LowBlue Mode make it comfortable for long sessions
Great value at £209, offering features often found on more expensive monitors

Cons:

Built-in 2W speakers are weak and lack clarity
Mostly plastic build, which feels less premium
Color vibrancy is average, and brightness is capped at 300 cd/m²
Limited game mode presets in the OSD

Final Verdict

The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA stands out as a strong competitor in the affordable gaming monitor market, offering characteristics typically found in pricier models.

This gaming monitor is an excellent option, given its impressive features such as a 260Hz refresh rate, minimal input lag, and a robust 1440p IPS panel. It caters to both competitive and cinematic gamers, all while being affordably priced.

At this price range, it’s reasonable to expect that the color vibrancy and brightness might not be exceptional, and the built-in speakers could potentially be improved, in my viewpoint.

2025-07-18 19:13