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It can be tricky to decide what gaming/productivity monitor size to choose when there are so many options available. The usual culprits in this debate are usually 27-inch monitors, 34-inch monitors like the LG 34GS95QE, and some people swear to super-ultrawide behemoths like the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. Personally, I still consider 27-inch to be the best size for gaming, but it remains a personal choice, and there are lots of factors to consider. Then there are 34-inch monitors like the Philips 346E2CUA, which offer decent gaming features and are equally up to task for professional use.
The Philips 346E2CUA is ready for the modern office with its bezel-free design, 1500R curve, and large 32-inch 1440p screen. To that productivity proposition, Phillips adds some gaming extras like a 1ms response rate and 100Hz, alongside a high specification connectivity feature including USB-C and a pair of built-in speakers. And for the reasonable price, this monitor is hard to resist as it compares well with some of the best ultrawide monitors on the market.
Philips 346E2CUA Specs
- Display size: 34-inch Ultra-wide
- Native resolution: 3440 x 1440
- Panel type: VA
- Refresh rate: 100Hz
- Brightness: 300cd/m2
- Contrast ratio: 3000:1
- Response time: 4ms (GTG)
- Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x USB-C, 4x USB 3.2
- Speakers: Yes
Design & Features
The screen is a 34-inch curved VA panel with W-LED backlighting, fitted into a black frame with three very thin bezels and a thicker bottom bezel with Phillips branding. Out of the box, the 346E2CUA looks and feels sturdy and well-built, as you’d expect from the Dutch screen maker, and it attaches easily to the rectangular table stand. It’s a good thing that it fits easily, too, as the screen weighs a hefty 7.83 kg. The stand adds over 2kgs to the total weight, so just make sure your desk is solid enough.
A thing to keep in mind beyond the easy assembly is that plugging everything in is a little tricky, since most of the ports are tucked into a notch under the back, and without rotation and limited tilt available on the stand, you’ll take a few minutes to have the cables secured properly in place. It certainly feels like this could have been laid out more accessibly for the user, especially if you’ll be setting up the monitor in a tight space where you can’t easily get behind the desk or turn the monitor around after it’s been set up.
After setting up everything, though, the monitor looks a bit imposing but classy, with its textured black frame and anti-glare coating on the screen that reduces screen reflections. On other models of this base model, you’ll find an integrated webcam that sticks up from a rectangle on the top bezel and has a physical privacy shutter that blocks and unblocks the lens with a simple left-to-right slide.
Performance
The Philips 346E2CUA is designed for pro users and casual gamers with its 21:9 screen ratio and 3440 x 1440 pixel resolution, and up to 100Hz refresh rate that’s ideal for both creative tasks and gaming endeavors. Its peak brightness of 300cd/m2 is fine, but it’s far from competing with some of the brightest and admittedly more expensive HDR and OLED screens in the market.
The UW QHD resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels is a mixed bag; it will excite you depending on use. For instance, with the 21:9 aspect ratio, the screen can deliver a rich pixel density of about 110 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). This is arguably the sweet spot between big-screen real estate and picture detail, meaning you’ll have plenty of workspace as well as crisp and vivid visuals.
Most movies are shot at the native aspect ratio of 21:9, so you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite shows and movies on the screen. The same aspect ratio is supported by lots of games, but you’ll have to deal with a black bar on the sides or stretched visuals in certain games. To be safe, first check the basic game requirements before purchasing, although we can guarantee that several support a 21:9 aspect ratio.
This ultrawide monitor is designed for pros and casual gamers looking to enjoy an immersive experience without breaking the bank.
Additionally, the On-Screen Control module supports various functions, including a split screen option that has four picture-in-picture (PIP) choices and three gamer modes, two First-Person-Shooter modes, and even RTS pre-set modes.
Gaming on this monitor looks a lot better, with the SmartImage Game mode standing on its own. You get an immersive experience rich in color, and even when stacked against monitors with higher than 100Hz, this monitor delivers a punch in strategy and racing games. The width of the screen immerses you into racing action in particular, with a wider focus on the surrounding scenes.
Contrast is a very decent 3000:1, and the claimed 121% sRGB coverage is backed up by its performance in gaming and when editing content. Surprisingly, fast-paced games have smoother playability on the 100Hz Philips 346E2CUA than competing 144Hz VA-panels with the same 3,440 x 1,440 resolutions, such as the Viotek GN34C, as it doesn’t have much blur. However, there are a few benefits to using a high refresh panel, including more fluid and smooth visuals in fast-paced games.
Colors are fairly accurate; their temperature only deviates by a small margin across the entire screen. This is a vital attribute for gaming and movies –meaning they’re important for a multi-use panel like this.
Philips 346E2CUA Review: Verdict
The Philips 346E2CUA is a good choice for anyone looking for an ultrawide monitor that can handle daily work, programming, entry-level video-editing, or photo-editing, and enjoy games without breaking the bank. It’s not without its flaws; it’s fairly hefty and has fiddly access to ports, but that doesn’t take away the mostly pain-free curved screen real estate.
Alternatives in the 34-inch category are not scarce, with lots of displays offering all these features in a 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio at sizes ranging from 27 inches to as high as 49 inches. But most of these monitors command premium prices. The best screens will set you back at least $1000. Even a decent 16:9 monitor will set you back around $500. But the Philips 346E2CUA remains a true price breakthrough in the 34-inch ultrawide category.
If you’re in the market for an ultra-wide monitor for pretty every day computing task – productivity and gaming, the Philips 346E2CUA is pretty much in a class by itself without the sicker shocks. When it comes to general use and even casual gaming, this monitor shines, making the experience nearly as good as many far-pricier displays.
That said, if you need features and even better image quality, our Editors’ Choice for ultrawide 34-inch monitors, the Samsung S65TC, is a great alternative, offering extras such as AMD FreeSync, Thunderbolt 4, and a KVM switch for multiple signal sources. However, if you’re on a tight budget and don’t need all those extra features, the Philips 346E2CUA is a terrific all-around value that’s hard to beat out there.
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