Philips is bringing its 5K dual-mode gaming monitor to the West, and it is available in a neat white shell

A number of weeks in the past, Philips introduced the Evnia 27M2G5800, a poetically-named, 27-inch, 5K dual-mode gaming monitor on the market in China, and right now, the corporate has introduced a western counterpart—the 27M2D5901A (yeah, monitor names are like that). I managed to get hands-on expertise with the display at a press occasion in Croatia, and dual-mode works in addition to I might need it to.

The all-white panel is able to swapping between 5120 x 2880 (165 Hz) and 2560 x 1440 (330 Hz). The use case right here is placing one sport on its highest attainable decision for these fairly, immersive video games, and swapping to 1440p for aggressive play in one other. 330 Hz is definitely on the high-end in that regard, whereas 5K is kind of wasted on the likes of Counter-Strike 2.

Additionally, in case your rig is a tad missing and you propose on upgrading sooner or later, you’ll be able to deal with 1440p in the meanwhile, then swap whenever you lastly have the facility to justify 5K—although there’s little or no on the market with the facility to justify 5K in the meanwhile.

Cesar Reyes Acosta, the European Business Chief for Philips’ sister firm AOC, tells me “ours is identical [as the 27M2G5800], however ours is extra outfitted.”

The 27M2D5901A, in addition to having that all-white look, has Philips Ambilight inbuilt. Which means it has lights on the again which you’ll sync as much as your video games. As a part of this, Philips’ new 5,000-8,000 collection (the mid to top-end) all include Philips’ personal AI lighting system and Matter compatibility. This implies you’ll be able to hook up your monitor to your sensible lights and blast your whole room with gentle whenever you get a flashbang hurled at you… theoretically.

It additionally comes with a 65 W USB Sort-C within the again, so you’ll be able to cost your laptop computer from it whereas it is plugged in, or use it to energy a USB hub in a pinch.

The 27M2D5901A will likely be obtainable in July this yr, and is available in at a really useful worth of €799. Roughly exchanged, that works out to $940 on the time of writing, however I am advised there aren’t but any plans to launch the monitor within the US. Hopefully, that can change sooner or later.

On paper, it is slightly just like the Asus ROG Strix XG27JCG. Each screens provide 5K dual-mode, they usually’re the identical measurement. AOC’s providing, if it launches within the US, will seemingly are available in at north of $900, however Asus’s is out there for $849. Each are IPS, and AOC’s is available in at 50 nits brighter. Which means there is a slight improve in brightness, a neat look, and a few flashy lights in trade for the additional money.

In testing, I managed to swap between the resolutions principally simply (due to the brand new OSD), and it occurred in only a few seconds. The little little bit of gaming I managed to get on the monitor was definitely fairly , and that 5K decision is killer. €799 is an eye-watering price for an IPS panel, however not out of the norm for 5K, particularly with dual-mode.

However my eyes have turn into so accustomed to OLED at this level that I am not fully satisfied I can return, and 5K is a budding subject, so whether or not or not you wish to get in on the bottom ground is a tricky choice. You’re getting a comparatively low brightness right here, and 5K is probably going solely attributable to get higher with time, however I am unable to say I wasn’t impressed by the panel, the monitor, and the gorgeous lights nonetheless.