Review: Philips 34E1C5600HE/00 Display Monitor – A New Member of the Workforce

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace. It can be a struggle to keep tabs on the movers & shakers in the tech industry with so many startups flooding the market with innumerable products. So, when an industry giant like Philips launches a product, you can be assured that its quality and workmanship are backed by a reputation spanning over 120 years. Philips has cast its net over an expansive range of products covering all aspects of life including healthcare technologies, automotive, lighting and so much more.

The technology company also produces an array of display monitors for use in various environments from professional to home use. However today, our focus is on office monitors, as we showcase the Philips 34E1C5600HE/00.

What is it?

The Philips 34E1C5600HE/00 is a sleek 34”, curved monitor with an integrated 5 MP webcam. When fully set up, it majestically stands at a maximum adjustable height of around 22” from the base of the stand to the top of the webcam. Its width is 32” edge-to-edge and the hexagonal base/stand measures roughly 10” from the back edge to the front.

In the box

• The monitor
• (Height Adjustable) Fixing arm
• Hexagonal base/stand
• Power cable
• HDMI to HDMI cable
• Display Port (DP) cable
• USB C-C cable
• USB C-A cable
• USB C-C/A cable
• Unpacking instruction booklet (more about that soon!)
• Quick Start Guide
• Important Informtion Manual

Setting up

I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing another curved monitor, so I had an inkling of what the setup process would entail.

Ironically, it wasn’t until I had unpacked the polystyrene-encased monitor from the cardboard carton that I saw the now redundant Unpacking instruction leaflet. These instructions were conveniently printed on the inner flaps of the cardboard carton of the previously reviewed monitor and its leaflet was easily accessed.

I initially assembled the stand by attaching the fixing arm to the hexagonal base/stand. This was fairly easy as both pieces slot together and are secured in place with the supplied screw and washer. Next, I had to attach the monitor to the fixing arm. (Drum-roll, please! Trrrrrrr). As the monitor is quite large, you can either lay the screen down on a soft surface like a blanket so as not to damage it or enlist the service of a second pair of hands, which is what I did.

The top of the fixing arm has two, fixed tabs and a spring-loaded mechanism which slots into the corresponding receptacles in the back of the monitor. Once you hear the reassuring click, you can breathe a sigh of relief and you’re good to go.

As listed earlier, there are numerous cables supplied with the monitor. You won’t need them all. You just simply have to choose whichever is best for your hardware setup. Once the power cable is fitted and switched on, the screen comes to life.

Features

The Philips 34E1C5600HE/00 is equipped with numerous ports on the underside of the overhanging panel on the reverse. They can be a bit fiddly to get to and required me to crouch down and screw my face up as I tried to familiarise myself with each port. Thankfully, the ports are labelled and the Quick Start Guide illustrates what each port is for so it wasn’t a major hassle. Here, you will find HDMI, Display Port (DP) and USB-C ports to connect to your PC/ laptop/ games console along with an arrangement of four USB-C ports one of which doubles up as a fast charger. To top it off, there is also a 3mm audio-out port to connect to headphones or speakers.

It’s obvious from the outset that this monitor is for those who require pixel-perfect detail. Sitting at a normal distance from the monitor, the curvature of the screen almost fills my field of vision. It commands my undivided attention at all times. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, playing popular gaming titles provides a heightened sense of immersion and reality that is unbeaten against flat screens. The extra screen real estate is a bonus when working with software that requires the use of multiple application palettes. The width of the screen is sufficiently large enough to allow you and a friend to enjoy multi-player games, if you so wish. Whether you’re piloting a spaceship in outer space or combatting mythical creatures in a mystical land, the 178º extra-wide viewing angle will give a multi-sensory experience that will mesmerisingly lure you into fantastical, imaginary multiverses.

I did however, notice a slight change in the depth of colours when compared with the display of my MacBook. Although the Philips 34E1C5600HE/00 has LowBlue mode which is a good safety feature, I feel that some users may need time to adjust to the colour gamut of this monitor. That’s not to say that this is a negative quality. It’s a matter of preference. The same can also be said with the webcam. While the image is sharp, the temperature of the colours may need some getting used to.

With a maximum resolution of 3440 x 1440 @ 100 Hz, I found the graphics to be sublimely smooth, detailed and indeed pixel-perfect. For gamers, the experience is further enhanced with a pair of high-quality stereo speakers built into the monitor. Speaking of which… connecting speakers to the audio-out port will (if you choose) provide a thunderous audio experience that your family and neighbours may not thank you for. You have been warned!

Of course, with all of this praise I am bestowing upon this monitor, you may wonder if there are any shortcomings with the Philips 34E1C5600HE/00. Well yes, there is. As a graphic designer, I do have to work with fonts and letters as part of my daily work schedule. I found that the display of fonts and large areas of type was below par on this monitor. When connected and compared with my MacBook, the difference is very noticeable. Characters look slightly blurred and almost appear to have a halo around them. It’s also apparent in the User Interface of the OS and applications. I think, over time, this could cause issues with users who may use the extra-wide monitor for spreadsheets and text-heavy documents.

Sum up

I’m not going to waffle on unnecessarily in my summary. Quite simply, if you’re looking to furnish your office or gaming zone with a 34” display, you must consider the Philips 34E1C5600HE/00. It’s not the cheapest or the most expensive option available (at the time of publishing) but as far as display monitors go, in my opinion, it’s one of the best out there.

Where to buy and cost

If you’re considering ramping up the spec of your office equipment with a seriously good widescreen monitor, you can find out more on the Philips 34E1C5600HE/00 here:

Or check out the monitor on Amazon here: