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Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: two-minute review
In my experience, I wasn't able to fully enjoy the Ambilight feature as much as I expected given the length of the display (which may be in addition to how immersive it is), and yes, I tried it without another monitor mounted on top of it and came to the same conclusion. It's also worth noting that the Ambilight feature may sometimes not display accurate colors.
This doesn't mean it's bad by any means, but it did make me realize that I would probably enjoy this feature a lot more on a 34-inch 1440p or 42-inch screen. 4K Philips Evnia models. It gets to the point where you wonder if the 32:9 aspect ratio is too big, but ultimately, if that's not a deal-breaker for you, you'll just love this display.
However, there is a more positive aspect: playing in games such as Call of Duty or Battlefield 6 on this display gives you the added advantage of allowing you to use a 240Hz refresh rate. If you have hardware that can support high frame rates, you'll benefit from smooth gameplay and a gray-to-gray (GtG) response time of 0.03ms, which minimizes ghosting and pixel blur.
This doesn't just apply to multiplayer first-person shooters, as this is an exceptional display in story-based action games that really makes you feel like you're in the middle of the action. The expanded view you get on ultra-wide displays as such should not be underestimated as it provides a cinematic experience to get lost in, and I felt that way in many of the single-player games I tested on this display.
The 49M2C8900 is another display that highlights how much better OLED is compared to regular LED or even mini-LED monitors. Of course, mini LED displays can provide higher and more consistent brightness levels, especially since ABL is not disappointing. However, OLED is simply unbeatable when it comes to deep black levels, and you can see that in my Wallpaper Engine screenshots below – truly amazing.
Just a point to make: if you're a big fan of horror games that take full advantage of dark environments, or even games with constant color changes like Kronos New Dawnthis display will be a lot of fun. Images don't do it justice and some might even suggest there is severe blur or overexposure, but that's not the case with this display.
It gets even better when Ambilight works at its best, pairing perfectly with jump scares or sequences in games where colors change quickly on the screen, adding extra possibilities for an immersive visual experience. I can definitely see it appealing to those who were underwhelmed by Ambilight when purchasing this monitor, unlike me who was underwhelmed by its inconsistencies.
Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: price and availability
- How much does it cost? 1500 US dollars (retail) / £799 / AU$1,799
- When is it available? Available now (first released 2023)
- Where can I get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia.
The Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 is an expensive ultrawide monitor that retails in the UK for $1,500 and around £1,649.99, which would immediately be a deal breaker for me and many others. However, it's available from 2023, so prices have inevitably dropped sharply, meaning you can find it at much lower prices – £799 (about $1,050) to be exact – with more active sales the price drops even further.
Is it worth the retail price it used to be? No, and it doesn't affect the quality of the display because $1,500 is a tough price to pay for any gaming monitor. However, given the current price, I can easily recommend it to anyone who is adamant about experiencing the ultra-wide QD-OLED gaming capabilities with the added performance benefits.
However, it is worth noting that if you are planning to purchase this display, it is better to act quickly as it can be quite difficult to find it in various online stores. It looks like it hasn't been discontinued yet, but the new Philips Evnia monitors are likely to be on the horizon and will grab everyone's attention.
Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: specifications
Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: performance and design
Again, on a more consistent note, I was happy with the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 as it gave me everything I needed for almost all of my games (except those that don't support 32:9 aspect ratio).
It's simple really: if immersion is your top priority and you've never used a display like this, I have no doubt that this is exactly what you need. I must admit that I am an ultrawide screen enthusiast, so I have an element of bias towards these displays. However, if anything, this ultimately makes me more critical and nitpicky – but aside from the Ambilight and ABL issues, I hardly have any complaints about this display.
When ABL isn't an issue, you really notice how great the high brightness is for gaming, and thanks to the QD-OLED panel, I didn't have any issues with any ghosting or blurring that you might find on a mini LED VA monitor like Mobile Pixels 34″ Ultra Wide Monitor I've looked into it.
It's also worth noting that while this monitor is FreeSync Premium Pro certified, it supports G-Sync, so both AMD And Nvidia GPU users will be able to enjoy the gaming experience without screen tearing.
Speaking of GPUs, it's worth investing in a powerful GPU; To give you an idea, I used the Asus TUF RTX 4080 Super OC GPU (second GPU after PTX 4090), and the 5120×1440 screen resolution gives it a run for its money in a confusing Cyberpunk 2077The frame rate dropped to the 50 to 60 fps limit with ray tracing enabled and frame generation disabled.
From a design perspective, the Ambilight feature deserves a lot of attention when it works smoothly, and, if you'll excuse my personal issues with the width of these ultrawide monitors, I'm sure many others will appreciate the color changes and effects even more than I do.
I was not able to use the monitor mount, and the stand that comes with the kit is functional, but I would recommend buying a desktop mount, since the base of the stand takes up a decent amount of space on the table – and the screen itself is already quite wide, taking up most of the available space.
Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: performance and OSD menu
However, it doesn't just shine in games: performance was the main point when testing this display. If you think the 32:9 aspect ratio will be detrimental to your work-from-home experience, think again, because I was very pleased with what the 49M2C8900 had to offer.
I often multitask while working, leaving multiple browser tabs open and maybe some videos playing in the background, and this monitor is designed to do just that. Yes, there are readability issues that you'll find on a wide variety of OLED displays with borders around text, but that's never been a major issue for me, and that wasn't the case with this display.
While my review unit didn't come with a remote control, the addition of one is a godsend, and another aspect that I feel monitor manufacturers largely overlook. I don’t have a remote control in my hands at all, but I don’t need it, because I know that anything other than constantly reaching for the power button and OSD control behind the display is much more convenient.
The OSD itself has many tabs with settings for Ambilight (under the Ambiglow tab), SmartImage, and other input and sound options. In addition to allowing remote control or OSD control on the back of the monitor, Philips Evnia Precision Center software works wonders as a replacement, allowing you to change settings using your mouse and keyboard.
Is it worth buying Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED?
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Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED: also consider
How I tested Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED
I've been using the Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 QD-OLED for just over a month for both work and play, testing a variety of games and movies to evaluate the screen's performance and Ambilight color capabilities.
It's a 32:9 aspect ratio display, so multiplayer shooters are great Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have been tested to take full advantage of the screen and improve the perspective of on-screen activities. It's incredibly ideal for games that rely on instant responsiveness and better visibility into peripherals, and that's one of the main things I keep noticing.
After using several displays (especially QD-OLED), I was able to distinguish the pros and cons of these displays compared to regular LED or mini-LED, so I am confident that this is one of the best displays you will ever find on the market.
