Philips 349X7FJEW Curved Monitor Review: Attractive Design, Strong Performance

MMD, the brand licensing partner for Philips monitors, presents the latest addition to Curved Displays: the 34-inch Philips 349X7FJEW monitor. Its 1800R curvature offers the viewer the ultimate viewing experience and offers plenty of space thanks to the edge-to-edge glass. And you can use it – because the Philips 349X7FJEW is a multitasking talent!

The sRGB colour spectrum is covered by 117.3 percent and thus leaves nothing to be desired for video and photo editing. Thanks to the Philips MultiView, two image sources can be simultaneously connected to the widescreen monitor. So you can choose between two sections of the same size or one of the image sources as a picture-in-picture.

And of course, the LowBlue mode should not be missing either, which reduces the short-wave blue light components that can lead to rapid eye fatigue and even reduced vision. Practical is the integrated hub, which makes an additional external USB hub superfluous. Various devices can be connected directly to the Philips 349X7FJEW monitor or USB devices can be quickly charged.

Specifications of the Philips 349X7FJEW

The scope of delivery includes the Philips 349X7FJEW monitor, the required cables, a driver CD and a warranty card.

Design of the Philips 349X7FJEW

For its size, the Philips 349X7FJEW still looks very elegant and slim. This is ensured by the elegant white housing, a matching silver monitor support and a thin screen bezel of just a few millimetres. This edge-to-edge technology provides the largest possible image size with the least distraction. This predestines the Philips 349X7FJEW as a multi-display or for tiling applications such as games or graphic design. Its radius of curvature of 1,800 millimetres causes a greater curvature of the surface and is intended to immerse you, the user, even more in the image. The stand can be adjusted in height but cannot be rotated and has no pivot function.

The menu is clear and user-friendly and can be operated with a joystick located on the right rear panel. I find this operation much more pleasant than the many touch buttons on other monitors.

Ultra Wide Color

Formerly known under the name UltraColor, Ultra Wide Color technology stands for a broader color spectrum. The phosphor layers used here extend the colour spectrum of the W-LED blacklights. The colour range includes

• natural greens
• deep blue tones or
• vivid reds.

The NTSC according to CIE1931 is covered with 99.8 %, the 349X7FJEW with 117.3 % exceeds the sRGB colour spectrum.

Philips 349X7FJEW – Features

Although the maximum luminance is only 257 cd/m², it is still absolutely sufficient even in bright rooms, as our test has shown. The VA panel provides an excellent contrast ratio of 2,307:1, so the Philips 349X7FJEW monitor delivers an image with rich blacks and vibrant colours. In addition, the color temperature with a value of 6,339 K and the color accuracy come close to the ideal values.

The Philips 349X7FJEW leaves nothing to be desired in terms of ergonomics. The monitor cannot be rotated, but can be tilted five degrees forward and 20 degrees backward. The height can be adjusted by up to 15 centimetres. Thus the screen can be aligned optimally on the desk.

The range of video interfaces is neat with two HDMI ports (1.4 and 2.0) and a further display port (1.2). The Philips 349X7FJEW scores points with a USB 3.0 hub that provides four ports. The two 5-watt stereo speakers provide a good sound experience, even though I can only recommend the use of an external sound system or headsets, as always.

Features of the Philips 349X7FJEW monitor

The VA panel covers about 117 percent of the sRGB color palette and has a standard color spectrum of 99.8 percent (NTSC). The UltraWide 21 : 9 image format provides plenty of space to display multiple objects side by side. Not only gamers and designers enjoy the razor-sharp images and vivid colours. The response time of 4 ms enables even fast-moving images to be displayed optimally. The Philips 349X7FJEW is suitable for any professional application, but is also a pleasure for the home user.

The viewing angle is 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically. Thanks to MultiView, two image sources can be displayed simultaneously on the monitor. They can be displayed next to each other in two equally sized areas or as picture-in-picture.

AMD FreeSync technology provides a smooth gaming experience. A problem with gaming is a checked game playback or disturbed frames. With the new Philips 349X7FJEW monitor these problems are a thing of the past. The AMD FreeSync technology of the monitor offers:

• interference-free, smooth playback independent of frame rate
• quick refresh of the screen without interruptions
• high refresh rate of 100 Hz

With the ultra-high resolution (3440 x 1440) MultiView Monitor 349X7FJEW two devices can be connected simultaneously and displayed on the monitor. This gives you the ultimate connectivity at home or in the office. While on the left side you can see the latest news, on the right side you can write a text on your laptop.

Studies have shown that short-wave blue light rays from LED screens are very harmful to the eyes and can impair vision. The intelligent technology of Philips LowBlue mode reduces blue light and prevents fatigue and long-term damage.

Simple operation

Using the OSD joystick on the back of the monitor, you can navigate through the OSD menu, which can be displayed in 21 languages. The joystick simultaneously turns off the screen if you hold it down for three seconds. Further functions of the joystick:

• switch between the SmartImage image defaults
• Control the volume of the built-in 5-watt speakers
• Change the input selection

The operation of the Philips 349X7FJEW monitor is simple and intuitive thanks to the OSD joystick.

I noticed the status LED below the monitor as annoying. The illuminated Philips lettering is very large and flashes in standby, so whoever has the monitor in the bedroom will always have to switch the monitor off completely, for which you have to hold the joystick for 3 seconds each time.

Conclusion on the Philips 349X7FJEW Review

The Philips 349X7FJEW features a sleek design that looks sleek and elegant thanks to Edge-to-Edge technology. Thanks to its 1800 mm radius of curvature, you can immerse yourself in what’s happening on the screen. The VA panel provides a strong contrast ratio with rich colours.

Ultra Wide Color technology provides a wide colour spectrum with natural greens, vibrant reds and deep blues. These are optimally accentuated thanks to the high-resolution 3440 x 1440 quad HD Ultra Wide images and a viewing angle of 178 horizontal and vertical.

Thanks to AMD FreeSync and a high refresh rate, the monitor is also very suitable for gamers. I was surprised that 100 Hz were adjustable, but only 60 Hz are mentioned in the data sheet. Here MMD seems to have an error in the data sheet which has a positive effect on the consumer.

Connections are sufficiently available with two HDMI connections, a DisplayPort and two audio inputs and outputs. Thanks to the OSD joystick and the Smart Control software, intuitive operation is guaranteed. The integrated 4x USB hub and the height-adjustable stand deserve special mention. In addition to the limited viewing angle, the average power consumption is a disadvantage.

The price for the Philips 349X7FJEW is about 800 Euro at the time of the test. Thus, the monitor moves in the midfield of this monitor format, including the not advertised refresh rate of 100 Hz, but the monitor is cheaper compared to the competition, which starts at 870 Euro (but also offers G-Sync and not FreeSync).