Introduction The Philips 45B1U6900C is a curved 44.5-inch monitor that offers a solution to replacing dual- or triple-monitor setups with a single screen. This review will explore the monitor’s pros and cons, image quality, and overall verdict.
Pros:
- Large screen space
- Abundance of ports
- High color accuracy
Cons:
- Expensive
- Limited appeal to certain users
Philips 45B1U6900C Monitor Review: Exploring Image Quality The monitor’s wide screen space presents challenges in windows management. Philips addresses this with its SmartControl software, which assists in creating complex window patterns. However, for simpler setups, Windows’ Snap tool suffices.
With a resolution of 5,120 x 1,440, this monitor allows users to connect two computers and share pixels between them. Furthermore, it supports picture-by-picture (PBP) and picture-in-picture (PIP), as well as a KVM switch. Despite being a curved screen, the Philips 45B1U6900C does not compromise on image quality, with vibrant whites and strong colors. The default mode provides an extensive gamut coverage, including 83% of the Adobe RGB gamut and 92% of DCI-P3. Although it did not reach the promised peak brightness of 450cd/m2 in tests, its 437cd/m2 brightness is commendable. The panel also boasts DisplayHDR 400 certification, although users should not expect optimal HDR performance from this brightness level. Additionally, the built-in 5W speakers offer adequate loudness but lack in treble and bass quality.
Notably, the monitor provides convenient placement of USB-A ports, a 3.5mm jack, USB-C downstream port, and even an Ethernet port at the rear. The USB-C input can deliver up to 100W to connected laptops, making it an excellent docking monitor.
Efficient power management options are available, including the LightSensor, which adjusts panel brightness based on ambient light levels, and the PowerSensor, which enables standby mode when no activity is detected. SmartImage options, such as Office, Photo, Movie, Game, are also present, with EasyRead being a particularly useful mode for focus on text-based tasks.
There is a SmartUniformity mode to address brightness variation across the panel; however, it did not yield noticeable improvements during testing. Users engaging in color-sensitive work should align their tasks with the center of the screen, as the far left corner exhibited a 25% dimmer brightness.
Verdict on the Philips 45B1U6900C Monitor The sturdy and well-made stand supports the substantial weight of the panel effectively. Despite its limited range of movement compared to smaller screens, the height adjustment of 150mm offers flexibility. The monitor assembly does exhibit slight wobbling when adjusting the OSD, but overall, its build quality is commendable.
However, the main drawback of the Philips 45B1U6900C monitor is its price of £940. Given the presence of excellent curved 34-inch monitors like the HP E34m G4, which costs £530, potential buyers need a strong justification for spending an additional £400 for the extra screen size.
Specifications:
- Screen type: VA panel
- Screen size: 44.5 inches
- Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440
- Ports: DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (100W power delivery), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 4-port USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 hub USB-B gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm jack
- Dimensions (WDH): 1,085 x 238 x 365-515mm