Increased competition in the OLED gaming monitor market is gradually translating to lower prices. Philips, having previously launched premium OLED solutions under its Evnia brand, is now preparing to augment the range with more affordable alternatives.
Despite seeing solid year-on-year growth – Philips reckons quarterly Evnia shipments have doubled since launch – lower prices are viewed as key to maintaining that momentum.
Entirely new models in the 27in and 31.5in categories will arrive later this year, but in the first instance, Philips is launching pared-back variants of existing panels.
The 49M2C8900L, arriving next month at €999, carries the same 49in ultrawide form factor as the 49M2C8900 already on the market, but drops maximum refresh rate from 240Hz to 144Hz in order to shave €200 off the price tag.
Resolution and response time remain unchanged at 5120×1440 and 0.03ms GtG, respectively, as does colour coverage, rated at an impressive 99.3% of DCI-P3. Though the bulk of features are intact – DTS speakers and 90W USB-C with KVM remain present – overall connectivity has been downgraded with HDMI dropping from 2.1 to 2.0 as a cost-cutting measure.
Following on from the refreshed 49-incher, the 34M2C6500 will launch in June. Touting a 3440×1440 resolution and 175Hz refresh rate, this 34in QD-OLED ultrawide may look and sound familiar. There’s good reason as it’s effectively the existing 34M2C8600 sans KVM and USB-C port. Jettisoning that extra layer of flexibility drops the MSRP from €899 to €799.
Whether the cull in features is a worthwhile trade-off is a case of personal preference, but we welcome the choice. And if you’re still unsure of what to look for in an OLED monitor, Philips is offering extra peace of mind by confirming all Evnia OLED screens now include a three-year warranty with pixel burn-in cover as standard.