Work-Play Balance: Philips 27E1N1600AE Monitor Review
Like many creatives, my gaming room setup doubles as my work-from-home office space. To achieve that true work-play balance, I got myself a budget monitor from Philips that I now use exclusively with my MacBook Pro for more admin-related tasks.
Low-Blue-Light Mode: A Game-Changer for Eye Health
One of my favourite settings on this monitor is the low-blue-light mode, which helps to combat eye strain caused by staring at screens for long periods. I suffer from pretty much all of the symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS), including eye strain, headaches, poor posture, and general irritability – which I’ve been trying to work on (though I’m not sure if my blue-light-blocking glasses are doing much).
Multi-Display Productivity
Most of the work I do on my MacBook Pro involves article writing, managing spreadsheets, replying to emails, and the occasional photo editing while listening to Spotify. I find it much easier to stay organized with all of these tasks when working on multiple displays. I only needed something simple, but I got more than I asked for with this monitor, including built-in 2W stereo speakers (though the sound quality is a bit tinny).
Design and Performance
The Philips 27E1N1600AE is the latest addition to the company’s E-line family of business monitors, which usually I wouldn’t consider purchasing. But this monitor has really surprised me and offers great value for the quality and performance that you get with it. For example, it has a 100Hz refresh rate, which is great for both eye comfort and watching videos, while the IPS QHD panel is boosted with HDR for vivid colours.
Comparison with Other Monitors
I recently wrote about my new 4K gaming monitor that I’ve been using to play Marvel Rivals, and how at $400 – I thought it was a steal. In comparison, this budget Philips monitor is nothing flashy, primarily marketed as a business display, but has a very stylish all-black design that looks modern, so you’d never suspect that it wasn’t a gaming monitor when included in my triple-monitor gaming setup (see images below).
Conclusion
In short, I highly recommend this monitor for anyone who deals with a lot of admin work: emails, spreadsheets – you get it. Sometimes less is more, and it’s better to have a monitor calibrated for plain text than one that’s riddled with chromatic aberration. It’s definitely not a gaming monitor, though I did try it out with my PS5 – but it’s perfect for almost everything else, and super affordable too.
FAQs
Q: Is this monitor suitable for gaming?
A: No, this monitor is primarily marketed as a business display and is not suitable for gaming.
Q: What is the refresh rate of this monitor?
A: The Philips 27E1N1600AE has a 100Hz refresh rate, which is great for both eye comfort and watching videos.
Q: Is this monitor suitable for working with multiple displays?
A: Yes, this monitor is perfect for working with multiple displays, as it allows for easy multitasking and organization.
Q: Is the sound quality good on this monitor?
A: The built-in 2W stereo speakers are decent, but the sound quality is a bit tinny.
