If your gaming rig takes the form of a high-end PC or one of the latest consoles, an 4K monitor is the best choice to show it off. Of course, you can go for a big-screen television, but if you need a desktop solution, a 27-inch 16:9 flat panel is the ideal shape and size. With so many examples in the category, comparisons become tiny aspects of performance and image quality. The Philips Momentum 279M1RV delivers on all counts.
Gaming performance comes down to frame rate and the quality of a monitor’s overdrive. A 4K screen will need a lot of processing power behind it to top 100fps. If your system can do this, the only consideration is overdrive, AKA blur reduction. To date, only the Dough Spectrum D03 and the 279M1RV have truly stood out in this area. They refresh as fast as any other 144 Hz screen, but when viewing moving content, both better maintain motion resolution than anything else. The Philips doesn’t offer a backlight strobe, but it doesn’t need one to deliver superb gaming performance with both FreeSync and G-Sync systems.
In the color accuracy department, the 279M1RV is unmatched. I measured perfect color and grayscale and near-perfect gamma right out of the box. Calibration was completely unnecessary. There are many much more expensive displays that can’t make that claim.
Another standout feature is the Ambiglow LED system. Not only can it provide a flashy light show, but it can also serve as a bias light which has a real impact on contrast and color saturation. I wish it had a few more brightness settings suited to darkened rooms, but in my space, it provided a significant enhancement to the experience.
And don’t forget the tank-like build quality. The Philips Momentum 279M1RV has a premium and high-quality feel with rugged components that will likely outlast multiple systems.
If you’ve scored a high-end PC or console and only a 4K monitor will do, the 279M1RV is among the very best I’ve reviewed to date. Definitely check it out.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors