The 349X7FJEW ($799.99) is a mouthful of a model number. All you really need to know is that this display is part of Philip's X-Line Brilliance family of monitors. This panel, in particular, offers an ultra-wide window of content, 60Hz refresh rate, 3440 x 1440 resolution, and FreeSync technology. Taking note of these highlights makes you assume that this display would be useful for work and play, and you'd be absolutely correct.
It's no 4K screen, nor does it offer anything above 60Hz. But this isn't meant to be attached to a dedicated gaming rig or be the best screen on the market. Let's take a look at just how good this panel is and whether it's worth your time and money.
Philips 349X7FJEW specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 3440 x 1440 |
| Size | 34 inches (21:9 ratio) |
| Panel | VA |
| Response time | Four milliseconds |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Ports | Two HDMI DisplayPort Four USB 3.0 |
| Sync technology | FreeSync |
| Brightness | 300 |
| Speakers | Yes (two 5W) |
Clean design
Philips opted for a glossy white finish for the chassis with minimal bezels on the front. There's also a mixture of silver and chrome on the stand. It really is a stunning display. The smaller bezels and lack of fancy LED lighting make the content displayed on-screen pop. It's also curved, which is handy for wrapping around your eyes for an enhanced visual experience.
This is aided by the ultra-wide panel and high resolution. As an added bonus (and should be expected due to the price) there is 100 mm x 100 mm VESA mount support. This is great news for those who have their own mounts configured.
As this is a wide panel, ambient lighting should have less of an impact on viewability. That said, should you have the display positioned in such a way that a window or other light source shines directly onto the screen, you'll notice it immediately.
One thing I'm not a fan of is the branding, which is located on a transparent tab underneath the main panel. I would have preferred to see this on the bottom of the display, or the stand, though I do believe some will like it due to an LED shining through the plastic.
Professional performance
With a resolution of 3440 x 1440, there's plenty of space to fire up as many programs as your PC can handle. This is ideal for high workloads and sets this panel apart from less expensive monitors, offering advanced features and multitasking capabilities for professionals.
And since this is a "professional" display, Philips has used an eight-bit VA panel with a solid contrast ratio of 3000:1, which essentially helps improve the quality of what's displayed. Throw in 32 inches of screen real estate and this ultra-wide display is ready for anything.
For color reproduction, the 349X7FJEW manages 117 percent of sRGB as well as 80 percent of Adobe RGB. Brightness also isn't too shabby, with colors really coming to life after some time fooling around with on-screen options.
Responsive gaming is also possible. We have a refresh rate of only 60Hz, but that shouldn't matter to those who don't really have the hardware to push AAA games at 1440p. AMD's FreeSync technology replaces V-Sync and helps to improve things in-game by reducing stutter and screen tear.
Since this is a VA panel, fast-moving objects in games and movies aren't as fluid as some IPS or TN panels, but with a fast mode capable of just four milliseconds response time, this is a great little display for launching a game here and there. Interestingly, Philips also included a SmartImage Game feature, which allows for the selection of pre-calibrated configurations to better suit different game genres. This will alter dynamic contrast, sharpness, brightness, and more.
Lastly, the flicker-free operation allows for extended sessions without causing eye fatigue or other issues. The image quality on the display is excellent and games look stunning.
The Philips 349X7FJEW has an array of connectivity options, which include a single HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort 1.2. There are also four USB 3.0 ports, one with fast-charging, and a headphone jack for audio passthrough. The two 5W speakers are okay but not brilliant. You'll want to use headphones or an external speaker setup.
Philips 349X7FJEW review conclusion
Overall, the 349X7FJEW by Philips is a solid option for professionals looking to pick up a more affordable ultra-wide display. At around $799.99, it's not the cheapest monitor around, but for what you're getting out-the-box, you'll have little to complain about. The design is gorgeous, and the VA panel is capable of excellent color reproduction and intense gaming, not to mention the FreeSync technology and other useful features included.
Should you have a workstation that doubles as a gaming machine, this is certainly worth shortlisting.
