When it comes to gaming monitors, there are many important parameters to consider, which often depend on a number of factors, such as the type of games we play, our preferences as gamers and, of course, our budget. Then other factors come into play that can tip the balance and are perhaps less objective, such as the design of the device that we will live with for many hours and that will be part of our gaming ecosystem, in which there is also aesthetics. important..

When unpacking the monitor in this test: Philips Gaming 27M1N5200PA, we find a monitor that is easy to assemble and that we can admire on the table in a few minutes. Going back to the aesthetic part we mentioned, it is a unique design, especially considering its base, which has a stylized construction with a hexagonal shape, which subtly conveys the gaming aesthetic, maybe a little retro, while taking up little space on the table , to make room for other accessories.

The base, which is hidden by the monitor, also has a stylized and slanted design that replicates the same keys as on the base. This model is made entirely of dark gray metal, while the leg is a slightly lighter color. Due to this material, the structure seems to blend into the panel when it is off, with a very attractive effect that seems ideal for any setting. At the same time, it is a discreet and sober enough monitor so that it does not look out of place in the workplace or in mixed use.

By circling the monitor, we discover the connector area, discreetly located next to the foot hook area and facing down. There are all kinds of connections to cover any need, with two HDMI 2.0 connectors, DisplayPort 1.4 (both HDMI and DP compatible with HDCP 2.2) and plenty of USB connectors. It has USB-B for data upload only and four USB 3.2 connectors with data download and two of them compatible with BC 1.2. We won’t need another HUB to have more ports on the PC. However, no traces of USB-C connectors (which are not common even with gaming monitors).

Great refresh rate and frequency

But the most important thing that this Philips monitor brings is undoubtedly in the specifications. It has an IPS panel capable of a refresh rate of up to 240 Hz and a spectacular response time. Sub-millisecond data is rare, and this Philips monitor gives a time that cuts it in half: 0.5 milliseconds. This model is compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia’s G-SYNC to help synchronize the graphics card and screen (which is very necessary at this level of performance).

In our color reproduction performance tests, they confirmed that it covers the entire sRGB spectrum with good color fidelity. Keep in mind that this isn’t a designer monitor, so color isn’t its strong point, and it actually only covers 87% of the Adobe RGB color spectrum. In terms of brightness and contrast, the values ​​of 400 cd/m² and 100 to 1 are in line with what is expected from a quality IPS panel.

But the real challenge of this monitor is to put it to the “real fire” test, and for that you have to take into account that you need good hardware to sweat it out. It is true that the Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 is not very high and this puts it at a disadvantage for some games where image detail is more important, such as strategy games, but this model 27M1N5200PA from Philips Gaming is what frantic action is looking for, and this is the place , where it especially shines.

In all action game tests, when adjusting the refresh rate to the maximum, above 165 Hs, we recorded very high fluidity, with no ghosting or other image defects, regardless of how frenetic the movement on the screen was. This, on the one hand, allows you to enjoy the game as if it were a movie, even more smoothly than some of them, I would say, and on the other hand, to have much more precise control over what is happening on the screen, which is something essential. for players.

It is also worth noting the usual option for most monitors of this brand to adjust the display options through the on-screen menus. We can adjust more parameters easily and intuitively, although we will rarely need to in reality due to the aforementioned compatibility with the synchronization systems of the two main graphics card manufacturers, which will do it for us.

Conclusion

In short, this Philips 27M1N5200PA is a monitor focused primarily on ensuring that you don’t miss a single frame of action in our craziest games, with a very high refresh rate and a truly remarkable response time, which we were able to verify on the other hand. that really fit. A large number of connections with HDCP 2.2 compatibility and the incorporation of synchronization systems of major brands and even a simple mounting system make this model a gaming monitor that you can enjoy right out of the box in a few minutes. It also has an affordable price and an aesthetic that we liked a lot.