Philips’ new 4K 27-inch IPS monitor is a USB-C-capable precision productivity package, but isn’t a true HDR panel.
Precision productivity. That’s the Philips 279C9’s core proposition. It’s a 27-inch 4K monitor that not only offers precise image quality thanks to its 4K native resolution and IPS panel. It also offers sharp styling and a feature set finely tuned for easing workflows. Highlights include USB-C connectivity complete with 65W of device charging and styling that’s both slick and compact, thanks to slim bezels. The Philips 279C9 is also HDR certified, supports FreeSync and comes complete with a fully adjustable stand, including rotation into portrait mode. In short, this is a very promising display from a productivity perspective. Priced around £449 in the UK (US pricing has yet to emerge, but we’d expect it to slip in just under $500), the Philips 279C9 is pretty competitively priced given its overall specification and feature set. The reality for now is that full USB-C functionality with device charging adds significant cost. There are cheaper 4K 27-inch IPS monitors. But they pretty much all lack USB-C. From a pure design perspective, the Philips 279C9 is an obvious win. For starters, the super-slim bezels on all four sides of the IPS panel ensure a slick and contemporary look, even if they don’t quite live up to Philip’s ‘Zero’ bezel sales pitch. The 279C9’s all-metal stand is a quality item, too, with the full gambit of adjustments including height, swivel, tilt and rotation into portrait mode. Overall, the impression is of a high-quality pro-grade device that if anything feels more expensive than its mid-market pricing. Philips has also had the 279C9 certified with the VESA DisplayHDR 400 standard. In truth, DisplayHDR 400 doesn’t imply true HDR capability. It neither requires any local backlight dimming capability nor makes any demands in terms of color coverage. Features-wise, the main attraction is the 27-inch IPS panel.
