Philips Evnia 34M2C8600-34 Inch OLED WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor, 175 Hz, Ambiglow, HDR400, FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync Comp. (3440x1440, 0.1 ms GtG, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, USB Hub) gray/white

The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 is a brilliant OLED monitor that gets unfairly ignored by top gaming and tech reviewers in favor of Alienware, ASUS, and other big-name brands. The problem? Those alternatives often come with higher price tags, fewer features, or missing essentials like built-in speakers. This monitor deserves far more recognition, especially as a first entry into OLED gaming displays.Why It’s Perfect for First-Time OLED BuyersIf you’re making the jump to OLED, this is one of the best value-packed options out there. Unlike many competitors, it balances premium features without unnecessary markups. You get:✔️ Stunning QD-OLED visuals with perfect blacks and vivid colors✔️ 175Hz refresh rate & 0.1ms response time for ultra-smooth motion✔️ Built-in speakers (missing on many competitors)✔️ USB-C & multiple ports for easy connectivityGaming Performance – A Visual TreatI’m running this monitor with a Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 4070 12GB and a Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, paired with a Gigabyte B550 AORUS Pro AX motherboard. With this setup, games look absolutely stunning, and performance is buttery smooth. Some standout experiences:🎮 Cyberpunk 2077 – Neon lights and ray tracing look breathtaking🎮 Red Dead Redemption 2 – The landscapes feel richer and more immersive🎮 Rainbow Six Siege – Smooth, fast-paced action with no ghostingPerfect for Multiplayer & Competitive GamingFor those into multiplayer shooters, MOBAs, or esports, the high refresh rate, low input lag, and G-Sync/FreeSync support make this monitor a top-tier choice. The ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio also gives you a wider field of view, which can be an advantage in competitive gaming.The Verdict – An Underrated Powerhouse✅ Pros:✔️ Best OLED for the price – cheaper than Alienware & ASUS✔️ Perfect for single-player & multiplayer gaming✔️ Great for first-time OLED buyers✔️ Built-in speakers & solid connectivity options❌ Cons:❌ OLED burn-in precautions still apply❌ Overlooked by major reviewers (unfair bias)

Of the three monitors in this class, competing with the Alienware and the Samsung, the Philips is priced far cheaper and at similar spec. This made me a bit wary as I got it for £570 which is nearly half the price of a undiscounted Samsung G7. However, I'm really impressed by the Philips. It was packed well and comes with all the cables you would need for any setup and includes a vesa adaptor which fit easily to my desk arm. Only downside is that it's a little wobbly of your desk is unstable.The build quality and finish makes it looks and feels like a quality product and I like the gloss film on the display. It's white too so goes with my all white setup.The brightness can be quite dark in some games and it took time for my eyes to adjust to the change. Still unsure if this is just an OLED thing or if I need to tamper with settings more. Either way, most games look great and the depth of blacks was hugely noticeable coming from ips displays.I never paid a huge attention to response times however I've not really noticed much of a difference. Dunno if that's good or bad but I don't play a huge amount of FPS games anyway so I don't really have the eye for it.I was expecting a dip in frames due to the increase in resolution from 27 inch 1440p but everything I've played to date has had no real noticeable drop in performance.The panel care software which prompts a pixel refresh every 4 hours is nowhere near as big a problem as folk make it out to be. Takes a few minutes and you can pause and reactive it whenever it suits you.Overall it's been great and has drawn me back into gaming. If I had bought a £999 Samsung and got similar/mildly better results I think I'd be suffering from some real buyers remorse but at the price point I got the Philips it for, I really have no complaints.