Check Latest Price from Amazon
The Philips 27B2U6903 is a compelling option for business and professional users who want a crisp screen with class-leading functionality. It’s a 4K IPS monitor but carries useful features like Thunder 4 connectivity and a unique presence sensor. It’s not the cheapest 4K office monitor, but it’s reasonably priced for a TB4 display.
Philips 27B2U6903 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 4K UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C Thunderbolt 4 PD100W x 1, USB-C Thunderbolt Downstream x 1, USB-C PD15W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4, RJ45 x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 24.13” x 20.28” x 9.06″
- Weight: 15.76 lbs
Design and Features
The Philips 27B2U6903 employs a minimalist design that’s slightly different from the Philips 27B2U7903 mini-LED variant. The cabinet has a matte black finish that goes well with the silver stand’s aesthetic. The display is bezel-free, but the screen still has inner borders like most monitors.
It’s bigger than most office monitors, but it’s not gigantic by today’s standards. The whole device only needs 9.06 inches of depth from your desk, so it shouldn’t be too intrusive, even if you have large peripherals. It is also lighter than its sibling at 15.76 pounds, but that’s because it has a sleeker chassis that’s without the mini-LED unit.
We can consider this as a premium model even if its priced modestly compared to other Thunderbolt 4 monitors. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and you’d be hard-pressed to find some defects or unattractive features on the display. The included stand is firm and stable, but the screen can still slightly wobble if nudged at the corners.
One downside is the Philips 27B2U6903’s use of buttons for the OSD instead of a more convenient joystick. It takes more time to fine-tune the monitor with them since you will need a multitude of key presses to get to a specific setting. It’s not the end of the world, but premium models should include something better.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Pivoting was not included simply because this was not intended to be a secondary portrait monitor. You can use VESA mounts, but they are only necessary in some instances, like when your desk space is very limited.
The main highlight of the Philips 27B2U6903 is its connectivity layout, which includes an impressive array of features. You get DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 slots, and a 100-watt Thunderbolt 4 for modern devices like Mac Minis. There is also a 15-watt TB4 downstream port, a USB-C PD15W slot on the side, an RJ45 connector, and four other USB 3.2 slots for accessories.
The 3.5mm jack is a combo jack for input and output, so you can plug your headset into it and have sound input as well. It also includes a basic set of built-in speakers, but they only have 3 watts of power per channel. They are only good as a secondary or for background sounds, so we recommend a desktop set or headset for games and movies.
Display and Performance
The Philips 27B2U6903 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms minimum response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model doesn’t boast the HDR performance of the mini-LED version, but it is compatible with HDR inputs or content.
27-inch 4K monitors are prized for their extra sharpness which comes in handy for editing work, movies, and games. It may be a bit difficult to read and type on it, but you can always use scaling for that. 4K isn’t unreachable nowadays, although you will still need a powerful GPU to keep your framerates stable at 60 FPS.
The Philips 27B2U6903 covers more than 100% of sRGB and 90% of sRGB for decent colors in most applications. It is not the most vibrant, but it has an excellent default accuracy with a deltaE average of only 0.98. Most users won’t need to calibrate the monitor, including those who plan to use it for editing or content creation.
Using a colorimeter improved the dE average to 0.47, making it comparable with prosumer models, which cost twice or more. The downside is that you will need to buy the gadget to get comparable results. It’s only worth it if you are into color-critical work, but it’s impractical otherwise.
The Philips 27B2U6903’s backlight reached 367 cd/m2, so it can fight off a decent amount of glare. Its contrast failed to impress since it only reached 871:1 at 50% brightness. Its mini-LED counterpart is better in this regard, but it’s also considerably more expensive.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor issues due to backlight leaks at the top edge. They show up as clouding in some scenes, but it’s not as noticeable against a white background. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are better units out there.
The Philips 27B2U6903’s pixel response time is quite good for a 60Hz business monitor. Setting its overdrive to its Fast level helped in reducing blurs and ghosting, so you can get good mileage out of it. It’s not as fast as a 144Hz variant, but it’s manageable for something that’s limited by today’s standards.
The Philips 27B2U6903 supports Adaptive Sync so you can protect yourself from tearing and stuttering; VRR is essential for 4K gaming since it’s quite demanding to the point where your FPS might fluctuate drastically. Its input lag sits at 10ms at 60Hz, so it’s decent enough for games and anything in between.
Thoughts on the Philips 27B2U6903
The Philips 27B2U6903 is an excellent choice for users who want a reliable business monitor for their Thunderbolt 4-equipped devices. It’s reasonably priced, but it offers top-shelf performance when it comes to color accuracy. You get way more features for the money you spend, so it is an excellent buy.
However, it’s far from perfect since it also has a few limitations, like its poor contrast and limited HDR functionality. It could also use some premium features like a joystick for the OSD or a better stand, but those are minor complaints. It’s a fantastic buy overall for users who want a robust and flexible monitor option.
Pros:
- Reasonable Price
- Great Color Performance
- Thunderbolt 4 Connectivity
Cons:
- Poor Uniformity
- Limited Contrast
About the Author: Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
Leave a Reply