The Philips 328P8K is the second designer monitor to offer a stunning 8K resolution complemented with USB-C, and HDR 400. The product aims to cater to the needs of photographers, designers, and engineers for accurate colors and a massive view space with unrivaled clarity and detail. The Dell UP3218K costs an arm and a leg, and we’re glad that the Philips 328P8K which stems from a competitively priced portfolio of professional monitors will come to challenge it.
Philips 328P8K Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution: 7680 x 4320 8K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 6ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1300:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+21°)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.3 x 2, USB 3.0 x 4, Webcam, 3.5mm Audio Jacks
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 28.4″ x 24.3″ x 8.5”
Design and Features
The Philips 328P8K will come in a minimalist design with matte black textures and slim panel borders creating a functional and modern look. At the front, one part that stands out is the webcam which sits at the top bezel which is unique to this model at this point. The aesthetics aren’t final, but knowing Philips and their recent releases, they rarely steer away from their current formula which works.
From the looks of these preliminary images, the Philips 328P8K will also have a flexible stand which can adjust height, swivel, pivot, and tilt. Remember, Philips professional monitors like the 275P4VYKEB 5K monitor have class-leading ergonomic specs such as 7 inches of vertical travel. We’re sure they will apply all of the best possible functionalities, including VESA mounting options.
The Philips 328P8K’s unique feature will probably be its I/O layout, although the company only released limited data. This premium model will use two DisplayPort 1.3s in tandem to avoid using DP 1.4 with Display Streaming Compression 1.2 to guarantee excellent and accurate imaging qualities. A USB hub is also on the list, with your usual type-A slots and a USB-C receptacle for power and data transfer.
This addition makes the Philips 328P8K ideal as a dock for your USB-C laptop, and most probably it can deliver enough power for larger models. But, there’s a catch since displaying 8K at 60Hz via USB-C will require DisplayPort 1.4 alternate mode via USB-C. At the time of this writing, there is no available device which is capable of that requirement.
Display and Performance
The Philips 328P8K will carry a 32-inch IPS panel with an impressive 7680 x 4320 8K resolution, 1300:1 contrast ratio, and 400cd/m2 of brightness. This module is undoubtedly the same one the Dell UP3218K uses since there are no similar iterations from competitors save for the Sharp IGZO prototype. This formula makes this model excellent for designers and photographers, although video editors and professionals who work with low-resolution assets like bitmap graphics might struggle with scaling issues.
Since the Philips 328P8K shares specs with the Dell UP3218K, then it is safe to assume that its output capabilities are similar as well. The latter is capable of 98% DCI-P3 coverage and 100% in both Adobe RGB and sRGB, efficiently covering its prospective audience’s varying needs. Also, factory calibration and advanced settings are almost certain to be present, since, for the price, we aren’t expecting any less.
One of the peculiar specs the firm mentioned is HDR 400, which we think, is related to the Philips 328P8K’s 400cd/m2 of brightness. HDR specifications ask for at least 1000cd/m2 of peak brightness, but AMD’s FreeSync 2 promises that the former is sufficient to create HDR visuals. There is no mention of a FALD or edge-lit backlight, so we are assuming that this model’s programming will only offer an emulated output.
Although during the Philips 328P8K’s introduction, the brand failed to mention any form of Adaptive-Sync in the spec sheet. This product isn’t ideal for gaming due to its specs and the current series of GPUs’ limitations, but it would be nice to have something that can keep the frames together. An 8K resolution will still put a lot of strain on today’s most potent GPUS simply because they were not designed to handle the massive pixel count.
Thoughts on the Philips 328P8K
The Philips 328P8K represents the next step for the monitor market, but we are sure it will cost a huge chunk of cash. Its only competitor, the Dell UP3218K, was introduced for $5000 then reduced significantly, despite sitting solo at its niche. We are also hoping for an improved spec list that can work with HDR, which would enhance the value of the money Philips will ask for this model.
The brand says that the Philips 328P8K will reach retailers in Q1 or Q2 of 2018, although there were no concrete decisions or announcements made as of this time. A monitor at this price point deserves meticulous fine-tuning and testing especially since it can still be considered a pioneer of 8K screens.
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