Pros:
- Excellent Factory Calibration
- Super Wide Screen for Gaming and Productivity
- Useful Add-on Features
- USB-C Connectivity
Cons:
- Prone to Blurring
- Expensive
The Philips 439P9H offers an expansive, super ultrawide screen with a massive resolution, high refresh rates, and overall excellent quality. Models like this are fantastic for productivity, but the added peripheral view coupled with a bit more headroom in speed makes it a very capable gaming display for enthusiasts. The Philips 439P9H is quite an expensive monitor, but can its flexibility and awe-inspiring specifications make up for the cost?
Philips 439P9H Specifications
- Screen Size: 44Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 1200 DFHD
- Aspect Ratio: 32:10
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 100Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 450 cd/m²
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 5 Watts)
- Stand: Height –Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- VESA: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4x 2, HDMI 2.0 x 1,USB-C x 2 x 1, USB-C x 2, USB 3.2 x 4, 3.5mm Jack
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 41.65” x 18.11” x 11.93”
- Weight: 31.68 lbs
Design and Features
The Philips 439P9H comes from the brand’s P-line, so it isn’t surprising that the model looks like its dressed for business more than gaming. The chassis has a matte black finish paired with a gunmetal stand that hints at sophistication. The display is bezel-free on three sides which makes it look even bigger than it already is.
The Philips 439P9H is a massive monitor, requiring as much as a foot of depth and around three and a half feet of width for it to sit comfortably. The 1800r curve adds to the total heft of the monitor depth-wise, but it’s mostly the stand’s large base that takes up most of the necessary real estate. The device when fully assembled is also quite heavy, so be sure to enlist help when you are trying to lift the monitor up.
The monitor stands stable and it doesn’t bear any cosmetic defects upon unboxing, indicating that a rigorous quality control regimen was applied. The plastics feel thick and sturdy, while there are no sharp, uncut seams or gaps on the chassis. It’s also difficult to think that the Philips 439P9H’s construction quality was poor since its so heavy and feels as if it’s built like a tank.
One thing we dislike about the Philips 439P9H’s design is its use of OSD buttons instead of a joystick. Each key is correctly and visibly labeled on the front at the bottom bezel, but it can sometimes get confusing and take numerous presses to get to a specific sub-menu.
There is also a built-in 2MP webcam on the Philips 439P9H along with its top bezel which pops up or down as needed. This add-on is fantastic if you do a lot of conference calls, while streams can get by with its decent recording quality. Privacy won’t be a concern since the gadget automatically deactivates when it is in its stowed position.
The Philips 439P9H has a flexible stand with a wireframe base that offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments. The mechanism offers plenty of adjustment for a monitor like this, especially since you only have to sit at the exact center to enjoy its benefits. You can opt for a VESA mount if you could use the extra space, but it adds cost to the total.
The Philips 439P9H also comes with a variety of connectivity that will please enthusiasts and prosumers. Video inputs include two DisplayPort 1.4 connectors, an HDMI 2.0b port, and two USB-C slots which support DP Alt Mode and provide up to 90 Watts of power. You also get a slew of USB 3.0 receptacles for your peripherals, enabling the device to accommodate most of your peripherals.
There is also a pair of 5-watt speakers which can get decently loud as far as built-ins go. You can’t expect thumping base or incredibly clear ranges, but movies sounded decently enjoyable while using them instead of a separate set or a pair headphones. The latter will still sound better, but it’s nice to have a capable back up in case you just want to sit back and relax.
Display and Performance
The Philips 439P9H sports a 43-inch curved VA panel with a 3840 x 1200 resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, along with a 4ms response time. The backlight is rated at 450 cd/m2, while the contrast ratio is at 3000:1 as expected from a VA panel. The screen’s 1800mm radius isn’t the sharpest, but its noticeably more pronounced on this device due to its extended width.
The Philips 439P9H’s pixel density is comparable to two 1920 x 1200 screens set side by side minus the bezels. A regular 1440p display still looks sharper, but this model still manages to look sharp enough in games while text still looks clear and legible. You don’t get a considerable upgrade in crispness, but the extra space on the peripheral sides makes the product a great buy for both productivity and entertainment.
Color fidelity for the Philips 439P9H is excellent, starting with its 100% sRGB and 92% DCI-P3 coverage which provides eye-popping vibrancy. The average color accuracy score sits at DeltaE 1.4 by default, so there is little need to calibrate it once you pull it out of the box. Color temperature is decently balanced as well, missing the 6500K ideal point by only a few notches.
Another strength of the Philips 439P9H is its backlight which punches above its rating to reach a maximum of around 570 cd/m2. Contrast is excellent at 2450:1 at 50% brightness which is a perfect setting for gaming or media consumption. However, most users will still find that setting too bright for extended use, especially when viewing white backgrounds from office apps or browsers.
Panel uniformity is also good even if the display extends beyond the reach of normal monitors, with no visible clouding or variations in brightness. Each of the Philips 439P9H’s quadrants looks more or less even to the naked eye, and only a colorimeter can detect the deviations. However, buyers should be aware that there are manufacturing tolerances to consider so some units might suffer from flaws even if the reviews say otherwise.
Pixel responsiveness could better on the Philips 439P9H since it’s still prone to blurring during fast-paced action. Smudges can sometimes become noticeable in dark to light transitions while panning the camera too fast can reveal some artifacts and trails. The 100Hz refresh rate helps in a way, but the nature of the VA panel is the true hindrance in this regard.
The Philips 439P9H is a FreeSync 2 gaming monitor, but it’s not officially compatible with G-Sync as of this time. You can force it manually via the Nvidia Control Panel, but we cannot guarantee that it will work without any issues. Input lag is slightly higher at 12ms, but we think its decent for gaming and fair for a monitor that is marketed as a prosumer option instead.
Thoughts on the Philips 439P9H
The Philips 439P9H is an excellent option if you want an extra-wide display for mixed-use that comes well equipped with several features. The product’s VA panel is capable of excellent image quality by default, but it’s a bit limited when it comes to gaming chops. The slower pixel response time could use a bit of a boost, although casual gamers and those who prefer story-rich titles won’t be affected.
We like how the Philips 439P9H seems like its already considered everything you will need to enhance your workflow. However, it’s a bit expensive if you consider how value-oriented most of the brand’s offerings are in the market. However, we think what you get is fair when compared to the price, especially if screen space without bezels in between tops your list.
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s 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.