Philips Gaming 27M1N5200PA, gaming balance

When it comes to gaming monitors, there are many important parameters to take into account, which often depend on a series of factors such as the type of games we use, preferences as gamers and, of course, the budget. Then other factors come into play that can tip the balance and are perhaps less objective, such as the design of the device with which we are going to live for many hours and which is going to form part of our gaming ecosystem in which aesthetics is also important. .

When unpacking the monitor in this test: the Philips Gaming 27M1N5200PA , we find a monitor that is easy to assemble and that we can admire on the table in a few minutes. Returning to the aesthetic part that we have mentioned, it is a peculiar design, especially with regard to its base, which has a stylized construction with a hexagonal shape that subtly transmits a gaming aesthetic, perhaps a bit retro, through at the same time that it takes up little space on the table to make room for other accessories.

The base, which is hidden by the monitor, also has a stylized and angled design, replicating the same keys found on the base. This model is made entirely of dark gray metal while the foot is a slightly lighter colour. The effect of this material makes the structure seem to blend with the panel when it is turned off, with a very attractive effect that seems ideal for any setup. At the same time, it is a discreet and sober enough monitor to not look out of place in a workplace or mixed use.

Circling the monitor we discover the connector area, discreetly placed next to the foot hook area and oriented downwards. There are all kinds of connections to cover any need with two HDMI 2.0 connectors, a DisplayPort 1.4 (both HDMI and DP compatible with HDCP 2.2) and a good number of USB connectors. It has a USB-B only for data upload and four USB 3.2 connectors with data download and two of them compatible with BC 1.2. We will not need an additional HUB to have additional ports on the PC. No sign, however, of USB-C connectors (which are not usually common in gaming monitors either).

Great refresh rate and frequency

But the most important assets that this Philips monitor brings are undoubtedly in the specifications. It has an IPS panel capable of refresh rates of up to 240 Hz and a spectacular response time. Sub-millisecond data is rare and this Philips monitor sports a time that cuts it in half: 0.5 milliseconds. To help synchronize the graphics card and screen (very necessary with this level of performance) this model is compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia’s G-SYNC.

In our performance tests for color reproduction they have confirmed that it covers the entire sRGB spectrum with good color fidelity. Keep in mind that it is not a monitor for design, so color is not its strong point, and in fact it only covers 87% of the Adobe RGB color spectrum. As far as brightness and contrast are concerned, the figures of 400 cd/m² and 100 to 1 respectively are in line with what is expected for a quality IPS panel.

But the real challenge of this monitor is to put it to the test with “real fire” and for this it must be taken into account that it is necessary to have good hardware to make you sweat. It is true that the Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 is not very high and that disadvantages it for some games in which image detail is more important, such as strategy games, but it is this model 27M1N5200PA from Philips Gaming that What he seeks is frantic action and that is where he shines especially.

In all the tests of the action games, adjusting the refresh rate to the maximum, above 165 Hs, we have noticed a very high fluidity, without a trace of ghosting or other image defects, no matter how frenetic the movement on the screen was. This allows, on the one hand, to enjoy the game as if it were a movie, even more fluidly than some of these I would say, and on the other, to have much more precise control of what happens on the screen, something essential for a gamer.

It is also worth noting the usual facility for most of the brand’s monitors to adjust the display options through the on-screen menus. We can modify multiple parameters in an easy and intuitive way, although in reality we will need it on few occasions given the aforementioned compatibility with the synchronization systems of the two main graphics card manufacturers that will do the work for us.

Conclusion

In short, this Philips 27M1N5200PA is a monitor aimed above all at not missing a single frame of the action of our craziest games, with a very high refresh rate and a really remarkable response time, which on the other hand we have been able to verify that actually comply. The large number of connections with HDCP 2.2 compatibility and the incorporation of the synchronization systems of the big brands and even the simple assembly system make this model a gaming monitor with which to enjoy in a few minutes right out of the box. It also has an affordable price and an aesthetic that we liked a lot.