Philips 345E2AE 34″ WQHD Ultrawide Monitor Review

I love a big monitor, which is true of most PC users to some extent. When it comes to your typical desktop setup though, it’s not like you can stick a 65″ OLED on your desk and get to work. Multiple monitors can be a good solution for more screen space. But dealing with bezels, additional power and display cables, and calibration matching can get complicated pretty quickly. That’s where ultrawide monitors shine, though, offering up a large panel and an increased amount of screen space, with a single set of display and power cables. The Philips 345E2AE is certainly large, at 34″ wide using a 21:9 aspect ratio, making it sit a bit wider than a standard 32″ 16:9 panel, but it’s not quite as tall either. It comes with a 3440 x 1440 resolution too, which is 2K, but with more width; So think 2560×1440 + another 1/3 on the width.

However, it’s not the size and it’s not the resolution that got my attention, but the price. It’s currently £269.99 on Amazon, but I have seen it at £250 a few times too. That’s not a lot of money for such a big screen, so what gives? Well, it’s not exactly high-end, but I think that’s a give. It has a 75Hz refresh rate, so a little bump from 60Hz, but far below the 165-ish-Hz we typically see on gaming-focused models. The 345E2AE isn’t a gaming monitor though, although the Philips blurb does say it’s “good for gaming” which I think is one of the most honest things said by a display brand ever. Not a great monitor for gaming, not an amazing one, ideal, but just good, and I think that sets my expectations perfectly.

Features

• CrystalClear images with UltraWide QHD 3440 x 1440 pixels
• Ultra Wide-Colour wider range of colours for a vivid picture
• Effortlessly smooth gameplay with AMD FreeSync technology
• SmartImage game mode optimised for gamers
• Less eye fatigue with Flicker-Free technology
• LowBlue Mode for easy-on-the-eyes productivity
• Cable management reduces cable clutter for a neat workspace
• SmartContrast for rich black details

What Philips Had to Say

“The Philips E line UltraWide display gives an expansive panoramic visual. A CrystalClear WQHD display, Ultra Wide-Color and ergonomic stand design make for optimal viewing conditions. MultiView meets the need for usability and productivity.” – Philips