Philips 242G5DJEB/00 – Hardware Review

Gaming, or simply quality monitors are something more and more gamers are choosing for. Last real gaming monitor we discussed was the 24 inch AOC g2460Pqu, which was a piece of outstanding quality. Frames to support quality gaming and enough extra options to satisfy your needs. This time we are able to present you with our opinion about the Philips 242G5DJEB/00, which is also a 24 inch gaming monitor that might just be a worthy opponent for the g2460Pqu.

As usual we love first impressions and whilst the monitor doesn’t really have such remarkable features and might just look like most other brands, the red banner below the actual screen spices things up. Whilst it’s a simple feature, it makes the design look so much better and more unique.

Compared to the AOC monitor, the 242G5DJEB/00 opts for a lower base, which is in many ways not a bad thing. The screen also has the option to tilt 90 degrees to the side, making it easier to reach all the ports and thus having less issues connecting all the right cables. As is more common nowadays, we have two HDMI ports, VGA, an integrated 3.0 USB hub and so on. The USB hub has been set on the side on an easy to reach spot, again improving comfort.

Just like the AOC g2460Pqu the Philips 242G5DJEB/00 supports a refresh rate of up to 144 frames per second. This means, if your PC is up to it, you’ll have one of the smoothest gaming experiences ever.

Something else which is starting to become a more and more common feature is having the option of simply connecting a console to your monitor, without actually connecting a PC to it first. Also the fact the Philips monitors standard settings for colour, brightness and so on for your HDMI channels are very crisp makes this monitor extremely fun to use for those who aren’t familiar with all the settings. Of course the developers also inserted some basic profiles within the screen, which makes switching between different setting a tad easier.

Like the previous Philips monitor we’ve discusses, the 298P4QJEB, this monitor has the same buttons to arrange all your settings. Whilst the buttons aren’t half that bad, the options and the way they actually work doesn’t always make that much sense. Arranging sound settings and so on aren’t really all that practical and could have been done a lot easier. The developers however redeem themselves by adding a ‘SmartKeyboard’ which is pretty much a control mechanism like the buttons on the screen but just that much better. The buttons are that much easier to work with and switching between settings works just a lot faster.

Of course the monitor has enough options to adjust everything to your liking and personal preferences. You’ll be able to create your own gaming profile and just keep on gaming from that point onwards.

The monitor also offers the options of SmartSize and SmartFrame, which are respectively for setting the screen the size you desire and making several enemy targets ‘light’ up a tad more when they appear inside the screen. Fun features, but not truly the ones you’ll be buying the monitor for.

Own opinion

One of the most appreciated options for me was of course yet again the adjustable base and the tilting functions. This creates a lot more ‘room’ to work with without having to constantly move your monitor around to reach everything you want to use or reaching the desired ports.

Tilting the screen 90 degrees does not always all the uncomfortable features of plugging in your cables. Sometimes, just like the AOC monitor, it are real ‘tight fits’ and will still cause you to mess about with them. This might just be nit-picking but having some important connections at the back, instead of at the bottom might just improve comfort that much more.

The SmartKeyboard that is delivered with the screen was one of the most simple, yet best devices to come with a screen currently on the market. Whilst the device is something fairly simple it creates that much more comfort when switching between different profiles and settings. The SmartKeyboard also has a fairly long cable which makes it easy for your to set is close by and thus giving you the opportunity to remain in the comfort of your already warmed up sofa.

Appearance wise the screen may not differ that much from the AOC monitor, the added red banner at the bottom creates a more stylish look and even a lot more appeal compared to plenty of other monitors. Even though the appearance isn’t the most important factor, it’s always a nice extra and having something in your gaming area that actually looks cool make gaming more pleasant too.

Conclusion

The Philips 242G5DJEB/00 may also seem like a ‘high priced’ monitor for a lot of gamers but might just be worth it. The quality of the screen is fairly comparable to the AOC g2460Pqu, which makes this monitor an outstanding one. You’ll might have to turn in the little higher base but you’ll get a lot of fun extra features like the SmartKeyboard, SmartFrame and SmartSize. Definitely a monitor worth checking out when going on a hunt for a new monitor.

ThaMofo

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