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Review: Philips Brilliance BDM4037UW

by Parm Mann on 7 June 2017, 09:00

Tags: Philips (AMS:PHIA)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qadh74

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Conclusion

...the native 4K resolution is a real boon for productivity, and the form factor is ideal for anyone needing to view multiple HD inputs at any one time.

Can a PC monitor ever be too big? Perhaps not, but at 40 inches the Philips BDM4037UW offers massive desktop real estate while raising a few question-marks over real-world usability.

Getting accustomed to a display of such proportions takes some time - you almost have to sit back to fully appreciate it - and in its effort to deliver 4K UHD in a large, curved form factor, Philips has had to compromise on specification. Uniformity and colour accuracy could be better, and the VA panel is noticeably susceptible to ghosting, making it ill-suited to gaming or fast-moving content.

Such caveats would normally be considered deal-breakers, yet the BDM4037UW still ticks enough boxes to be deemed worthy of consideration. Good contrast and colour gamut are highlights, the native 4K resolution is a real boon for productivity, and the form factor is ideal for anyone needing to view multiple HD inputs at any one time.

Bottom line: we've yet to see a truly great 40in PC monitor, but if nothing smaller will do, the Philips Brilliance BDM4037UW offers high resolution and massive size at a competitive price point.

The Good
  
The Bad
Massive desktop real estate
4K UHD works well at 40 inches
Ideal for multiview or picture-in-picture
Good contrast and colour gamut
Competitive pricing
  
Ghosting is an issue
Stand offers limited adjustment
USB hub awkward to reach


HEXUS.where2buy

The Philips Brilliance BDM4037UW 40in monitor is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

HEXUS.right2reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.


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Posted by excalibur1814 - Wed 07 Jun 2017 09:43
“curve for greater immersion”

I did some research, read a few pages, so really did try to find anything that proved a curved screen offered something positive. I found nothing concrete. It's basically marketing. We all know this but it's annoying.

“Everyone already has a screen so how do we sell them the same crap, again?”
“Curve the screen”
“Chaa-chinggg”
“What shall we offer them next?”
“We've done 3d, that's now gone, we've done the refresh thing, so how about actually making all screens produce vidid colour and give something to people?”
“You're fired!”
Posted by DevDrake - Wed 07 Jun 2017 19:31
excalibur1814
“curve for greater immersion”

I did some research, read a few pages, so really did try to find anything that proved a curved screen offered something positive. I found nothing concrete. It's basically marketing. We all know this but it's annoying.

“Everyone already has a screen so how do we sell them the same crap, again?”
“Curve the screen”
“Chaa-chinggg”
“What shall we offer them next?”
“We've done 3d, that's now gone, we've done the refresh thing, so how about actually making all screens produce vidid colour and give something to people?”
“You're fired!”

Actualy i disagree.
I got the philips4065 - similar behemoth, just flat 40" with great properties. And if i could buy 2 years ago curved instead of lat, i would co curved.

In the screen that big that would improve the experience a lot - yet i didnt see the 4037uc so i cannot tell if that curvature is ok.
Posted by wazzickle - Thu 08 Jun 2017 12:32
There is a legitimate demand for curved screens - i don't think many people regard it as a gimmick. IMO they suit productivity & gaming better than they do a cinema experience.
Posted by devBunny - Thu 08 Jun 2017 15:36
DevDrake
excalibur1814
“curve for greater immersion”

I did some research, read a few pages, so really did try to find anything that proved a curved screen offered something positive. I found nothing concrete. It's basically marketing. We all know this but it's annoying.

Actualy i disagree.
I got the philips4065 - similar behemoth, just flat 40" with great properties. And if i could buy 2 years ago curved instead of lat, i would co curved.

I also disagree and I'm nowhere near 40“. I have a 32” monitor and there are times when it would be easier for me if it were curved. I use it for three side-by-side editing windows and I use the smallest font that I can get away with to maximise the amount of viewable code. With the outer windows being just that bit further away from eyes, I'm sometimes pushing the boundaries of easy reading. A curve would eliminate that as an issue. If I had anything larger then a decent curvature would be a necessity.

So, no, it's not gimmicky or merely marketing. However, regarding your dismissal about “greater immersion”, as I don't play games and I haven't noticed myself thinking that the flatness matters when watching videos, I can't defend that claim.
Posted by malcmacq - Tue 20 Jun 2017 11:36
I've got a Philips BDM4350.Bigger, flatter. Only drawback is the potential for whiplash when you're sitting too close to the screen. The jump from a 28“ 4K to the 43” was initially jolting but now that I'm acclimatized to super-sized there's no way I'd drop down to anything below 40".

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