Philips 346B1C
A strong all–round 34–inch productivity panel
$479.99 From Philips, philips.com
Features 3440x1440 resolution, VA panel, USB–C with PD (90W) dock, KVM switch,
built–in speakers
The Philips 346B1C is a very nice package
for all–round productivity rather than
color accuracy and gamut support, with
extras like full USB Type–C connectivity
for a slick single–cable hook–up, a KVM
switch, and support for up to 100Hz
refresh. It’s also classy, feels very nicely
made, and the stand is stable and oļers
tilt, height and swivel adjustment.
As for the display itself, the core specs
involve a 34–inch 21:9 aspect panel with
the obligatory 3,440 by 1,440 native
resolution. Dig a little deeper into the
spec list and you’ll Ľnd that the 346B1C
doesn’t make dramatic promises when it
comes to color accuracy. It covers 90% of
the Adobe RGB gamut. Likewise, Philips
doesn’t quote a Ľgure for the DCI–P3
space at all. Indeed, it uses VA rather than
the IPS panel tech preferred for the most
color accurate monitors.
Given the modest 300cd/m2 brightness,
image quality is decent but a little dull
and lacking in vibrancy. The 110PPI pixel
density is also poor next to, say, a 27–inch
4K monitor with a pixel density of around
154PPI. The 346B1C is thus far from the
sharpest option, then. The 21:9 aspect
ratio is absolutely superb for viewing
multiple documents or web pages in
parallel, though.
However, it’s the feature set that
makes this an intriguing display. It has
full support for USB Type–C connectivity,
with up to 90W of charging power, so you
can charge your MacBook and connect
peripherals, all with a single cable. The
KVM switch has an easy–access button for
using dual Macs with this single display.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A strong all–round
34–inch productivity panel, albeit at a
fairly high price. JEREMY LAIRDPHILIPS 346B1C
Great for productivity
USB–C with 90W
charging
High–quality chassis
Low pixel density
EXCELLENTThe 346B1C is perfect
for viewing multiple
applications and
documents in parallel.Image rights: Philips. maclife.com MAR 2020 55
Tough testing, trusted ratings