The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is a new entry to the 3000 Series lineup, bringing some surprisingly high-end features to the table, including a blisteringly fast 260Hz overclocked refresh rate, ultra-low input lag, and HDR support, all at what looks like a wallet-friendly price point (£209, at the time of writing).
On paper, it reads like a gaming monitor bargain, maybe even too good to be true. Fortunately, I’ve had the chance to put this Evnia display through its paces to see if those impressive specs on paper work as well in practice.
Design and Build Quality
At 27 inches (68.5 cm), the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is a great all-rounder size that works well across a range of genres – from shooters like Rainbow Six Siege to open-world RPGs. I found it particularly comfortable for fast-paced action, with my eyes able to stay locked onto everything happening on-screen without feeling overwhelmed.
The monitor has an almost 3-sided frameless design as well, which helps maximise screen space and gives it a clean, modern look. It’s also fairly lightweight at 5.66kg with the stand, making it easy to reposition and take advantage of its ergonomic adjustments – tilt, swivel, height, and pivot – without any real effort.
However, it's worth noting that it is mostly plastic, which helps with portability but means it doesn’t feel overly premium. That said, this is a budget-friendly display, and the design still manages to stand out thanks to a unique white textured finish with Sci-Fi-inspired blue speckles on the base. It's a refreshing departure from the usual black or grey aesthetic most gaming monitors stick with.
A small but smart addition is the headset hanger on the back (see below), which I found genuinely useful for freeing up desk space and keeping things tidy. Though some may have a headset hanger under their desk, it definitely doesn't hurt to have the option on the back of this Philips display.
The screen itself comes with a non-glossy screen finish with 3H Anti-Glare coating (Haze 25%). This does an excellent job in real-world conditions. For reference, my desk is directly opposite a window with bright light pouring in, and yet I had zero issues with visibility – text and game visuals remained sharp and clear throughout.
Display Performance
On the display side of things, the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA features a 2560 x 1440 (QHD) IPS LED display. I feel a 1440p resolution is a sweet spot for gaming, offering sharper visuals than 1080p without being as demanding as 4K, which means this monitor ticks that box for me. Meanwhile, the IPS panel provides wide viewing angles and consistent image quality, which I found held up well across different genres and setups.
Gaming performance is a highlight here, with a native 240Hz refresh rate that’s overclockable to 260Hz, along with low input lag and a SmartResponse time of 1ms (GtG). Combined with 0.3ms Smart MBR (Motion Blur Reduction), which syncs the LED backlight with the refresh rate, gameplay really did feel smooth and sharp overall. I did notice the occasional stutter, though I believe this was down to my PC, not the monitor.
Color-wise, the display supports 1.07 billion colors and covers 95% DCI-P3, 90% AdobeRGB, 120% sRGB, and 105% NTSC, which is impressive on paper. In practice, the colors are good but not especially vibrant, with some scenes feeling a little grey or muted compared to OLED panels I've experienced before (the AOC AGON PRO AG276UZD, for example). That said, tweaking the HDR and color settings did help boost the vibrancy a tad.
On to the SmartContrast technology, which, to me, did a solid job of dynamically adjusting contrast and backlight levels to enhance darker scenes, and while the 300 cd/m² brightness isn’t the highest, and probably a factor in the lack of vibrant colors I experienced, I would still say it's perfectly fine for most gaming setups.
Gaming Experience
As touched on already, gaming on the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA was largely smooth, blur-free, and responsive, with only the occasional stutter, likely due to my PC setup rather than the monitor itself.
The high 240Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 260Hz) combined with Adaptive Sync kept things running fluidly, and I decided to keep low input lag switched on throughout. While it’s hard to say exactly how much impact that had, I didn’t notice any real lag during gameplay.
The monitor also supports HDR10, with multiple presets including Game, Vivid, and Movie. I found HDR Game, with some manual tweaks, delivered the best balance of vibrancy and contrast. HDR made a clear difference, though, as switching it off drained the image of a lot of its depth and richness, so I kept it on at all times.
Adding to this, there's Stark ShadowBoost, which has three levels of shadow enhancement, and controlling and customizing these settings was easy thanks to the Evnia Precision Centre companion app. Through this, I could adjust Adaptive Sync, Smart MBR, HDR settings, SmartResponse, and more, all with a clean, user-friendly interface.
The ease of the app really added to the experience, allowing me to tailor the output to specific games or preferences quickly without fiddling through clunky on-screen menus – a major plus point for sure.
Connectivity and Ports
This monitor comes with a decent range of ports, with two HDMI 2.0's, a DisplayPort 1.4, and a headphone out jack. While it would’ve been nice to see HDMI 2.1 support, especially for next-gen consoles, it’s not a major drawback here given that this is a 1440p monitor rather than 4K, so there's no option for 120Hz gaming at 4K on the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
That said, having two HDMI ports is definitely a plus, especially if you’re running a multi-console or dual-device setup. The port layout is also very accessible from the back, making setup and switching between devices quick and hassle-free.
On-Screen Display (OSD) and Features
On-screen controls are kept simple with a single-button located on the back of the monitor to access the settings, allowing you to power on/off and navigate the OSD. While it lacks the variety of preset Game Modes you’d typically find on similar monitors (like “FPS” or “Racing”), it does come with a few standout features that are worth highlighting.
One of the best is the Smart Crosshair, which I found genuinely helpful when playing shooters like Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege. It won’t be for everyone, but if you’re someone who likes having a fixed visual reference in the centre of the screen, it’s a nice bonus. There’s also a Smart Sniper mode for anyone curious about that.
For eye comfort, the monitor includes both LowBlue Mode and Flicker-Free technology, which is designed to help reduce strain during longer gaming or work sessions and, in practice, seemed to do their jobs well.
Not everything is positive here, though, as the built-in stereo speakers (2W x 2) are a real letdown. The audio quality felt flat, distant, and one-dimensional, even when compared to the speakers on my laptop. While having integrated sound is a bonus on paper, you’ll definitely want to use a headset or dedicated speaker setup for any serious use. I’d only rely on these if really needed, and even then, don’t expect much.
Ergonomics and Adjustability
The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA delivers an impressive amount of adjustability thanks to its SmartErgoBase, offering a comfortable and versatile setup experience. With 130mm of height adjustment, -5° to 20° tilt, ±30° swivel, and ±90° pivot, the range of motion here is really solid.
The ability to rotate the screen vertically is a particularly great addition for creative professionals or productivity, though a heads-up: you’ll need to lift the monitor slightly to avoid clipping the desk when rotating the screen a full 90 degrees. Still, this extra versatility will definitely appeal to some users, even if I didn't fully utilize this vertical setup myself.
Viewing angles of 178° (horizontal and vertical) add to the flexibility of how and where you can position this monitor. I personally took advantage of this with the monitor placed slightly off to the side in a dual-screen setup. Despite the angle, I noticed no loss of clarity, which is exactly what you'd want from an IPS panel.
You also get VESA mount compatibility (100x100mm) for even more mounting options. While I didn’t personally test this, it’s a useful inclusion for those looking to save desk space or build out a more custom setup.
Value for Money
At £209, the Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is a monitor that I would argue punches quite far above its weight. You’re getting a 1440p IPS display with a 260Hz overclockable refresh rate, low latency, Adaptive Sync, and HDR10 support, which I think are specs typically seen on monitors costing significantly more.
Sure, it's not a flawless bit of kit, but for PC gamers especially, this monitor offers smooth, responsive gameplay, decent color reproduction, and strong ergonomics – all wrapped in a stylish, well-built frame.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 260Hz overclockable refresh rate with low input lag and Smart MBR for smooth gameplay
- 1440p IPS display with wide viewing angles and solid clarity
- Smart Crosshair, ShadowBoost, and Evnia Precision Centre app add useful, game-focused features
- Anti-glare coating and Flicker-Free / LowBlue Mode make it comfortable for long sessions
- Great value at £209, offering features often found on more expensive monitors
Cons:
- Built-in 2W speakers are weak and lack clarity
- Mostly plastic build, which feels less premium
- Color vibrancy is average, and brightness is capped at 300 cd/m²
- Limited game mode presets in the OSD
Final Verdict
The Philips Evnia 27M2N3501PA is an impressive contender in the budget gaming monitor scene, delivering features that often come with a heftier price tag.
The fact that it offers a 260Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and solid 1440p IPS panel makes it a fantastic choice for competitive as well as cinematic gaming, at a relatively cheap price, too.
While the color vibrancy and brightness aren’t top-tier and the built-in speakers could definitely be better, these are understandable compromises at this price point, in my opinion.
