Philips is the latest tech company to try its hand at making games-related gear, following the launch of Evnia, the company’s new gaming brand.
Monitors, keyboards, mice, and headsets make up the Evnia range, although only one of the monitors has a confirmed Asia-Pacific launch so far. This comes in the form of the Philips Evnia 34M2C7600MV, a 34-inch curved display featuring an ultrawide resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels and 165Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. It uses a panel backlit by mini-LED technology comprised of 1,152 lighting zones for greater control over the image and supports HDR 1400. As is currently the trend, the upcoming Philips monitor includes rear lighting to complement the on-screen action with an ambient glow, which the company refers to as Ambiglow.
Aside from standard high-end monitor features like USB-C connectivity and an adjustable stand, the Evnia display makes its mark with a sleek silver finish in an attempt to differentiate it from darker-coloured game peripherals. Inspired by the Greek word “eύνοια”, which loosely translates to goodwill, Philips chose the name Evnia to represent the joy of gaming that everyone can experience. It’s an ethos the brand aims to encapsulate, according to Xeni Bairaktari, Global Marketing Lead and Senior Brand Manager EU at MMD Monitors & Display.
“Our goal for Evnia is to provide today’s gamers, in all their diversity, with the monitors and accessories they need to get the most enjoyment out of every gaming session, whether in terms of performance, graphics, or overall user experience,” Bairaktari said. “Evnia, true to the name, encourages gamers to bring their most genuine selves to their sessions and to reconnect with the original purpose of gaming.”
No specific local date or pricing has been confirmed for the Philips gaming monitor, other than a 2023 window, nor any word of when we can expect the rest of the Evnia range. Overseas, the 34-inch display launches in December with a $1,799.99 USD price tag, which makes it a pricey display. For comparison, the Australian pricing for the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is around the $2,000-dollar mark, while a similarly-sized Alienware monitor costs a similar amount. In other words, the Philips gaming entry is likely to be even more expensive.
Philips foray into PC gaming gear seems to target a similar market to the Sony Inzone brand launched earlier in the year – of which Australia has so far only seen the headsets released. Time will tell if the high asking price meets the performance.
