Trying to decide whether you should get the Philips 276E8VJSB or AOC U2790VQ? There are differences between them that might make one 4K UHD IPS 27″ monitor more preferable to you than the other. We’ll compare Philips 276E8VJSB vs AOC U2790VQ, possible the best budget 4K monitors, so you can determine which one is right for you.
Monitor manufacturers are catching up to the trend of 4K monitors. More and more monitors with 3840 x 2160-pixels resolution are released to the market. Not to mention, some of them are inexpensive, too! Since 4K monitors have been in the market for quite some time, reputable manufacturers have already figured how to make a 4K monitor while keeping their prices competitive.
In this comparison, we are going to take a closer look at two UHD monitors from two industry-respected manufactures – Philips and AOC. The Philips 276E8VJSB and AOC U2790VQ are inexpensive monitors that also have accurate colors and high-detailed panels. We are getting a deeper dive into these monitors to determine which of them is a better 4K UHD Frameless IPS monitor. Let’s start by establishing their similarities and differences.
| Philips 276E8VJSB | AOC U2790VQ | |
| Image |  |
 |
| LCD Panel Type | IPS Technology | IPS Technology |
| Backlight Type | W-LED system | W-LED system |
| Panel Size | 27 inch / 68.6 cm | 27 inch / 68.6 cm |
| Display Screen Coating | Anti-Glare, 3H, Haze 25% | 3H Hard Glass |
| Display Colors | 1.07 Billion colors | 1.07 Billion colors |
| Color Gamut | NTSC 91%, sRGB 109% | NTSC 90%, sRGB 99% |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels | 3840 x 2160 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Typical Response Time | 5 ms (Gray to Gray) | 5 ms (Gray to Gray) |
| Typical Brightness | 350 cm/m2 | 350 cm/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 | 1000:1 |
| Ports | 2x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, Audio Jack | HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2, VGA port, Audio Jack |
| Tilt | -5 to 20 degrees | 3.5 to 21.5 degrees |
| VESA Mount | No | 100 x 100 mm |
| Power Consumption | 19.51 Watts (typical) | 22 Watts |
| Power Supply Type | External | Internal |
| Dimension (W x H x D) | 24.10 x 7.40 x 18.30 inches | 24.21 x 1.71 x 14.33 inches |
| Product Weight | 10.65 lbs | 11.35 lbs |
| What’s in the Box? | Philips 276E8VJSB monitor with stand, DisplayPort Cable, HDMI, Cable, Power Cable, User Documentation | AOC U2790VQ monitor with stand, DisplayPort Cable, HDMI Cable, Power Cable, CD Manual, Warranty Card |
| Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Philips 276E8VJSB vs AOC U2790VQ – Similarities
IPS Technology
Devices with IPS screens such as smartphones, laptops, monitors, and televisions are widespread. There is a huge chance that your phone or laptop you are using to read this comparison has an IPS panel. Due to this, the manufacturing of IPS panels is easy and cost-effective. One of the key advantages of having an IPS screen is its wide viewing angle with minimal discoloration. Thus, both the Philips 276E8VJSB and AOC U2790VQ will not lose its color even if viewed from their sides. Speaking of their colors, both 4K monitors have accurate color production. Moreover, both the Philips 276E8VJSB and AOC U2790VQ use a W-LED system as their backlight technology.
Huge 27” 4K Screen
Modern monitors have a similar design language. Their top and side bezels are nearly frameless, while the bottom bezel is thicker because it houses the monitor control buttons. This design is rightfully called the three-sided frameless design. With this design, you can put 2 or more monitors side by side without having a large bezel in between. If you intend to expand your monitor setup to more than one monitor, this is an important thing to consider. Both the Philips 276E8VJSB and AOC U2790VQ have a huge 27” screen with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. You can enjoy movies and videos from YouTube and Netflix more with this large and immersive screen.
Refresh Rate and Response Time
The combination of a high refresh rate and a low response time in a monitor is perfect for gaming. However, both the Philips 276E8VJSB and AOC U2790VQ are not built for gaming. These monitors have a mediocre refresh rate and an average response time. Their screen refreshes at 60 hertz and responds in 5 milliseconds. These numbers are nothing impressive, compared to other gaming monitors with refresh rates of 120+ Hertz and response times of only 1 millisecond. Since these monitors are made for web browsing, multimedia content consumption, and video and photo editing, they do not need a high refresh rate and fast response time. All they need to have are accurate colors which they certainly have.
Differences between Philips 276E8VJSB vs AOC U2790VQ
Color Gamut
The color gamut a monitor can reach tells you how accurate the monitor can get. How accurate the monitor, in reality, depends on the discretion and calibration of the manufacturer.
Philips 276E8VJSB
Although Philips does not have a product line of monitors with high color accuracy, the company has been making color-accurate monitors that photographers and filmmakers love. The Philips 276E8VJSB has a marginally larger color gamut than the AOC U2790VQ. It covers 91% of the NTSC color gamut and 109% of the sRGB color gamut. This wide color gamut is all you need for your color grading and content consumption.
AOC U2790VQ
The complete coverage of the sRGB color spectrum is all what photos and video professionals need. However, the AOC U2790VQ only covers 90% and 99% of the NTSC and sRGB color gamut, respectively. Although 100% sRGB is the baseline for the complete coverage, the AOC U2790VQ is still accurate enough but not as accurate compared with its competitor.
The Winner Is- Philips 276E8VJSB
Ports
The ports on a monitor let you know how many devices you can connect all at once. It also dictates the quality of the video the monitors can output.
Philips 276E8VJSB
The Philips 276E8VJSB has a better port selection, in my opinion. Although it lacks a VGA port, what it does have are 2 HDMI 2.0 ports and a single DisplayPort 1.2. With these ports, the Philips 276E8VJSB can support up to 3 input signals of 4K video content at 60 Hertz refresh rate. Thus, you can take advantage of its 4k resolution and 60 Hertz refresh rate. The Philips 276E8VJSB has an audio jack so you can connect a headphone or a set of speakers.
AOC U2790VQ
While the Philips 276E8VJSB has a better port selection, the AOC U2790VQ has better versatility due to its additional VGA port. If you have an older computer that still utilizes a VGA output, you can do so because it has one. Otherwise, this port is useless to you. Although the AOC monitor also has two HDMI ports, one is HDMI 1.4 and the other is HDMI 2.0. The HDMI 1.4 can only take video signals of 4K resolution at 30 Hertz. Therefore, if you plugged an HDMI device into the HDMI 1.4 port, your video output is capped at 30 frames per second. Although it is not that bad, it is certainly a thing to consider. The AOC U2790VQ also has a DisplayPort 1.2 and an audio jack.
The Winner Is- Philips 276E8VJSB
VESA Mount Compatibility
VESA mount compatibility is one thing to look out for if you are looking to mount one of these monitors to the wall. If these monitors do not have a compatible VESA mount, you will be stuck using the included desk stand.
Philips 276E8VJSB
Unfortunately, the Philips 276E8VJSB is not compatible with any VESA mount. Therefore, you are forced to use the included desk stand. This is not a problem for people who are just planning to put it on top of a table. However, for some people who like using monitor arms and wall mounts, the Philips 276E8VJSB will certainly be not an option for them. The included stand with a semi-circle look is more eye-pleasing than the circular base of the AOC U2790VQ, anyway.
AOC U2790VQ
On the other hand, you have the option to upgrade to a monitor arm or wall mount with the AOC U2790VQ due to its 100 x 100 mm VESA mount compatibility. In my opinion, the desk stand the monitor ships with is uninspired and looks generic. Fortunately, you can swap this ugly stand for a monitor arm or a wall mount.
The Winner Is- AOC U2790VQ
Power Supply
Power adapters are the small things that some consumers don’t even bother to look at. For me, a monitor with an internal power supply is better as it will give you better cable management at the cost of being a little thicker.
Philips 276E8VJSB
The Philips 276E8VJSB is powered by an external power supply. Thus, you need to deal with harder cable management due to this. You should find a place to put this external power supply, which looks like most laptop chargers. Otherwise, it will just dangle at the back of your desk. The Philips 276E8VJSB has a lower typical power consumption of 19.51 watts.
AOC U2790VQ
In contrast, the AOC U2790VQ has an internal power supply. Therefore, you will just be dealing with a single power cable that either goes directly into the wall socket or to an AVR. A monitor with an internal power supply will save you the hassle and frustration of dealing with an external power supply. The AOC U2790VQ has a typical power consumption of 22 watts.
The Winner Is- AOC U2790VQ
Pros and Cons
Philips 276E8VJSB
Pros:
- Content consumption and photo and video editing are better with the Philips 276E8VJSB due to its wider sRGB coverage.
- Although it lacks a VGA port, its dual HDMI 2.0 ports and a single DisplayPort 1.2 are more than enough for almost all use cases.
- It has a better and elegant design overall.
- It has a lower typical power consumption.
Cons:
- Using a monitor arm or a wall mount is almost impossible with the Philips 276E8VJSB since it lacks a VESA mount.
- Cable management is harder with its external power supply.
AOC U2790VQ
Pros:
- The IPS panel in the AOC U2790VQ produces accurate colors with wide viewing angles.
- Multimedia consumption is immersive thanks to its large 27” display with 4K resolution.
- It can take older video input due to its VGA port.
- It has VESA mount compatibility so you can make your setup cleaner using a monitor arm or wall mount.
- Its internal power supply will save you the hassle and frustration of dealing with an external power supply.
Cons:
- Although the colors are still accurate, it is not accurate enough compared with the Philips 276E8VJSB.
Which 4K UHD IPS 27″ Monitor to Choose?
We have to make a hard decision about choosing which of these 4k monitors is better. In the case of Philips 276E8VJSB, it has undoubtedly more accurate color production and a better selection of ports. However, its biggest weakness is the lack of a VESA mount. On the other hand, AOC U2790VQ has less accurate colors but has all the small advantages that the Philips 276E8VJSB does not have. If your job is directly related to color grading, Philips 276E8VJSB is indeed the way to go. However, for everybody else, the AOC U2790VQ is the better monitor.