CES 2023 has kicked off the tech new year and both Samsung and LG are going all out with their PC monitor offerings.
LG may have been the first to announce monitors with a 240Hz refresh rate but its homegrown rival, Samsung, isn’t going to let that deter them from unveiling its own monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and so much more.
The offerings include new entrants in the Odyssey, ViewFinity and Smart Monitor lineups.
Odyssey Neo G9: The World’s First Dual UHD Gaming Monitor
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor (Model Name: G95NC) has a 7,680×2,160 resolution and a 32:9 aspect ratio in one screen for the first time.
Its 240Hz refresh rate, 1000R curved 57-inch screen uses quantum mini LED technology with VESA Display HDR 1000 specification and has a matte display to reduce light reflection on the screen.
It also boasts the world’s first DisplayPort 2.1 support, which transfers data approximately twice as fast as the previously used DisplayPort 1.4. In addition, the new DP2.1 allows lossless industry-standard Display Stream Compression (DSC) to transmit information without distortion.
“We are introducing the future of gaming monitors with our Odyssey Neo G9, making each game more lifelike with innovative features and picture quality on a new scale,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “CES is the perfect place to showcase our innovations that can take not only gamers but also graphic designers or TV fans to the next level while providing personalized experiences across a range of integrated smart apps.”
Odyssey OLED G9
The Odyssey OLED G9 (Model Number: G95SC) features a dual quad-HD 49-inch 1800R curved display with a 32:9 ratio. According to Samsung, “its quantum dot technology OLED lighting is controlled pixel-by-pixel, allowing a near-infinite colour contrast ratio.”
For smooth gameplay, the Odyssey OLED G9 also features a 0.1ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate to eliminate lagging and skipping.
It is also equipped with Samsung Gaming Hub, an all-in-one game streaming platform that allows gamers to discover and play games in the cloud from partners such as Xbox and NVIDIA GeForce Now without needing a console or to download games.
Making this more than just another monitor, the Odyssey OLED G9 also uses apps from partners like Prime Video, Netflix and YouTube through Smart Hub without the need for a PC (an internet connection is required).
ViewFinity S9
The ViewFinity S9 (Model Number: S90PC), Samsung’s newest addition to its monitor lineup, features a 5K 27-inch screen and is supposedly optimised for creative professionals such as graphic designers and photographers. It has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, wide colour gamut of 99% DCI-P3 and Delta E ≦21 colour accuracy.
Sporting a matte display, the monitor has a built-in Colour Calibration Engine that ensures precise screen colour and brightness, giving you the ability to adjust white balance, Gamma and RGB colour balance for perfect accuracy with your smartphone through the Samsung Smart Calibration application.
You’re able to connect cameras and other devices to the monitor through USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 connections to easily transfer gigantic files of high-resolution video or other large data sets from storage devices to the PC. The ViewFinity S9 Series comes with a 4K SlimFit camera and supports native video conferencing through apps such as Google Meet that are included in the Samsung Smart Hub.
Smart Monitor M8
The Smart Monitor M8 (Model Number: M80C) now comes in a new 27-inch size in addition to the existing 32-inch size, both with 4K resolution. Available in four colour options: Daylight Blue, Spring Green, Sunset Pink or Warm White, this monitor is Samsung’s take on the lifestyle monitor trend that Apple kicked off with its redesigned 24-inch iMac.
The new M8 has a height-adjustable stand with tilt support, the screen can now pivot 90 degrees and it meets VESA mount compatibility standards.
Making this monitor more unique is its ability to connect, control and manage hundreds of compatible connected devices through the built-in SmartThings Hub, including lights, cameras, doorbells, locks, thermostats and more. Samsung says that it plans to expand device choices and usability by supporting Matter functionality and Home Connectivity Alliance standards from this year onwards.
Like the Odyssey OLED G9, you’re able to use the Smart Monitor M8 to get instant access to Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and other over-the-top services through Smart Hub as well as easy access to Samsung Gaming Hub.
There’s a new My Contents feature that provides information at a glance. When the monitor is on standby mode and detects a registered smartphone through low-power Bluetooth, it shows your personalised photos, schedule and more on the screen. The monitor returns to standby mode when the phone moves out of range.
The integrated SlimFit camera in the Smart Monitor M8 has been upgraded with 2K resolution and works with video conferencing apps such as Google Meet.
On the security side, the Smart Monitor M8 is protected by Samsung Knox Vault, which encrypts personal data and keeps stored files and information isolated from the device’s main operating system to safeguard it from attacks.