Gaming monitor enthusiasts have gotten used to seeing TN and IPS panels in high-end displays and have always wondered what a dedicated OLED gaming monitor from Samsung could look like. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8, the company’s first gaming monitor with a quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) display, is now available for pre-order. The 34-inch display, which was introduced at IFA 2022 in August, can be pre-ordered for $1,499 on Samsung’s website and selected retailers.
The display promises improved color saturation and brightness, similar to Alienware’s QD-OLED gaming monitor from 2021. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has a slight 1800R curve, 3440 x 1440 resolution, and a fast 175Hz refresh rate. It also supports True Black 400, which is expected to provide up to 400 nits of brightness, although a former colleague has pointed out that the Alienware monitor only achieved around 280 nits in testing.
Samsung’s First OLED Gaming Monitor Is No Slouch
The highlight of the Samsung monitor is its Gaming Hub, which provides access to cloud gaming services, including Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass, without the need for a console or PC. You can also use the hub to stream content on Netflix, YouTube TV, and more.
Other features include an integrated SmartThings app for IoT device control, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-C support, and a Core Lighting Plus system that illuminates the wall behind the monitor with colors matching the screen. If the 34-inch display isn’t large enough, Samsung plans to release a massive updated 49-inch OLED Odyssey G9 gaming monitor later this year. At this point, it might become difficult to tell where monitors stop, and TVs start.
Of course, early adopters will be dealing with quite a hefty price tag for cutting-edge gaming monitor tech, but this should become a bit more common in the coming years. Not only that, you can bet that the price tags will become more and more manageable as time goes on as well.
