By The abundance of OLED has rendered comparisons somewhat pointless. Since most have comparable features and use the same OLED panels, affordability is frequently the deciding factor. On the other hand, Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 is unique in that it offers an OLED display together with Smart TV features like a remote control, built-in apps, and much more. Although these capabilities increase the monitor’s versatility, they may irritate PC fans who simply want a display to function as a monitor.
Specification and Features
The specs of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 are standard for a premium OLED display. It features an amazing color range from a QD-OLED display, 4K resolution, and a refresh rate of up to 240Hz. HDR and adaptive sync are also supported.
- Display size: 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio
- Resolution at birth: 3840 x 2160
- Sort of panel: Samsung QD-OLED
- Maximum refresh rate: 240 Hz
- Adaptive Sync: Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Compliant with HDR10+ Playing games
- Ports: two USB-A 3.0, one DisplayPort 1.4, and two HDMI 2.1
- Without a cord Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E
- Mounting VESA: 100×100 mm
- Speakers: Yes
- Price: MSRP $1,299.99 ($1,099 on average)
One feature, though, sticks out as peculiar: the display has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Its built-in Smart TV functionality, which supports Netflix and other streaming apps, depends on these features. Additionally, it can be utilized for cloud gaming on platforms such as Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Play. The price is comparable to those of Samsung’s rivals. The Alienware AW3225QF has an MSRP of $1,199.99, which is cheaper than the Samsung, but the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B has an MSRP of $1,399.99, which is $100 more.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 Design
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 features a remarkably attractive, almost dignified design. Dark silver-gray materials, which have a somber tone, are used to cover it. Though it was turned off by default, the monitor still has an RGB LED lighting ring on the back of the panel that you can use to jazz up your setup. Whether you intend to use the Odyssey in a home office, guest room, or PC gaming desk, it should blend in seamlessly.
Build quality has advantages. It features a metal panel design, similar to other newer Odyssey OLED displays, which feels much more sturdy and high-end than the typical plastic panels found even on high-end monitors. A monitor is rarely handled or moved all that often, thus its durability is unlikely to extend its life. However, the metal construction gives the device a more opulent feel than even the best substitutes, such as the Alienware AW3225QF and LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B.
Included is an ergonomic stand that can be adjusted for height, tilt, swivel, and a full 360-degree rotation for usage in portrait mode. This gaming monitor’s adjustability range is decent for a 32-inch display. The stand is quite stable and, happily, has a small, level base. Even though the 32-inch monitor panel is relatively large, it does not occupy a lot of space on a desk. However, if you would like to utilize the monitor with a third-party stand or arm, a 100x100mm VESA mount is available.
Features and Menus
Unlike other monitors, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is unique. It works much like any other Samsung Smart TV, despite not having a TV tuner, so technically it is not a TV. It even has capabilities that are usually exclusive to TVs, like an image processor that improves motion clarity in sports programming and runs Samsung’s Tizen OS. Owing to these capabilities, configuring the Odyssey requires multiple steps, such as choosing which smart apps to use and establishing a Wi-Fi connection. Gamers on PCs who are used to plug-and-play games are probably going to get annoyed by this. The procedure took around five minutes to finish, although I did not find it difficult.
After it is configured, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 may be used much like a Smart TV, with built-in access to a range of public television channels (albeit most of them are not very fascinating) and popular apps like Netflix and Hulu. You might not be concerned with these features if you plan to use the Odyssey primarily as a monitor. But these features are really helpful if you are looking for a multipurpose display for a bedroom, entertainment area, or studio apartment; they essentially turn the Odyssey into a 32-inch Smart TV. Because the Odyssey has Wi-Fi and supports game streaming services like Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can even use it to play games without any other devices connected. Additionally, Bluetooth is supported, allowing Bluetooth-enabled controllers to be paired with the display.
A remote control that can be used to modify monitor settings, access Smart TV apps, and adjust the volume is also included with the display. Although the Samsung monitor features a joystick as a backup menu control, I prefer monitors with remote controls because they are much simpler to use than the joysticks most monitors have on their bezels. You can generally ignore the Smart TV features if you do not want to utilize them, but they never really go away and can occasionally be perplexing. Several times, I unintentionally ended up on the home screen of the monitor, where a low-budget reality TV program from one of the free channels that came with it was playing right away. The lack of detail in the Samsung handbook regarding the various functions of the monitor is also a hindrance.
Connectivity
Flip the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 around, and you’ll find a pair of HDMI 2.1 connectors as well as a single DisplayPort 1.4. All of these inputs are capable of supporting the monitor’s maximum refresh rate of 240Hz and 4K resolution. I would’ve preferred one additional video input, but the three is likely adequate for most people. A PC can be connected via DisplayPort to both a PlayStation 5 and an Xbox Series X.
The Audio Return Channel (ARC) is supported by one of the HDMI ports. This is a useful feature that removes the need for an additional audio wire, making it easier to utilize the Odyssey with home entertainment equipment that supports ARC, such as soundbars. While the majority of monitors do not support ARC, some do, such as the Alienware AW3225QF.
Furthermore, the display has two USB-A ports that are powered by a USB-B upstream port, which is the only USB connectivity it has. Unfortunately, USB-C is not available, which is a negative as USB-C is a convenient way to connect a laptop. But to be fair, the majority of Samsung’s closest rivals, such as the Alienware AW3225QF and LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, do not have USB-C either.
HDR image quality
Unlike most of its rivals, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 monitor’s marketing does not mention any VESA DisplayHDR Certification level, even though it supports HDR10+. Although it takes some getting used to, the Odyssey OLED G8 performs admirably for a QD-OLED monitor—after some trial and error.
In a 10% window, I recorded a maximum sustained brightness of 779 nits, which means that only 10% of the display was illuminated by an HDR image, with the remaining 10% being dark. The brightness level of the Odyssey is impressive for a QD-OLED panel, demonstrating its ability to produce vivid and strong highlights. On this display, a lightning bolt or a car explosion will appear amazing.
But as more of the panel was lit up, the Odyssey’s HDR brightness rapidly decreased. Scenes that require a high brightness level throughout the display may so appear flat and drab. Here, LG’s WOLED panel—which is included in the LG Utlragear 32GS95UE-B and the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP—has a clear advantage.
I also had to work out the performance of the Odyssey. It has numerous HDR options and, by default, its brightness was fairly low: just 337 nits in a 10 percent window. To get the optimum brightness results, you will need to use both the Active tone mapping mode and the Peak Brightness setting on the display.
SAMSUNG 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G8 (G80SD) Series 4K UHD Smart Gaming Monitor, 240Hz 0.03ms, Glare-Free Display, Gaming Hub
Performance
With 4K resolution, Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 delivers a refresh rate of up to 240Hz. While the refresh rate is standard for an OLED panel, it is still great for a 4K monitor: The refresh rate of several 32-inch 4K OLED competitors is the same.
Motion clarity is great at 240Hz. Motion blur is minimized by the monitor’s fast refresh rate and OLED’s quick pixel response times. Fast-moving items are easier to see and the silhouettes of faraway foes will stand out on the horizon. It is not flawless; small letters, for instance, can still be difficult to read quickly. Nevertheless, competitors with even higher refresh rates, such as the Alienware AW2725QF, barely come close to matching the excellent motion clarity.
Additionally supported is adaptive sync, however, there are some problems with the display in this area. To start with, Samsung’s marketing is ambiguous. The monitor’s G-Sync compatibility is widely advertised. However, the monitor’s menu system lists support for AMD FreeSync, with no mention of Nvidia’s G-Sync. This is not a major problem because the monitor functions with both AMD and Nvidia devices in my tests. It is still a strange oversight.
Conclusion
Another superb 32-inch QD-OLED display is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8. It produces a picture that is rich, colorful, and lifelike while maintaining exceptional motion clarity. The software on the monitor, which comes with Samsung’s Tizen OS and a plethora of Smart TV features, is essentially what sets it apart and makes the OLED G8 usable in scenarios where you might otherwise want to purchase a tiny television. The monitor’s software features may irritate PC users who simply want a display to act like a monitor, and its overall visual quality does not make it stand out from the competition. If you are looking for a flexible display that can be used for productivity or gaming as well as watching movies and streaming TV, I suggest the Odyssey OLED G8.
