If you want to play 4k games from a compatible PC or gaming console at high frame rates, it has a tone of gaming features like FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) compatibility and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. In comparison to other monitors, it also offers Mini LED backlighting, which gives you more control over the local dimming zones. Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G8 was created with the express intent of destroying the competition. This extravagant 32-inch monster combines the newest display technology with an appropriately futuristic design. In this case, it means a curved 4K VA screen with a mini-LED backlight made up of 1,196 unique locally dimming zones. The outcome? astounding HDR There is also a tone more to be amazed at. Due to HDMI 2.1 support for adaptive sync, 120Hz frame rates, and ALLM (automatic low-latency mode) on PS5 or Xbox Series S/, this display is next-generation ready. also you will learn our article on Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 review.
Design
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 that we evaluated last year and the Odyssey Neo G8 have extremely similar designs. It appears like Samsung downsized the well-liked Neo G9 to produce this variant. With Core Sync Lighting, you get the same deep 1000R curve, white back, and a stand that looks quite similar. The monitor’s lower front corners and the back, where a circle of light illuminates, both have Core Sync Lighting. We loved that the colours, including common effects, could be seen on the monitor’s front. You can match the lighting on your keyboard, mouse, and other setup components by using the RGB of the monitor. This monitor is far more sturdy on a desk than its 49-inch sister, and its smaller size makes it simpler to integrate into a setup. The stand can pivot, tilt, and swivel in addition to having a wide range of up-and-down action. It comes with a 100 by 100 millimetre mount in case you want to attach it to a monitor arm. A DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1, and USB 3.0 up and down connections are just a few of the numerous connectivity possibilities added by Samsung. This enables you to integrate work, PC gaming, and console games into one configuration by connecting several sources to the monitor.
Features
The previously mentioned absence of USB-C connectivity is another drawback. It is true that the maximum power transmission over USB-C is presently 100W. That won’t be enough to keep a real gaming laptop fully charged. But from a usability standpoint, it’s reasonable to anticipate a screen that has a quite broad bandwidth at this price point. That makes the lack of USB-C somewhat painful. you can read our article on Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 review. However, both HDMI and DisplayPort ports are available. There are in fact two of the latter that support DSC Display Stream Compression and comply with the HDMI 2.1 standard. As a result, the full 3,840 by 2,160-pixel 4K resolution may operate at 240Hz over HDMI. It’s nice that even while console gaming doesn’t require 240Hz, the two HDMI 2.1 ports on this product will, of course, support full 4k at 120Hz, making it a perfect choice for a PS5 display or Xbox Series X panel. With the DisplayPort interface included, you have the ideal dual-format screen for gaming on both PCs and consoles. It’s also important to note that Samsung, as usual, chose VA panel technology for the Neo G8, along with quantum dot enhancement for even more intense colours. The high-refresh 4K competition uses IPS panel technology and is almost human in size. Typically, VA sacrifices speed for stronger contrast and richer colours than IPS. It’s not always the case, though, as Samsung has recently produced VA monitors that are just as rapid to produce as the top IPS screens.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 review: Display
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8’s joystick is unpleasant and difficult to operate, which is a shame considering the on-screen menu is superb. As soon as you turn it on, you’ll see a row of crucial gaming information, including the refresh rate and response time settings, as well as several of the essential toggles. Beyond that, you may upgrade the firmware, change the RGB LED settings, and fine-tune the colour and contrast settings. Even though the navigation D-Pad is constantly annoying, the menu is well-organized, colourful, and responsive, making it simple to adjust different options.
Picture quality
The G8’s brightness level of 192 nits and beautiful black point of 0.02 nits right out of the box provided an immediate proof of the performance of those Quantum Mini LEDs. The resulting contrast ratio of 9600:1 is astounding and significantly higher than that of a typical VA or IPS display. Games look amazing thanks to the Neo G8’s bold, colorful, and incredibly deep pictures, which aren’t far behind the top OLED panels. These Quantum Mini LEDs have excellent uniformity as well; the variation in brightness was only 7.7%. A good Delta E of 2.17 and a respectable color temperature of 6065K ensure accurate colors on the G8, making them suitable for gaming. The Neo produced DCI-P3 values of 91.2% and 92% and displayed the sRGB color spectrum with 99.5% coverage and 129.8% volume. The G8’s DCI-P3 statistics are just adequate for effective HDR gaming, and its sRGB results are excellent, ensuring that the panel will give vibrancy in every shade required by major games. The G8 did indeed perform well in HDR games. A monstrous contrast ratio of 70,550:1 and a constant peak brightness level of 1411 nits, along with a black point of 0.02 nits, clearly demonstrate the power of the Quantum Mini LEDs. You can have a display that performs well in HDR games when you combine the extreme brightness, contrast, and nuance offered by those LEDs. The G8 impressively outperformed the G9 in terms of HDR black point, which also meant the G8 had superior HDR contrast. The G8 so gives better depth even though the Neo G9 was brighter due to the G8’s enhanced contrast.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 review: Gaming
When we first set up and used the Neo G8, we were unhappy, but as soon as we launched Cyberpunk 2077, everything changed. With HDR enabled, this display is exceptionally stunning for gaming. Games appear as fluid as possible because to the ultra-high refresh rate, completely saturated and brilliant colours, and high black levels that make contrast stand out. Fantastic for gaming, the Neo G8 is a monitor. It supports FreeSync Premium Pro, and we tested it with G-Sync in addition to visual quality. Although it isn’t G-Sync Compatible, it functions. The 240Hz refresh rate is without a doubt the feature that stands out for gamers. Since the Neo G8 is the first 4K gaming monitor we’ve seen with a 240Hz refresh rate, it made little sense up until a few weeks ago. Outside of titles like Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege, even the greatest graphics cards couldn’t offer frame rates high enough to benefit from 240Hz at 4K (and let’s be honest, such games aren’t a significant reason to spend $1,500 on a gaming display).
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 review: Performance
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 achieves everything it is capable of. Incomparable dark points and a contrast ratio of 9,600:1 are delivered by those Quantum Mini LEDs, significantly exceeding the capabilities of a typical IPS or VA screen. When in HDR mode, the panel’s brightness increases to more than 1400 nits and its contrast jumps to more than 70,550:1. Simply spectacular, that. The Samsung did an excellent job portraying every portion of the sRGB color gamut and nearly all of the DCI-P3 color space, which is required for HDR content, and the panel’s delta E of 2.41 is good and indicates accurate colors. There are a lot of statistics there, but they all have clear implications. You may play video games in SDR mode and enjoy realistic colors, astounding depths, and an abundance of punch and vitality. If you switch to HDR, you’ll receive more in every way coupled with the kind of lighting nuance that you often don’t see from game monitors. With the exception of the most demanding esports players, the 240Hz refresh rate is more than enough, and the animation on this screen is fluid and sharp. The combination of that with the excellent image quality and high resolution results in a top-notch gaming experience.
Price and availability
Conclusion
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 is a well-designed gaming device that offers excellent image quality and remarkable features. Its VA screen with FALD technology provides excellent HDR performance and true color for all-around fantastic visual experiences. By introducing the following development in the 4K gaming monitor industry, it also breaks the mould. However, when used at 240Hz, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 has a serious defect in the form of scan lines. Although it doesn’t occur on every Neo G8 out there, it is a typical concern that we have heard.
