Because it supports HDMI 2.1 inputs, you can fully utilize next-generation game consoles or graphics cards, making it even more future-proof. It offers breathtaking SDR picture quality, and the most recent firmware update significantly enhances the HDR experience. The finest just became even better. That is undoubtedly a given for the brand-new Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. After all, Samsung’s best gaming monitor at the time was the Odyssey G9. It has now received the one upgrade that was truly necessary. Yes, a tiny LED backlight is included with the Neo G9.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review: Design
It is a large Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. Even though that is fairly obvious given that it is a 49-inch ultrawide monitor, it doesn’t sink in fully until you remove it from the box and set it up on your desk. Despite the fact that our desk is a generous 61 inches long, it still occupies almost the entire surface area, leaving barely enough room for our PC to be placed on the side. But when you’re just looking for an immersive gaming experience, that enormous size definitely works in its favor. We find it very easy to lose ourselves in the moment when playing games on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9, which, let’s face it, we do mostly in Final Fantasy XIV. The game occupies nearly our entire field of vision. Distractions essentially don’t exist unless you really want them to, and when we’re grinding in a last-ditch effort to obtain our relic weapon before Endwalker launches in November, being able to concentrate so entirely on the game is unquestionably a blessing. Bezels are still discernible, especially along the bottom, but because the screen is so large, you won’t notice them on a daily basis. Additionally, the Nvidia G-Sync logo is the only logo on the front of the display, which we would prefer not to see there. But hey, the monitor at least has G-Sync. On the bottom of the display, slightly to the right of Centre, is a small joystick/button combination, just as the previous monitor. Pressing in will reveal the on-screen menu, where you can adjust all the standard settings you’d want to fiddle with on a display. Additionally, you can quickly change inputs by flicking it to the sides. You can also quickly adjust display settings like contrast and brightness by flicking it up and down. Three recessed buttons are located next to the tiny joystick. If you frequently switch between different game genres, such as between a competitive FPS like Paladins and a rich and beautiful RPG like Cyberpunk 2077, you can use these to save specific settings for up to three different games. The monitor’s back has futuristic designs etched into it in an all-white color scheme, and it resembles last year’s model almost exactly. The RGB circle that surrounds the area in the back where the stand mounts is also returning. The display’s bottom contains a small compartment where the cables are hidden by a large plastic panel that can be slid into the space. Unluckily, that’s also where the design of this monitor’s major problem lies. Probably because the stand doesn’t really have any channels you can use to hide cables given how heavy the display is—and believe us, it’s heavy. With a monitor of this caliber, it makes cable management slightly more difficult, which is undoubtedly unfortunate. Since we obviously don’t, anyone who is willing to spend the money on a monitor of this calibre is probably going to take their desktop appearance pretty seriously.
Features
Two HDMI 2.1 ports—an improvement from HDMI 2.0 on the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 from the previous year—and one DisplayPort 1.4 port are included on the G9. A refresh rate of up to 144Hz can be supported via the HDMI 2.1 connectors. Only video cards that support Display Stream Compression and DisplayPort 1.4 can use the monitor’s maximum 240Hz refresh rate. This feature is absent from graphics cards before AMD’s 5000-series and Nvidia’s RTX 20-series. This also applies to the Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti in our desktop, so our primary gaming rig was constrained to a refresh rate of 120Hz. Although it may seem like an enhancement, Samsung’s addition of two HDMI 2.1 connections and one DisplayPort is not. In actuality, it is a downgrade from the previous model, which had two DisplayPort connectors and one HDMI 2.0 port. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 can now be connected simultaneously, however neither device supports an ultrawide or super-ultrawide aspect ratio. The Neo G9’s native resolution of 5,120 x 1,440 is insufficient to support 4K’s vertical resolution of 2160 pixels, hence it cannot even provide 4K from a console. The only benefit of HDMI 2.1 is that Samsung may promote the monitor with that designation. On the lower right bezel of the display, there is a joystick control that controls input and monitor settings. Monitor settings are organized into easily navigable menus with clear labels. Detailed information regarding important settings like refresh rate and response time is readily available thanks to an instrument panel at the top of the menu. Three buttons next to the joystick that can be used to switch between personalized settings are one of the new features for 2021. If you play different games at various settings, this is fantastic. We don’t play that way, but those who use the black equalizer function to increase visibility in dark games will appreciate it.
HDR performance
The Neo G9’s backlight is unique among gaming monitors thanks to mini LED technology, and full array local dimming (FALD) has replaced the Odyssey G9’s edge-lit local dimming. The Neo G9’s display now has a staggering 2,048 distinct local dimming zones, which is a huge advance over the G9’s meagre 10 zones. As a result, the Neo G9 is able to achieve blisteringly high luminance levels. On a 10% white window, we measured 2,200cd/m2. As a result, anything you choose to play in HDR will look absolutely stunning. We chose Far Cry 5, Battlefield V, Star Wars Battlefront II, and HDR sample videos from YouTube. you will learn our article on Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review. Colors in HDR video appear appropriately rich and vivid, and the Mini LED backlighting contributes to producing outstanding levels of detail from the brightest highlights to the darkest corners. A particularly good example was Star Wars Battlefront II, which included neon blaster fire and sparkling lightsabers in addition to dark tunnels that were streaked with sunlight. If you want the Neo G9 to have the highest peak brightness, you must maintain it in Dynamic HDR mode no matter what you choose to play. The maximum luminance in standard HDR mode is reduced to about 1,100 nits, making it a decent option for late-night gaming in places with low lighting.
Picture quality
We measured the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9’s benchmark results both with our unaided eyes and with a colorimeter. The Neo has a remarkable contrast ratio of 4240:1 and a brightness level of 212 nits in its factory SDR settings. It also has a stunning black point of 0.05 nits. That demonstrates how wonderfully those mini-LEDs function because it is twice as good as the original G9. The stark contrast and intense black point give games and movies a great amount of punch, nuance, and depth. The color temperature of 6192K is suitable, and the Delta E of 1.9 guarantees accuracy. The Neo rendered the sRGB gamut with coverage and volume levels of 99.5% and 129.4%, and it zipped through the DCI-P3 at 91.5% and 91.6%. These strong color figures were paired with impressive gamut ability. This translates to a tone of sRGB space vibrancy and sufficient depth for HDR content. With a less than 10% brightness variance, the Neo has impressive uniformity, which is fantastic for an ultrawide. Thankfully, the Neo kept these results even with the backlight turned up and down. Unsurprisingly, LG and Alienware are just unable to compete. Although they have good screens, the LG option suffered from less uniform uniformity and lower contrast ratios than the Neo. The Neo G9 literally shines when you switch to HDR mode. The Neo has Dynamic HDR and Standard HDR modes, with the latter being the best. The Neo produced a stunning peak brightness level of 2333 nits with a black point of 0.05 nits and a powerful contrast level of 46,660:1 when the Dynamic option was activated. Sometimes those black levels will also reach zero.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review: Gaming
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 super-ultrawide monitor is a paradigm-shifting display, and that is not hyperbole. In addition to providing great aesthetics, it can enhance how you play particular games. Unfortunately, it is a far cry from being ideal. The ideal monitor for simulation games is the Neo G9. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, a visual landing is simple because the wider perspective of the monitor provides a realistic sense of speed and elevation. The Neo G9 is a great option for Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft because of this perspective, which can be fantastic in open-world games and MMORPGs. However, not every game benefits from being played on an ultrawide display. The majority of displays place significant UI components near the corners or edges. This is problematic on a super-ultrawide since the width will force crucial information outside of your focus. To see information that is often visible with a quick glance, you must incline your head. Together with a VA panel, the Mini-LED backlight features 2,048 distinct dimming zones. The Neo G9 outperforms last year’s edge-lit G9, which already had a strong measured contrast ratio of 1760:1, with an astounding measured contrast ratio of 8780:1. This outperforms Asus’ ROG Swift PG32UQX, which incorporates Mini-LED as well. The display achieved a 4890:1 measured contrast ratio. The excellent contrast of the Neo G9 creates a rich, dimensional image. The high contrast ratio, however, actually downplays the display’s advantages. The edge-lit glare that bothers most gaming displays and spoils the atmosphere of gloomy situations is fully eliminated by mini-LED. In an open-world game, watching the sun go down is a breathtaking experience.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review: Performance
For dedicated gamers and power users in particular, setting up our Odyssey G9 Neo review sample does need some effort and planning, but the results are well worth the labor and the expense. Although the display is designed to support ultra wide 32:9 aspect ratio gaming, you’ll need the right game that natively supports it, such as Call of Duty Warzone or Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a strong enough gaming machine to run it. The wider perspective of the display, particularly in first-person shooters, gives you the ability to see more of the surrounding area at a glance without having to pan left and right, providing you have the necessary prerequisites in place. When working on spreadsheets, the extra width is especially helpful because it allows you to view many more columns than ever before. Additionally, heavy multitaskers can easily run four to six applications on the screen at once. For the first time ever, Netflix, YouTube, two browser tabs open at once, and Microsoft Office can all be seen on the same screen. Once you start down this road, a smaller monitor will no longer suffice. As everything is in your field of vision thanks to the 1000R curvature, it is also a little bit simpler to work on various jobs scattered over the display. Our Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo review sample delivered some of the best blacks ever when tested with test footage, with little to no blooming except in truly extreme situations, such as a starfield in a game, and even then, with just the slightest halo of white that will pass unnoticed inspection. If you have the right footage to fully appreciate the rated HDR2000 peak brightness, it is truly breathtaking. However, its sheer size and image quality will ensure that anything you view on it is done justice.
Price and availability
The price of the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a scorching $2,499 (£1,749, AU$2,999). Although it is by far one of the most costly gaming monitors available, it does provide many advantages over competing models. This gaming monitor, to our knowledge, is the only one with an HDR 2000 rating, making it superior to even the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ and offering the best HDR we’ve ever seen, including TVs. you will read our article on Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review. Therefore, even though the price has increased significantly from the $1,479 (£1,289, AU$2,799) model from last year, it actually makes sense when you take into account all the glitzy new technology that Samsung has thrown in. The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 surpasses the Odyssey G9, the current king of ultrawide gaming monitors, and is ideal for gamers who demand nothing less than the best experience money can buy.
Conclusion
You will like Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G9 if you need an ultrawide display for PC gaming or even if you don’t. The curved monitor greatly enhances immersion when playing video games, and it also boosts efficiency at the office. Since the Odyssey Neo G9 has a display more in line with high-end TVs, it is unfair to compare the two models. The Quantum Mini-LEDS are precise, brilliant, and quick thanks to their 240Hz refresh rate. Although this monitor is pricey, given the features it offers, the cost is reasonable. This is the best gaming monitor available; however, in order to utilize it to its fullest, you will need a powerful computer.
