Samsung Odyssey G8 G80SD is a stunning gaming monitor with a smooth 240Hz refresh rate

We’re in a period where monitors and displays are veering away from being standard productivity tools and inching toward becoming more fleshed-out gaming monitors. Typically, many display manufacturers try to leverage high FPS support, HDR, and visual modes to facilitate gaming. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor boldly blurs the lines between a productivity monitor and a TV by going above and beyond. This versatile $1,799 display aims to cater to both casual users and more invested PC players, making it a compelling option for anyone in the market for a new display. After spending some time with the monitor, I’m impressed by its design, performance, smart features, and overall value.

Taking Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD out of the box, I was delighted by the striking aesthetic. With a 32-inch OLED 4K UHD screen, it offers a generous workspace with a 3840 x 2160 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The ultra-slim bezels frame the display beautifully, creating a great immersive viewing experience for gaming or pairing with another monitor for a dual-display setup. On the rear of the monitor is a series of ports available to use. This includes the AC100-240V 50/60Hz power supply, which is connected to a sizeable power brick––so keep that in mind. There are also two USB-A ports, a DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, and onboard speakers.

The build of the display quality is thoughtful as well. Within the packaging comes a sturdy stand that provides height adjustment, tilt, and swivel features. This flexibility ensures you can easily find your ideal viewing angle, whether I’m writing a new story or flipping through Netflix––something I historically never did from my PC. If you prefer a minimalist setup, the monitor is VESA compatible, allowing you to mount it on the wall or an arm for a cleaner look. This is the route I took, fixing the 32-inch display to my existing mount. It was simple enough to screw the monitor in and integrate it within my PC setup.

At the core of the monitor is its impressive 4K UHD panel, which offers breathtaking picture quality. The monitor boasts a wide colour gamut, and 250 nits brightness, allowing for vibrant and accurate colours that truly enhance the viewing experience. Supporting HDR10, Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor excels in delivering stunning contrast and brightness. Whether you’re editing photos or videos, the HDR capabilities and its Dynamic Black Equalizer elevate the overall visual experience with deep blacks and bright highlights. The monitor also features a matte display, capable of reducing glare, especially useful as the max brightness isn’t exceptionally high. With minimal bezels, the viewing experience while playing games is rich and immersive.

Positioned primarily as a gaming monitor, Samsung display features up to 240Hz refresh rate and a wonderful 0.03ms response time, ensuring that inputs and reactions are registering at impressive speeds. A response time like this is essential when playing competitive games like Call of Duty: Warzone where being reactive and having your inputs register in the moment can win or lose a match. The sharpness and clarity are immediately noticeable, making everything from the vibrancy of streamed content to intricate details in games pop off the screen. Its high frame rate looks exceptional when playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Loading into Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, I was astounded by the depth of the visuals. In both cases, the rich open-world environments beam off the display. Whether I was swinging through New York City or driving through Night City, the visuals looked smooth and fluid throughout. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor is also G-Sync compatible, meaning it’s able to reduce visual choppiness and screen tears during high-octane moments. As someone who traditionally plays games in the living room, Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD is probably the closest I’ve come to having that same visual experience at my desk using my PC.

One of the unique aspects of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD is its smart functionality, which elevates it from other gaming monitors. Powered by Samsung Tizen OS, the monitor supports access to streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Disney+. This means you can enjoy your favourite shows and movies without needing to connect a separate device, install additional software onto your PC, or use browser-based access. Of course, you’ll need an active subscription for each service. The UI is sleek and intuitive, making navigation a breeze as it’s all powered by the NQ8 AI Gen3 processor. Setting up your favourite apps is quick and straightforward, and you can easily switch between tasks without any hassle. So, when you’re taking a break from playing through Metaphor: ReFantazio, you can catch up on episodes of Agatha All Along. Included in the box is a remote that enables quick navigation. There’s also built-in Bixby support, adding an extra layer of convenience.

The Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor also encourages the use of the Gaming Hub. Here, I was able to access Xbox Cloud Gaming to quickly and seamlessly play games like Starfield, Halo Infinite, and Forza Motorsport. Of course, internet bandwidth will ultimately dictate the user experience but as long as you have a stable internet connection, you can use the cloud to stream games across NVIDIA GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Boosteroid, and Utomik. However, do note that individual subscriptions are required to use these services. Through this, you can play a catalogue of games without having to install them on your PC first. Samsung’s Gaming Hub is compatible with the Xbox Wireless Controller, PlayStation DualSense, Amazon Luna controller, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

Another impressive feature is Samsung DeX compatibility, which lets you wirelessly connect to the monitor and enjoy a desktop-like experience. This feature is particularly useful for multitasking, enabling you to run apps and access files with ease. The Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor also supports screen mirroring, so you can share content from your smartphone seamlessly.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor is a great purchase for anyone looking for a premium mid-to-high-range gaming display for the office. It’s a bit more than many other monitors on the market. However, its combination of 4K UHD supports a vivid colour array and smart functionalities. This is a versatile gaming monitor that’ll be a compelling option for those looking to get more from their display at their desk Whether it’s for the day-to-day workflows, playing the latest games, or streaming content, the Odyssey G80 offers tremendous value. Its ability to double as both a sleek gaming display and an entertainment hub means you’re getting more than just a standard monitor. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G80SD Gaming Monitor is a remarkable choice for anyone looking to enhance their home office or entertainment setup. Its sleek design, stunning display, and versatile features catered towards gaming combine to create a truly unique experience.

Image credit: Samsung

This story is sponsored by Samsung