Odyseey monitor
Can the G7 be the gaming monitor that offers all things to everyone?
“It feels like a great, upper-mid-range, allrounder monitor that can do everything well and is reasonably priced.”
We’ve reviewed some stunning, top-end gaming monitors over the years but there’s usually a caveat: either they’ve an exorbitant price or they struggle to display certain content. Samsung’s curved, 32-inch Odyssey G7 gaming monitor offers all the important features you’d want from a top-end gaming monitor but at a reasonable price. So, how do they all fit together?
Firstly, constructing the monitor is more fiddly than we’re used to. There’s no snapping a few parts together here – get your screwdriver out and read the instructions. What you’re left with is a plasticy, v-shaped stand that wobbles when nudged but otherwise capably supports the screen. There’s RGB lighting at the back and lower corners while the OSD is intuitively operated by a mini joystick at the bottom.
At the back are connectors for two DisplayPorts, HDMI, a two-port USB hub and a 3.5mm audio jack. The screen can be raised 120mm, tilted -9 to 13 degrees, swivelled +/- 15 degrees and pivoted from -2 to 90 degrees. This is handy as you’ll need to be facing the screen square on to avoid experiencing light-bleed coming from the tightest part of the curve. While it isn’t terrible, it’s noticeable on a dark background if you’re looking up or down at a horizontal edge.
The 1000R curve is tight for a screen this size and not all gamers or media makers will appreciate it. Video and photo content can appear rather distorted while FPS gamers can experience an exaggerated fishbowl effect. We actually liked it and enjoyed the ability to be able to see more of the screen without turning our head. Many FPS games are displayed with artificial fish-bowl distortion on a flat-screen anyway: the extent you adjust this will affect how much you like the G7.
Another key feature is the 240Hz, 1ms display. While you’d have to be a human fly to see individual frames, you will likely notice the smoothness on offer – we were impressed. Usually, such displays use TN panels which are fast at the expense of colour and contrast. However, the G7 uses a VA panel which surprisingly manages to maintain impressive motion performance while displaying impressive colours and contrast across a very wide dynamic range. But this is where it differs from higher-end, moreexpensive models. The DisplayHDR 600 rating is not as impressive as other HDR10 monitors. With those, bright colours literally shine out of the screen. Here, they’re impressively bright but not as awe-inspiring. Nonetheless, image quality is still excellent and the panel avoids the dreaded halo effect. Expensive, rear-lit screens can make hamfisted attempts at illuminating star fields and streetlights by surrounding bright objects with distracting coronas. The G7 only has eight, rear-lit dimming zones and this modest brightness technology counters this effect.
The Odyssey also displays a comfortable office desktop without having to muck around with settings. As such, it feels like a great, upper-mid-range, allrounder monitor that can do everything well and is reasonably priced at $999. Nonetheless, it will feel limiting to enthusiasts wanting to specialise in particular areas.
NICK ROSS
Smooth motion, good colour and contrast plus a reasonable price tag make the G7 attractive. But, enthusiasts might grumble.