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Aug 23, 2023

First Look: Now With OLED, the Samsung Odyssey G9 Ultrawide Still Sizzles

OLED gaming monitors have become increasingly common, and for good reason: OLED screens are in a league of their own, and they outclass IPS displays in almost every category. So how do you stand out

OLED gaming monitors have become increasingly common, and for good reason: OLED screens are in a league of their own, and they outclass IPS displays in almost every category. So how do you stand out in an increasingly crowded field? Go bigger, of course—or, in Samsung’s case, go wider.

On a recent visit to the Samsung 837 flagship-showroom-turned-retail store in New York City, PCMag got an opportunity to go hands-on with the company's upcoming ultrawide, the Odyssey OLED G9. While we were impressed by its dazzling display and giant wingspan, it remains to be seen if the massive monitor will justify its equally giant asking price of $2,199.

With a highly slim profile, the super-ultrawide Odyssey OLED G9 stretches to a 32:9 aspect ratio, and at 49 inches on the diagonal, it’s also the first of its kind. The "dual quad HD" display (5,120 by 1,440 pixels) wraps around your field of vision with a gentle 1,800mm curve. Also expressed as "1800R," this curve is the radius measurement of a circle that would be created by a hypothetical ring of these monitors placed edge to edge. The lower the millimeter count, the tighter the curve is.

But a curve is nothing without stunning visuals to go along with it, so the new monitor takes advantage of Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor Pro, which instantaneously analyzes images and automatically adjusts brightness while amplifying contrast on a pixel-by-pixel level, the company says. We’ve seen similar AI upscaling techniques used on other Samsung monitors, like the Odyssey Ark.

Though it doesn’t reach a 4K pixel count (the native resolution is a little less than a million pixels short), you won’t even notice that there could be more pixels thanks to the vibrancy and clarity of the OLED panel. And with the extra screen real estate, you’ll be able to sink into your games like never before. Fans of immersive sims like Microsoft Flight Simulator will love the extra wingspan, but even shooters like Doom Eternal and Battlefield 2042 gain a whole new perspective thanks to the wider aspect ratio. Couple that with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, a 0.03ms response time, and 240Hz refresh rate, and you’re in for a good time.

If you don’t have the raw PC power to run these games (and it will take a lot, at this resolution), fear not, as the Samsung Gaming Hub makes an appearance as well. The all-in-one streaming platform allows gamers to stream their favorite titles from popular game streaming services like Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now. In addition, you’ll be able to connect peripherals via Bluetooth, allowing you to use your favorite game controller from any console.

Gaming aside, the Odyssey OLED G9 inherits plenty of Samsung TV accoutrements, including streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube, that users can access over a built-in wireless connection.

Samsung has even snuck in SmartThings integration, which brings smart home functionality directly to the monitor. Voice controls are accessible through both Alexa and Bixby, Samsung’s own virtual assistant. A handy remote control is included, as well.

As for physical connectivity, the ultrawide monitor features a minimal port hub on the back that includes one mini HDMI 2.1 port, one full-size HDMI 2.1, and one DisplayPort 1.4. That's a noticeable lack of USB ports, but an understandable sacrifice to keep the monitor's thin frame.

The monitor doesn't skimp on any RGB lighting, in the process, as you'll find both CoreSync and Core Lighting+ technology on the rear of the monitor that synchronizes to onscreen content, setting the mood for every situation.

You won’t have to wait long to get your hands on the monitor—preorders open today, June 12. Early adopters willing to drop some serious cash will receive a $250 Samsung gift card for their efforts. It might even make the sting of your drained bank account a little easier to take.

While our time with Samsung’s upcoming monitor was short, it was certainly sweet. Enthusiasts desperate to immerse themselves into their movie-watching or game-playing experience could find a lot to love with the Odyssey OLED G9, but whether it’s worth the price of admission—especially compared with the cheaper, older non-OLED Odyssey—remains the question on our minds. Keep an eye on PCMag.com in the coming weeks for our in-depth review.

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