Samsung
32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD Gaming Monitor
About the product
Should you get this 32-inch gaming monitor?
You’ve got a robust computer with powerful processing and plenty of memory, but you haven’t paired it with a monitor yet. How do you go about choosing the right one? If you’re a gamer, you need a reliable monitor with a high-quality picture and any additional gaming features that can help elevate your gaming experience.
Samsung is a top brand when it comes to TVs and has incorporated many of its innovative features and designs into its computer monitors. Key things to consider when shopping for a gaming monitor include screen size, resolution, refresh rate, response time and build quality. The Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD delivers on all fronts and is an excellent gaming monitor that’s sure to last.
What is the Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD gaming monitor?
Product specifications
Size: 32” | Refresh Rate: 240 Hz | Resolution: 4K | Connectivity: HDMI, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Extra Features: AI Audio, AI Motion Enhancer Pro, Smart TV and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
The Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD gaming monitor boasts a stunning metal design that stands out from other monitors with plastic frames. This gives it a high-tech look and a durable build.
OLED is an innovative display technology that reproduces the deepest blacks and accurate color contrast, making this monitor an excellent choice for gamers, as many scenes in computer games can be dark and difficult to see under normal light conditions. It also uses AI to render a high-quality image and superb sound, and it features motion-enhancement technology for smooth viewing and gaming.
Price and where to buy
The Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD gaming monitor is available on the Samsung website for $1,299.
Why we like it
Resolution
Although many monitors max out at a 1080p full HD resolution, this one pulls out all the stops and renders visuals in stunning 4K quality. The best PC games are designed to be played on 4K displays, and with 250 nits of brightness and a wider spectrum of colors, shades and contrasts, you’ll feel like you’re in the game.
Smooth gaming
Few things are as frustrating for gamers as input lag and motion blur. However, this monitor offers a blazing-fast refresh rate of 240 Hz and a near-instant 0.03 ms response time, making it suitable for gamers who enjoy fast-paced action, such as first-person shooters and racing and horror games. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which keeps the GPU and panel synced to significantly reduce choppiness and image tearing.
Smart TV
One of the coolest features is that this unit doesn’t act solely as a gaming monitor. Thanks to the smart TV function, you can kick back and watch your favorite TV shows and movies whenever you're not gaming or working on your computer. As a 32-inch monitor, it’s a terrific extra TV for small areas in your home, such as your bedroom or office.
What we don’t like
HDR Brightness
Brightness is superb when watching SDR content, but when HDR is enabled, it leaves a bit to be desired as it doesn’t reach very high levels. That means that HDR content can look somewhat dim at times, and bright scenes, such as sunsets, can appear less detailed than one would hope.
No external audio
There are some connection limitations with this gaming monitor, primarily that you can’t hook up external speakers. That’s a huge disappointment because while the built-in speakers are adequate for casual gaming, they don’t come anywhere near the sound quality and volume you would get from an external speaker.
Gaming features
Gaming is where this monitor excels. For starters, the graphics processing is superb, and the screen responds almost instantly to input. That means you’ll get smooth, lag-free gaming every time, and the excellent brightness and color contrast provide an immersive experience. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro eliminates tearing and stuttering, and the advanced NQ8 AI Gen3 processor upscales HD content to nearly 4K, even when streaming games. Plus, it supports Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia GeForce Now, Google Stadia and Amazon Luna, so you have access to plenty of titles as soon as you set it up.
Picture quality
OLED technology provides outstanding color contrast, and HDR content is particularly impressive. Thanks to a Quantum Dot panel, colors look accurate and vibrant, and the detailed graphics jump out. Brightness isn’t nearly as high as some other TVs or monitors, but for gaming and casual streaming, it’s more than enough. AI Motion Enhancer is a neat feature that automatically optimizes fast-moving images and is perfect for watching live sports and gaming.
Smart TV features
This monitor’s smart TV features are similar to those of a standard smart TV. It comes preloaded with popular streaming apps, such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+, but you can download plenty of others from the app store. The remote has dedicated buttons for launching those preloaded streaming services. You’ll also get access to Samsung’s Game Hub, where you can play some games without a console or PC.
Should you get the Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD gaming monitor?
The Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey OLED G80SD is a high-end gaming monitor, and its cost reflects that. It doubles as a smart TV, has a gorgeous, wide display and is packed with features, making it an excellent monitor for hardcore gamers. It’s a full-blown entertainment monitor, but if you want something more straightforward for school or office work, there are cheaper options to consider.