Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 Evaluation

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 ($999) is a 43-inch 4K sensible gaming monitor that, on paper, appears prefer it may very well be an ideal monitor. Certainly, for essentially the most half, it’s a formidable display screen with vibrant mini LED backlighting, particularly contemplating the arrival of expensive OLED screens of the identical or related sizes. However whereas its visuals ship, the consumer expertise is lower than preferrred. In our time with the panel, we ran throughout some glitches that maintain again the Neo G7 from incomes increased accolades. They don’t seem to be deal-breakers, nevertheless, so in the event you’re keen to miss them, you may discover the G7 continues to be efficient in delivering high-quality photographs, whether or not you’re settling in for a marathon film evening or taking part in certainly one of your favourite video games.

A Neo Odyssey

Samsung has lengthy confirmed that it may make a handsome monitor, and the Odyssey Neo G7 isn’t any completely different. Skinny bezels bordering the display screen give the monitor the silhouette of an image body, and the matte show retains glare to a minimal. It’s not the thinnest monitor we’ve seen lately (its OLED cousin, the OLED G9, takes that crown), however at 37.8 by 25 by 10 inches (HWD), it’s not too thick across the edges. A distant management can also be included, giving you quick access to the monitor’s menu (extra on this later).

(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)

The panel weighs 25.8 kilos. That is not too hefty, particularly in comparison with screens just like the BenQ Mobiuz Gaming Monitor (EX480UZ), which weighs about 42 kilos with solely a 5-inch distinction in display screen measurement. The Neo G7 isn’t very dexterous, providing no peak adjustment or swivel, only a tilt vary of -2 to twenty levels, which is cheap contemplating the display screen measurement. It’s wall-mountable with a 200mm-by-200mm VESA mount.

Turning the monitor round, you’ll discover that it sports activities a white rear cupboard, giving it a futuristic look paying homage to competing Alienware screens. On its left, you’ll discover a slight indent housing a vertical row of I/O ports: two HDMI 2.1 ports, an Ethernet jack, a DisplayPort enter, a headphone jack, two USB-A ports, and a USB-B upstream connector. Curiously, there’s no RGB lighting on the monitor, however that’s in all probability not an excessive amount of of a loss for many avid gamers. RGB lighting, as soon as a gamer-gear staple, has develop into much less in style of late, and it’s not unusual to see it dropped fully from equipment like gaming mice (notable examples: the Razer DeathAdder V3 and Razer Naga V2 Professional) or carried out sparingly.

(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)

The Odyssey Neo G7 makes use of Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Expertise in its mini LED show. Quantum Matrix Expertise works with the monitor’s AI-powered processor to learn the picture on the display screen and dim it accordingly, delivering extra profound distinction, Samsung says. Sometimes, regular LCD backlights encompass LEDs alongside the sting of the panel or in some instances a grid of LEDs with as much as 512 dimming zones. Quantum dots use those self same LEDs, however enhance the standard of white mild generated, and on this case supply richer colours, brighter whites, and deeper blacks, in accordance with Samsung. The picture does look crisp, particularly when viewing darkish or dimly lit scenes from films or video games.

(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)

Together with its 4K decision (3,840 by 2,160 pixels), the Odyssey Neo G7 helps as much as a 144Hz refresh price, a 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Professional, the very best tier of AMD’s adaptive-sync know-how, which reduces display screen tearing, stutter, and enter latency. Additionally, you’ll discover Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which options cloud streaming providers like Xbox Sport Go and Nvidia GeForce Now, a staple in Samsung’s sensible screens and TVs.

Testing the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7: Efficiency The place It Counts

At $999 however periodically on sale for $799 (it was discounted to that at this writing), the Odyssey Neo G7 is a superb purchase for somebody on the lookout for a 4K monitor with smart-TV options added—however how does it evaluate to different 4K gaming screens the place it counts? To reply that query, we took a glance below the hood to run a few key benchmarks that measure distinction, brightness, enter lag, and shade accuracy utilizing the Datacolor SpyderX colorimeter. We haven’t had many 43-inch gaming screens come our method, so we picked out some latest, smaller 4K gaming screens we have reviewed: the Lenovo Legion Y32p-30, the Sony Inzone M9, the Dell 32 4K UHD Gaming Monitor (G3223Q) and the ViewSonic Gaming Elite XG321UG.

In our first check, we measure the monitor’s brightness in its default image mode with an SDR sign. The Odyssey Neo G7 noticed a mean brightness of 456 nits (candelas per sq. meter), which put it a couple of nits over Samsung’s 400-nit score. That’s a great deal brighter than most of our 4K contenders, apart from the ViewSonic Gaming Elite.

Switching over to HDR mode, we used the VESA DisplayHDR compliance assessments (obtainable at no cost on the Microsoft Retailer) to measure a peak HDR brightness of 651 nits, simply over the monitor’s VESA Show HDR600 score.

Turning our consideration to measuring the monitor’s shade gamut, we see that the Neo G7 held its personal towards the opposite 4K screens right here. The Neo G7 spanned 100% of the sRGB shade gamut, 87% of Adobe RGB, and 95% of DCI-P3.

Subsequent up: shade accuracy, the place the Neo G7 recorded a Delta E of two. The upper the Delta E, the additional colours are inclined to stray from their meant hue. A price below 1 is right, although only a few gaming screens attain it, particularly out of the field. Although the Neo’s studying may dissuade video editors and photographers who would like higher shade accuracy when engaged on their craft, it’s removed from dangerous. (For these of us, we suggest a panel just like the ViewSonic VP2785-4K.)

(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)

Subsequent, we have a look at the distinction ratio, which signifies the distinction in luminance between the brightest white and darkest black {that a} monitor can produce. We measured a distinction ratio of 1,960:1 and a black stage of 0.23, whereas the Neo G7 is rated for a peak static distinction ratio of 4,250:1 and a dynamic distinction ratio of 1,000,000:1. The distinction? The static distinction ratio is the luminosity ratio of the brightest and darkest shade the system is able to producing at any time. In distinction (pun semi-intended), the dynamic distinction ratio is the luminosity ratio of the brightest and darkest shade produced over time. At any price, the Neo G7’s distinction ratio is sweet, however inferior to ViewSonic’s.

It’s normal for distinction ratios to fluctuate, even throughout the identical panel varieties. Our testing is finished on default settings with the brightness raised to 100, however completely different video modes can produce the next distinction ratio. It’s also possible to attempt enabling or disabling completely different settings, and even calibrating the distinction your self. These measures could assist deepen blacks, which in flip will increase the distinction ratio—however that will additionally have an effect on image high quality, so preserve that in thoughts as you tinker.

Media and Gaming Efficiency

Up to now, the Neo G7 has been outlined by nice shade vary and brightness, in addition to common distinction ratio and shade accuracy. However what about crucial gaming metric, enter lag? It’s on this check that the Neo G7 proves its value. Utilizing the HDFury Diva HDMI matrix, we clocked 3.9 milliseconds (ms) of enter lag, which is a superb end result. (The decrease the quantity, the higher, however something below 15ms of enter lag is greater than playable.) Screens measuring below 1ms of enter lag are what is going to impress the hardcore esports crowd, however a still-low enter lag measure just like the Neo G7’s 3.9ms will assist informal gamers sustain with the competitors in fast-paced shooters and motion video games.

(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)

The low enter lag ought to have been the cherry on prime for this monitor. Nevertheless, in testing I got here throughout a couple of issues that had little to do with panel efficiency, however had been nonetheless irritating. One concerned the menus: The Neo’s had been unusually sluggish at occasions when merely navigating the onscreen show (OSD). I seen the sluggishness whereas transferring from the Gaming Hub to the Media Hub, or when ready for apps to start out up.

I additionally seen that the monitor would generally not detect an enter. At one time, it didn’t detect a PC related by way of DisplayPort, regardless of making an attempt three completely different DisplayPort cables. Finally, it labored, however then I had the identical concern with the HDMI port. I wasn’t capable of pinpoint the explanation, or an answer, and Samsung had not responded to a request for remark by the point I revealed this evaluate.

Are these issues deal-breakers? Sure and no. Whereas the problems could very properly be restricted to our evaluate pattern, a fast look on the remark part on the monitor’s product web page means that some early adopters skilled related points. Samsung additionally didn’t reply to a request for remark about how widespread the issues is likely to be. Finally, a sluggish OSD is irksome, however not practically as a lot of an issue as a tool not being acknowledged. Samsung does supply a one-year guarantee in the event you do fall sufferer to a {hardware} concern.

Once I did lastly get the monitor to acknowledge that PC enter, the gaming expertise was wonderful. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 seemed good on the monitor, and video games that enable for prime body charges, like Counter-Strike: World Offensive, didn’t run into any points like display screen tearing with the adaptive sync activated. The audio high quality from the built-in audio system was tremendous, although I famous no main distinction in quantity as I crept as much as increased quantity ranges. In contrast with the wonderful vary of sound from the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9’s audio system, the shortage of vary was noticeable.

Verdict: Do 4K Visuals Trump Sluggish Software program?

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 is a reasonably good big-screen monitor, with a strong mini LED display screen and a few good gaming options—as long as you don’t fall sufferer to its potential {hardware} or software program points. Finally, Samsung’s monitor delivers the place it counts, with low enter lag, wonderful shade vary, and a great HDR implementation. For the scale and value, it is onerous to not suggest the Odyssey Neo G7, however there are many glitch-free OLED choices to think about in the event you drop a couple of inches from the equation, just like the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 OLED.