Although we test many proprietary displays, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NC also beats the mark for us. This curved gaming monitor is no less than 145cm from corner to corner. Isn’t this too big?
This is an abbreviated version of Review appeared on Tweakers.
Right now, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NC is the only 57-inch “ultra-wide” monitor available. The screen is the same width as two 32-inch monitors stuck together. This collapses the curved panel around your entire field of view. Previous ultra-wide images were no larger than 49 inches, with a maximum resolution of 5120 x 1140 pixels.
This mini LED display also has a resolution of 7680 x 2160 pixels. So there are approximately 140 pixels per inch. This also has drawbacks. You need a very powerful computer to control such a high-quality display. You also have to spend a lot of money; The screen currently costs approximately 2,500 euros. There are plenty of nice displays that cost much less. For example, its 49-inch predecessor currently costs only half that amount. So the question is whether it is worth the price and for whom.
Limited viewing angles
The Neo G9 G95NC has a remarkably sharp curvature of 1000 R. This number refers to the radius in millimeters. So you’re actually in the middle of that circle at a distance of one meter. Most ultra-wide panels have a less severe curvature. With this steep curve, a larger portion of the field of view is filled when you sit close to it.
It also helps cover limited viewing angles. Our testing shows a significant loss of brightness, especially on the left and right side of the screen. Only 25 percent of the original brightness remains. Thanks to the sharp curvature, this is less important. Because the sides of the screen are curved towards you, you can look directly at all parts of the screen from a distance of one meter. So make sure you’re sitting directly in front of the screen, preferably right in the middle.
Extremely demanding even for the most powerful computers
The G9 G95NC’s image is very sharp due to its 140 ppi resolution. Sharp resolution is useful for photo or video editing, for example, if you want to view 4K images at full resolution. The screen is also a real joy for gaming, especially with racing or simulation games. At a distance of about 80cm, it’s as if you’re wearing VR glasses.
However, PC games must support such a large screen, which is not always the case. If you’re not a PC gamer or edit photos and videos, this ultra-wide screen doesn’t have much added value. In most cases, for example, when watching movies and series, you are left with large black edges in the image.
Games can be played at a maximum resolution of 7680 x 2160 pixels and a 240Hz refresh rate, or 240 frames per second. In practice there are all kinds of obstacles. There are currently only four video cards available that can theoretically make optimal use of the monitor, but our tests show that even the fastest computers are unable to make the most of this monitor in practice. In no test scenario did we observe that 240 images per second was actually achieved at maximum resolution.
Beautiful HDR display
Finally, we tested brightness, color rendering, and power consumption. With the standard (SDR) display we saw a remarkably high maximum “white brightness” of 840 cd/m2. Almost no screen we tested was brighter. Brightness is also very good in an HDR display, thanks to the excellent backlighting. HDR technology ensures that bright parts of the screen, called highlights, appear brighter. The downside is that the screen is not evenly lit. Due to the sharp curvature, the center of the screen is visibly brighter than the sides.
Through our color reproduction testing, we noticed that the colors on the SDR image display deviate relatively often from the actual colors as standard. For example, green has too little saturation, and red and blue have too much. However, with some menu adjustments, good color reproduction can be achieved. HDR images appear a little brighter than the creator intended and the colors are not correct in all cases. Therefore, the monitor may not be the ideal choice for editing HDR images and this is a missed opportunity.
We measured power consumption at a brightness of 150 cd/m², which is the brightness at which we perform almost all screen measurements. For its size, the G95NC’s performance isn’t as bad as you might think. At 150 cd/m2, approximately 60 watts are consumed, twice as much as two 32-inch 4K displays. Most comparable monitors score worse. If we use the highest brightness, the screen will require 100 watts. This still isn’t the biggest power consumer, although this screen is clearly brighter than most similar displays.
Conclusion
Given its size and powerful specifications, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NC offers a really great experience for proper gaming, but it’s only interesting to a very limited set of users. Although PC games look great, even with the best video card, they can’t get the most out of the screen. Color adjustment for SDR images is very good with the necessary menu adjustments, but it’s no better than average for HDR content, meaning the display has only limited value for photo editors.
Add to this the poor viewing angles and the very high price of around €2,500 and we have to conclude that the monitor is not really a good deal. For half the money you can get a 49-inch ultra-wide screen. A larger 4K TV or 32-inch 4K monitor set is also cheaper. The G9 G95NC is an innovative device, but it’s so progressive that it’s not worth buying for most people.
Want to know more about Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 57G95NC like specifications, user experiences and stores at best prices? Then check it out Overview At Tweakers Pricewatch.
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