Samsung has just dropped a bombshell in the gaming world with the introduction of the awe-inspiring Odyssey Neo G9, a colossal 57-inch gaming monitor that redefines the gaming experience. This behemoth boasts a dual 4K setup that will have gamers salivating, but you might need to clear some desk space for it. What’s even more exciting is that it’s the first dual UHD monitor equipped with DisplayPort 2.1 technology.
If this news feels like déjà vu, it’s because not long ago, I had the chance to experience Samsung’s other massive ultrawide offering, the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9, at their New York City offices. However, the Neo G9 takes things to a whole new level. Instead of two 2K monitors stitched together, we now have two 32-inch 4K monitors seamlessly merged, delivering a staggering 7,680 x 2,160 resolution.
The inclusion of DisplayPort 2.1 brings with it the potential for 240Hz at 8K, but currently, only AMD’s high-end RDNA 3 GPUs support DP 2.1. Nvidia RTX 40-series cards, on the other hand, are limited to DP 1.4, capping the Neo G9’s performance at 120Hz for maximum resolution.
The result is an overwhelming yet captivating gaming experience. Playing games like Need for Speed Unbound felt immersive, even though I couldn’t resist some reckless drifting into cop cars. Games with detailed cockpit views, such as Forza and Microsoft Flight Simulator, truly shine on this colossal canvas.
However, attempting competitive first-person shooters on a monitor this massive can be challenging due to the skewed field of view. I tested Chivalry 2 on a Radeon RX 7900 XTX-powered PC, but I had to quit after a few minutes because performing 360-degree axe swings left me feeling dizzy. Don’t get me wrong; it looked fantastic, and witnessing heads roll in 8K was a spectacle, but it’s not the ideal way to play such games.
Currently, there aren’t many games that support the Neo G9’s 7,680 x 2,160 resolution, limiting the demo experience. Nonetheless, I can envision losing myself in titles like Starfield or Armored Core V for hours once they support 8K.
In terms of design, the Neo G9 features a sleeker back panel compared to the OLED G9 and opts for V-shaped legs instead of the square stand, which seems more about improving weight distribution than making an aesthetic choice. The desk I used measured around 70 inches, and as you can see in the gallery, the Neo G9 occupies a significant portion of it.
Another notable departure from the OLED G9, besides its size, is the Neo G9’s use of Samsung’s Quantum Mini LED technology instead of OLED. While you sacrifice the OLED panel’s exquisite picture quality and lightning-fast response times, you gain an impressive peak brightness of 1,000 nits without the risk of burn-in. Recent gaming OLED monitors have often been criticized for their lackluster peak brightness, making the Neo G9 a suitable choice for both gaming and editing tasks.
The Neo G9 doesn’t include Samsung’s gaming and media hub, a feature found in some models of the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9, allowing you to install and run apps on the monitor, akin to a Smart TV. Additionally, it lacks built-in speakers, so investing in headphones or a quality soundbar is essential. However, it does come equipped with HDMI 2.1 ports, enabling you to connect your Xbox Series X and PlayStation for gaming at 4K 120Hz.
Considering the hardware requirements for 4K/240Hz or 8K/120Hz/60Hz gaming, this monitor appears to be a forward-thinking investment at $2,500, just a few hundred dollars more than the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9. VP of Product Management David Phelps noted that the Neo G9 aligns with the trends in gaming monitors, focusing on larger screens with ultra-high resolutions, and the inclusion of DisplayPort 2.1 technology pushes the boundaries of gaming and display technology.
The Odyssey Neo G9 is now available for pre-order on Samsung’s website, with more information on the shipping date expected soon. We’ve received one in our office, and you can look forward to our comprehensive review once we’ve thoroughly tested it.
