Samsung has announced three new additions to its Odyssey monitor line: the G7 28”, G5 27”, and G3 27” (with a 24” option).
The Odyssey monitor line is popularly known for its curved monitors (the Odyssey G9). Notability, these releases are flat and won’t have a curved version available.
“Following the curved gaming monitor launch in 2020, Samsung now offers a variety of Odyssey monitors in flat-screen design,” Samsung stated in a press release.
Let’s take a look at the new releases:
Odyssey G7 28”
First, we have the Odyssey G7 28. Though Samsung claims the G7 model produces “incredible colors” with high contrast, it’s looking just decent on paper. It features an IPS, not QLED, 3,840 x 2,160 panel and has only 8-bit color support. As a result, the screen is going to be less bright than the higher-end models. The included 8-bit support also means you’re going to miss a lot of color and contrast changes if you’re doing heavy color correction.
However, that isn’t to say the monitor isn’t bright. It features VESA HDR400 and has average and peak brightness levels of 350 and 400 nits — meaning this monitor wouldn’t be the best for video editing. Typically, you want to have a peak brightness of at least 1000 nits when editing video. The Odyssey G7 28” projects to work better as a gaming monitor than a monitor for video editing.
It features an Ultra High Definition (UHD) panel with a wide 178-degree viewing angle. Additionally, it’s compatible with HDMI 2.1, allowing for 4K at a 144HZ refresh rate and a 1ms response time. The monitor also works with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC.
Odyssey G5 27”
Odyssey G5 27 has a lower resolution than the G7 28 model, featuring a Quad High Definition (2,560 x 1,440) panel. However, it does have a higher 165Hz refresh rate. Additionally, it supports HDR10, delivering high contrast and brightness range, G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium. HDR10 is the minimum of HDR, delivering a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits and a color depth of 10 bits. Video editors typically want to be working around at least 1,000 nits of brightness. So, on paper, the G5 27″ could get the job done.
Odyssey G3 27” and 24”
The Odyssey G3 27” and 24” are budget options for players looking for a decent monitor for their setup. The monitors have a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms. They also support AMD FreeSync Premium and have a height-adjustable stand. These monitors do not feature HDR and have a lower brightness level than the G7 28” and G5 27”. From the looks of it, neither of the monitors would be ideal for video editing — even as a budget option.
Pricing and availability
You can get the G3 model on July 1st for $250 and $220 for the 27- and 24-inch models. As for the G7 and G5 models, we’re going to have to wait until Samsung reveals their prices and release time frames at a later date.
