Faisal Ghaffar 
It was at CES 2022 that Samsung first teased Odyssey OLED G8 and it took its time in bringing it to shelves. The good news is that it turned out to be worth it. Let’s take a look.
Design
The top-notch build quality and the athletic and sleek design of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 will catch your eye right away. The rear panel is of solid metal that feels luxurious and durable at the same time. It stands out because it is different from the disappointing and plastic shells that you will come across in the monitor market.
The good news is that no compromises have been made in functionality for the sake of aesthetics. The mild 1800R curvature, which can serve gamers very well in playing different types of games as well as day-to-day productivity. A monitor stand is also included, which does not occupy a lot of space. It can also be adjusted for tilt and height.
Connectivity and features
When it comes to connectivity, Samsung has proven to be rather unorthodox. The monitor does not have even one HDMI port, or a full-sized DisplayPort. Instead, it comes with a pair of USB-C inputs, one Micro-HDMI 2.1 and one Mini DisplayPort. This means that you will need an adapter for HDMI cables or DisplayPort.
Moreover, the Odyssey OLED G8 is presented as a ‘smart gaming monitor’ due to which it is powered by the Tizenoperating system and its features are similar to a Samsung smart TV. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are built-in and there are various apps for services like Nvidia GeForce Now, Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming, Hulu and Netflix. You can technical play games, stream movies and do it without a PC.
You can control the menu system with a convenient remote that is available with the box, or there is also a joystick on the back that functions as the power button. The menu system is also more intuitive and versatile than a standard on-screen menu you will find on a monitor. You can also customize the monitor and make adjustments for hue, color saturation, gamma and color temperature, amongst other options.
Another feature that helps the Odyssey OLED G8 stand out is the addition of speakers. They offer clear sound and reasonable volume, but do lack in terms of bass.
Gaming and HDR image quality
PC gamers are familiar with the QD-OLED display panel of Samsung and it is also present in the Odyssey OLED G8. It can deliver great image quality where SDR games are concerned, particularly where the contrast ratio is concerned. The color performance is also quite impressive and the strong color accuracy makes the games vibrant and vivid.
There might be some issues in terms of brightness, particularly in HDR and the luminance is also lacking in some aspects. But, the SDR content looks amazing in HDR mode.
The Verdict
There is no doubt that the Odyssey OLED G8 is an excellent monitor that delivers excellent performance, not just in terms of gaming, but also where day-to-day productivity is concerned.
