Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

Samsung CHG70 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Review updated Mar 30, 2020 at 11:43 am
Latest change: Retest Aug 17, 2020 at 09:01 am
Samsung CHG70 Picture
7.7
Mixed Usage
7.5
Office
8.2
Gaming
7.6
Multimedia
7.8
Media Creation
7.3
HDR Gaming

The Samsung C27HG70 is a good monitor for most uses. The VA panel delivers deep blacks, and it can display a wide color gamut, great for watching HDR content. It's a great gaming monitor thanks to its low input lag and excellent response time at 144Hz, but unfortunately, it has a bad response time at 60Hz, so it's not a good choice for console gamers. Like most VA panels, the image degrades when viewed at an angle, which might be an issue for some people.

Our Verdict

7.7 Mixed Usage

The CHG70 is a good monitor for mixed usage. Its better than average picture quality and great gaming performance make it a great choice for users looking to get a high performing monitor for home use. The good contrast ratio and native HDR support make it a good choice for watching movies, but it has poor black uniformity, which might be distracting in a dark room.

Pros
  • High contrast gives good picture quality.
  • High refresh rate for gaming.
  • Wide color gamut and HDR support.
Cons
  • Cloudy blacks lack uniformity.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Bad 60Hz response time.
7.5 Office

The C27HG70 is a good office monitor. The 27", 1440p resolution screen is great for multitasking, and the adjustable stand makes it easy to place it in an ideal viewing position. It has great peak brightness and good reflection handling, so glare shouldn't be an issue in a bright room. The image degrades when viewed at an angle, though, so it isn't ideal if you often share your screen.

8.2 Gaming

This is a great gaming monitor overall. It has outstanding low input lag for a responsive gaming experience, and the high native refresh rate results in clear motion when gaming at 144Hz. Unfortunately, the 60Hz response time is bad, so it's not a good choice for console gamers.

7.6 Multimedia

The C27HG70 is a good monitor for enjoying a variety of media. The VA-type LCD TV gives it a higher than average contrast ratio which is the most important aspect of picture quality. It also covers the larger DCI-P3 color gamut well, which when combined with its HDR support gives it a very vibrant picture. It isn't perfect, however. It's not very uniform with some visible clouding, and its local dimming feature is quite rudimentary.

7.8 Media Creation

The Samsung C27HG70 is a good monitor for media creation tasks. The monitor supports the DCI-P3 color gamut, which means it's quite up to date with currently used colorspaces and allows for the production of HDR content. Its relatively high resolution is also quite useful for efficient virtual workspaces. Unfortunately, though, its uneven blacks might bother some, and its lack of support for the Adobe RGB color space means it is more oriented towards video content.

7.3 HDR Gaming

Decent HDR Gaming monitor. While the Samsung CHG70's wide color gamut helps make HDR games look very vibrant and saturated, its average brightness for HDR and basic local dimming feature limit the impact of displaying HDR content. It does, however, keep a very low input lag when connected to an HDR source, which is important for gaming.

  • 7.7 Mixed Usage
  • 7.5 Office
  • 8.2 Gaming
  • 7.6 Multimedia
  • 7.8 Media Creation
  • 7.3 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Aug 17, 2020: Retested HDR color gamut and volume.
  2. Updated Feb 17, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  3. Updated Jan 17, 2019: We tested the monitor's compatibility with NVIDIA's new FreeSync driver. See our full investigation into NVIDIA's FreeSync Drivers here.
  4. Updated Nov 24, 2017: Review published.
  5. Updated Nov 22, 2017: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Nov 22, 2017: Early access published.
  7. Updated Nov 13, 2017: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The CHG70 we bought is the 27" model (Samsung C27HG70). It's also available in a 32" size (Samsung C32HG70). We expect this 32" model to have almost the same performance, but with a flickering backlight instead of the effectively flicker-free performance of the 27" model.

If someone's CHG70 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

Model Size Refresh rate
C27HG70 27" 144Hz
C32HG70 32" 144Hz

The CHG70 we tested was manufactured in August 2017.

Compared To Other Monitors

Comparison picture

Far Left: LG 27UD68-P. Left: Samsung CHG70. Right: Dell S2716DG. Far Right: Acer Predator XB271HU.

The CHG70 is a very good monitor, one of the best monitors for gaming and best curved gaming monitors we've tested, with a high refresh rate and better than average picture quality. See our recommendations for the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, the best mice, and the best keyboards.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T is a much better gaming monitor than its predecessor, the Samsung CHG70. The Odyssey G7 has an upgraded 240Hz refresh rate, the response time is much quicker, it has a wider color gamut, and it has RGB illumination. However, the CHG70 has better out-of-the-box color accuracy, and its ergonomics are better.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A is better than the Samsung CHG70, but they have different panel types. The ASUS has an IPS panel that provides wide viewing angles. It also has a higher refresh rate, a much quicker response time at 60Hz, and it displays a wider color gamut. However, the Samsung has a VA panel that displays deep blacks. It has much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, it gets brighter, and has better reflection handling.

Dell S2719DGF

For most people, the VA panel Samsung CHG70 is significantly better than the TN panel Dell S2719DGF. The Samsung CHG70 has better dark room performance with more uniform blacks and local dimming support. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR content and has a slight curve to immerse you into your work. The Dell S2719DGF, on the other hand, has a more versatile stand that allows you to place it in a comfortable position with ease, and a slightly faster pixel response time that leaves virtually no blur behind fast-moving objects.

LG 27UK650-W

If you've got a bright office and work closely with others, the LG 27U650 is a better choice, but if you play games in a dark room sitting directly in front, then the Samsung CHG70 is a better choice. The LG 27UK650 has better resolution and much better vertical and horizontal viewing angle which make better for office use. On the other hand, the Samsung CHG70 has better refresh rate and input lag which make it better for gaming. The Samsung CHG70 also has better blacks.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The two monitors use different panel technologies, each with advantages and disadvantages. The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B has an IPS panel that allows wider viewing angles, whereas the Samsung CHG70 has a VA panel and offers better dark room performance thanks to the much better contrast ratio and local dimming feature. The LG has slightly faster response time, but the Samsung has a black frame insertion feature that can help make motion look crisper.

Samsung C34F791/CF791

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the Samsung CF791. The CHG70 has much lower input lag, supports HDR, and is equipped with local dimming to make blacks even deeper. You can position it according to your liking and you'll enjoy it in every use. The CF791, on the other hand, is larger, giving you more screen area and more resolution to work with.

AOC CQ27G1

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the AOC CQ27G1. The Samsung supports HDR, can get much brighter, has much better gradient handling, and the response time is quicker. The Dell is also compatible with NVIDIA graphics cards despite having native FreeSync support, while the AOC isn't. On the other hand, the AOC has a bit better contrast ratio and the out-of-box colors are more accurate.

ASUS TUF VG27AQ

The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is much better than the Samsung CHG70. The Asus has better ergonomics and viewing angles, but the contrast ratio isn't as good. Black uniformity is significantly better on the ASUS; however, it can't get as bright as the Samsung, particularly in HDR content.

Nixeus EDG 34

The Samsung CHG70 is a much better monitor than the Nixeus EDG 34. The Samsung is available with a 32-inch screen, and even though it has a VA panel like the Nixeus, the viewing angles are slightly better. There's VRR support through HDMI on the Samsung, but it doesn't have as good of a contrast as the Nixeus. The response time at 60Hz is also significantly better on the Nixeus.

Dell S3220DGF

The Samsung CHG70 is slightly better than the Dell S3220DGF. The Samsung has an optional black frame insertion feature to help the appearance of motion, and a better ergonomic stand that allows you to place the monitor in a comfortable position with ease. The Dell, on the other hand, displays more uniform blacks, which is important when working in a dark room.

MSI Optix MAG271CQR

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the MSI Optix MAG271CQR. The CHG70 has better ergonomics, with a small swivel range and the option to rotate it to a portrait orientation. The CHG70 supports HDR, which the MAG271CQR doesn't, although this doesn't add much.

AOC CQ32G1

The Samsung CHG70 is better overall than the AOC CQ32G1. Both are available in a 27 and 32 inch size, but the Samsung has a different stand than the AOC. The Samsung has a much faster response time at its max refresh rate, it has a local dimming feature, it supports HDR, and its ergonomics are better. However, the AOC has wider viewing angles and better out-of-the-box color accuracy.

AOC CQ27G2

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the AOC CQ27G2 for most users. The CHG70 has better ergonomics, higher peak brighteness, and it supports HDR. On the other hand, the AOC has a much better response time at 60Hz, making it a better choice if you're planning on gaming on a console.

LG 32GK650F-B

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the LG 32GK650F-B for most uses and is a bit better for gaming. The CHG70 supports HDR, has much better gradient handling, and has better reflection handling. The CHG70 also has a faster response time, with less noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects.

MSI Optix MPG27CQ

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the MSI Optix MPG27CQ for most uses. The CHG70 supports HDR and has a slightly more adjustable stand that can also rotate to portrait orientation. The MPG27CQ has a slightly better contrast ratio and a slightly faster response time.

Samsung Space SR75

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the Samsung Space SR75. The CHG70 supports HDR, has much better reflection handling, and it has an optional black frame insertion feature. The CHG70 also has better ergonomics, despite the Frame's unique space-saving design.

ASUS VG279Q

The Samsung CHG70 and ASUS VG279Q use different panel technologies, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The CHG70 looks best in a dark room, it supports HDR, and has a higher native resolution. The VG279Q, on the other hand, has better ergonomics and the IPS panel delivers wide viewing angles, but it doesn't look as good in a dark room.

Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD

The Samsung CHG70 and the AORUS AD27QD use different panels, and each is better for certain uses. The CHG70 uses a VA panel, which is better suited for dark room viewing, but the image degrades when viewed at an angle. The AD27QD, on the other hand, uses an IPS panel, and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. That said, it produces grayish blacks and generally doesn't look as good in a dark room.

Samsung JG50

The Samsung CHG70 is much better than the Samsung CJG50. The CHG70 has much better ergonomics, a faster response time, and it supports FreeSync for a nearly tear-free gaming experience. The CHG70 also supports HDR and is a bit brighter.

BenQ EW3270U

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the BenQ EW3270U. The Samsung CHG70 has much better ergonomics and local dimming support to enhance picture quality and can get brighter in HDR. The CHG70 also has a faster pixel response time, lower input lag, and faster refresh rate, all of which are great news for gamers. The BenQ EW3270U is larger with better resolution and marginally better black uniformity.

Acer Predator X27 bmiphzx

The Acer Predator X27 is a bit better than the Samsung CHG70 unless dark room performance is an important factor. The Predator X27 is much brighter than the CHG70 and has wider viewing angles. The X27 offers a better HDR experience, highlights stand out more in some scenes, and colors are more saturated and vibrant. The VA panel in the CHG70 delivers deeper blacks, and better black uniformity, but worse viewing angles. The CHG70 also has better low input lag.

LG 29UM69G-B

The Samsung CHG70 is a much better monitor for every use than the LG 29UM69G-B. The LG 29UM69G has better viewing angles due to its IPS panel, so it keeps its picture quality when you look from the side. On the other hand, the Samsung CHG70 has better ergonomics, better native contrast ratio, and supports HDR. Finally, the Samsung CHG70 has slightly better input lag and features that make it better for gaming.

AOC AGON AG271QX

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the AOC AGON AG271QX. The Samsung has better native contrast than the AG271QX, important for dark room viewing, although the AG271QX has better black uniformity. The AG271QX has a slightly faster response time, but the CHG70 has an optional black frame insertion feature that can improve motion by reducing persistence blur. Finally, the CHG70 supports HDR and can display a wide color gamut.

LG 34UC79G-B

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the LG 34UC79G-B, unless you plan on sitting close to the monitor. The Samsung CHG70 has a VA panel, which is better for dark room viewing, and supports HDR for the best gaming and multimedia experience. The LG 34UC79G-B uses an IPS panel, which has much wider viewing angles, and so is great if you plan on sitting close to the monitor as the image quality won't degrade towards the edges.

Dell U2717D

The Samsung CHG70 is significantly better than the Dell U2717D for most people unless you need a flat monitor with wide viewing angles, in which case the Dell is a better choice. The Samsung CHG70 has deeper blacks due to the better contrast and local dimming support, and this is great if you use it for multimedia in a dark room. The Samsung CHG70 also has a shorter motion blur trail and lower input lag which is great if you play games. Finally, the Samsung CHG70 supports HDR.

Dell S2716DG

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the Dell S2716DG. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR and performs decently in that mode. The Samsung can display deeper blacks in a dark room due to the higher contrast ratio and local dimming support. The Samsung CHG70 also has better gray uniformity which is good when you browse the web. On the other hand, the Dell S2716DG has a faster pixel response time with a smaller blur trail, and better ergonomics so it's easier to position it comfortably.

Samsung C49HG90/CHG90

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the Samsung CHG90. The CHG90 has a much larger screen but with lower pixel density. Also, the CHG90 has a better native contrast ratio and black uniformity, so it can display better blacks in a dark room. The CHG70 has better ergonomics to help you position it to your preferences and is flicker-free. In almost all other aspects, the monitors behave very similarly.

LG 32UD59-B

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the LG 32UD59-B. The Samsung has better ergonomics and is easier to position to your preference. The Samsung has a local dimming feature, a better color gamut, and support for HDR. At the same time, it has much better motion handling and is packed with gaming features so you'll enjoy gaming more on the Samsung. On the other hand, the LG is marginally better for office as it has more screen area and can display more detail due to the higher resolution.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q

If you want a monitor for office use, then the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q is a better choice due to its wider viewing angles. On the other hand, if you're playing a lot of HDR games, the Samsung CHG70 should be your choice as it supports HDR and will offer a decent HDR gaming experience. If plain gaming is your thing, then both monitors are excellent. They also perform very similarly in other uses without one being significantly better than the other.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ

The two monitors are of a different type, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ has an IPS and the image remains accurate when viewed from the side so it's more suitable if you often work with a colleague on the same monitor. The ASUS also has a faster response time and fast-moving content is crisper. The Samsung CHG70, on the other hand, has a higher contrast ratio, supports HDR, and has a local dimming feature to enhance dark room performance, so it's more suitable for dark room viewing.

Dell U2718Q

The Dell U2718Q is better than the Samsung CHG70, unless your main use is for gaming or for dark room viewing. The Dell U2718Q has wider viewing angles and a higher native resolution, so you can see every detail. The CHG70 has a higher native contrast ratio, so it performs better in a dark room. The Samsung also has much better motion handling thanks to the much higher 144 Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support.

HP OMEN 27

The Samsung CHG70 is a much better monitor than the HP OMEN 27 in almost every use. The Samsung has better contrast and overall better dark room performance. It also supports HDR and delivers better picture quality than the HP. The HP, on the other hand, has a TN panel and a very fast pixel response time that leaves a very small blur trail. Both monitors support variable refresh rate but through different implementations. The HP supports G-SYNC whereas the Samsung supports FreeSync. So be careful to have a matching graphics card or gaming console.

LG 32UD99-W

The LG 32UD99 is a bit better than the Samsung CHG70, depending on your use. The Dell is better suited for office use thanks to the wider viewing angles and larger, higher resolution screen. The Samsung is better suited for gaming. It has better motion handling, mainly due to the faster 144Hz refresh rate, and it has an optional black frame insertion feature to further clear up motion. The Samsung CHG70 also has better HDR support, with a wide color gamut and much better color volume.

Dell Alienware AW3418DW

If you have more than one monitor next to each other and will be looking from the side, the Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a better choice as it has better viewing angles. But if you have a dark room and want HDR support, then the Samsung CHG70 is the way to go. The Samsung has better motion handling with a faster refresh rate and a black frame insertion feature to make the image crisper. The Alienware, on the other hand, is larger with better resolution and will display more details on its screen.

LG 32GK850G-B

The Samsung CHG70 is significantly better than the LG 32GK850G. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR content so you can enjoy HDR games, and supports FreeSync for a tear-free gaming experience. The CHG70 has a Black Frame Insertion feature that helps make the image crisper. The LG 32GK850G has a larger screen so you can see the details of your screen more comfortable, and supports G-SYNC, which is great if you have an NVIDIA compatible card.

Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz

The Samsung CHG70 is better than the Acer Z35P Bmiphz for most uses. The CHG70 has a faster refresh rate and faster response time, so motion has less blur trail. The Z35P has a higher resolution, larger screen, better for multitasking and office work. The CHG70 supports HDR, and FreeSync VRR, great for Xbox One S/X owners or if you have an AMD graphics card. The Z35P supports G-SYNC VRR, great if you have an NVIDIA graphics card.

Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz

The Samsung CHG70 and the Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz have similar overall performance. They have different panel types, however, so each one is better than the other in different aspects. The Samsung CHG70 supports HDR and performs decently in that mode, and it also supports local dimming that makes blacks look deep in a dark room. The Samsung CHG70 has better reflection handling and a curve profile that some people like. The Acer Predator XB271HU, on the other hand, has better ergonomics so you can easily position it to your liking. The Acer has wider viewing angles due to its IPS panel, and thus it's easier to share your work.

+ Show more

Test Results

Design
Design
Style
Size 27"
Curved Yes
Curve Radius 1800R
Weight (without stand)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)
Weight (with stand)
13.7 lbs (6.2 kg)

The CHG70 has a simple design, with a wide v-shaped stand that supports the monitor well, but has a relatively large footprint. There's not much in the way of cable management, but the stand has good ergonomics, and it can also be VESA mounted.

Design
Stand
Width
20.3" (51.6 cm)
Depth
12.1" (30.7 cm)

The Samsung CHG70 has a similar stand base to their other monitors, like the Samsung JG50, but without the glossy finish found on more recent models. It has a relatively large footprint, but it feels stable and provides good support.

7.5
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
5.7" (14.5 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range -15Ā° to 15Ā°
Tilt Range -15Ā° to 5Ā°

Update 08/09/2019: There was a mistake in our swivel range scoring. The ergonomics score has increased slightly.

The ergonomic adjustments of this monitor are very different from other monitors. When moved up and down, the screen stays in the same orientation but the two pieces that make up the arm of the stand move relative to the base. It can take some time to get used to, but this offers a greater degree of flexibility than most monitors.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

The rear of the monitor looks stylish. It's made of plastic but has a matte finish. Where the stand arm joins the monitor, there's a ring of LEDs that can pulse during use (see here). It's possible to mount the monitor using the included adapter.

Unfortunately, there's just a small clip on the back for cable management.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.6" (1.5 cm)

The borders look sleek and are thin. The sides are made of a silver colored plastic, which looks good.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
11.2" (28.4 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
2.5" (6.4 cm)

The monitor itself is quite thin when viewed from the side; however, the stand takes up a lot of desk space. Depending on the height it's set at, the stand protrudes out the back by a different amount. When at the lowest position, the monitor can sit 13.39" (34.0 cm) from a wall (shown here). The thickness measurement above is when the monitor is set to the maximum height, visible (here).

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality of the Samsung C27HG70 is great. The unique design feels well-constructed, despite the plastic parts.

Picture Quality
7.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
2,925 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
2,922 : 1

The Samsung CHG70 has a very good native contrast ratio. VA panels like this one generally have a better contrast ratio than IPS panels, especially when it's used in a dark environment.

The contrast ratio with local dimming set to 'On' is essentially the same as the native one. When displaying our checkerboard test pattern, the local dimming feature is ineffective at dimming the dark squares, as the dimming zones are quite large.

2.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

Like most monitors we've tested so far, including the Samsung CHG90, the local dimming feature is bad. There aren't many dimming zones, so the screen has to light up large areas at a time, which can be distracting in dark scenes.

Note that when the local dimming feature is set to 'Auto', the local dimming will only be turned on when HDR is detected.

8.1
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
352 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
571 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
576 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
376 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
380 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
381 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
374 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
299 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
315 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
316 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
309 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.033

Great SDR peak brightness. While it does fluctuate slightly depending on screen content due to its local dimming, the monitor easily gets bright enough to suit most environments. This also helps it handle reflections from lights or windows.

6.5
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
355 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 2% Window
575 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 10% Window
577 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 25% Window
360 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 50% Window
371 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 100% Window
371 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
202 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
373 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
358 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
316 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
362 cd/mĀ²
HDR ABL
0.039

Decent HDR peak brightness. HDR isn't any brighter than SDR, which is disappointing. It isn't bad, but it doesn't get bright enough to define specular highlights properly and give a very significant HDR effect.

6.0
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
34Ā°
Color Washout From Right
35Ā°
Color Shift From Left
60Ā°
Color Shift From Right
60Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
36Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
38Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
15Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
17Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
12Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
14Ā°

Sub-par horizontal viewing angle, which is typical for VA monitors. The Samsung C27HG70 maintains its colors and brightness decently when viewed from the side, but its black level raises significantly even when only slightly off-axis. This causes the picture to look quite flat and dull and makes text difficult to read. Fortunately, its curve helps avoid the darkening of the sides from a normal viewing position.

5.3
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
29Ā°
Color Washout From Above
27Ā°
Color Shift From Below
46Ā°
Color Shift From Above
40Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
32Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
32Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
9Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
11Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
13Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
10Ā°

Poor vertical viewing angle, which is expected for a VA monitor. Unfortunately, its blacks shift rapidly, causing visible black clouding in the corners of the screen even with slight head movements. This is most distracting when viewing letterboxed content.

8.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
1.656%
50% DSE
0.103%
5% Std. Dev.
1.141%
5% DSE
0.103%

The Samsung CHG70 has excellent gray uniformity. There's very little dirty screen effect, and the corners are only slightly darker than the rest of the screen. In near-dark scenes the uniformity is good, but there are some horizontal bands.

4.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.800%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
3.443%

The overall black uniformity of this monitor is poor. When local dimming is turned off, some backlight bleed is visible in much of the top and bottom part of the screen, leaving only some little portion of the screen free of it.

With local dimming enabled, the overall uniformity is worse, as the large dimming zones result in a large bar across the center of the screen.

8.0
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
High-Brightness
Luminance
433 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
100
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
Normal Color Tone
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,540 K
White Balance dE
2.59
Color dE
2.47
Gamma
2.30

Out of the box, the Samsung C27HG70 has great accuracy. Most people won't notice any issues with colors or shades of gray. Gamma doesn't quite follow the sRGB target curve, though, as everything is displayed a bit darker than it should be.

9.2
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
Custom
Luminance
103 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
8
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Controls
43-50-51
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,311 K
White Balance dE
0.91
Color dE
1.27
Gamma
2.18

After calibration, the CHG70's accuracy is excellent. Any remaining inaccuracies aren't noticeable, and gamma is much closer to the sRGB target, so scenes are displayed at the correct brightness.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.

8.8
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
94.9%
Adobe RGB xy
80.9%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom 1

Good SDR color gamut, the Samsung CHG70 has no issues covering most of the essential sRGB color gamut. It has great coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space as well.

9.1
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
96.6%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
85.8%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom 1
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom 1

The Samsung CHG70 has an excellent SDR color volume. A combination of good contrast and larger than average color gamut helps it cover the sRGB volume almost entirely. Even if it doesn't come packaged with native Adobe RGB calibration, it can still reproduce that color volume better than average.

7.5
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI P3 xy
79.3%
Rec. 2020 xy
69.9%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
Custom 1
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Custom 1

Update 08/17/2020: There was a mistake in our original testing and we retested HDR color gamut with local dimming on to remain consistent with all monitors. We also retested 7 other monitors, and some results changed.

Good wide color gamut, with good coverage of the DCI P3 color space used by the majority of current HDR content.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
84.4%
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
68.7%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
Custom 1
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Custom 1

Update 08/14/2020: There was a mistake in our original testing and we retested HDR color volume with local dimming on to remain consistent with all monitors. We also retested 7 other monitors, and some results changed.

Good color volume. The monitor's high contrast ratio and local dimming help it show its wide color gamut at a large range of brightness levels.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

Like most monitors with VA panels, the C27HG70 doesn't show any signs of temporary image retention.

9.5
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The Samsung CHG70 does an amazing job of displaying our gradient test image. Only some minimal color banding was noted in the darker shades of color. Besides that, not many other issues could be noted, and no 8-bit banding was visible, as this monitor has a 10-bit color depth.

10
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.000%

The monitor is thankfully completely free of color bleed. While some very faint bleeding is visible in our vertical picture, its appearance is exacerbated by the long exposure used by the camera and isn't perceivable with normal use.

7.8
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.7%
Indirect Reflections
2.8%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.9%

The reflection handling of this Samsung monitor is very good. The curve is advantageous in most situations, smearing reflections across the screen and reducing their intensity. The semi-matte finish also helps to diffuse reflections on the screen. Overall, it's a great result for most rooms.

6.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB

Unfortunately, text clarity on the CHG70 is only decent. Even after calibrating the display with Windows' ClearType, some issues are still noticeable in text. This shouldn't cause any issues for most people, but if you require pixel-perfect text, this might be a problem.

Motion
8.9
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Standard
Rise / Fall Time
3.7 ms
Total Response Time
11.2 ms
Overshoot Error
5.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
3.7 ms
Dark Total Response Time
14.8 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
8.3%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Standard Chart Table Photo

Excellent motion blur, which is good for watching fast-moving content as only a very short trail will be seen behind objects. The monitor's 0-20% transition takes far longer than all the others, so some ghosting is visible in very dark parts of images.

Surprisingly, the monitor's overdrive can't be adjusted; the other 'Response Time' setting modes only activate BFI, as explained in the Image Flicker section. Fortunately, the monitor's default overdrive is very good, producing fast transitions without adding much overshoot.

4.9
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
No Setting
Rise / Fall Time
4.5 ms
Total Response Time
25.1 ms
Overshoot Error
19.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
4.4 ms
Dark Total Response Time
31.5 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
46.5%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Standard Chart Table Photo

Unfortunately, the Samsung CHG70 has a bad response time when gaming at 60Hz. There's significant overshoot, especially behind dark objects, causing a long ghost trail. The response time can't be adjusted, either, unlike most monitors on the market. This isn't a good choice for console gamers.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The C27HG70's backlight has a strange high-frequency wobble, but can be considered flicker-free as far as the human eye is concerned, so images appear smooth. The 32" model (Samsung C32HG70) has flicker in its backlight according to TFT Central's measurements, which isn't good and will produce multiple trailing images.

7.0
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Yes
BFI Maximum Frequency
144 Hz
BFI Minimum Frequency
100 Hz

The monitor has two BFI modes in its 'Response Time' setting: 'Faster' and 'Fastest'; which intentionally add flicker to clear up motion when the framerate matches the flicker rate exactly. This produces very clear images when playing fast-paced games. We recommend the 'Fastest' setting if you want BFI, as 'Fastest' has a narrower pulse spread than 'Faster'. This monitor's BFI has a few limitations, however: when it's active, the brightness can't be changed; BFI can't be activated when the monitor is in HDR mode; and the BFI frequency must be manually changed in the monitor's OSD by changing the 'Game -> Refresh Rate' setting.

9.0
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Native
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort, HDMI

This monitor has an excellent native refresh rate. It also supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, and although it isn't officially supported, it also worked with NVIDIA's G-SYNC Compatible feature, but only when connected over DisplayPort. If you want a monitor with a higher refresh rate, check out its successor, the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T.

Inputs
9.5
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
4.4 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.3 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
4.2 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
9.1 ms
10 Bit HDR
4.3 ms
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
6.4 ms

Excellent low input lag, making this a great monitor for gaming. When gaming at 60Hz, we recommend setting the Refresh Rate setting to '60Hz' on the monitor, and enabling the Low Input Lag setting.

8.3
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
Screen Diagonal 26.9"
Screen Area 310 inĀ²

The monitor has a sharp 1440p resolution and a large 27" size, which are great for almost all usages. The Samsung C32HG70 has the same 1440p resolution but a larger 32" size, which is better but also more expensive.

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 2 (HDMI 2.0)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB 2 (USB 3.0)
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm 1
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply External Brick
Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
No
HDR10 Yes
Multiple Input Display
No

The monitor has a 'USB Super Charging' mode that increases the voltage supplied to USB port 2 for devices that support quick charging. The monitor also has an 'Eye Saver Mode' for night time viewing, which adds an orange filter over the screen to reduce blue light. This mode does severely hurt the contrast ratio, however, so we don't recommend it unless the screen is causing discomfort at night.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

The monitor's OSD is controlled by a joystick on the back of the monitor, which doubles as the power button. The joystick is a very intuitive way to navigate the OSD, better than the (up/down/back/select) button scheme used by most monitors.

There are also three buttons on the underside of the bottom right corner (faintly visible in the photo) which can switch between saved settings modes called 'Game Setting 1/2/3'. Users can save different settings configurations to these modes, and switch between them on the fly.

Features
In The Box

  • Manual and drivers
  • Calibration report
  • USB cable
  • Displayport cable
  • HDMI cable
  • Power brick and cable
There's also a VESA mount adapter included, pictured here.