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Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Review updated Apr 05, 2024 at 10:59 am
Latest change: Writing modified Apr 17, 2024 at 10:15 am
Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55 Picture
6.4
PC Gaming
6.0
Console Gaming
6.8
Office
7.1
Editing
6.3
Brightness
5.1
Response Time
5.1
HDR Picture
7.0
SDR Picture
8.5
Color Accuracy

The Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55 is an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor. Part of the 2021 Odyssey gaming lineup, it's newer than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T and is an older version of the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55C S27CG55. It also sits alongside the Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50, which has a different panel type. It's available in both a 27 and 32-inch model, and both sizes have a curved 1440p VA panel and a 165Hz refresh rate. It has FreeSync VRR and supports HDR, but there are very few additional gaming features. It also lacks advanced productivity features, like a USB hub.

Our Verdict

6.4 PC Gaming

The Samsung Odyssey G55A isn't bad for PC gaming. It has a slow response time with any refresh rate, leading to noticeable blur, and the motion handling is even worse with VRR enabled. On top of that, it has noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates. It also has limited picture quality due to its lack of local dimming and low peak brightness, so it can't deliver realistic and vivid images. On the plus side, it has low input lag for a responsive feel.

Pros
  • High native contrast contrast.
  • Low input lag.
  • VRR support.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR & HDR.
  • Disappointing motion handling.
  • Terrible VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
6.0 Console Gaming

The Samsung Odyssey G55A is disappointing for console gaming. While it doesn't support HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, it still supports most signals from the consoles. It also has low input lag for a responsive feel, great for playing reaction-based games. That said, it has disappointing motion handling with noticeable blur, and it also has limited picture quality as it can't make highlights pop in HDR.

Pros
  • High native contrast contrast.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Low peak brightness in SDR & HDR.
  • Disappointing motion handling.
  • Lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
6.8 Office

The Samsung G55A is just okay for office use. The relatively large, high-resolution screen delivers good text clarity. Unfortunately, it has just okay peak brightness, so it can't overcome glare in a bright room. It also has terrible ergonomics and poor viewing angles, so it's hard to adjust the screen to an ideal viewing position and share it with others next to you.

Pros
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Good text clarity.
Cons
  • Terrible ergonomics.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
7.1 Editing

The Samsung Odyssey G55A is a decent monitor for media creators. It has great accuracy before calibration, but calibrating it still results in the best accuracy. The relatively large screen is great for multitasking, and you can see more of your workflow at once. Unfortunately, it has terrible ergonomics and poor viewing angles, so it's hard to share your screen with someone else, like a colleague or client, as they won't see the same thing you see. It also lacks a local dimming feature to improve the contrast ratio in dark scenes.

Pros
  • High native contrast contrast.
  • Good reflection handling.
  • Good text clarity.
Cons
  • Terrible ergonomics.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR & HDR.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Needs full calibration for best accuracy.
6.3 Brightness

The Samsung G55A has mediocre brightness. It doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare in well-lit rooms, and it can't make highlights pop in HDR, either.

Pros
Cons
  • Low peak brightness in SDR & HDR.
5.1 Response Time

The Samsung Odyssey G55A has a poor response time. There's noticeable smearing and motion blur with fast-moving objects, especially with VRR enabled.

Pros
Cons
  • Disappointing motion handling.
  • Terrible VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
5.1 HDR Picture

The Samsung G55A is terrible for HDR. Although it has a good native contrast ratio, it lacks a local dimming feature to improve it further. It also can't display a wide range of colors in HDR and fails to make them look vivid.

Pros
  • High native contrast contrast.
Cons
  • No local dimming.
  • Low peak brightness in SDR & HDR.
  • Can't display wide HDR color gamut.
7.0 SDR Picture

The Samsung Odyssey G55A has decent picture quality in SDR. It has a good contrast ratio that helps it display fairly deep blacks, but there's still backlight bleed in dark scenes.

Pros
  • High native contrast contrast.
Cons
  • Backlight bleed in dark scenes.
8.5 Color Accuracy

The Samsung G55A has excellent color accuracy. It has great accuracy before calibration, but without a dedicated sRGB mode, you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy.

Pros
  • Great gray uniformity.
Cons
  • Needs full calibration for best accuracy.
  • 6.4 PC Gaming
  • 6.0 Console Gaming
  • 6.8 Office
  • 7.1 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 6.3 Brightness
  • 5.1 Response Time
  • 5.1 HDR Picture
  • 7.0 SDR Picture
  • 8.5 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Apr 17, 2024: Added that the LG 27GR75Q-B has better SDR Brightness.
  2. Updated Apr 17, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
  3. Updated Apr 17, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
  4. Updated Aug 10, 2023: Mentioned that the newer Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 has better Ergonomics.
  5. Updated Apr 18, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p works on this monitor with the PS5.
  6. Updated Oct 13, 2022: Added that this monitor sits above the Samsung Odyssey G4/G40B S27BG40 in Samsung's lineup, and noted the differences in the Intro.
  7. Updated Jun 30, 2022: Review published.
  8. Updated Jun 28, 2022: Early access published.
  9. Updated Jun 14, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Jun 10, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Jun 08, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G55A, and while it's also available in a 32-inch size, that's a different monitor, and the results are only valid for the 27-inch model. There are other similar models in the Odyssey gaming lineup, and you can see the differences between them below.

Size Name US Model Code Refresh Rate Panel Type Curved
27" Odyssey G55A LS27AG550ENXZA 165Hz VA Yes
32" Odyssey G55A LS32AG552ENXZA 165Hz VA Yes
27"
32"
Odyssey G50A LS27AG500PNXZA
LS32AG500PNXZA
165Hz IPS No

Our unit was manufactured in November 2021; you can see the label here. It was tested with firmware M-A5500GCZA-1001.4.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Samsung G55A isn't a bad budget gaming monitor. However, its slow response time leads to considerable motion blur. If you want a budget gaming monitor with better motion handling, go for something like the Dell G2724D.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, the best curved gaming monitors, and the best gaming monitors.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G55C S27CG55

The Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55 and the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55C S27CG55 are extremely similar 27-inch gaming monitors. The G5/G55C is a newer monitor that gets brighter, making it the better choice in a bright environment. However, the G5/G55A has considerably lower input lag and is the better choice if you want a responsive feel while gaming.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51

The Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 is a newer model than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55, with a few improvements. The S27CG51 has a flat screen instead of the curved screen on the S27AG55, and its stand offers much better ergonomics, making it easier to place in an ideal viewing position. The S27CG51 also has a faster response time, but the monitor's motion handling is still limited. On the other hand, the S27AG55 supports DisplayPort 1.4 bandwidth, while the S27CG51 is limited to DisplayPort 1.2 bandwidth, meaning you can reach the S27AG55's max refresh rate even when playing 10-bit games in HDR.

Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T

The Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55 is a bit better than the model it replaces, the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T. The S27AG55 has a nearly completely flicker-free backlight, so it's easier on the eyes and has better text clarity. The S27AG55 also has a much better SDR color gamut, with better coverage of the sRGB color space.

Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50

The Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50 is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. The S27AG50 has a much better design, with a full range of ergonomic adjustments, so you can better place it in an ideal viewing position. The S27AG50 also has a much faster response time, resulting in clearer motion, and it gets a lot brighter to overcome glare.

LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B

The LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B is significantly better than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. The LG has much better ergonomics, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position. The LG also has much better gaming performance, with a significantly faster response time, so motion looks sharper overall, with less blur behind fast-moving objects. The LG also gets brighter and has a wider viewing angle, so the image remains accurate to the sides if you're sitting close to the screen.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. The G7 has much better ergonomics, so finding an ideal viewing position is easier. The G7 also gets significantly brighter and has a significantly better response time, resulting in clearer motion with almost no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects.

Gigabyte G27QC

The Gigabyte G27QC is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. The Gigabyte has better ergonomics, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position. The Gigabyte also has a significantly faster response time, so motion looks clearer with less blur behind fast-moving objects. Finally, the Gigabyte also gets a bit brighter, so it looks better in a bright room.

Dell S2722DGM

The Dell S2722DGM is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. The Dell has a much faster response time, so motion in games looks much clearer. The Dell also gets a lot brighter, so it can handle more glare and a brighter viewing environment. The Dell also has a slightly better viewing angle, so the image doesn't degrade as much if you're sitting slightly to the side.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
Yes
Curve Radius
1000R

The Samsung G55A has thin bezels on three sides, but there's a bit of dead space between the bezels and the first pixels, which is distracting if you're using it in a multi-monitor setup.

Design
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures N/A
7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is decent. There's very little flex in the back plastic, and the housing feels sturdy overall. The stand supports the monitor well, and although it wobbles a bit, it recovers quickly. None of the materials used feel premium, but there are no significant issues, either.

1.7
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
N/A
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-17.5° to 2.5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
Wall Mount
VESA 75x75

Sadly, this monitor has terrible ergonomics, as it's hard to adjust to an ideal position. The inputs are bottom-facing and somewhat hard to access, and there's a loop on the top of the stand for basic cable management. If you want a newer monitor with much better ergonomics, check out the Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51.

Design
Stand
Base Width
21.7" (55.0 cm)
Base Depth
10.9" (27.6 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)

The stand's feet are wide, but they're fairly thin and leave a lot of desk space available to put your mouse and keyboard.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.5 cm)
Housing Height
15.0" (38.2 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
4.1" (10.5 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.4" (1.0 cm)
Design
Controls

There's a single joystick located just below the Samsung branding at the center of the bottom bezel to control the on-screen display and to power the monitor on and off.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • DisplayPort cable
  • Power supply
  • Power cord
  • User guides

Picture Quality
7.6
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
2,521 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The Samsung Odyssey G55A has a good contrast ratio, resulting in fairly deep blacks next to bright highlights in a dark room. Unfortunately, there's no local dimming feature to improve black levels.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the monitor so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.

6.8
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
245 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
238 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
257 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
257 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
257 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
257 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
237 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
256 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
257 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
257 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
257 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.005
Minimum Brightness
50 cd/m²

The SDR brightness is just okay. There's very little variation in peak brightness with different content, which is great. Sadly, it isn't bright enough to overcome glare in a really bright room, so it's better for a dark to moderately-lit room. If you want a monitor that gets brighter, check out the LG 27GR75Q-B. These measurements are from after calibration in the 'Custom' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to its max.

6.0
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
293 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
283 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
306 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
306 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
306 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
306 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
283 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
306 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
306 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
306 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
306 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.005

The HDR brightness is mediocre. It isn't bright enough to display the content creator's intent in games or movies, as highlights don't pop, and it doesn't track the PQ EOTF well. Dark scenes are darker than they're supposed to be, and there's a sharp cut-off near the monitor's peak brightness, resulting in a loss of fine details in bright scenes. There aren't any Picture Modes available when you enable HDR.

5.3
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
30°
Color Washout From Right
27°
Color Shift From Left
40°
Color Shift From Right
41°
Brightness Loss From Left
31°
Brightness Loss From Right
28°
Black Level Raise From Left
12°
Black Level Raise From Right
11°
Gamma Shift From Left
14°
Gamma Shift From Right
12°

Unfortunately, this monitor has a poor horizontal viewing angle. The curved screen helps compensate for this by bringing the sides of the screen closer to your field of view, but it's still a bad choice for co-op gaming or sharing the screen with someone next to you.

4.7
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
24°
Color Washout From Above
26°
Color Shift From Below
28°
Color Shift From Above
24°
Brightness Loss From Below
28°
Brightness Loss From Above
29°
Black Level Raise From Below
6°
Black Level Raise From Above
6°
Gamma Shift From Below
13°
Gamma Shift From Above
12°

The vertical viewing angle is bad. The screen looks washed out if you're standing up and looking down on it.

8.3
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.082%
50% DSE
0.137%

This monitor has great gray uniformity. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, and there are two brighter bands on each side, but they aren't really noticeable with real content. There's very little dirty screen effect in the center.

5.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.324%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is disappointing. There's significant backlight bleed along the top and bottom edge but very little cloudiness in the center of the screen. Sadly, there's no local dimming feature to improve black uniformity.

8.1
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom
sRGB Gamut Area xy
104.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
3.72
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,103 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.20
Color dE (Avg.)
2.76
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
50-50-50
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Brightness Setting
75
Measured Brightness
182 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The accuracy before calibration is great. There are some issues with the white balance, especially in brighter shades, but most colors are accurate. Even without a dedicated sRGB mode, colors aren't too oversaturated. Gamma follows the sRGB curve well, but dark scenes are a bit too dark. The color temperature is a bit cool, giving everything a slightly bluish tint.

9.5
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom
sRGB Gamut Area xy
96.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.41
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,507 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.20
Color dE (Avg.)
0.68
Contrast Setting
70
RGB Settings
50-44-44
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Brightness Setting
22
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

This monitor has incredible accuracy after calibration. The color temperature and white balance are nearly perfect, as is gamma. Most colors are nearly perfect, but pure blues are still off a bit.

8.9
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
96.8%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
76.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom

This monitor has an excellent SDR color gamut. It can display almost all of the sRGB color space used by most current desktop and web content. It has more limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in professional editing, though.

6.2
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
77.3%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR On
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
55.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR On

The Samsung Odyssey G55A has a mediocre HDR color gamut. Its coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used by most current HDR content isn't bad, but it has even worse coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space.

6.1
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
46.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR On
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
19.9%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR On

This monitor has mediocre color volume in HDR. It can't properly display bright and dark colors and the image looks washed out.

7.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is good. With Windows ClearType disabled, diagonal lines are a bit blurry, and text isn't very clear (bottom photo), but after running the wizard, text is much sharper and easier to read (top photo). The matte coating adds a slight haze to the screen, which reduces the sharpness of text and images a bit.

7.5
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.3%
Indirect Reflections
3.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.2%

This monitor has good reflection handling. The matte anti-reflective coating significantly reduces the intensity of direct reflections.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The Samsung Odyssey G55A has superb gradient handling. There's almost no noticeable banding in any shade.

Motion
7.5
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

Due to bandwidth limitations over HDMI, you can only take full advantage of this monitor's max refresh rate over DisplayPort.

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

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz165Hz
HDMIN/AN/A

AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz165Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

4.3
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
FreeSync Premium
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
449
Best CAD
412
Worst CAD
506

Refresh RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
164HeatmapChartPhoto
144HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

This monitor has bad motion handling across its VRR range. You can't use any of the overdrive settings with VRR enabled, and there's noticeable blur and smearing with fast-moving objects. In fact, the CAD is so high with VRR that it passes the limits of the chart, but you can see an alternative chart with it here.

5.3
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
34%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
45%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
59%

This monitor has disappointing refresh rate compliance. Its response time isn't fast enough to make full transitions before the monitor draws the next frame, leading to blurry motion.

5.7
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Avg. CAD
256
Best 10% CAD
83
Worst 10% CAD
653

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto
VRRHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh refresh rate of 165Hz is disappointing. You can use the Response Time settings if you disable VRR, and 'Fastest' has the fastest total response time, but there's still noticeable smearing and blur. Motion is a lot worse if you use VRR as the overdrive settings are locked.

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
First Response Time
8.8 ms
Total Response Time
11.9 ms
RGB Overshoot
7 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
26.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
26.4 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
43 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
VRRHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

5.5
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Avg. CAD
286
Best 10% CAD
86
Worst 10% CAD
633

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto
VRRHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is disappointing. You can use the Response Time settings if you disable VRR, and 'Fastest' has the fastest total response time, but there's still noticeable smearing and blur. Motion is a lot worse if you use VRR as the overdrive settings are locked.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
First Response Time
12.5 ms
Total Response Time
14.2 ms
RGB Overshoot
2 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
31.8 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
31.8 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
15 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
VRRHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

5.4
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Avg. CAD
314
Best 10% CAD
92
Worst 10% CAD
612

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
StandardHeatmapChartPhoto
FasterHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto
VRRHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 60Hz is disappointing. You can use the Response Time settings if you disable VRR, and 'Fastest' has the fastest total response time, but there's still noticeable smearing and blur. Motion is a lot worse if you use VRR as the overdrive settings are locked.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fastest
First Response Time
14.6 ms
Total Response Time
16.9 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
30.9 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
30.9 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
9 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
StandardHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FasterHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
VRRHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Yes
Maximum Frequency
165 Hz
Minimum Frequency
165 Hz
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
114 cd/m²
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
114 cd/m²
Pulse Width Control
No
Pulse Phase Control
No
Pulse Amplitude Control
No
VRR At The Same Time
No

Refresh RatePursuit Photo
165HzPhoto
120HzPhoto
60HzPhoto

This monitor has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly called black frame insertion, to reduce persistence blur. It only works when the Refresh Rate setting in the monitor's OSD is set to '165Hz', even if your computer is sending a lower frame rate. Unfortunately, the pulse timing is off, resulting in distracting image multiplication, and you can't adjust it.

2.4
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
5.9 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
5.1 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
4.3 RGB

This monitor has terrible VRR flicker with changing frame rates. It's most noticeable in dark scenes, but you can also see it in darker areas of bright scenes. This is very distracting while gaming but isn't so much of an issue with consistent frame rates.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
>1000 Hz

This monitor is completely flicker-free at most brightness levels. There's a very high-frequency flicker if you set the brightness below 28, but it's so high that it isn't noticeable.

Inputs
8.7
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.9 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
6.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
10.4 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
7.1 ms

The Samsung G55A has excellent low input lag, resulting in a very responsive gaming experience. Unlike previous Samsung monitors like the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T, it doesn't matter if your computer's frame rate doesn't match the Refresh Rate setting on the monitor; the input lag remains low even if there's a mismatch between them.

7.5
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
4.9
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

Besides not supporting VRR or 4k @ 120Hz due to the lack of HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, this monitor has no significant compatibility issues with the PS5.

6.6
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

There are some limitations with how this monitor works with the Xbox Series X|S. It only supports 4k @ 60Hz downscaling if FreeSync Premium is disabled, and because the Xbox only supports HDR in 4k, you can't enable HDR and VRR at the same time with any signal.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
1 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
1 (Service Port Only)
USB-A Rated Speed
480Mbps (USB 2.0)
USB-B Upstream Port
No
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

For the most part, this monitor works well with macOS. There are no issues waking up from sleep with a MacBook, and windows are restored to their original position, but not when you close the lid. Unfortunately, VRR doesn't work properly even in games, as there's noticeable flicker.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
No
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

This monitor has only a few extra features. You can add a virtual crosshair, known as Virtual Aim Point, and there's an Eye Saver Mode that helps reduce eye strain.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)