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

Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Review updated Nov 23, 2022 at 11:36 am
Latest change: Writing modified Aug 10, 2023 at 10:51 am
Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T Picture
6.7
Mixed Usage
6.1
Office
7.3
Gaming
7.2
Media Consumption
6.8
Media Creation
5.9
HDR

The Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T is a budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitor. It sits below the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T in Samsung's 2020 lineup, and it's since been replaced by the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55. It has the basic gaming features most gaming monitors have, like a 144Hz refresh rate, native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and G-SYNC compatibility. It's available in various sizes, as there are 27 and 32-inch models with a 16:9 aspect ratio and an ultrawide 34-inch model. All of them feature a curved screen with an aggressive 1000R curve.

Our Verdict

6.7 Mixed Usage

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is okay overall. It's decent for gaming as it has VRR support to reduce screen tearing and low input lag for a responsive feel, but it has a bad response time that results in black smearing. It's decent for media consumption because it has a high contrast that displays deep blacks in dark rooms, but if you're watching HDR content, it fails to display a wide range of colors and make them bright. It isn't bad for the office because it has a 27-inch screen with decent text clarity, but it has limited ergonomics, so it's hard to adjust.

Pros
  • Available in different sizes.
  • Decent text clarity.
  • Decent for well-lit rooms.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Terrible motion handling.
6.1 Office

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is mediocre for office use. Its screen is big enough for multitasking with two windows side-by-side, and it has decent text clarity thanks to its 1440p resolution. It has good reflection handling, but it isn't bright enough to overcome direct sunlight. Unfortunately, its ergonomics are terrible because it only allows for tilt adjustment, and the narrow viewing angles aren't ideal for sharing work with coworkers.

Pros
  • Available in different sizes.
  • Decent text clarity.
  • Decent for well-lit rooms.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Lack of office-oriented features like a USB hub.
7.3 Gaming

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is a decent gaming monitor. The 27-inch screen is big enough for an immersive experience, and the 1440p resolution results in decent image clarity. It also has VRR support to reduce screen tearing, and gaming feels responsive thanks to its low input lag. However, motion looks bad as it has a slow response time, and there's noticeable black smearing. It has a high contrast if you want to use it for dark room gaming, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve the contrast.

Pros
  • FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility.
  • Low input lag.
  • High native contrast.
Cons
  • Terrible motion handling.
  • Lack of local dimming feature.
7.2 Media Consumption

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is decent for watching videos. It displays deep blacks if you want to watch content in dark rooms, but there's noticeable backlight bleed, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve the uniformity. Sadly, it's bad for sharing content on the screen with others due to its narrow viewing angles and terrible ergonomics, meaning the screen is hard to adjust, and the image looks washed out unless you're sitting directly in front of it.

Pros
  • Available in different sizes.
  • High native contrast.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Lack of local dimming feature.
6.8 Media Creation

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is okay for media creation. It has a large screen and high resolution, allowing you to work with two windows opened side-by-side. It has a good SDR color gamut with great coverage of the sRGB color space, but it has limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space. Unfortunately, it has terrible ergonomics and narrow viewing angles, which isn't ideal for sharing your screen with others.

Pros
  • Available in different sizes.
  • Decent text clarity.
  • Decent for well-lit rooms.
Cons
  • Limited ergonomics.
  • Narrow viewing angles.
  • Can't display a wide range of colors.
5.9 HDR

The Samsung Odyssey G5 is disappointing for HDR. While it displays deep blacks for dark room usage, it has disappointing uniformity because there's backlight bleed, and it doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve it. Unfortunately, highlights don't pop, and colors aren't vivid because it has low HDR peak brightness and doesn't display a wide range of colors.

Pros
  • High native contrast.
Cons
  • Lack of local dimming feature.
  • Disappointing HDR peak brightness.
  • Can't display a wide range of colors.
  • 6.7 Mixed Usage
  • 6.1 Office
  • 7.3 Gaming
  • 7.2 Media Consumption
  • 6.8 Media Creation
  • 5.9 HDR
  1. Updated Aug 10, 2023: Added that the Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 is a similar monitor with a faster Response Time at its max refresh rate.
  2. Updated Dec 16, 2022: Changed the name to the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T to be more consistent with other Samsung monitors.
  3. Updated Nov 23, 2022: Updated text for accuracy and clarity to align with results of Test Bench 1.2. Also fixed test results in the SDR Color Gamut and PS5 Compatibility boxes.
  4. Updated May 02, 2022: We tested the monitor with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's not compatible, since the PS5 only supports HDMI Forum VRR.
  5. Updated Apr 08, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
  6. Updated Oct 26, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  7. Updated Nov 12, 2020: Review published.
  8. Updated Nov 05, 2020: Early access published.
  9. Updated Oct 23, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Oct 21, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Oct 01, 2020: 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 G5, and the results are also valid for the 32-inch model. There's also an ultrawide 34-inch variant available, but it performs differently because it has a higher refresh rate and different resolution, and you can see the differences between them below. This monitor is part of Samsung's 2020 Odyssey lineup, and it has since been replaced by the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55.

Size North America Europe Aspect Ratio Resolution Max. Refresh Rate
27" LC27G55TQWNXZA LC27G55TQWUXEN 16:9 2560 x 1440 144Hz
32" LC32G55TQWNXZA LC32G55TQWUXEN 16:9 2560 x 1440 144Hz
34" LC34G55TWWNXZA   LC34G55TWWUXEN 21:9 3440 x 1440 165Hz

Our unit of the G5 Odyssey was manufactured in July 2020; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Samsung G5 is a decent budget gaming monitor. However, it doesn't perform as well as other similar monitors in its price range, like the ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD. The ViewSonic has a faster response time, much wider viewing angles, and gets a lot brighter.

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 G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T is significantly better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T. The G7 has a better contrast ratio, higher refresh rate, and much faster response time. It also has a better SDR and HDR color gamut, and it gets a lot brighter. On the other hand, the G5 has built-in speakers and is much cheaper.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55

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 an updated version of the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T, but they're different monitors. The S27AG50 has an IPS panel with wider viewing angles and a flat screen, while the C27G55T has a VA panel with better contrast, and the screen is curved. The S27AG50 has much better motion handling because it has a quicker response time, and there's no black smearing like on the C27G55T. It also has a slightly higher max refresh rate. On the other hand, the C27G55T's BFI feature works at a much wider range, and it has built-in speakers, which the S27AG50 doesn't.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51

The Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51 is a newer model than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T, with a few differences. The S27CG51 has a flat screen compared to the curved screen on the C27G55T and has a slightly higher 165Hz refresh rate. While they both have blurry motion, the S27CG51 does have a faster overall response time. Lastly, the S27CG51 has a different stand with more ergonomic adjustments, making it easier to place in an ideal position than the C27G55T.

ASUS TUF VG27AQ

Gaming-wise, the ASUS TUF VG27AQ performs better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T because it has a slightly higher refresh rate and faster response time to deliver a clearer image with less smearing behind fast-moving objects. The ASUS has better ergonomics, and its IPS panel provides wider viewing angles. However, the Samsung is better suited for dark rooms because it uses a VA panel that produces much deeper blacks.

AOC CQ27G2

The AOC CQ27G2 is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T. The AOC has significantly better ergonomics, faster response time, and lower input lag, especially when playing at 60Hz. However, the Samsung provides better visibility in well-lit rooms due to its higher peak brightness and better reflection handling.

Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T because it's a higher-end monitor. The S28AG70 has a 4k resolution that delivers sharp text, while the C27G55T has a 1440p resolution. The S28AG70 has an IPS panel with wider viewing angles, and the C27G55T has a VA panel with better contrast. They each have a 144Hz refresh rate, but the S28AG70 has much better motion handling thanks to the quicker response time, especially at 60Hz, and it also gets brighter. The S28AG70 has a local dimming feature, which the C27G55T doesn't have, but it doesn't add much because it's terrible.

Samsung Odyssey G5 C34G55T

The Samsung Odyssey G5 C34G55T is a larger variant of the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T with a 34-inch screen and 21:9 aspect ratio. The 27-inch version is also available in a 32-inch size, and they each have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Each variant has mainly the same features and design, but the 34-inch variant has a DisplayPort 1.4 input, allowing it to produce a higher 165Hz refresh rate. We encountered a lot of bugs with VRR and input lag on the 34-inch model that we didn't see on the 27-inch model, but your experience may vary.

Gigabyte G27Q

The Gigabyte G27Q is better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T because it has a better response time that results in a clearer image with a shorter blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also has wider viewing angles that make it easier to share content and gets significantly brighter to combat glare. The Gigabyte can display a wide color gamut for HDR, but the Samsung has a much better contrast ratio to produce deeper blacks. 

MSI Optix G27CQ4

The MSI Optix G27CQ4 and the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T are both good gaming monitors. They each have a VA panel with a 1440p resolution, and they offer similar features, but the MSI has a 165Hz refresh rate compared to the Samsung's 144Hz. The MSI is also flicker-free at all brightness levels, while the Samsung flickers at lower brightness levels. The Samsung supports HDR, which the MSI doesn't, but it doesn't add much because it can't display a wide color gamut.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) are both 1440p gaming monitors, but with different types of panels. The Samsung has a VA panel that's better suited for dark rooms, while the Gigabyte uses an IPS panel with wider viewing angles. As for gaming performance, the Gigabyte performs much better. It has a higher refresh rate of 170Hz and a much faster response time. The Gigabyte supports a wide color gamut for HDR, gets brighter, and offers more features like a USB-C input.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T for most uses. The LG has a much quicker response time to deliver smoother motion in fast-moving scenes. The LG uses an IPS panel that provides wider viewing angles, while the Samsung uses a VA panel that produces deeper blacks for a better dark room viewing experience. 

Gigabyte G27QC

The Gigabyte G27QC is better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T. The Gigabyte has a higher contrast ratio, quicker response time, and a slightly higher refresh rate. It also has better ergonomics and gets brighter. However, the Samsung has a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve motion clarity.

Samsung Odyssey G3 F27G35T

The Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T and the Samsung Odyssey G3 F27G35T are part of the same monitor lineup, but they have different features and performance. The G5 is a curved monitor with a 1440p resolution, while the G3 is flat and has a 1080p resolution. The G5 is better for gaming mainly because it has a much quicker response time that results in smoother motion. It also supports HDR, which the G3 doesn't, but it doesn't add much because it has low HDR peak brightness and can't display a wide color gamut. On the other hand, the G3 has much better ergonomics because it offers height and swivel adjustments.

Samsung Odyssey G3 S24AG30

The Samsung Odyssey G3 S24AG30 replaces the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T in the Samsung Odyssey lineup. They each have a VA panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, but the G5 has a higher 1440p resolution. The G5 also has much better motion handling due to its quick response time, and it supports HDR, but it doesn't add much because it can't display a wide color gamut. The G5 also gets brighter and has better reflection handling. On the other hand, the S24AG30 has much better contrast, but this can vary between units.

ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD

The ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T. The ViewSonic has a much faster response time, higher peak brightness, and its IPS panel provides much wider viewing angles. However, the Samsung is better suited for dark rooms due to its good contrast ratio, and it's available in two sizes, 27 and 32 inches.

Dell S2721DGF

The Dell S2721DGF is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T overall. The Dell has better gaming performance due to its higher refresh rate, faster response time, and lower input lag. It also has wider viewing angles, higher peak brightness, and significantly better ergonomics. However, the Samsung's VA panel has a better contrast ratio, and it has a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve motion clarity.

LG 27GN800-B

The LG 27GN800-B is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T overall. The LG has a much quicker response time, which results in a clearer image with less blur trail behind fast-moving objects. The LG has an IPS panel with wider viewing angles, making it better for sharing content or playing co-op games, but it isn't as ideal for dark rooms as the Samsung because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear gray.

ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV

The ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV is much better than the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T; however, they aren't intended for the same use. The ASUS is a budget monitor for content creators with superb ergonomics and wide viewing angles. It also has a faster response time, but gaming feels smoother and more responsive on the Samsung due to its higher refresh rate.

Dell S2721HGF

The Dell S2721HGF and the Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T are both 27-inch, 144Hz VA panel monitors, but the Samsung has a 1440p resolution while the Dell is 1080p. The Dell has a better response time, especially in dark scenes. It has better ergonomics because it allows for height adjustment, and the viewing angles are better, quite good for a VA panel. The Dell gets brighter to combat glare; however, you might still have some visibility issues in very well-lit, sunny environments. The Samsung has HDR support, but it doesn't add much since it can't display a wide color gamut.

+ Show more

Test Results

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

The Samsung Odyssey G5 has a gamer-oriented design with an all-black body and a V-shaped stand. It has a ring in the back, but unlike other Samsung monitors, there isn't any RGB lighting. The curved screen is aggressive, and it's meant to bring the edges more within your field of vision.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

This monitor's build quality is decent. It's entirely plastic, and it feels relatively sturdy overall. However, the screen seems too heavy for the stand as it tilts downwards at times, including when you VESA-mount it because the VESA screws aren't aligned with the center of the screen, causing it to tilt down. The stand feels cheap, and although it's easy to install, it's hard to remove.

1.7
Design
Ergonomics
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. It only allows for a narrow tilt adjustment, so it's hard to place it in an ideal viewing position. If you want something with much better ergonomics, look into the Samsung Odyssey G3 F27G35T.

The back is made out of textured plastic. All the inputs are bottom-facing, and they're hard to reach with the screen mounted. There's a passthrough on the stand for cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
21.7" (55.0 cm)
Base Depth
10.8" (27.5 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
9.4" (24.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
9.9 lbs (4.5 kg)

The stand's feet are wide-set, but they're relatively thin, leaving you a good amount of usable desk space. Unfortunately, it's a very basic stand made out of cheap plastic, and it wobbles quite a bit.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.4 cm)
Housing Height
15.1" (38.3 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
9.7 lbs (4.4 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.5" (1.2 cm)
Design
Controls

There's a single joystick located just below the Samsung branding at the center of the bottom bezel. It allows you to turn the monitor On/Off and navigate the monitor's on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • Power supply
  • Power cord
  • HDMI cable
  • User guide

Picture Quality
7.9
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
2,997 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

This monitor has a good contrast ratio, so blacks look black next to bright highlights, but it doesn't have a local dimming feature to further improve it.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

The Samsung G5 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.

7.2
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
285 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
150 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
281 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
281 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
281 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
281 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
150 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
281 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
281 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
281 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
281 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.044
Minimum Brightness
37 cd/m²

The Samsung G5 has decent SDR peak brightness. Except for the dimmer 2% window caused by frame dimming, brightness is very consistent across different scenes. However, it isn't bright enough to overcome intense glare, so it's better suited for a dark to moderately-lit room.

These results are from after calibration in the 'Custom' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to max.

5.9
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
298 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
159 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
297 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
297 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
297 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
297 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
158 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
296 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
297 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
297 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
297 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.043

This monitor has disappointing HDR peak brightness. It isn't bright enough to make highlights stand out in HDR content, and just like in SDR, the 2% window is dimmer, meaning small highlights don't stand out. Unfortunately, the EOTF doesn't follow the target PQ curve very well either, as most scenes are too dark until there's a sharp roll-off at the peak brightness, causing a loss of fine details.

These results are from the 'Custom' Picture Mode, with Brightness set to max.

5.4
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
29°
Color Washout From Right
29°
Color Shift From Left
39°
Color Shift From Right
42°
Brightness Loss From Left
30°
Brightness Loss From Right
30°
Black Level Raise From Left
12°
Black Level Raise From Right
14°
Gamma Shift From Left
12°
Gamma Shift From Right
15°

The horizontal viewing angle is sub-par. The image looks inaccurate when viewed from the side, which isn't ideal for co-op gaming or sharing content. However, the curved screen helps bring the edges more within your field of vision, so the edges look the same as the rest of the screen.

4.9
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
25°
Color Washout From Above
26°
Color Shift From Below
25°
Color Shift From Above
29°
Brightness Loss From Below
28°
Brightness Loss From Above
29°
Black Level Raise From Below
6°
Black Level Raise From Above
9°
Gamma Shift From Below
12°
Gamma Shift From Above
15°

Unfortunately, this monitor has a poor vertical viewing angle. This causes the screen to look washed out if you have the monitor mounted above or below eye level.

8.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
1.852%
50% DSE
0.119%

The Samsung Odyssey G5 27 has excellent gray uniformity. It's a little darker on the right edge of the screen, but thankfully, it isn't that noticeable, and there's almost no visible dirty screen effect.

3.5
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
3.691%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

Unfortunately, the black uniformity is bad. There's a lot of backlight bleed along the top and bottom edges of the screen, making the entire screen look gray.

9.0
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom
sRGB Gamut Area xy
101.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
1.74
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,747 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.08
Color dE (Avg.)
2.16
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
50-50-50
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Brightness Setting
55
Measured Brightness
191 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

This monitor has fantastic accuracy in SDR before calibration. Although it doesn't have an sRGB mode to clamp the colors to the sRGB color space, only a few colors are slightly oversaturated, which you might notice when browsing web content that uses the color space. The white balance is also great. Unfortunately, the color temperature is on the warm side, resulting in a red tint, and gamma doesn't follow the target curve well, meaning most scenes are too bright.

9.3
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom
sRGB Gamut Area xy
95.0%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.51
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,472 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
Color dE (Avg.)
0.84
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
52-49-48
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Brightness Setting
26
Measured Brightness
100 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

This monitor has exceptional accuracy after calibration to the 6500K white point. The white balance is nearly perfect, and gamma follows the sRGB target curve nearly perfectly. Most colors are accurate, and the color temperature is extremely close to the target.

8.5
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
95.5%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
73.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom

The Samsung Odyssey G5 27 has a good SDR color gamut. It has great coverage of the sRGB color space used in most content but limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, which isn't ideal for professional content creators who require this color space.

7.7
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
79.7%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
67.4%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom

This monitor has good SDR color volume. It can display dark colors relatively well, but it has trouble producing bright colors.

5.9
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
74.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Custom
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
51.9%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Custom

Although the monitor supports HDR, it can't display a wide color gamut. It has mediocre coverage of the commonly-used DCI-P3 color space and poor coverage of the wider Rec. 2020.

5.4
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
55.3%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Custom
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
42.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Custom

The HDR color volume is bad, mainly due to its limited color gamut and low brightness. It has difficulty displaying bright colors as well as very dark and saturated colors.

7.8
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.2%
Indirect Reflections
3.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.5%

The reflection handling is very good. Its matte anti-reflective coating does a good job of diffusing bright reflections; however, visibility can still be an issue in well-lit environments due to the monitor's low brightness.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
VA
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is decent. Windows ClearType (top photo) helps with diagonal lines, like on the R and N, but it can make vertical lines look slightly thinner. The text clarity is likely worse on the 32-inch model due to its lower pixel density.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

This monitor has superb gradient handling. There's a tiny amount of banding in the darker shades of gray, red, and green, but it isn't noticeable in most content.

Motion
8.3
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
120 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

Due to bandwidth limitations, the max refresh rate is limited when you send a 10-bit signal, so you need to send an 8-bit signal to get full use of this monitor, but that results in more banding. If you want something with a higher 165Hz refresh rate, check out the MSI Optix G27CQ4.

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

The Samsung G5 Odyssey supports FreeSync natively to reduce screen tearing. Although not officially certified by NVIDIA, it also works with their G-SYNC Compatible feature, but only over DisplayPort.

4.7
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
FreeSync On
Rise / Fall Time
11.6 ms
Total Response Time
21.9 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
23.2 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
38.6 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
FastestChartTablePhoto
Freesync OnChartTablePhoto

The response time at its max refresh rate is bad. Most transitions are slow, resulting in black smearing with fast-moving objects. When you enable the VRR feature, you can't use any of the Response Time settings. If you don't use FreeSync, 'Faster' has a quicker response time without introducing overshoot. If you want something similar with better motion handling, you can also check out the Samsung Odyssey G5/G51C S27CG51.

4.5
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
FreeSync On
Rise / Fall Time
12.3 ms
Total Response Time
22.9 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
23.3 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
38.7 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
FastestChartTablePhoto
FreeSync OnChartTablePhoto

The response time at 120Hz is once again bad. Enabling FreeSync results in noticeable smearing with fast-moving objects, but if you disable it, the 'Faster' Response Time setting results in better motion.

2.6
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
FreeSync On
Rise / Fall Time
18.2 ms
Total Response Time
33.3 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
28.3 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
49.7 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
FastestChartTablePhoto
FreeSync OnChartTablePhoto

The response time at 60Hz is terrible, and the smearing is even worse than with the higher refresh rates. If you want better motion handling, you'll have to disable the VRR and use the 'Faster' Response Time setting, which has faster overall transitions, but there's still motion blur.

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

The monitor has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly called black frame insertion, to improve motion clarity. Because it only flickers at 144Hz, there's noticeable image duplication with lower frame rate signals. When enabled, the screen becomes noticeably darker, and it remains active as long as you don't adjust the screen's brightness. It sometimes causes the screen to dim so much that we can barely navigate the on-screen menu, and we could only get the brightness to return to normal after unplugging the monitor.

Refresh RateMotion Blur Photo
120 HzPhoto
60HzPhoto

2.0
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
144 Hz

The backlight is flicker-free when the backlight is set above 0; however, there's a 144Hz flicker when the backlight is at 0, which matches the monitor's refresh rate. If flicker bothers you, the Dell S2722DGM is a similar monitor that's completely flicker-free. The replacement for this model, the Samsung Odyssey G5/G55A S27AG55, doesn't have this issue with flicker.

Inputs
8.8
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.2 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.2 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
4.4 ms

The monitor has very low input lag for a responsive feel. However, like other Samsung monitors, the input increases when you disable the VRR, and there's a mismatch between the refresh rate in the on-screen display and the input source's frame rate. Essentially, you just need to make sure to set the monitor's refresh rate to the same frame rate as your source if you aren't using VRR.

Frame RateOSD - 144HzOSD - 120HzOSD - 60Hz
144 fps4.5 ms--
120 fps16.1 ms5.2 ms-
60 fps24.6 ms25.3 ms9.2 ms

8.0
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
27.0"
Screen Area
310 in²

The 32-inch variant is better for multitasking if you prefer the larger screen but has lower pixel density. The 34-inch variant has a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 3440x1440 resolution for similar pixel density as this monitor.

7.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
No

The monitor works well with the PS5, but due to bandwidth limitations, it can't take full advantage of it for 4k @ 120Hz gaming. It downscales a 4k image, which results in a sharper image than a native 1440p signal too.

9.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

This monitor works well with the Xbox Series X for signals up to 4k @ 60Hz. It downscales a 4k image, but there are limitations as you have to disable VRR and the color temperature is different than when sending a 1440p signal.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
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
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
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 MacBooks. There are no issues waking up from sleep, it responds quickly, and windows are restored to their original position. VRR doesn't work properly on the desktop, though, and in-game, it only works well if your computer can maintain a high frame rate. At low frame rates, it flickers considerably and doesn't look very good.

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

The monitor has only a few extra features. You can add a virtual crosshair, and there's an Eye Saver Mode to help reduce eye strain.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)