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Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Nov 10, 2021 at 10:27 am
Latest change: Retest Apr 18, 2023 at 03:04 pm
Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 Picture
8.1
Mixed Usage
8.4
Office
8.6
Gaming
7.5
Media Consumption
8.3
Media Creation
6.4
HDR

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is the first 4k monitor in Samsung's Odyssey gaming lineup. It has a 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 inputs, meaning you can achieve its max refresh rate with a 4k resolution over both DisplayPort and HDMI connections. The two HDMI 2.1 inputs support 4k @ 120Hz gaming from the Xbox Series X, PS5, or PCs. There's native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support, and it's certified by NVIDIA to be G-SYNC compatible. It's different from the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T because it has a flat screen, and it has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, which also means it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray.

Our Verdict

8.1 Mixed Usage

The Samsung G70A is great for most uses. It's excellent for gaming because it has fantastic motion handling, low input lag, and a 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 inputs. It's also great for content creators, office use, or consuming multimedia content because its 4k resolution produces sharp text, and the wide viewing angles result in an accurate image when viewing from the sides. It's decent for HDR gaming, but sadly it has a low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming that deliver a bad dark room experience.

Pros
  • 4k resolution delivers sharp images.
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 inputs.
  • Fantastic motion handling.
Cons
8.4 Office

The Samsung G70A is a great office monitor. It has a large 28 inch screen with a high 4k resolution for exceptional text clarity and sharp images. It has wide viewing angles, making it a good choice if you need to share the screen with a coworker, and the ergonomics are decent, but the swivel range is narrow. Also, it gets bright enough to fight glare in most rooms, but its reflection handling is just decent.

Pros
  • 4k resolution delivers sharp images.
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
Cons
  • Narrow swivel range.
  • Only decent reflection handling.
8.6 Gaming

The Samsung G70A is excellent for gaming. It has a fast 144Hz refresh rate, and you can reach its max refresh rate with a 4k resolution over an HDMI connection because it has two HDMI 2.1 inputs. It has native FreeSync support, G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing, and motion looks smooth thanks to the quick response time. Unfortunately, it's not a good choice for dark room gaming because it has a low contrast ratio.

Pros
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • 144Hz refresh rate with HDMI 2.1 inputs.
  • FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
  • Fantastic motion handling.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature.
7.5 Media Consumption

The Samsung Odyssey G70A is great for consuming multimedia content. Its 4k resolution allows you to watch the latest high-resolution videos, and it has wide viewing angles if you want to share the screen with a few friends. It also has decent ergonomics, but its swivel range is fairly narrow. Also, its dark room performance is bad because it has low contrast, and the edge-lit local dimming feature is terrible.

Pros
  • 4k resolution delivers sharp images.
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
Cons
  • Narrow swivel range.
  • Only decent reflection handling.
  • Low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature.
8.3 Media Creation

The Samsung G70A is great for content creators. The 4k resolution and 28 inch screen help deliver clear images and sharp text. The wide viewing angles make it easy to share your screen with a client, but it has a narrow swivel range, so it's harder to turn the screen. It also has good out-of-the-box accuracy, exceptional gradient handling, and a fantastic SDR color volume, so colors appear as they should while editing.

Pros
  • 4k resolution delivers sharp images.
  • Wide viewing angles.
  • Bright enough to fight glare in most rooms.
Cons
  • Narrow swivel range.
  • Only decent reflection handling.
6.4 HDR

Pros
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio and terrible local dimming feature.
  • Mediocre HDR peak brightness.
  • 8.1 Mixed Usage
  • 8.4 Office
  • 8.6 Gaming
  • 7.5 Media Consumption
  • 8.3 Media Creation
  • 6.4 HDR
  1. Updated Apr 18, 2023: Confirmed that 1440p @ 60Hz works on this monitor with the PS5.
  2. Updated Jan 24, 2023: Compared this monitor's SDR Brightness to that of the recently-reviewed Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70, which gets brighter.
  3. Updated Jul 27, 2022: We added text to the Xbox Series S|X section of the review to clarify a few issues using this monitor with those consoles.
  4. Updated May 02, 2022: We tested the monitor with the PS5's new variable refresh rate feature and confirmed that it's working properly. The monitor no longer has to be in 'PC' mode for 4k @ 120Hz gaming from the PS5.
  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 Jan 07, 2022: Updated the firmware to 1004.0 and retested the PS5 compatibility and the accuracy.
  7. Updated Nov 10, 2021: Review published.
  8. Updated Nov 05, 2021: Early access published.
  9. Updated Nov 02, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Oct 29, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Aug 25, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 28 inch Samsung Odyssey G70A, which is a new monitor in Samsung's Odyssey lineup. It indirectly replaces the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T from 2020, although that Odyssey G7 is a completely different monitor, and Samsung is still selling it. You can see the differences between them below. The G70A is part of the 2021 Odyssey lineup, sitting above the Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50.

Name Size(s) Short Model Code US Model Refresh Rate Resolution Panel Type Curve
Odyssey G75T 27", 32" C27G75T/
C32G75T
LC27G75TQSNXZA/
LC32G75TQSNXZA
240Hz 2560x1440 VA Yes
Odyssey G70A 28" S28AG70 LS28AG700NNXZA 144Hz 3840X2160 IPS No

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their G70A doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between units.

Our unit of the Samsung Odyssey G7 28 was manufactured in June 2021; you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Samsung G70A is an excellent gaming monitor. It has fantastic motion handling, low input lag, and VRR support, and the HDMI 2.1 inputs make it a worthwhile choice if you have an Xbox Series X. However, if you have a PS5, you need to make sure you can update the firmware to get 4k @ 120Hz gaming. It's a downgrade compared to the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T in dark room performance, but it has wider viewing angles instead.

Also see our recommendations for the best 4k gaming monitors, the best Samsung monitors, and the best 32-inch monitors.

Gigabyte M28U

The Gigabyte M28U and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are two excellent 4k gaming monitors. Picture quality is fairly similar, and even though the Gigabyte has much better out-of-the-box accuracy, it may vary between units. Motion is fantastic on each, but the backlight strobing feature on the Gigabyte flickers at a wider range than the one on the Samsung. They both have HDMI 2.1 inputs, but the Samsung has 40 Gbps bandwidth while the Gigabyte is limited to 24 Gbps, so it needs Display Stream Compression for certain signals, which you won't have to worry about on the Samsung.

Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70

The Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70 is the newer version of the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 with many of the same features and performance. The BG70 is available in 28 and 32-inch screen sizes, while the AG70 is available in just a 28-inch screen size. The BG70 improves in a few areas, like peak brightness, reflection handling, and motion handling. It also has a built-in Tizen OS smart platform, which the AG70 doesn't have, letting you stream content without a PC.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

In name, the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is an updated version of the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T, but they're different types of monitors. The S28AG70 is a flat 4k monitor with a 28-inch screen, while the C32G75T is a curved 1440p model available in 27 and 32 inches. The S28AG70 has an IPS panel with wide viewing angles, and the C32G75T has a VA panel with better contrast. In terms of picture quality, the C32G75T is better in a few areas as it gets brighter and has better reflection handling, and even though it has a quicker overall response time, the S28AG70 has better motion handling because there's less black smearing.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both 4k gaming monitors with a few differences. The S32BG75 is better for dark room gaming because it has a higher contrast and its Mini LED local dimming results in deeper blacks, while the S28AG70 is better for co-op gaming as it has wider viewing angles. The S32BG75 is also slightly better for gaming as it has a quicker response time, especially with lower frame rates.

Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 and the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 are different types of 4k gaming monitors. They have different panel types with strengths and weaknesses, as the Neo G8 delivers deeper blacks while the G7 has wider viewing angles. The Neo G8 also has a higher 240Hz refresh rate and delivers a better HDR experience as it gets brighter.

LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 and the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B are both excellent for gaming, but they have different features. The Samsung has a 4k resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, while the LG has a 1440p resolution and a higher 180Hz max refresh rate. The LG has a slightly better response time, especially at 60Hz, and it's better for bright rooms because it gets brighter and has better reflection handling. However, the Samsung is a better choice for console gaming thanks to its HDMI 2.1 inputs, and it has a local dimming feature, which the LG doesn't have, but it causes blooming around bright objects.

LG 27GP950-B

The LG 27GP950-B and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both high-end 4k gaming monitors. They have many of the same features with HDMI 2.1 inputs, and even though their native refresh rates are both 144Hz, the LG is overclockable to 160Hz. The LG also has better motion handling at 60Hz, and it gets much brighter, especially in HDR. The HDMI 2.1 inputs on the LG support a higher 48 Gbps bandwidth compared to 40 Gbps from the Samsung, but it doesn't make a difference unless you need to achieve 4k @ 120Hz signals with 12-bit color depth. On the other hand, the Samsung has better ergonomics because you can swivel it.

Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50

The Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50 sits below the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 in Samsung's lineup, so they have different features. The S28AG70 is a 4k monitor with a 28 inch screen, 144Hz refresh rate, and its HDMI 2.1 inputs are better for console gaming. However, the S27AG50 has a 1440p resolution, 27 inch screen, and a faster 165Hz refresh rate. They both have a superb response time at their max refresh rate, but the S27AG50 has a faster response time at 60Hz. The S27AG50 also gets brighter and has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for a bright room. However, the S28AG50 displays clearer text thanks to the higher pixel density, and it displays more accurate colors, but this can vary between units. The S28AG70 also has a local dimming feature, but it performs terribly.

Samsung Odyssey G5 C27G55T

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.

MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 and the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD are different types of monitors. The Samsung is a 4k monitor with HDMI 2.1 inputs, so it's a better choice for console gaming, while the MSI has a 1440p resolution and a slightly higher 165Hz refresh rate. Motion handling is fantastic on both, but the MSI has a slightly faster response time at 60Hz. The MSI has a few more office features like better ergonomics and a USB-C input, but the Samsung delivers clearer text thanks to the higher resolution. The MSI is also a better choice for use in well-lit rooms because it gets brighter.

ASUS TUF VG27AQ

The ASUS TUF VG27AQ and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both excellent for gaming, but they have different features. The ASUS is a 1440p monitor and the Samsung has a 4k resolution. While they both have a native 144Hz refresh rate, the ASUS is overclockable to 165Hz. Motion looks smoother on the Samsung thanks to the quicker response time, and it has HDMI 2.1 inputs that allow high-frame-rate gaming. On the other hand, the ASUS has much better ergonomics because it has a wider swivel range.

Gigabyte M32U

The Gigabyte M32U and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both excellent 4k gaming monitors. They have many of the same features with a 144Hz refresh rate and native FreeSync support, but the Gigabyte has better motion handling as the response time is much better at 60Hz. However, the HDMI 2.1 inputs on the Samsung support more bandwidth than those on the Gigabyte, as they can support up to 40 Gbps while the Gigabyte is 24 Gbps. This means that you don't need Display Stream Compression for 4k gaming at 120 fps from certain sources on the Samsung, like from the Xbox Series X.

Dell G3223Q

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 and the Dell G3223Q are both excellent gaming monitors. Overall picture quality is a bit better on the Dell because it gets brighter and has better reflection handling, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms. Also, it has much better out-of-the-box accuracy and quicker response times, especially at lower refresh rates. However, the Samsung has better ergonomics because you can swivel it, and it supports higher HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, meaning your graphics card doesn't need compression for high-frame-rate signals.

LG 27GN950-B

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is a better gaming monitor than the LG 27GN950-B. They each have a 4k resolution, but the Samsung is more future-proof because it has HDMI 2.1 inputs for console gaming, while the LG is limited to HDMI 2.0, so you can't play high-frame-rate games with a 4k resolution over an HDMI connection. However, motion at 60 fps looks much better on the LG because of the quicker response time. The Samsung is also a better choice for use in bright rooms because while it doesn't get brighter, it has much better reflection handling.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both excellent for gaming, but they're different types of monitors. The Gigabyte has a 1440p resolution with a 170Hz refresh rate, while the Samsung has a 4k resolution with a 144Hz refresh, and it has HDMI 2.1 inputs that make it a good choice for console gaming. The Gigabyte has better motion handling at 60Hz because there's more overshoot on the Samsung. The Gigabyte also has more productivity options like a USB-C input, and it gets brighter, but the Samsung has better ergonomics because you can swivel it.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is a bit better for gaming than the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B, but they have different features. They both have 144Hz refresh rates, but with HDMI 2.1 inputs and a higher 4k resolution, the Samsung is a better choice for console gaming. Motion looks smooth between each, but the LG has a faster response time at 60Hz. The LG is also a bit better to use in bright rooms because it has better reflection handling and gets a bit brighter. The Samsung has a local dimming feature, which the LG doesn't have, but it causes blooming around bright objects.

Dell S2721DGF

The Dell S2721DGF and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both great overall monitors, but they're different in a few areas. While the Dell has a 1440p resolution with a faster 165Hz refresh rate, the Samsung has a higher 4k resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The Samsung has HDMI 2.1 inputs that allow you to play 4k games up to 120 fps from consoles, and it has a completely flicker-free backlight. Motion looks smooth between both, but the Samsung has more overshoot at 60Hz. The Dell also has much better reflection handling, and it gets brighter, so it's a better choice for well-lit rooms.

Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx

The Acer Nitro XV282K KVbmiipruzx and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are both excellent 4k gaming monitors. They each have HDMI 2.1 inputs, but the Samsung supports a higher bandwidth, so it doesn't require compression for 4k @ 120 fps games like on the Acer. Picture quality looks similar between both, and even though the Samsung has a slightly bigger screen, text looks sharp on each. On the other hand, the Acer has much better ergonomics because you can swivel the screen 360 degrees.

Gigabyte G27Q

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is slightly better for gaming than the Gigabyte G27Q, but they're different types of monitors. While the Samsung has a 4k resolution, the Gigabyte is 1440p, and they each have a 144Hz refresh rate. The Samsung has much better motion handling, and it has HDMI 2.1 inputs that allow you to play 4k @ 120 fps from gaming consoles. However, the Gigabyte is better to use in bright rooms because it has slightly better reflection handling, and it gets brighter.

Acer Predator XB273U GXbmiipruzx

The Acer Predator XB273U GXbmiipruzx and the Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 are different types of gaming monitors with excellent performance. The Acer is meant for high frame rate gaming because it has a 240Hz refresh rate that you can overclock to 270Hz, while the Samsung delivers a more immersive gaming experience thanks to its 4k resolution and HDMI 2.1 inputs. Motion looks smoother on the Acer, especially at 60Hz, because it has a quicker response time with less overshoot. It also gets brighter, and while the Samsung has a local dimming feature, it performs terribly.

Dell Alienware AW2721D

The Dell Alienware AW2721D and the Samsung Odyssey G5 S27AG50 are different types of gaming monitors. The Dell is meant for high-frame-rate gaming because it has a 240Hz refresh rate with a 1440p resolution, and it has native G-SYNC VRR support. The Dell has a faster response time, but there's also more overshoot, and motion handling is fantastic between each. The Samsung is meant for high-resolution gaming because it has a 4k resolution with FreeSync support and HDMI 2.1 inputs, making it a good choice for console gaming. The Dell gets brighter, but the Samsung has better reflection handling. Also, while they each have local dimming features, they both perform terribly.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM deliver very similar performance, but they each have advantages and disadvantages. The Samsung has a higher resolution screen, resulting in a more detailed, immersive gaming experience. On the other hand, the ASUS has a faster refresh rate and better motion handling at 60Hz, making it a better choice for fast-paced games like MOBAs.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The Samsung G70A has a very different design than the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T. It has a flat screen with thin bezels on three sides and a thicker bottom bezel that features RGB lighting. It has a heavy gaming-oriented design that makes it ideal for a gaming setup, and it would stick out in an office environment.

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

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has decent build quality, but it's disappointing for a high-end monitor, and it doesn't feel as well-built as the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T. The plastic on the back feels cheap and flexes throughout. The cover to the RGB lighting also feels flimsy, and the stand doesn't support the screen well.

8.7
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-12.5° to 10°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Clockwise
Swivel Range
-15° to 15°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are decent. You get all the common ergonomic adjustments, but the swivel and tilt ranges are limited. Also, you can only rotate it into portrait mode one way, so the inputs will always face to the left. The back of the Samsung G70A looks almost exactly like the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T. The plastic panel is a bit glossy with etched lines, and there's a ring of RGB lighting. You can route cables through the rubber clip on the stand for cable management. There's also a slot for a Kensington lock on the back right side.

Design
Stand
Base Width
17.8" (45.1 cm)
Base Depth
9.1" (23.1 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
7.8" (19.8 cm)
Weight (With Display)
17.1 lbs (7.8 kg)

The stand has two legs that sit flat against the table, but without much support in the back, the screen wobbles easily. The stand doesn't take up too much space, which is good, and there's enough room between the legs to place objects in front, like your keyboard and mouse.

Design
Display
Size
28"
Housing Width
25.1" (63.7 cm)
Housing Height
15.0" (38.0 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
13.4 lbs (6.1 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Design
Controls

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has a joystick underneath the center branding and three buttons to the left to control the on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • Power supply and cable
  • DisplayPort cable and two covers
  • USB-B to USB-A cable
  • VESA-mount adapter (100 x 100)
  • User guides

Picture Quality
6.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,155 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
1,176 : 1

The Samsung G70A has an IPS panel with a low native contrast ratio. The local dimming feature doesn't do much to improve it because our checkerboard pattern turns all the zones on. Also, the local dimming locks the brightness at its max, while we normally measure the contrast at 100 nits. Contrast can vary a bit between units, but we don't expect it to be much higher for an IPS panel.

2.0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has a terrible edge-lit local dimming feature. It only has 8 dimming zones, which are large, and the entire zone turns on when there's a small bright highlight. It results in distracting blooming, and it's obvious when highlights transition between the zones. Even subtitles look terrible because it lights up everything around them. In scenes like a star field, it won't turn on the zones if there are only a handful of small highlights, but all the zones light up if there are more bright objects, at which point the contrast looks bad.

We tested it with the Local Dimming setting at 'On'. There's also an 'Auto' option that turns on the local dimming when you enable HDR, and it disables it with SDR. Enabling the Local Dimming adjusts the brightness to the max, even if you set the Brightness setting lower, it doesn't do anything.

Samsung released another 4k monitor, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75, that features Mini LED backlighting with a much better local dimming feature.

7.5
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
285 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
360 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
372 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
361 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
347 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
315 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
358 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
370 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
360 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
346 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
314 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.010
Minimum Brightness
28 cd/m²

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28's SDR peak brightness is good. It gets bright enough to fight glare in most settings, but it's a bit inconsistent across different scenes. Still, it won't be an issue for most people. We measured it in the 'Custom' Picture Mode after calibration with Brightness at '100' and Local Dimming at its max.

We also measured the brightness in the 'High Bright' Picture Mode before calibration, which has a slightly brighter image at the cost of image accuracy, and the gamma is terrible. You can see the results below:

  • Real Scene: 319 cd/m²
  • Peak 2% Window: 404 cd/m²
  • Peak 10% Window: 415 cd/m²
  • Peak 25% Window: 401 cd/m²
  • Peak 50% Window: 386 cd/m²
  • Peak 100% Window: 350 cd/m²
  • Sustained 2% Window: 401 cd/m²
  • Sustained 10% Window: 413 cd/m²
  • Sustained 25% Window: 400 cd/m²
  • Sustained 50% Window: 385 cd/m²
  • Sustained 100% Window: 350 cd/m²

If you care about peak brightness and also want an accurate image, the Samsung Odyssey G7/G70B S32BG70 gets brighter and has better color accuracy.

6.3
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 400
Real Scene
315 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
395 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
408 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
378 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
380 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
345 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
393 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
406 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
377 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
378 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
344 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.009

The Samsung G70A has mediocre HDR peak brightness. It barely meets its brightness requirement for the VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, and it doesn't get bright enough to make highlights stand out. It's worse than the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T. We also checked the EOTF, which affects the brightness level of different scenes, and it doesn't follow the target PQ curve well because dark scenes are too dark, and bright scenes are over-brightened until the sharp roll-off, so you lose details in the brightest highlights.

We tested it in the 'HDR Dynamic' Picture Mode with Local Dimming enabled.

We also checked the brightness of the 'HDR Standard' mode. It's dimmer than 'HDR Dynamic', and has a worse EOTF as all scenes are too dim. You can see the results below:

  • Real Scene: 287 cd/m²
  • Peak 2% Window: 360 cd/m²
  • Peak 10% Window: 372 cd/m²
  • Peak 25% Window: 344 cd/m²
  • Peak 50% Window: 346 cd/m²
  • Peak 100% Window: 315 cd/m²
  • Sustained 2% Window: 358 cd/m²
  • Sustained 10% Window: 370 cd/m²
  • Sustained 25% Window: 344 cd/m²
  • Sustained 50% Window: 345 cd/m²
  • Sustained 100% Window: 314 cd/m²

7.6
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
40°
Color Washout From Right
41°
Color Shift From Left
47°
Color Shift From Right
49°
Brightness Loss From Left
43°
Brightness Loss From Right
44°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
36°
Gamma Shift From Right
39°

Like other IPS panels, the Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has wide horizontal viewing angles. The image remains accurate as you move off the side, which is great for sharing your screen with someone, like during co-op gaming.

7.8
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
33°
Color Washout From Above
34°
Color Shift From Below
52°
Color Shift From Above
58°
Brightness Loss From Below
36°
Brightness Loss From Above
37°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
49°
Gamma Shift From Above
57°

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has good vertical viewing angles. Once again, you don't lose much image accuracy if you're viewing the screen from above or below.

7.7
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.428%
50% DSE
0.156%

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has impressive gray uniformity. The center of the screen looks uniform with minimal dirty screen effect in the center, and even though the edges are darker, it's not distracting.

5.4
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.702%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
6.039%

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has disappointing black uniformity. Without local dimming, the entire screen looks gray due to the low contrast, but the screen itself is fairly uniform. The local dimming feature worsens the uniformity because there's more blooming around the center cross. Since the local dimming locks the brightness to the max, we measured it at its max brightness instead of the 100 nits we normally aim for.

7.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
sRGB
sRGB Gamut Area xy
104.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
4.78
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,416 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.20
Color dE (Avg.)
3.07
Contrast Setting
N/A
RGB Settings
N/A
Gamma Setting
N/A
Brightness Setting
50
Measured Brightness
310 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The out-of-the-box accuracy on our unit of the Samsung Odyssey G7 28 is good. The color temperature is close to the 6500K target, and the white balance is only a bit off. However, colors are more inaccurate, especially the primaries that are over-saturated. Gamma also seems to follow a flat 2.2 target instead, so some dark scenes are too dark, while brighter scenes are over-brightened. If you care about out-of-the-box accuracy, the Dell G3223Q is a great alternative.

9.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.2%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.42
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,486 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.17
Color dE (Avg.)
0.38
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
49-50-47
Gamma Setting
Mode 1
Brightness Setting
26
Measured Brightness
100 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

After calibration, the accuracy is exceptional. Any remaining accuracies to the white balance and colors aren't visible to the naked eye, and gamma improved, but it's still not perfect.

9.4
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
99.2%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
83.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom

The Samsung G70A has a fantastic SDR color gamut. It has full coverage of the sRGB color space used in most SDR content, and it has great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space, but it still may not be ideal for professional photo editors.

9.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
98.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
89.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom

The Samsung Odyssey G70A has an exceptional SDR color volume. Thanks to its high peak brightness and wide color gamut, it displays bright colors well but struggles with darker colors due to the low contrast.

7.4
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
86.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Dynamic
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
63.8%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Dynamic

The Samsung G70A has a good HDR color gamut, with excellent coverage of the DCI P3 color space. However, it has limited coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, and tone mapping is off for both, so most colors are inaccurate.

7.7
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
78.6%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Dynamic
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
57.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Dynamic

The Samsung G70A has okay HDR color volume. It displays bright colors fairly well but has trouble with darker colors.

7.4
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.3%
Indirect Reflections
2.8%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.5%

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has decent reflection handling, but it's worse than the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T because light scatters more across the screen. Combined with its good peak brightness, glare won't be an issue with a few lights around, but you'll struggle to see the screen if you place it opposite a bright window.

9.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

Thanks to the Samsung Odyssey G70A's 4k resolution and high pixel density, the text clarity is exceptional. Text looks clear even without ClearType enabled, but enabling it makes the letters look bolder (top photo).

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The Samsung S28AG70 has fantastic gradient handling. You won't notice any banding with different shades of the same color.

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
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
144 Hz
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has a high 144Hz refresh rate, which you can achieve both over DisplayPort and HDMI thanks to the HDMI 2.1 inputs. FreeSync works over the entire range with both connections, but the G-SYNC compatibility only works over DisplayPort; over HDMI, the NVIDIA Control Panel recognizes it, but we couldn't enable G-SYNC in the pendulum demo. Let us know if it works on your unit.

8.6
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Adaptive Sync
Rise / Fall Time
2.8 ms
Total Response Time
8.8 ms
Overshoot Error
7.6%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.6 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
12.3 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
22.1%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
VRRChartTablePhoto

The Samsung G70A has an incredible response time at its max refresh rate of 144Hz. Motion looks smooth with minimal overshoot in most transitions. We recommend enabling the VRR setting, called Adaptive Sync because it performs almost exactly like the 'Standard' Response Time setting, and enabling VRR locks the Response Time setting and you can't change it anyways.

8.4
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Adaptive Sync
Rise / Fall Time
2.8 ms
Total Response Time
10.2 ms
Overshoot Error
9.2%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.6 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
14.2 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
26.6%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
VRRChartTablePhoto

7.3
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Adaptive Sync
Rise / Fall Time
2.8 ms
Total Response Time
17 ms
Overshoot Error
10.6%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.5 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
23.9 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
33.8%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
StandardChartTablePhoto
FasterChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
VRRChartTablePhoto

The Samsung Odyssey G70A has an impressive response time at 60Hz, but motion looks worse than its max refresh rate because there's more overshoot, resulting in some ghosting. Once again, we suggest simply enabling VRR to have the best motion handling possible, but if you don't use VRR, set the Response Time to 'Standard'.

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

Refresh RateBFI SettingMotion Blur Photo
144HzOnPhoto
120HzOnPhoto
60HzOnPhoto

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has an optional backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion. It only flickers within a narrow range, and you can't use it at the same time as VRR. There's a setting to enable it at 60Hz, but it still flickers at 120Hz, as you can see in this photo.

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

The Samsung Odyssey G7 28 has a completely flicker-free backlight at all brightness levels, which helps reduce eye strain. We didn't notice any flicker issues like with the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
12.8 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
4.2 ms

The Samsung G70A has low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. The input lag remains low when you're gaming at 60Hz, but like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9/G95NA S49AG95, you have to enable VRR or make sure the refresh rate on the monitor matches the refresh rate of your PC to get the lowest input lag possible. With the monitor's refresh rate set to 144Hz and the PC's refresh rate at 60Hz, we measured an input lag of 26.8 ms.

9.0
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
8.3 MP
Pixel Density
160 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
27.9"
Screen Area
330 in²

The high 4k resolution on the Samsung Odyssey G70A helps deliver clear images and crisp text.

10
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is fully compatible with nearly all features of the PS5, but it doesn't support 1440p @ 120Hz. Although 4k @ 120Hz once required the monitor to be in 'AV' Mode, that's no longer the case, as the PS5 also supports 4k @ 120Hz with HDR and VRR enabled in 'PC' Mode.

10
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

The Samsung Odyssey G7 S28AG70 is nearly fully compatible with the Xbox Series S|X, but there are a few quirks. The variable refresh rate feature only works if the monitor is in 'PC' mode, but in 'PC' mode, 1440p @ 120Hz doesn't work. That format works fine in 'AV' mode, but disables 1080p @ 120Hz, and adaptive sync doesn't work. In short, you have to choose between adaptive sync support and 1440p @ 120Hz support; you can't enable them at the same time.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.1)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
40Gbps (FRL 10x4)
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No

The Samsung G70A has two HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 40 Gbps bandwidth instead of the max 48 Gbps, as you can see here, but this isn't an issue as you can still achieve 4k @ 120Hz signals in 10-bit HDR with chroma 4:4:4.

Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
2
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
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

This monitor works fine with recent MacBooks for the most part, but there are some issues with the gaming features. VRR flickers at lower framerates, but HDR doesn't work unless you set the Refresh Rate setting on the monitor to "120", so it's not possible to use HDR and VRR at the same time. On the other hand, there are no issues putting the computer to sleep or closing the lid.

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

There are a few additional features on the Samsung S28AG700, including:

  • Black Stabilizer: Adjusts the gamma so that you see opponents in shadows of games.
  • Core Sync Lighting: Matches the RGB lighting to the content on the screen, but there's a big delay so it's distracting to use.
  • Crosshair: Adds a virtual crosshair on the screen that your PC won't detect.
  • Frame Rate Counter: Displays the frame rate of your signal.

If you want a 4k display from Samsung that has a built-in smart system, then check out the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 S32BM80.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)