The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85 is a curved 34-inch ultrawide gaming monitor with a 175Hz refresh rate. Part of the Odyssey gaming lineup alongside the larger Samsung Odyssey OLED G9/G95SC S49CG95, it's one of a few models from Samsung that feature a QD-OLED panel, and it competes with other ultrawide displays that use the same panel, like the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF and the MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED. This panel technology aims to provide high-end gaming performance combined with premium picture quality. It has all kinds of different features, from VRR support to the Tizen OS smart platform built-in. It's worth noting that, unlike some competitors, Samsung's one-year warranty doesn't cover burn-in in North America, though this may vary from region to region.
Our Verdict
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is excellent for PC gaming. Its 175Hz refresh rate is good enough for most gamers, and it supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing. The lightning-quick response time also results in incredibly sharp motion, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. Its near-infinite contrast ratio is fantastic for gaming in dark rooms, as blacks are deep and inky, and it also displays vivid colors. On the other hand, blacks look purple in bright environments.
- Large 34-inch ultrawide screen.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Exceptionally sharp motion.
- Supports all common VRR formats.
- Low input lag.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
- Noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is great for console gaming. Although the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S don't support ultrawide gaming, and the monitor can't take full advantage of the consoles with 4k gaming up to 120Hz, it still performs well in terms of pure gaming performance. It has a near-instantaneous response time, leading to exceptionally sharp motion, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel. It also displays deep and inky blacks in dark rooms, resulting in outstanding picture quality, but its black levels rise in bright rooms.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Exceptionally sharp motion.
- Low input lag.
- Displays vivid colors.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
- Can't take full advantage of consoles.
The Samsung Odyssey G8 is decent for office use. The ultrawide 34-inch screen offers a lot of space to multitask, and the screen's slight curve helps bring the edges within your field of vision. Despite having limited ergonomics, you can still share the screen with someone sitting next to you, thanks to the wide viewing angles. It handles reflections well but doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare. Sadly, there are text clarity issues due to its subpixel layout, and OLEDs like this are prone to burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time.
- Large 34-inch ultrawide screen.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Text clarity issues.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
- Risk of burn-in with static elements.
The Samsung G8 OLED is excellent for content creators. There's plenty of screen real estate to have multiple windows open side-by-side. The wide viewing angles let you share the screen with someone else as the image remains consistent from the sides, but it has limited ergonomics. It also displays a wide range of colors and has great accuracy before calibration. Sadly, its curved screen can take time to get used to, and there are text clarity issues, resulting in color fringing. There's also a risk of burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time.
- Large 34-inch ultrawide screen.
- Wide viewing angles.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- Displays a wide color gamut.
- Great accuracy before calibration.
- Text clarity issues.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
- Risk of burn-in with static elements.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has okay brightness. It isn't bright enough to fight intense glare in well-lit rooms, but it's still fine if you have a few lights around. Luckily, it gets brighter in HDR, enough for small highlights to pop against the rest of the image.
- Highlights pop.
- Not bright enough to fight intense glare.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has a near-instantaneous response time, leading to exceptionally sharp motion.
- Exceptionally sharp motion.
- Outstanding refresh rate compliance.
The Samsung G85SB is outstanding for HDR. It displays deep blacks in dark rooms thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio, and there isn't any blooming around bright objects either. Its QD-OLED panel also displays a wide range of colors, making them bright and vivid.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- No blooming around bright objects.
- Displays vivid colors.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has outstanding SDR picture quality, displaying deep and inky blacks in dark rooms and a wide range of colors.
- Near-infinite contrast ratio.
- No blooming around bright objects.
- Displays a wide color gamut.
- Ambient light causes blacks to have a purple tint.
The Samsung Odyssey G8 has impressive color accuracy. It has great accuracy before calibration, and while calibrating it improves accuracy, it isn't as good as other monitors. It has excellent gray uniformity, so the image remains consistently accurate throughout the screen.
- Great accuracy before calibration.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Jan 21, 2026: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Nov 18, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Sep 26, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
- Updated Jul 08, 2025: We uploaded the latest brightness measurements and uniformity photos for the Accelerated Longevity Test.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 34-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8, which is the only size available and the results are only valid for this model. There are other monitors that share the G8 name, but they're different, and you can see the differences between them below.
| Size | Name | Resolution | Refresh Rate | Panel Type | Release Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32" | Odyssey Neo G8 S32BG85 | 4k | 240Hz | VA | 2022 |
| 32" | Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD | 4k | 240Hz | QD-OLED | 2024 |
| 34" | Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB | 3440x1440 | 175Hz | QD-OLED | 2023 |
Our unit was manufactured in September 2022, and you can see the label here. We originally tested it with firmware 1421 but have since retested parts of it with firmware 1442 and 1520.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is an excellent gaming monitor with incredibly sharp motion. Its QD-OLED panel allows it to have outstanding picture quality and get brighter than monitors that use a more traditional WOLED panel. It uses the same panel as the Dell Alienware AW3423DW and the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, which both perform similarly, so the Samsung is a good choice if you can find it for less than the Dell monitors. You can also consider the Dell Alienware AW2725DF if you want a QD-OLED monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate, but it has a smaller screen.
Also, check out our recommendations for the best ultrawide monitors, the best ultrawide gaming monitors, and the best gaming monitors.
The Dell Alienware AW3425DW and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SB S34BG85 are both ultrawide QD-OLED monitors. The Dell has a higher refresh rate and comes with higher-bandwidth HDMI ports that allow the monitor to support more signals with gaming consoles. Another difference is that the Samsung comes with a smart OS built in, making it easy to stream content without a PC.
The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SB S34BG85 use the same QD-OLED display. They perform closely in visual performance, and they offer relatively similar features. If you're going to use your monitor for purposes that involve a lot of static screens, like office work or media creation, you have to factor in burn-in. As a result, the Dell is a better option as it comes with a three-year replacement warranty against burn-in. If you enjoy watching content, the Samsung also comes with the Tizen OS built-in, meaning you can stream media directly from the monitor.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SB S34BG85 and the MSI MPG 341CQPX QD-OLED are 34-inch QD-OLED ultrawide gaming monitors. For most people, the MSI is the better option, as it has a higher refresh rate for smoother motion, a KVM switch, and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. That said, the Samsung is an excellent monitor, and if you can find it for less, it can be a great choice.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G85SB S34BG85 and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD S32DG80 are both QD-OLED monitors. The G80SD is the better choice if you have a powerful gaming PC, as it has a higher 240Hz refresh rate and better compatibility with game consoles. It's also better for office or editing work, as it has a more detailed 4k display with sharper text. However, the G85SB is a better option if you don't have a very powerful gaming PC, as games run at a higher frame rate on the monitor's native 1440p resolution than the G80SD at its native 4k resolution. You may also prefer the G85SB if you want an extremely immersive gaming experience, as it has an ultrawide display.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
Test Results
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