The Samsung G81SF is a premium 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor. It competes against several other 27-inch 4k QD-OLEDs, such as the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, the Dell Alienware AW2725Q, and the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED. It's quite similar to the larger 32-inch G81SF version of this monitor, though it lacks the Tizen OS and remote found in the older Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD S32DG80. Like other Samsung QD-OLED monitors, it has a matte screen and features you'd expect to see on a gaming monitor, like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and VRR support, including a 'VRR Control' function to reduce VRR flicker. It also has gaming features such as a virtual crosshair overlay and adjustable LED lighting.
Our Verdict
The Samsung G81SF is superb for gaming. Its 240Hz refresh rate and very low input lag create a responsive feel. Games also look very sharp with its 4k resolution, and its superb response time makes fast-moving objects look crisp. Additionally, it has outstanding image quality, as it displays deep blacks in a dark room, vivid colors, and small highlights that pop. However, it has distracting VRR flicker if VRR Control is off, and deep blacks appear purple in bright rooms.
Very crisp motion.
240Hz refresh rate with VRR support.
Low input lag at any refresh rate.
Deep and inky blacks in dark rooms.
Displays a wide range of vivid colors.
Detailed Image.
Deep blacks look purple in a bright room.
Distracting VRR flicker with changing frame rates.
The Samsung G81SF is outstanding for console gaming. It supports all console features, including VRR, and it has a 4k resolution for sharp images. It also has crisp motion handling and very low input lag for a responsive feel. Additionally, it has fantastic picture quality, with small highlights that pop, vivid colors, and deep blacks in a dark room. However, in bright rooms deep blacks look purple.
Very crisp motion.
Low input lag at any refresh rate.
Deep and inky blacks in dark rooms.
Displays a wide range of vivid colors.
Works well with the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Detailed Image.
Deep blacks look purple in a bright room.
The Samsung G81SF is impressive for work, with a few caveats. It displays sharp text because of its 4k resolution, and it's easy to adjust because of its fantastic ergonomics. However, despite having amazing reflection handling, it doesn't get bright enough to overcome strong glare. Additionally, there's a risk of permanent burn-in if you always display static elements like taskbars in the same place on your screen.
Very sharp text.
Fantastic ergonomics.
Amazing reflection handling.
Not bright enough to fight strong glare.
Risk of burn-in.
The Samsung G81SF is fantastic for editing. It's particularly good for editing HDR content, as it displays deep blacks in a dark room, has vivid colors, and makes small highlights pop. Its 4k resolution also ensures sharp text and detailed images. Additionally, it's quite accurate before calibration, though most parts of scenes aren't as bright as they should be. Finally, there's a risk of burn-in if the same static elements are always in the same place on your screen.
Deep and inky blacks in dark rooms.
Displays a wide range of vivid colors.
Very sharp text.
Accurate before calibration.
Small highlights pop in HDR.
Detailed Image.
Amazing reflection handling.
Deep blacks look purple in a bright room.
Not bright enough to fight strong glare.
Risk of burn-in.
Most parts of scenes are dimmer than they should be.
The Samsung G81SF is bright enough for you to easily see it in a well-lit room, though it's not bright enough to overcome glare in bright rooms. Additionally, while small highlights pop, larger highlights are more muted.
Small highlights pop in HDR.
Not bright enough to fight strong glare.
Larger highlights more muted.
The Samsung G81SF has a near-instantaneous response time for extremely sharp motion.
Very crisp motion.
The Samsung G81SF has superb picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors quite vividly, as well as deep blacks in a dark room. However, in a bright room, black levels rise and deep blacks appear purple.
Deep and inky blacks in dark rooms.
Displays a wide range of vivid colors.
Deep blacks look purple in a bright room.
The Samsung G81SF has incredible SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors and displays deep blacks in dark rooms.
Deep and inky blacks in dark rooms.
Displays a wide range of vivid colors.
The Samsung G81SF has superb color accuracy. It has excellent accuracy before calibration and amazing gray uniformity, and it's exceptionally accurate after calibration. However, most parts of scenes aren't as bright as they should be in SDR.
Accurate before calibration.
Uniform screen.
Most parts of scenes are dimmer than they should be.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Mar 17, 2026: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.2. We added a new Panel Technology box, including the Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) graph.
- Updated Nov 10, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1.1. We removed the Vertical Viewing Angle test.
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Updated Sep 18, 2025:
We clarified that the monitor's matte coating is aggressive and a bit more hazy than other matte displays.
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Updated Sep 05, 2025:
Clarified that this monitor competes with the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Samsung G81SF, though the full model code may vary between regions. It's also available in a larger 32-inch size at Best Buy in the US, though that model has a different panel, so the results are only valid for this monitor. You can see how this monitor compares to some of the other QD-OLEDs in Samsung's Odyssey gaming lineup.
| Name | Size | Max Refresh Rate | Native Resolution | Matte Finish | Tizen OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G81SF (27") | 27" | 240Hz | 4k | Yes | No |
| G81SF (32") | 32" | 240Hz | 4k | Yes | No |
| G60SF | 27" | 500Hz | 1440p | Yes | No |
| G60SD | 27" | 360Hz | 1440p | Yes | No |
| G80SD | 32" | 240Hz | 4k | Yes | Yes |
Our unit's label indicates it was manufactured in February 2025. We tested it with firmware M-F8100GCAA-1000.1.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Samsung G81SF is a premium 4k, 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor. It's ideally suited to those who prefer something smaller than a 32-inch monitor, have a very powerful graphics card, and play a lot of immersive games. It's very similar in performance to its 27-inch 4k QD-OLED peers, like the Dell Alienware AW2725Q and the ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, with vivid colors and outstanding motion handling.
The Samsung has a matte screen, so it's an ideal choice if you prefer this type of screen coating. That said, if you prefer a glossy screen, another QD-OLED like the Dell or the ASUS is a better choice for you. If you don't have a strong preference on screen finish, then you may want to get whichever 4k QD-OLED is cheapest, given how similarly they all perform. Also, if you don't need the high detail of a 4k monitor, you can save some money and experience a higher frame rate by choosing a 1440p QD-OLED, like the 360Hz ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27ACDNG.
See our recommendations for the best OLED monitors, the best HDR gaming monitors, and the best 27-inch gaming monitors.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G80SD S32DG80 and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S are 4k QD-OLED gaming monitors. The biggest difference between the two is their size, as the G81SF has a smaller 27-inch display, and the G80SD has a larger 32-inch screen. Otherwise, they both have very similar performance, though the G80SD does have an integrated smart OS and remote, which you may prefer if you plan to use your monitor like a TV.
The ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S are 27-inch 4k QD-OLED gaming monitors. Unlike the ASUS the Samsung has a matte screen finish, so you may want to choose based on your preferred screen finish. That said, the ASUS is a better option if you plan to use it for productivity as well as work, as it has a KVM switch and delivers 90W of power over USB-C.
The Dell Alienware AW2725Q and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S are 27-inch 4k QD-OLED gaming monitors. Both models are extremely similar, apart from their screen finish. The Samsung has a matte screen, while the Dell has a glossy screen, so you may want to choose between them based on whichever type of finish you prefer. Otherwise, given their similarities, you may want to get whichever costs less.
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD S27DG602S and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF S27FG810S are both 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitors. The G81SF is a better option for immersive gamers, as it has a higher resolution and displays a more detailed image. However, the G60SD is a better option for competitive gamers, as its lower resolution allows it to maintain a higher frame rate, and it has a higher maximum refresh rate.
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.
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