The Samsung M80D is a 32-inch 4k smart monitor. A replacement for the Samsung Smart Monitor M8/M80C S32CM80, it's similar to the lower-end Samsung M70D and competes against other smart monitors such as the LG MyView Smart Monitor (32SR85U) and the ASUS ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC. Like other smart monitors, it includes a remote with voice control, a smart OS like you'd normally find on a TV, and integrated speakers. It also has some extra features, such as Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture mode for displaying multiple inputs at the same time, as well as some gaming features, such as Virtual Aim Point and Minimap Zoom.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any 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 and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.
Our Verdict
The Samsung M80D is okay for PC gaming. Fast-moving objects look quite blurry, so it's not a good choice for games with a lot of motion. While it displays HDR colors decently, it doesn't have local dimming and doesn't get bright enough for highlights to pop, though it's bright enough to overcome glare. Though it's not a monitor to buy for gaming, it works decently for slower, text-heavy games like turn-based strategy games, thanks to its superb text clarity.
High native contrast ratio.
Disappointing motion handling.
60Hz refresh rate and no VRR.
No local dimming feature.
Highlights don't pop against the rest of the image.
The Samsung M80D is disappointing for console gaming. It's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and fast-moving objects look blurry. As a result, it's not a good choice for FPS and action RPG games. However, while it doesn't get bright enough for highlights to pop, it's bright enough to overcome glare. Additionally, it has sharp text, so it works decently if you plan on playing turn-based strategy or other slower games.
Low input lag.
High native contrast ratio.
Disappointing motion handling.
60Hz refresh rate and no VRR.
Limited support for console features.
No local dimming feature.
HDMI 2.0 Bandwidth.
Highlights don't pop against the rest of the image.
The Samsung M80D is great for office use. Its large 32-inch screen makes it easy to multitask, and its 4k resolution ensures sharp text. It also gets bright enough to overcome glare, but reflections are distracting in a well-lit room. While it has good ergonomics that make it easy to adjust for individual use, without swivel adjustments and wide viewing angles, it's difficult to share the screen with someone sitting next to you.
Fantastic text clarity.
Bright enough to fight glare.
Good individual ergonomics.
No swivel adjustments.
Narrow viewing angles.
Distracting reflections in bright rooms.
The Samsung M80D is good for content creation. It has accurate colors before calibration, but calibrating it still provides the best accuracy. On the plus side, its large 32-inch screen is big enough for multitasking, and its high resolution and high pixel density ensure a sharp image. It also has good ergonomics, but it doesn't offer swivel adjustments, and because it has narrow viewing angles, it's difficult to share your screen with a coworker or client.
Fantastic text clarity.
Bright enough to fight glare.
High native contrast ratio.
Good individual ergonomics.
No swivel adjustments.
Narrow viewing angles.
The Samsung M80D has good brightness, as it gets bright enough to fight glare in well-lit rooms. While it still gets bright in HDR, highlights don't pop against dark backgrounds.
Bright enough to fight glare.
Highlights don't pop against the rest of the image.
The Samsung M80D has a poor response time, and there's noticeable smearing and motion blur with fast-moving objects.
Disappointing motion handling.
The Samsung M80D has acceptable HDR picture quality. HDR colors look decently vivid, and it displays darker colors fairly well. It also has excellent contrast and fairly deep blacks are visible in a dark room. However, it doesn't have local dimming to improve this performance.
High native contrast ratio.
No local dimming feature.
The Samsung M80D has great SDR picture quality. It displays a wide range of colors, and it displays fairly deep blacks next to bright highlights.
High native contrast ratio.
Displays wide range of colors.
The Samsung M80D has great color accuracy. Colors are quite accurate even before calibration, but you still need to calibrate it for the best accuracy.
Accurate colors before calibration.
Full calibration required for best accuracy.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Aug 19, 2025:
We updated text throughout to match the new and updated tests with Test Bench 2.1, including in the Verdict section.
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Updated Aug 07, 2025:
Added that the Dell S3225QS is a similar monitor that has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
- Updated Jul 24, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.1. This includes new tests for Direct Reflections, Ambient Black Level Raise, and Total Reflected Light. You can see all the changes in the changelog.
- Updated Feb 21, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0.1. This includes a new test result for DisplayPort 2.1 Transmission Bandwidth.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 32-inch Samsung M80D, which is the only size available. It replaces the Samsung Smart Monitor M8/M80C S32CM80 and sits above the Samsung Smart Monitor M7/M70D, which is available in 32 and 43-inch sizes but doesn't come with all the M80D's features, such as a webcam. The M80D is only available in one color. You can see how these monitors differ below:
| Model | Colors Available | Size | Webcam Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| M80D | White | 32" | Yes |
| M70D | Black | 32" and 43" | No |
Our unit's label indicates it was manufactured in May 2024. We tested it with firmware 1110.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Samsung M80D is a 4k, 60Hz smart monitor. It's ideally suited to people who don't have room for a full TV but still want a smart TV experience, including integrated apps, a remote with voice control, and even a bundled webcam. If you're looking for an all-in-one solution with a large screen and sharp text and plan to use the monitor mostly for doing work and watching content, it's a great choice at its sale price. However, it's not a great choice if you plan to game, as it's limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, and fast-moving objects look blurry. Additionally, while it's decent for watching content, its highlights don't get bright enough to pop in HDR. If you don't need a webcam and are looking for something a bit cheaper with similar performance, the Samsung Smart Monitor M7/M70C S32CM70 is a great option. Additionally, if the M80D isn't on sale and you don't need a smart system or remote, the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is an outstanding alternative with far better picture quality, brighter highlights, and superior gaming performance.
See our recommendations for the best 32-inch monitors, the best multimedia monitors, and, if you're interested, the best budget TVs.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M7/M70C S32CM70 and the Samsung Smart Monitor M80D S32DM80 are similar 32-inch smart monitors. For most people, the M80D is a better option, as it gets brighter in HDR, includes a webcam, and was released more recently and may receive smart OS updates longer. However, if you don't need a webcam you may prefer the M70C's lower cost.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M80D S32DM80 and the Dell S3225QS are both 4k, 32-inch monitors. They share similar specs, but the main differences between them come down to their features. The Samsung comes with a built-in smart system, so you can watch content even without a PC, and it has a USB hub, which the Dell doesn't have. On the other hand, the Dell can take advantage of gaming consoles because it has a higher 120Hz refresh rate, and it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which the Samsung doesn't have.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M80B S32BM80 and the Samsung Smart Monitor M80D S32DM80 are similar 32-inch smart monitors. The M80D is the better option for most people, as it gets brighter in HDR, has more accurate colors, and was released more recently, and therefore may receive updates to its smart OS for longer. However, the M8 generally has similar performance, and you may prefer it if you can find it for less.
The Samsung Smart Monitor M80C S32CM80 and the Samsung Smart Monitor M80D S32DM80 are extremely similar 32-inch smart monitors. The M80D was released more recently and may receive smart OS updates longer. Given their similarities, you may prefer to choose whichever one costs less.
Test Results
The Samsung M80D has a simple design with thin bezels on three sides and a flat, square-based stand. It has a sensor for the remote on the bottom right side, and it comes with a camera that attaches to the back. One thing to note is that its body color is more of an off-white than a pure white.
The build quality is decent. While the monitor looks very nice, the plastic feels cheap, and the back of the monitor flexes a bit if you hold the monitor and adjust its height.
The ergonomics are good. Though it adjusts well for individual use, it doesn't swivel, so it's not as easy to share your screen with someone else. The stand features a cutout for cable management.
The base of the stand is flat, so you can put things on top of it. While the stand is fairly stable overall, the screen wobbles when bumped.
The Samsung M80D has a remote that makes navigating through the Tizen smart interface easy. It has quick-access buttons to popular streaming services and a mic that works with Alexa and Bixby voice assistants. There's also a power button at the back of the monitor.
- HDMI cable
- USB-C cable
- Remote
- Power cable and supply
- USB-A female-to-male cable
- Webcam with attachments (including camera blocker)
- User documentation
The contrast is excellent. It displays deep blacks next to bright highlights, but doesn't have a local dimming feature to improve the contrast further.
Though this monitor doesn't have local dimming, we still film these videos so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.
Settings:
- Game Mode: On
- Game Genre: Original
- Brightness: 50 (max)
The SDR brightness is great. It easily gets bright enough to fight glare and maintains the same brightness across different content. However, its minimum brightness is high if you want to use it in the dark and are sensitive to bright lights.
Settings:
- PC Mode: Enabled
- Game HDR: Off
- Picture Mode: Original
- Brightness: Max
The HDR brightness is decent. While it gets bright enough to overcome glare, highlights don't pop. Its PQ EOTF tracking also has a slow roll-off near its peak brightness, so highlights don't get as bright as they could with Windows. However, this roll-off is helpful when using the TV's smart OS apps, as in that situation, it preserves detail in very bright scenes.
When PC Mode is off, the brightness varies depending on the Picture Mode you choose, as you can see below:
| Picture Mode | Real Scene |
|---|---|
| Dynamic | 323 cd/m² |
| Standard | 338 cd/m² |
| Movie | 452 cd/m² |
The horizontal viewing angle is disappointing. The image quickly washes out when viewing it from off-center, such as if someone sitting next to you is looking at the screen.
The vertical viewing angle is poor. The image washes out as you view it from below or above.
The gray uniformity is good. The screen looks uniform in the center, but the sides are darker.
The black uniformity is good. The screen is quite uniform, and while it doesn't have a local dimming feature to deepen blacks, there's minimal backlight bleed.
The accuracy before calibration is great. That said, while there are minimal issues with color, its white balance is only decent, and its color temperature is too cool, resulting in a blue tint. Additionally, gamma doesn't follow the target sRGB curve, as dark parts of scenes are too dark and brighter parts of scenes are too bright. While there isn't a dedicated sRGB mode, setting Color Space to 'Auto' locks colors to the sRGB color space.
The accuracy after calibration is fantastic. It fixes most issues but still isn't perfect.
The SDR color gamut is excellent. It covers most of the common sRGB color space and has acceptable coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in content creation. However, it undersaturates green in Adobe RGB.
The HDR color gamut is decent. It displays a good range of colors in the commonly used DCI-P3 color space, and while white is inaccurate, there are minimal inaccuracies otherwise. However, its coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space is limited, and it has worse tone mapping.
The HDR color volume is decent. It displays dark colors well, particularly in the DCI-P3 color space, but vivid colors aren't very bright.
The text clarity is fantastic. Enabling Windows ClearType (top photo) helps improve the boldness of letters and makes them easier to read. These photos are in Windows 10, and you can also see them in Windows 11 with ClearType on and with ClearType off.
The direct reflection handling is okay. While the matte coating spreads light out, it still has some mirror-like reflections that could be distracting in a bright room.
The black levels remain low in a bright room on this monitor. Although they still rise a bit, it's minimal.
There's a ton of light reflected off the screen in a bright room. This makes the screen hard to properly see, especially if you have it in a sunny room.
The gradient handling is fantastic. There's minimal banding between shades of similar colors.
This monitor doesn't support variable refresh rate technology.
Although this monitor doesn't support VRR technology, we still measure the CAD 60Hz, so you can compare it to a monitor with VRR support.
The refresh rate compliance is bad, as its response time sometimes isn't fast enough to make full color transitions before the monitor draws the next frame.
The CAD at the max refresh rate of 60Hz is poor. There's noticeable blur and smearing with fast-moving objects, and using the 'Faster' overdrive setting results in inverse ghosting.
Some transitions take so long that they exceed the limits of our chart. You can see alternate charts below:
This monitor doesn't support a 120Hz signal.
The CAD at 60Hz is poor. There's noticeable blur and smearing with fast-moving objects, and using the 'Faster' overdrive setting results in inverse ghosting.
Some transitions take so long that they exceed the limits of our chart. You can see alternate charts below:
This monitor doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.
This monitor doesn't support VRR, so there's no VRR flicker.
The backlight is completely flicker-free, which helps reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to it.
Settings
- Input: PC
- Game Mode: On
The input lag is low for a responsive feel, as long as you have Game Mode enabled. When Game Mode is off input lag is about 60 ms.
The Samsung M80D has limited compatibility with the PS5 as it only supports 60Hz signals. However, it knows when you connect it and switches the input label to 'Playstation 5'.
This monitor has limited compatibility with the Xbox Series X|S as it only supports 60Hz signals. However, it knows when you connect it and switches the input label to 'Xbox Series X/S.'
If you want a similar monitor with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, look into the Dell S3225QS instead.
The USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, letting you connect a compatible device to display an image from it and charge it using a single cable. The 65W of power is enough for most small laptops but not enough to charge power-hungry ones. You can use the USB-A ports to connect devices directly to the monitor, but you'll need to use the USB-C upstream to use those connected devices with an external PC.
Connection
HDMI 2.0
HDMI 2.1
USB-C
Max Refresh Rate
60Hz
N/A
60Hz
VRR Range
N/A
N/A
N/A
HDR
Yes
N/A
Yes
The Samsung M80D works well with macOS. There aren't any issues, and if you're using a MacBook, windows move to the screen when you close the lid, and they return to their original position when reopening the lid or waking the laptop up from sleep. HDR looked normal on HDMI and DisplayPort.
As a smart monitor, the Samsung M80D has many extra features related to its Tizen OS smart platform. The interface is user-friendly and has a number of apps you can download. It's the same platform as on their TVs, which you can read more about here. As mentioned in Controls, the remote gives you access to Bixby and Alexa voice assistants, and you can also control other smart devices in your house.
It has a number of other features beyond its smart platform functionality. Its Multi View feature lets you view images from two external sources simultaneously, though you need to be signed in to a Samsung account to do this. It also comes with a webcam with decent video quality. Additionally, it comes with built-in speakers.
Besides the features you get with the smart platform, it has a few extra gaming features, like Virtual Aim Point for a virtual crosshair and Minimap Zoom, so you can zoom in on specific areas of your screen during gaming. Additionally, this monitor has Game Motion Plus, which helps improve motion in games with lower frame rates.
