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If someone comes across a different type of panel or their Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Note that some tests, like gray uniformity, may vary between units.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, an upgrade from HDMI 2.0 on last year’s G9, and one DisplayPort 1.4 port. The HDMI 2.1 ports can handle a refresh rate up to 144Hz. The first test measures the monitor’s brightness over an SDR signal in its default picture mode, with the brightness cranked up to 100%. The Neo G9 reached 668 nits of brightness, above its 420-nit SDR rating. The monitor has a DisplayHDR 1000 certification, and we recorded 1,145 nits of brightness with HDR enabled. Samsung’s inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort might sound like an upgrade, but it’s not. It’s actually a downgrade from the prior model, which had one HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort ports. Average brightness (as measured with the monitor brightness maxed and all dynamic adjustment settings disabled) was upwards of 400 nits in every mode, with the brightest unsurprisingly being High Bright, with 418.6. This is well above what we saw with the Razer Raptor 27 (295 nits) and the Acer XFA240 (352 nits), but below the likes of the LG 38GL950G (544 nits) or the ViewSonic Elite XG270QC (524 nits).As for additional upgrades, the Neo G9 now supports HDMI 2.1. So you can enjoy up to 144Hz refresh over HDMI, including 120Hz with the latest consoles. The full 240Hz action is available only via DisplayPort. And remember that, for now, neither the Microsoft Xbox Series X|S or the Sony Playstation 5 support the G9’s extreme ultrawide aspect ratio and resolution. That HDMI 2.1 interface may come in handy one day, but right now this epic panel isn’t a good fit for any console. The monitor’s color-gamut coverage testing is next. The Neo G9 spanned 100% of the sRGB color gamut, 85% of Adobe RGB, and 91% of DCI-P3. Those are excellent numbers, though shy of the near-perfect readings we got from the OLED G9. Of course, the ultrawide 32:9 aspect is shared by all of the Samsung G9 monitors. And it's debatable how much benefit that is to gaming. For absolute sure, it's fantastic for that wrap-around feel of immersion. But most first-person shooters, especially esports titles, don't support it properly in FoV terms, so you end up with lots of stretching and distortion at the edges. It's hard to draw a really definitive conclusion about the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 G95NC, then. It's expensive enough to be irrelevant to most gamers, on the one hand. And it has obvious limitations. But it also delivers an experience no other monitor can match.
Bezels are definitely still visible, especially along the bottom, but because the screen is so big, it's not something you're going to notice on a day-to-day basis. Plus, the only logos you'll find on the front of the display is the Nvidia G-Sync logo, which we would rather not be there. But hey, at least the monitor has G-Sync. Samsung also leaves the monitor’s functional problems untouched. The stand is an absolute unit that measures 31 inches wide and 9 inches deep. The full depth is 17 inches which, on my desk, places the edges of the monitor closer to the front of the desk than the rear. You might need to plan a desk upgrade to go along with the monitor. that violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing export control, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising); For instance, in Deathloop, we're usually hovering around 110 fps, with it often dipping down to 100 or 90 fps. That's still a fast frame rate, don't get us wrong, but we're pretty far off from being able to totally saturate this display. These are common gaming monitor additions; for most, its unique screen design is what will most set the Odyssey G9 apart—and prove most divisive. Whether the Odyssey G9 makes sense for you depends more than anything else on the types of games you play and what other software you use, as the large amount of space is not universally well utilized.The Odyssey G9’s gaming-focused features were a delightful plus in almost every scenario. Its 1ms gray-to-gray response time kept our interactions in games snappy, and the high refresh rate (up to 240 Hz) kept the images always moving in perfect pace with the action. Depending on which video hardware drives your computer, you’ll also appreciate built-in support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro adaptive sync technologies (though AMD currently claims the latter is only utilized in 17 titles).
The rated HDR2000 peak brightness isn’t just for show and the brightness is breathtaking indeed if you have the appropriate footage to fully appreciate it but its sheer size and image quality will ensure anything you view on it is given due justice. In our tests, the games that came off best were those where you could easily see everything at once by focusing on the center and not having to divide your attention. The sprawling screen area provided a dazzling field of view in the first-person shooter Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, where your open field of vision allowed you to drink in every detail of the devastated Moscow you trudged through. Despite this, the Neo G9 isn’t a great monitor for day-to-day use or content creation. The super-ultrawide aspect ratio and aggressive 1000R curvature are a problem when using the monitor to view and edit photos and videos. A 32:9 aspect ratio isn’t a great fit when editing content for a 16:9 display. You’ll also see distortion introduced by the curve. A straight line will never look straight. All of this is worth it though when you gaze on the sheer majesty of this display when it gracefully reposes on your desk. On that note, you’ll also need to ensure that the table you put it on is as sturdy as possible or failing that, sufficiently reinforced to take its weight. Setting up our Odyssey G9 Neo review sample does require some elbow grease and forethought but the results are well worth the trouble and the investment especially for ardent gamers and power users.Onward to gaming performance testing. We used the HDFury 4K Diva HDMI matrix to determine the monitor’s input lag, which we recorded at less than 1 millisecond (ms), an excellent result. Indeed, during our time with the display, we didn't see any of the glitches and bugginess that have blighted Samsung's big Odyssey gaming LCDs of late. So, that's progress of sorts. It’s no slouch when it comes to competitive online shooters, either. We’re not sure how Samsung has managed to create such fast VA panels of late. But it’s impressive all the same. Even using the most aggressive of the three levels of user-configurable overdrive offered in the Neo G9’s OSD menu, there’s no discernible overshoot. Just oodles of pace. This thing is so, so fast. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, the highest tier of AMD’s technology that eliminates screen tearing and stuttering by providing a variable refresh rate if you have a compatible graphics card. To that end, the gameplay was smooth from all angles, and while I did notice some warping when viewing from the sides, I saw no issues when seated right at the center of the monitor, exactly where you want to be to enjoy all of its ultrawide splendor. I also noticed the top of the monitor would get warm after extended play sessions, though it didn’t interfere with gameplay.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 delivers all of the above yet suffers new problems that take the shine off its best feature. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Design Minus the box, our Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo review sample weighs an absolutely mammoth 14.5kg which is the equivalent of holding a ludicrous 55 Galaxy Z Fold4 foldables in your hands. In terms of performance, the display offers a fast 1ms GtG response time speed, an input lag of a mere 2ms, a 240Hz refresh rate and a quoted 2000-nit peak brightness while offering support for 95% DCI-P3 colour gamut along with 125% sRGB. It also supports NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro while playing nicely with HDR10 and HDR10+ content.The Neo G9 is the ultimate monitor for simulation gaming. A visual landing in Microsoft Flight Simulator is easy, as the monitor’s wider perspective offers a realistic sense of speed and elevation. This same perspective can be great in open-world games and MMORPGs, making the Neo G9 a superb choice for Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft. In games like Destiny 2, which is our go-to game to test HDR, the monitor is absolutely stunning. HDR really is a luxury addition, but you'll never want to give it up when you get it, and the move from the HDR 400 displays we're usually testing – gaming monitors really need to get their stuff together – an HDR 2000 display like this really is in a whole other world of brightness and color. What’s more, SDR content is handled poorly in HDR mode. Some screens can be set up to render SDR almost indistinguishably in either SDR or HDR modes. That’s handy because it means you can simply toggle HDR mode and you’re good to go. But with the Neo G9, you’ll need to jump between modes to get the best experience. Another minor niggle—and a surprising oversight—is that you can’t have both pixel overdrive and adaptive refresh enabled at the same time.
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