Samsung Odyssey G5 Review
Michael C. Smith
$349.99
Amazon.com
Curved gaming monitors like the Samsung Odyssey G5 are no gimmick. These wraparound screens are the best gateway to immersing yourself in the gaming world without the need for clumsy headsets.
The Samsung Odyssey variant we’re reviewing is the 32-inch iteration of the base series (model LC32G55TQWNXZA) stretches the curved gaming technology even further. It’s the first monitor with a 1000R curve, that finally matches the natural curvature of the human eye. It’s gaming brilliance at its finest.
It’s a 32-inch panel with a 1440p resolution, 1ms response time and a 144Hz refresh rate. It’s certainly a unique gaming monitor, with AMD Premium support and a lower-than-competitor asking price, the Samsung Odyssey G5 doesn’t have to do anything to prove its prowess…it’ got the works.
Design
In styling the Odyssey G5, Samsung focused on gamer aesthetics by including two small LED lights at the front, an illuminated ‘Samsung’ logo in the middle mad a ring around the upright base attachment. Color and effect are controlled via the OSD or you can just turn it off altogether.
The bezels surrounding the screen are 9mm thick -not the thinnest around, not with the likes the AOC CQ32G1 and Sceptre C355W-3440UN of sporting a bezel-less design. When you reach under the logo, you find an OSD joystick that controls all monitor functions.
The styling continues to the back with a host of smoothly ribbed lines that accentuate the monitor’s curvature. You don’t see any straight edge anywhere, with a pivot ring that appears to be in motion with the modern texture. Once you install the input cover and run your cables through the upright, the monitor adopts a super-clean appearance.
The stand is sturdy, though, there’s a bit of wobble at the pivot point, but it’s nothing unusual for a large panel. Adjustments include 4.7 inches of heigh, 15 degrees to either side and 9/13-degree tilt and a portrait mode. We’re not sure how one will use a 1000R monitor in portrait mode, but you think of any reason, then this is one of those screens that can do it.
OSD Features & Calibration
Samsung included its gaming-styled OSD in the 32-inch Odyssey G5. At the top, you can always see the Black Equalizer setting, response time (overdrive), refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync (supports G-Sync or FreeSync) status and the low input lag setting. All options come with six sub-menus.
Out of the box, the Samsung LC32G55TQWNXZA comes set to its Custom picture mode, with all image controls intact. Even with a few tweaks, you may not really improve upon the already excellent picture quality and accuracy. Perhaps, the only thing you can change is the sharpness slider, that you might have to reduce so as to remove the monitor’s slight ringing effect. In HDR mode, you can adjust the brightness, maybe max it and set Local Dimming to Auto for an excellent HDR image.
All ports are located at the back – one HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 (for service) and a 3.5mm audio jack that accommodates headphones or powered speakers. The monitor doesn’t have built-in speakers.
Gaming performance
The Samsung Odyssey G5’s extreme curve a significant asset, not only when it comes to gaming, but for general use too. While a screen with a 21:9 or 32:9 cover will cover even more of a user’s peripheral vision, the height of a 32-inch monitor really draws you closer while providing a natural view of workday tasks. You can place documents in the center screen, while balancing utilities off the sides. In fact, you’re able to see a full page in word processor or 60 rows of a spreadsheet.
For gaming, you’ll hardly find any fault with the 32-inch Odyssey G5’s gaming performance. Both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility work equally well, running at 144Hz with HDR through the DisplayPort input. The Tomb Raider hits 139 frames per second (fps) a few times with sustained speeds around 135 fps. To that, add a super-fast panel response and you have fluid motions and input lag completely free of artifacts. It other sibling, the Samsung Odyssey G7 maxes out at 240Hz frame rates, and on both monitors, that extra height really draws you into the game.
When you engage HDR, you get a rare treat. Samsung’s ultra-curved monitor does HDR really well, with effective selective dimming. You may not readily see the light level change in practice, but you will definitely see the extra dynamic range. Its blacks are very deep and well-detailed, and highlights pops, thanks to the high peak brightness. Frame rates in Call of Duty: WII just dropped a little during testing, due to the additional HDR processing load. However, speeds were sustained around 129fps with peaks in the 132fps.
Bottom Line
The 32-inch Odyssey G5 is a designed primarily as a gaming monitor, but after a few days of interaction, you’ll find it to be more versatile than the typical ultrawide screen. And its extreme curve only enhances -never detracts – from the immersive gaming or productivity experience.
If you’re looking for a perfect large screen, the Samsung Odyssey G5 will easily excite your view and enhance your gaming experience. It rocks a rare 1000R curve and its grand height immerses you in the gaming environment, and the 1440p resolution delivers plenty of detail and high frame rates.
For what you get, Samsung’s listing price is very decent. And, with performance that really rivals the fastest monitors we’ve tested and image quality that rivals premium gaming monitors, the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 (LC32G55TQWNXZA) is in a class by itself. It’s indeed a monitor of extremes, but the most important fact is that it an incredibly good monitor in all respects.
