Hands-on with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9

If the Odyssey Ark gaming monitor pushed on one set of boundaries for what a gaming monitor could be, the new Odyssey Neo G9 is here to stretch another.

Even if it isn't Samsung's most expensive gaming monitor, it does have the makings of its longest one. At 57 inches in size, the Odyssey Neo G9 boasts Dual UHD resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response times and 1000R curvature. What's here is excellent, even if it does border on excessive.

Here are some initial thoughts based on an afternoon of hands-on time with what might be 2023's longest gaming monitor.

Living large. Given the spec sheet laid out above, it's little surprise that the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 looks as good as it does in action. It doesn't have the crisp contrast, more lifelike and deeper blacks of its OLED-lit counterpart, but it more than makes up for it through the integration of the same kind of Mini-LED tech powering Samsung's Neo QLED TVs. One of the first thoughts that ran through my head with this particular monitor was the sense of wonder at being reminded that video games can look this good.

Wait, what is Dual UHD screen? The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is being billed as the world's first Dual UHD monitor. What this essentially means is that the number of pixels here is equivalent to two 28.5-inch 4K screens stuck together. The idea is that you're getting the benefits of an ultra-wide panel but not having to compromise when it comes to the performance.

Not every screen needs to be a smart TV. Unlike the Samsung Odyssey G9, the Neo G9 doesn't come powered by the same kind of Smart TV interface powering the likes of last year's Smart Monitor. In some respects though, this subtraction is something of a net benefit. The fact that the Odyssey Neo G9 keeps things as simple as possible absolutely works in its favour.

Bigger isn't always better. The sheer size that sets the Odyssey Neo G9 apart from the competition sometimes works against it. While the upsides are easy to see, so too is the reality that most people are going to struggle to squeeze a 57-inch monitor into their home office. Given how expensive the Odyssey Neo G9 is to begin with, it's bordering on painful to think about adding to that by factoring in the cost of a new desk.

An unwieldy amount of pixels. Even games that do play nice with the kind of ultra-wide resolutions that the Samsung Neo Odyssey, such as Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, can feel a little ill at ease with the realities of that aspect ratio. Letting the visual splendour of Ubisoft's latest historical action-adventure game wash over me is all well and good until I have to crane my neck to the left whenever I want to check in on my experience bar. Even after my relatively brief stint with this particular Samsung monitor, I'm a little worried about the amount of fuss that getting a given game to play nice with the high-end resolution, ultra-wide aspect ratio and rollicking refresh rate here might involve on a regular basis.

It will not shock you to learn that there are not that many 57-inch gaming laptops available for those who want one.From what I can see, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is pretty much the only option out for Aussies.

Even if in a world where this wasn't the case though, my brief dalliance with Samsung's latest exercise in desktop decadence is that it's the right tool for the job. You're paying a steep premium for privilege but those in the market for this specific style of PC gaming experience are likely to be won over by the bells, whistles and ticked boxes on offer here.

The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 isn't going to be the right fit for everyone, but those enticed by it are hardly going to be disappointed by what it delivers.

In Australia, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is set to land in the market with a hefty recommended retail price of $3,199. There's a lot of screen to work with here, but it comes at a pretty steep surcharge. Even the OLED-powered Samsung Odyssey G9 is cheaper at $2,699.