Samsung Odyssey G3

amazon Samsung Odyssey G3 reviews

Gaming monitor but very “ergonomics”

With gaming monitors, manufacturers often don’t care too much about the ergonomics of their products, and gamers are so used to that. However, you need to know that to improve the chances of winning, the comfort of playing is also very important, and it is reflected in the screen can change the posture, height according to your sitting position.

The Odyssey G3 gives a very different impression. You can adjust the height with the 120mm stand, tilt, turn left and right, even rotate 90 degrees vertically when you want to surf the web or type programming code. In addition, the Odyssey G3 also supports the VESA 100×100 standard, so you can mount it on the wall or use the monitor arm if you want. In general, I appreciate the ergonomics of the Odyssey G3, and this is probably a point that other gaming monitor manufacturers should learn from.

In terms of design, the Odyssey G3 I experienced in this article is not much different from the version released last year, with a matte black outer shell and square lines. The most obvious difference is that on the bottom edge of the screen there are two more heat sinks that look like exhaust pipes on expensive sportcars, which look pretty cool, but I think the effect is not high because the screen usually doesn’t generate that much heat. At first, I thought this was an external speaker, but in fact, the Odyssey G3 does not have a built-in speaker.

To keep the Odyssey G3 in the mainstream segment, Samsung uses a flat panel instead of a curved like the G5 or G7, G9 seniors. Some people I know say that they prefer to play games on flat screens over curved screens, it depends on each person’s preference. Personally, I often play role-playing RPG games, the curved screen will have a more immersive feeling of content, but the screen size must be large enough, and with a 24-inch size, that feeling may not be obvious.

The V-shaped stand of the Odyssey G3 is made of rough plastic, somewhat “thin” but in fact very sturdy on the table, I only noticed a slight vibration when the screen was at its maximum height. The stand also has a rubber strap so you can thread the wires of peripherals such as keyboards, mouse, etc. for neatness.

Included in the box of the Odyssey G3 is a plastic cover for you to attach to the back of the screen, like the Odyssey G7 and G9’s infinity illumination core.

The number of ports on the Odyssey G3 can be said to be just enough, including DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, a 3.5mm audio jack and a single USB-A 2.0 port. It would be better if Samsung integrated a few more USB ports for users to plug in their peripherals, more convenient than having to plug into a computer or spend more money to buy wireless accessories.

The OSD (on-screen display) on the Odyssey G3 has a lot of options for you to set up, from changing the refresh rate, brightness, and contrast to more advanced features like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro anti-tearing technology, virtual aim point for FPS shooting games, etc.

Actual usage experience

The Odyssey G3 is equipped with a VA panel, Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080), a traditional 16: 9 ratio with a 165Hz refresh rate, a slight upgrade compared to the 144Hz figure of last year’s G3 version. The 165Hz refresh rate is gradually becoming more popular in the gaming market with the goal of replacing 144Hz itself. A good gaming graphics card at 1080p 144Hz will almost certainly do the same with 1080p 165Hz, so gamers don’t need to consider buying a new graphics card. For manufacturers, the transition from 144Hz to 165Hz requires no new panel technology, but simply fine-tuning, allowing them to deliver new products with higher refresh rates without costly investments. With benefits for both sides, the “universal” of 165Hz screens is certain in the future.

Can we distinguish 144Hz and 165Hz? Most likely not, so those who are already using 144Hz monitors don’t necessarily need to upgrade to 165Hz. But for those who are still using a 60Hz screen, upgrading to a 165Hz screen like the Odyssey G3 will definitely make a noticeable difference. You can feel the smoothness of every movement, whether it’s gaming or simply manipulating off the desktop. And when a 165Hz screen costs the same as 144 Hz, of course we want to choose a 165Hz screen, right?

First-person shooters (FPS) are the genre of games that make the best use of high-frequency screens. I experienced with the famous game Counter Strike: Global Offensive and found that Odyssey G3 offers smooth image movement, slight ghosting, but if you don’t “look” closely, it will be difficult to notice. Adjusting the Response time in the OSD to “Fastest” will improve ghosting, but it should be noted that when FreeSync Premium Pro is turned on, the screen will not allow customizing Response time anymore.

At 165Hz refresh rate, images are refreshed much faster than traditional 60Hz. In a game that relies heavily on skill like CS:GO, sometimes the outcome of a game is only decided by 1-2 frames. Combined with a latency of only 1ms (MRPT), it is clear that the Odyssey G3 will ensure you have the best conditions to win, when all jerks and lags have been eliminated.

Although not as obvious, but when playing the MOBA game League of Legends, I can still feel the difference that the 165Hz refresh rate brings. Mouse movements, skill execution feel smoother and more accurate, at least compared to the old 60Hz monitor that I’m still using. Again, the high refresh rate and 1ms delay of the Odyssey G3 help me better reflect on the opponent’s “skills”, thereby “fight” with my peak skills.

In this price range, compared to IPS, VA panels have some advantages such as wider contrast, deeper blacks, but not tend to be gray (you will see more clearly when viewing in a dark room), so will be more suitable for entertainment such as playing games and watching movies. However, the downside is that the viewing angle of the screen is not too wide, when viewed from diagonal angles and from top to bottom / bottom will notice distorted colors. But if you mainly use the screen in front view, this won’t be too much of a problem.

The colors of the Odyssey G3 tend to be cold, and according to Samsung, the screen covers 72% of the NTSC color space. The information about the sRGB, DCI-P3 color space of the Odyssey G3 has not been announced by Samsung, and unfortunately I do not have a colorimeter here, but basically the Odyssey G3 is still a gaming monitor, so It can hardly be asked to meet the needs of professional photo/video editing.

Summary

165Hz comes to replace 144Hz, and Samsung’s Odyssey G3 is a very reasonable product for you to consider saying goodbye to your old 60Hz screen. The configuration and built-in features on the Odyssey G3 are all meant to give you the ideal gaming experience, and ergonomics is one of the big advantages that other monitors on the market need to learn more about.

where can you get a Samsung Odyssey G3 online

SAMSUNG Odyssey G3 Series 27-Inch FHD 1080p Gaming Monitor, 144Hz, 1ms, 3-Sided Border-Less, VESA Compatible, Height Adjustable Stand, FreeSync Premium (LF27G35TFBNXZA): Buy it now

SAMSUNG Odyssey G3 Series 27-Inch FHD 1080p Gaming Monitor, 144Hz, 1ms, 3-Sided Border-Less, VESA Compatible, Height Adjustable Stand, FreeSync Premium (LF27G35TFWNXZA): Buy it now

SAMSUNG Odyssey G3 Series 24-Inch FHD 1080p Gaming Monitor, 144Hz, 1ms, 3-Sided Border-Less, VESA Compatible, Height Adjustable Stand, FreeSync Premium (LF24G35TFWNXZA): Buy it now