Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 Series 43" 4K UHD Smart Display Monitor, 144Hz, 1ms, VESA HDR600 Display, Quantum Matrix Technology, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, LS43CG702NNXZA, 2023
I usually have to wait about 30 days to write a review but I know a lot of people are looking at this screen, the new Alienware OLED and the Neo G8 and LG's new 32GQ950. So I thought I'd go ahead and submit my review in a couple of weeks and update later. (if you remember)
If you want to use it with PS5 / XBOX, first make sure you have a good quality cable. I recommend using the "Cable Matters Active 8K @ 60Hz Fiber Optic HDMI Cable" and for the computer I recommend the cable that came with it or the "5 Meter VESA VESA Certified DisplayPort 1.4 cable" I bought from Amazon. Bad cables mean bad experiences (I learned that lesson a long time ago)
TLDR: Great screen, should return the first one because of the 4 dead pixels, no problems with the second screen. Don't be afraid of return/exchange if motherboard issue is caused by Samsung breach or loss of quality warranty. Not bad for a curve, very versatile. HDR looks good. The Neo G7's 165Hz 4K is much more realistic than the Neo G8's 240Hz. The LG 32GQ950 is flat but only has 32 local dimming zones, plus IPS and VA. (VA panels are better for black)
I'm hesitating between the Neo G7 and the Neo G8. The only difference is a different screen and a high refresh rate. I've read that the Neo G8's screen displays deep blacks, while other reviewers say that colors look a little washed out and that a higher 240Hz can cause scan issues. (This is my first Samsung monitor so I had to read a lot about previous models and this scanline issue.) With those two negatives and knowing that 4k gaming takes a lot of power to drive, I settled on the Neo G7, as 4k 165Hz is more realistic for an RTX. 3090 and upgrading to 165 Hz will reduce the possibility of scan line problems. (Research shows that on other Samsung monitors, lowering the refresh rate fixes the scan line issue.)
Receive the screen and run the dead pixel test. I didn't see anything, it's great! Use the monitor for 2 hours (I have a bunch of games on PS5 Return, leave me alone!) and then do the pixel test again. Note that I have 4 dead pixels that are not stuck pixels, 2 on the top left and 2 on the top right. (dead = never turned on) Called Amazon and asked for a replacement as the screen was selling for $1000 at the time. Second screen, same test, but it's the weekend so I'm on the screen more than 12 hours a day, for PC, PS5 and Switch. PC gaming, on medium/high settings I usually see 120-147Hz.
I saw a review saying this monitor does not have HDMI 2.1. However, Samsung has classified it as HDMI 2.0 (arrow up) on the list. The HDMI standard recently caused a break in the HDMI naming scheme, allowing 2.1 to be called 2.0. 4k 120Hz can be confirmed by looking at how much bandwidth the HDMI port can handle.
The curve on this screen isn't bad at all, it's just a little wider than it actually is.
Scanlines, no problem / I don't see any 165hz scanlines on my computer.
Windows HDR settings I set the SDR brightness to 40-45. It's light enough for me and I'm in a slightly brighter room. If you are using your computer's HDMI cable with DisplayPort, you can enable 12-bit color in the NVIDIA Control Panel. I don't really see a difference, but that's just my opinion. I was playing Back 4 Blood on PC to get an HDR experience and didn't notice much detail in the environment until I got my hands on this monitor. Samsung says this screen can go up to 2000 nits, but that's for private purposes only, the Windows display settings say my monitor's screen brightness is 1015 nits, and I've seen reviews saying 1050+ brightness for the Neo G7 and Neo G8.
I'm going into my third week of using the monitor with no major issues. Here are some minor issues I'm having with the screen:
- Menu button (yes, not joystick button) fixed. You have to press the button hard and the screen will shake.
- High-speed and low-input modes require Adaptive Sync to be disabled to function
- This screen has an option for auto input source (disabled by default) which goes to the last source played (eg PS5) which is fine but doesn't "fall back" to PC input because it doesn't create a new source that becomes a handshake.
Overall, the screen is great and I would choose it over the Neo G8 and Alienware. I know the Alienware is OLED and will have better black levels/colors, but I think it's too early for an OLED PC with all the static icons. Therefore burns remain a risk factor. I don't want to throw around words like "Colors POP" or "SUPER BRIGHT". The onscreen specs are already pointing in that direction. For a 4K monitor, Monitor checks both boxes. (32in minimum, decent HDR, 120Hz console, 165Hz PC) I don't think I can go back to a 1440p IPS panel. The only thing I'm not sure about is the age and quality of the screen The Samsung capture device looks good on the screen but I'm willing to give it a try I would also recommend not buying this screen as it sells again for $1000.
- Quantum Matrix Technology: Micro-LED Quantum Matrix technology produces controllable brightness and amazing contrast for gaming; In addition, an advanced 12-bit backlighting engine enables detailed HDR control for unparalleled picture quality*.
- VESA HDR600 Display: Experience a new level of multimedia entertainment with realistic graphics; Watch videos and games with deep, rich blacks and more detailed colors with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and VESA HDR600 * Sync Premium Pro display
- Smart TV experience: Enjoy your favorite shows and movies with the Smart TV app; Take a break from marathon gaming sessions and catch up on must-see streaming content over a Wi-Fi only connection**
- Samsung GAMING HUB: The best games in one place; Samsung Gaming Hub allows instant access to top cloud gaming services and your favorite consoles; Smooth graphics and responsive gaming powered by advanced game streaming technology***
- 4K Gaming Refresh Rate: 144Hz refresh rate eliminates lag in games with ultra-smooth motion; Pinpoint enemies with minimal ghosting* with a 1ms response time (MPRT), precise mouse movements, and blur-free images.
- AMD FREESYNC PREMIUM PRO: Smooth and easy gameplay; AMD FreeSync Premium Pro features Adaptive Sync technology to reduce screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag; Low frame rate compensation ensures that every scene is smooth.
- Matte Screen: Just focus on the essentials; The matte screen absorbs artificial and natural light without reflecting it, reducing glare and immersing you in the toughest battles and levels*
- FLEX MOVE SCREEN: Maintain winning position by scaling your monitor from 43" to 20", and optimize your gaming setup for enhanced performance with Flex Move Monitor****
- Ultra Wide Game View: Expand your screen and discover unseen areas of the game world with the Ultra Wide Game View feature; Easily expand aspect ratios from 16:9 to 21:9 to gain a competitive advantage****
- GAME BAR: You can easily check the status of your most important settings such as FPS or HDR; Adjust your reaction time, screen ratio, and game screen position without leaving the game screen so you can focus on your goals*