Samsung Odyssey G5 34" Ultrawide QHD 165Hz Curved Gaming Monitor

Owned for about a month.
Used for WFH and gaming.

Pros:
- Ultrawide means flexible. I use Windows' standard snapping which allows for all kinds of window configs. My favourite is having the equivalent of a 4:3 monitor in the middle for my active task, emails off to the left in a narrow vertical, and music/others off to the right. It's better than two monitors IMO.
- Ultrawide is immersive. It took me a second to get used to it, but the wraparound feeling is fantastic and much more immersive when gaming. I'm about 40-50cm from the screen. It'd be good up to ~60cm I reckon. Any more than that and you should consider a bigger size.
- Samsung is...view more Owned for about a month.
Used for WFH and gaming.

Pros:
- Ultrawide means flexible. I use Windows' standard snapping which allows for all kinds of window configs. My favourite is having the equivalent of a 4:3 monitor in the middle for my active task, emails off to the left in a narrow vertical, and music/others off to the right. It's better than two monitors IMO.
- Ultrawide is immersive. It took me a second to get used to it, but the wraparound feeling is fantastic and much more immersive when gaming. I'm about 40-50cm from the screen. It'd be good up to ~60cm I reckon. Any more than that and you should consider a bigger size.
- Samsung is a brand. They manufacture the panels for everyone else. It's too early to tell for sure, but I hope that means reliability.
- 1440p. If your GPU can handle 4k then go and get a 4k monitor Bezos! I'm using a 3070 mobile and 1440 is the right resolution. Cyberpunk settings are around medium cause I also like frames, but the sheer size and pixel density makes it prettier than my old 22" panel with high settings.

Cons:
- Stand height is limited to ~10cm from desk to the bottom edge of the screen, so it absolutely needs to be on a different plane to your keyboard, or on a VESA arm.
- There's a bezel effect of about 7mm around the top and side edges of the screen. Yes there's a physical bezel which is very narrow and dainty; this is an additional bezel effect which looks like unused actual screen real estate. The screen never reaches the edges of what appears to be the screen if that make sense. It makes you feel like the zoom's slightly off cause of the wasted space. This is my biggest disappointment. Just make it physical bezel and stop faking.
- Relatively slow wake response time. Opening my laptop, the internal monitor will wake and act as if there is no external monitor at all for a few moments. On very rare occasions the G5 didn't wake itself up at all and I power cycled it - might not have given it enough time. It's fine, but if you're buying this for your boomer boss or stepdad I just know they won't understand this non-VGA tech and will at some point flip their lid about it.

Other:
- Relatively low IO ports. One HDMI and one DisplayPort. No USB (for updates only), no audio. But you'll have your own audio etc. so this is pretty neutral.
- Some people complain about how much space the stand's legs take up. It's perfect for me, I lift the back of my laptop up and place the rear of it up on the legs themselves (I don't use the laptop screen, just the keyboard). Given the stand height issue you'll probably use an arm or riser or something anyway.
- Noticeable curvature. Great for game immersion, but horizontal lines feel like they curve towards the corners. If your job has you drawing straight lines by eye you'll have trouble. Maybe it'd be an issue for graphics designers?

4 stars because it's quite good, not exceedingly good. If you have a flat desk it's simply not ergonomic out of the box.
5 stars because I got it on special which makes up for that.

If you're thinking of an ultrawide with gaming in the mix, grab it on special. At this size (27" equivalent) I personally wouldn't recommend going with a 1080. Unless you do competitive CS and need 250fps.
There are cheaper 34" UW alternatives but they tend to have some caveats, like ~4ms response times or something. This one though is a little ahead of the pack in its price range.

Bought it on a whim, really. Wanted to try the larger size. Works OK but it won't provide the right resolution if you use an adaptor for the HDMI cable - you need the right cable. Worked that out after a fair bit of trial and error. And getting a new cable. Would have been good to know that at the start.
Also, there isn't much range in the stand. Sits a bit low on my desk and, because the stand takes up a lot of real estate, you can't just put it on a box. Also worked out a solution but being able to raise it would have been useful.
Both things are user issues. Just thought I'd mention them because others might have the same concerns.
The ac...view more Bought it on a whim, really. Wanted to try the larger size. Works OK but it won't provide the right resolution if you use an adaptor for the HDMI cable - you need the right cable. Worked that out after a fair bit of trial and error. And getting a new cable. Would have been good to know that at the start.
Also, there isn't much range in the stand. Sits a bit low on my desk and, because the stand takes up a lot of real estate, you can't just put it on a box. Also worked out a solution but being able to raise it would have been useful.
Both things are user issues. Just thought I'd mention them because others might have the same concerns.
The actual monitor works fine.

Got this is a new primary screen for WFH, the screen is big enough that I can have up to 3 pages open at the same time.
Screen resolution is good, not able to fully utilise the top setting due to limitations with my work laptop Got this is a new primary screen for WFH, the screen is big enough that I can have up to 3 pages open at the same time.
Screen resolution is good, not able to fully utilise the top setting due to limitations with my work laptop

Amazing monitor, I was unsure about shifting to extra wide, but it's a complete win! If you're considering 2-3 monitor set up, just get an extra wide. Amazing monitor, I was unsure about shifting to extra wide, but it's a complete win! If you're considering 2-3 monitor set up, just get an extra wide.

Upgraded from a LG and can honestly say super impressed. This screen is curvy, large, really amazing clarity and so simple and easy to use. Would def recommend. Upgraded from a LG and can honestly say super impressed. This screen is curvy, large, really amazing clarity and so simple and easy to use. Would def recommend.

Purchased primarily to provide better picture and update speed for gaming.... somehow its migrated itself to my Sons room for his gaming after a couple of days! I must have brought well :-) Purchased primarily to provide better picture and update speed for gaming.... somehow its migrated itself to my Sons room for his gaming after a couple of days! I must have brought well :-)

I switched from 2x 24" to this single ultrawide 34". Not only did it save a bit of space on my desk, but multi-tasking feels a lot more efficient, and games look brilliant on it too. I switched from 2x 24" to this single ultrawide 34". Not only did it save a bit of space on my desk, but multi-tasking feels a lot more efficient, and games look brilliant on it too.

This screen is set as 165hz out of the box and comes with a Free sync ready cable.
Doesn't run hot like similar screens I've seen.
Excellent colours and price.

Really happy with the screen. This screen is set as 165hz out of the box and comes with a Free sync ready cable.
Doesn't run hot like similar screens I've seen.
Excellent colours and price.

Really happy with the screen.

As much as it is a gaming monitor, I'm using it for productivity and couldn't be happier with the added realestate ultrawide screens offer.

This monitor has all the bells and whistles: 1000R curvature and high refresh rate! As much as it is a gaming monitor, I'm using it for productivity and couldn't be happier with the added realestate ultrawide screens offer.

This monitor has all the bells and whistles: 1000R curvature and high refresh rate!

Brought this a we while ago. Marked improvement on the old Samsung standard screen I had. The curved screen makes it so easy. with little eye strain, However I cannot get the best out of it due to the Age of the computer running it. regardless still a huge improvement.
The only downside with this and many other screens its a tad hard to clean finger prints. wish it had a plastic screen cover on it, like tvs and phones have to prevent finger prints apon installation onto the stand. Brought this a we while ago. Marked improvement on the old Samsung standard screen I had. The curved screen makes it so easy. with little eye strain, However I cannot get the best out of it due to the Age of the computer running it. regardless still a huge improvement.
The only downside with this and many other screens its a tad hard to clean finger prints. wish it had a plastic screen cover on it, like tvs and phones have to prevent finger prints apon installation onto the stand.

Went from a 1080p to this and it is a good experience size wise and amazing immersion to have it curved for POV but there is a ghosting problem and I noticed it INSTANTLY when I started gaming along with the cheap, fake HDR that makes everything look worse.

Edit: The best I have managed is having the response rate at the fastest possible. Do not use the HDR it's a joke, do not use freesync since it makes the ghosting worse, it forces the response time to be the lowest option and locks you out of changing any good settings. Now the ghosting looks minor if I do my best not to notice it. Always do more research than usual when buying computer ...view more Went from a 1080p to this and it is a good experience size wise and amazing immersion to have it curved for POV but there is a ghosting problem and I noticed it INSTANTLY when I started gaming along with the cheap, fake HDR that makes everything look worse.

Edit: The best I have managed is having the response rate at the fastest possible. Do not use the HDR it's a joke, do not use freesync since it makes the ghosting worse, it forces the response time to be the lowest option and locks you out of changing any good settings. Now the ghosting looks minor if I do my best not to notice it. Always do more research than usual when buying computer parts, looks at reviews for the best ones of any type of part or appliance on youtube or something and never trust scummy brand specs that lie to you and just want your money.

Upgraded from a dual screen setup and very happy with the screen. Upgraded from a dual screen setup and very happy with the screen.