The new Samsung Odyssey G80HS is a 32-inch IPS LCD monitor that pushes 6K (6,144 x 3,456) resolution at 165Hz. If you’re expecting faster gaming scenarios, by flipping the switch, the monitor can drop its pixel count down to 3K (3,072 x 1,728) and 330Hz. Higher resolution will require higher pixel counts, and the new G8 can max out at 224 ppi (pixels per inch). Visual clarity is less about resolution and more about maximizing pixels on the screen, where 6K resolution may make more sense for a 32-inch monitor.
Check out the Odyssey G8 (G80HS) on Amazon
Check out the Odyssey G8 (G80HS) on Samsung.com
Samsung’s Odyssey monitors are gaming-focused first and foremost, so you might be wondering what the point of a $1,600 non-OLED monitor like the G80HS is. Samsung promises a relatively wide viewing angle for the LCD at 178 degrees without losing visual quality. It also boasts a 1ms pixel-to-pixel response time, meaning the monitor can turn images relatively quickly. But, in reality, this is to view content at an even higher pixel density.
For comparison, 6K has about 2.5 times the number of pixels as 4K, often called UHD. The problem with 8K TVs was less technology and more a lack of content that could support that scale of resolution. Some titles, like cyberpunk 2077 And ghost of tsushimaShould manage to reach 6K resolution. Samsung’s latest monitors still support their own HDR10+ standard but do not support Dolby Vision for high dynamic range content.
The Odyssey G80HS promises to deliver a typical brightness of 350 nits and a peak brightness of 400 nits. It really doesn’t seem very bright for an IPS monitor demanding such a high price.
If you were looking for something a little more standard, there’s the $1,300 Odyssey G80SH (not to be confused with this now) 32-inch 4K OLED variant that promises the usual 300 nits and 1,000 nits with HDR.
Samsung is also working on another G80HF (okay, seriously…) 27-inch monitor that tops out at 5K resolution and has an IPS display, though it only costs $950.
Whether you can hit playable frame rates at that top resolution and still increase graphics settings or ray tracing to the max will depend on your PC’s capabilities. There are several reasons why 5K or 6K monitors exist. Those working in creative fields that require ultra-high-end, pixel-perfect screens like Apple’s Studio Display XDR can use those higher resolutions, though mostly when editing video or 3D objects that require higher resolution.
Compared to 4K, 6K is relatively unused in gaming circles. At the very least, you’ll likely avoid the situation that happened with the PlayStation 5 that promised it would be 8K-capable. When it became clear that few games supported this resolution, Sony eventually removed all mention of 8K from its console packaging. Things may be different with 5K and 6K, although we can’t promise that you’ll be able to tell the difference between UHD and the new hotness of high-resolution monitors.
Check out the Odyssey G8 (G80HS) on Amazon
Check out the Odyssey G8 (G80HS) on Samsung.com
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