Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ 42-inch 4K 138 Hz OLED Gaming Monitor Review: Stunning In Every Respect
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
The Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ is a 42-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor with 138 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR and extended color.
Editor’s Choice
(Image: © Tom’s Hardware)
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
The Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ is a gaming monitor with phenomenal performance and response. Its picture is stunning in almost every respect and premium build quality means it will be enjoyed for the long term.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Pros
- +
Sharp, bright picture with deep contrast
- +
Accurate color out-of-the-box
- +
Low input lag
- +
Near-perfect video processing
- +
Excellent audio from internal speakers
- +
Premium build quality
Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Today’s best Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ deals
$1,399
View
$1,439.98
View
Though OLED isn’t quite ready to claim desktop dominance from LCD on the best gaming monitors, more products are entering the pipeline. These new introductions mean more choices and, hopefully, lower prices. One obstacle to wide acceptance has been size. Early OLED computer monitors weren’t much smaller than big-screen TVs, making them difficult to integrate into an office-sized productivity and entertainment system.
Asus has made a step towards progress with its new 42-inch OLED display, the ROG Swift PG42UQ. Like all new genres, the first products are premium (read: expensive) items, but there is a lot to like. The PG42UQ delivers 4K resolution with an overclocked 138 Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10 and extended color. A special screen layer keeps the image bright and colorful under typical room lighting. In addition, a large array of connectivity options makes it suitable for various configurations, including computers, consoles and streaming boxes.
Asus PG42UQ Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Panel Type / Backlight | Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) |
| Screen Size / Aspect Ratio | 42 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh Rate | 3840×2160 @ 120 Hz |
| 138 Hz w/overclock | |
| FreeSync & G-Sync | |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
| HDR10 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 0.1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 450 nits |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,500,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 10w, 1x 15w subwoofer |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1. 4 |
| 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x HDMI 2.0 | |
| Audio | S/PDIF optical output |
| 3.5mm headphone output | |
| USB 3.2 | 1x up, 3x down |
| Power Consumption | 85.5w, brightness @ maximum |
| Panel Dimensions | 36.7 x 24.1 x 10 inches |
| WxHxD w/base | (932 x 611 x 255mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 1.5 inches (37mm) |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides: 0.2 inch (6mm) |
| Bottom: 0.4 inch (10mm) | |
| Weight | 32.6 pounds (14.8kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
- Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ at Amazon for $1,512.
10
10I hesitate to use the words “typical OLED” considering there are so few available outside the television genre. However, the PG42UQ is not a typical OLED monitor because it employs a special screen layer that Asus calls “anti-glare micro texture coating.” In my observation, this is another term for a polarizer. While this is nothing new – all OLEDs have some form of polarization – Asus’ approach specifically targets one of the downsides of using an OLED TV as a monitor, ambient light reflection. Large screen OLED TVs almost always have a shiny front layer that has great optical clarity but poor handling of reflections. The PG42UQ keeps that optical advantage but also prevents light from spoiling the image when it hits the screen at an angle. There’s usually a downside, but it’s minor, and I’ll talk about it on page two.
The PG42UQ delivers a practical 450 nits peak for HDR and unmeasurable black levels. Asus claims 1.5 million to one contrast, but in practice, it is infinite because it can’t be measured by any instrument.
OLED panels have a visual quality that simply cannot be duplicated by an LCD of any type.
The color gamut is wide, covering nearly 94% of DCI-P3 in my tests. I’ve measured two other screens that top 100% from Aorus and Alienware, but visually, the PG42UQ is stunning. A factory datasheet guarantees color accuracy, and I confirmed this. You won’t need to calibrate this monitor.
HDR10 is supported over both HDMI and DisplayPort, and the panel has a native 10-bit color depth. Asus provides three HDR modes and adjustable brightness, which most HDR monitors do not offer.
Gaming cred comes from a 138 Hz refresh rate achieved via an overclock setting. That gives the PG42UQ a slight edge over other 4K OLEDs, which top out at 120 Hz. Of course, lower-resolution WQHD can provide 165 Hz and 240 Hz. Adaptive-Sync comes in the form of Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync certification. And with a claimed 0.1 ms response time, motion blur should be non-existent.
Extras include Asus’ GamePlus array of gaming aids like aiming points, frame counter and timers.
The panel also has a quarter-inch tripod mount socket at the top, with a USB port nearby, for webcams and other compatible peripherals. Two additional USB 3.2 ports underneath let you plug in your gear. 10-watt amps drive the built-in speakers and there’s an additional 15-watt subwoofer inside to round out the bass.
Assembly and Accessories
The PG42UQ is a premium experience from the moment you lift off the outer carton. The cable bundle comes in a nice fabric zippered bag and includes DisplayPort, HDMI and USB along with a remote control and an IEC cord for the internal power supply.
The base bolts on with four included fasteners and here, I had an interesting experience. The bolts are Allen rather than the usual Phillips; try as I might, I could not find an Allen key anywhere in the package. I retrieved a 3 mm tool from my garage and attached the stand. I discovered an Allen key clipped inside when I removed the input panel cover. Someone at Asus actually took the time to engineer this molded part to include Allen key storage.
I call that attention to detail though I’d rather the Allen key were simply bagged with the fasteners. You just have to remove the input cover to find it.
Product 360
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Asus)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
One of the great things about OLED monitors is how thin their bezels can be. The PG42UQ measures just 6mm around the top and sides and 10mm at the bottom, flush, of course. The panel isn’t super thin, but it is slimmer than the same-sized LCD at just 1.5 inches. If you’d rather mount it, the VESA lug pattern is 300 mm, which you’ll find in TV brackets. With a panel-only weight of nearly 30 pounds, an arm probably won’t work.
Under the input cover, you’ll find four HDMI ports, two 2.0 and two 2.1, along with a DisplayPort 1.4 that supports Display Stream Compression (DSC) and 10-bit operation. Headphones plug into a 3.5mm jack and there’s an optical digital (S/PDIF) port so you can hook the PG42UQ up to an AV receiver or surround processor in a home theater application.
At the top, you’ll find a quarter-inch tripod socket with a rubber surround and a USB port, perfect for installing a webcam. The back is conservatively styled for Asus and features a simple pattern of molded-in lines plus the ROG logo. There is no dramatic LED lighting here, only a glowing logo in front which can be switched off if desired. The stand is a TV-style affair made from cast aluminum. It’s plenty deep enough to keep the panel steady and features five degrees tilt either forward or back. The back tilt is perfect for the average desktop as the panel is elevated just three inches. Underneath the glowing logo is an OSD joystick along with keys for power and cancel. The grilled protrusions on either side house the speakers, 10 watts each, plus an internal 15-watt subwoofer. The sound quality is very good, with plenty of clarity, volume and decent bass.
If you’d rather not reach out to adjust the PG42UQ, an included handheld remote covers all monitor functions. It’s infrared-based, so you’ll have to point it at the logo in the bottom center.
The OSD can be made large enough to be read from eight to ten feet away.
OSD Features
Pressing the joystick or remote select key opens a comprehensive and well-organized OSD. The directional keys can also be programmed to provide quick access to various functions.
Image 1 of 8
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Asus always prioritizes gaming modes, and the first thing you’ll want to do is switch on the PG42UQ’s overclock and turn the action up to 138 Hz. It was reliable with no hiccups during our time with the monitor. GamePlus offers an array of play aids, including a frame counter, aiming points, sniper mode, countdown timer and a stopwatch. The sniper mode magnifies the center of the screen anywhere from 1.2 to 2 times larger with a colored dot to help with aiming.
There are eight picture modes, including Racing, the default, sRGB for color-critical work and a User mode. Racing can be calibrated to a high standard though it is already visually perfect out of the box. You can also pick the color gamut without engaging sRGB if you wish. The Shadow Boost feature makes dark detail easier to see and has five fixed levels and a dynamic option.
In the Image menu, you’ll find a checkbox called Uniform Brightness, which is important. It’s off by default, meaning the panel will vary in brightness depending on the average picture level. In vintage parlance from the era of CRT, we called this “DC restoration.” It is a process that keeps a display’s power supply from overloading when the picture has a lot of bright content. Modern-day plasmas and OLEDs still employ this to be more power efficient and to preserve the panel’s lifespan. If you check the box, the picture will not change brightness, but it will be about 50% darker. While this could be considered a more purist way to run the PG42UQ or any OLED, it is not an attractive option.
I recommend leaving the box unchecked for the best possible image under all circumstances.
In the Color menu, you’ll find calibration options that include two color spaces, color temps by Kelvin value with user mode, and gamma presets. If you simply leave the PG42UQ in Racing mode, you won’t need to change anything here unless you want sRGB. That’s easy to engage without disturbing other parameters.
The joystick and remote nav pad can be programmed for various shortcuts like brightness, volume, input, GamePlus and more. The remote has two additional keys that the user can also program.
Asus has included three panel care options to preserve the life and quality of the PG42UQ. A screen saver can be set to come on after a period of inactivity. Pixel Cleaning is a process that refreshes the entire screen to equalize pixel use and prevent burn-in. Once initiated, it takes about six minutes to complete. Screen Move is an orbiter that shifts the image by a few pixels. Adjust Logo Brightness dims the lower right corner of the screen to prevent burn-in from channel logos.
Asus PG42UQ Calibration Settings
The PG42UQ’s Racing mode proved spot-on in my tests, with no visible errors in grayscale, gamma or color gamut tracking. I calibrated the User color temp and made a tiny improvement that only the meter could see. The sRGB mode is also very accurate though it is just as easy to stay in Racing and choose sRGB from the Color Space menu. Feel free to try the settings from my tests listed below.
In HDR mode, there are three options, Game, Cinema and Console. Game is the default and best choice, with good luminance tracking and bright vivid color. You can activate the brightness control to dial down the image for dark room playing.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Picture Mode | Racing |
| Brightness 200 nits | 50 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 26 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 20 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 13 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 5 (min. 42) |
| Contrast | 80 |
| Gamma | 2.2 |
| Color Temp User | Red 100, Green 90, Blue 74 |
Gaming and Hands-on
If you’ve been considering the purchase of a large desktop monitor, the PG42UQ should be added to your short list. I’m a fan of the 32-inch size and now I’m a fan of 42. You’ll need to allow a bit more room for it, but the image here is so sharp and vibrant, it’s worth the effort of clearing other objects from the workspace.
Large, curved panels are a great way to immerse yourself in a game or movie, but large flat screens can do the job nearly as well, thanks to their prodigious height. Sitting between three and four feet away filled my peripheral vision completely and replicated the experience of sitting close to the screen in a movie theater. I appreciated the PG42UQ’s tilt function, which let me position the screen to put everything in focus.
The panel sits three inches off the desktop and can’t be raised.
Opening three or four documents on the screen is completely practical here. Windows defaulted to 300% font scaling, which is great if you sit further back. At my closer viewpoint, 150% was a better choice. Sharpness was never an issue, and I could not see the pixel structure. For a near-field application like this, 42 inches is an ideal size for 4K resolution. Pixel density is 106ppi, close to the 109ppi of a 27-inch QHD panel. It’s perfect for text and graphics.
When an OLED and LCD are calibrated to the same brightness and placed side-by-side, you can always pick out the OLED, thanks to greater contrast. Even the best Mini LED panels can’t reproduce intra-image black levels like an OLED. That gives it an extra glow and vibrance and immediately sets it apart.
It’s inevitable that a 42-inch monitor will be used to watch TV and movies, so I hooked up an Apple TV 4K and a 4K Blu-ray player. The PG42UQ worked flawlessly with all frame rates, 24, 50 and 60 fps, and provided artifact-free video processing with clean scaling of 1080p material.
It also had no problem with HDR10 content though I found HDR color to be a bit less saturated than the Aorus FO48U or the Alienware AW3423DWF ultra-wide panel. However, it was still punchier than SDR.
I rarely talk about gaming monitor audio because the physical limitations of small panels mean tiny speakers that play a narrow range of frequencies. The PG42UQ has more room and Asus has taken advantage. The internal stereo speakers and subwoofer deliver truly impactful sound that blows away any computer monitor and most TVs I’ve experienced. Good audio makes a real difference in the gaming experience.
Gameplay is an absolute joy on any OLED, thanks to super-clean motion processing. With no need for overdrive or backlight strobes, the PG42UQ could easily maintain sharpness during the fastest camera pans, mouse movements and circle strafes. I mowed through enemies easily in Doom Eternal and Call of Duty WWII. Response was instantaneous with no perception of input lag.
I couldn’t quite get to 138 fps without reducing detail levels, but at 120 fps, I had the same experience as I would on a 165 Hz LCD. OLED enhances gameplay by making more of a given refresh rate.
HDR provided deep contrast with a bright picture that was never harsh. I did not regret leaving the brightness slider maxed for all content. I also confirmed that Game HDR was the best mode for all HDR applications, games and videos. The PG42UQ is a very addicting monitor. If you try one in a store, you’ll want to take it home.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors
MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide
MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor
Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ: Price Comparison
$1,399
View
$1,512.10
View
powered by
- 1
Current page:
Features and Specifications
Next Page Response, Input Lag, Viewing Angles and Uniformity
Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom’s Hardware US.
He’s a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32-inch 4K 240 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: A New Level Of Extreme
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G8 is a 32-inch curved VA panel with 4K resolution, 240 Hz, G-Sync & FreeSync certification, HDR2000, 1,196-zone Mini LED backlight and wide gamut color.
Editor’s Choice
(Image: © Tom’s Hardware)
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
Despite just-average color volume, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 beats the 4K competition in every other performance metric. And it’s a relatively good value besides. If you have a fast PC and are looking for the ultimate gaming monitor, it’s hard to imagine a better display.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Pros
- +
Stunning SDR and HDR images
- +
Color accurate out of the box
- +
Next-level gaming performance
- +
Smooth motion processing and low input lag
- +
Excellent value
Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10880575/24_011_229_V15.jpg)
Find out more about how we test.
Today’s best Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 deals
$1,199.99
View
$1,559.72
$1,199.99
View
Show More Deals
The debate between speed and resolution in gaming monitors is a matter of perspective. If you play fast-paced shooters or eSports games, additional speed will give you a competitive advantage. High frame rates mean the picture will stay sharp when objects and backgrounds move quickly. But high resolution and pixel density are better choices if you like to take in the view and explore the virtual environment.
Many players want 4K simply because the latest consoles support it. But that comes with a hit to frame rates. The fastest and best 4K gaming monitors have been limited to 144 Hz or slightly higher with overclocking; until now. Samsung has just raised the bar with a 240 Hz 4K monitor, the first I’ve ever tested. The Odyssey Neo G8 is a 32-inch VA panel with a 1000R curve, HDR, Adaptive-Sync, a 1,196-zone dimming Mini LED backlight and 2,000 nits peak in HDR mode.
This monitor checks all the right boxes that should put it squarely in contention as one of the Best 4K Gaming Monitors.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Panel Type / Backlight | VA / Mini-LED |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | 1,196 dimming zones |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 | Quantum Dot film |
| Screen Size / Aspect Ratio | 32 inches / 16:9 |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | Curve radius: 1000mm |
| Max Resolution & Refresh Rate | 3840×2160 @ 240 Hz |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | G-Sync Certified |
| Row 7 – Cell 0 | FreeSync Certified |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit / DCI-P3 |
| Row 9 – Cell 0 | HDR10, HDR10+ |
| Row 10 – Cell 0 | HDR 2000 |
| Response Time (MPRT) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 350 nits SDR |
| Row 13 – Cell 0 | 2,000 nits HDR |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,000,000:1 |
| Speakers | None |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1. 4 |
| Row 17 – Cell 0 | 2x HDMI 2.1 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 2x down |
| Power Consumption | 74.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 29.1 x 19-23.7 x 12.2 inches (739 x 483-603 x 305mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 6.8 inches (173mm) |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides: 0.3 inch (8mm) |
| Row 24 – Cell 0 | Bottom: 1 inch (26mm) |
| Weight | 19.6 pounds (8.9kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
- Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 (32-inch) at Samsung for $1,199.99
Take it all in because there’s a lot to see here.
The G8 is one of the very few 4K VA panels. VA provides more contrast than IPS, but that’s not all. The backlight is a Mini LED with 1,196 dimming zones and a Quantum Dot film. That means even greater contrast and a wide color gamut, almost 90% coverage of DCI-P3 according to my instruments. And the peak output for HDR content is 2,000 nits.
The G8 is the first monitor I’ve seen that includes HDR10+, which is an extension of the HDR10 standard that is backward compatible and includes dynamic metadata (Dolby Vision shares that ability). Dynamic metadata means the content can detect the capability of an individual display and adjust its HDR tone map to match. It guarantees there will be no clipping of highlight detail. Like any HDR standard, you need compatible content to take advantage. HDR10+ is still an emerging spec.
For the speed quotient, there’s a 240 Hz refresh rate accessible via an option in the OSD. I had no trouble running at 240 Hz in Windows, but to hit 240 fps in-game, I had to turn down the detail level a bit with my GeForce RTX 3090-based gaming PC.
Adaptive-Sync is supported with certification from AMD and Nvidia for FreeSync and G-Sync, respectively. You also get full console support at 120 Hz over the two HDMI 2.1 ports, while DisplayPort is version 1.4.
The frame rates possible from the G8 are certainly extreme, but it doesn’t stop there. The screen has a super-tight 1000R curve, meaning a circle of G8s would be just two meters across. Contrast is also extreme. Though a VA panel guarantees at least 3,000:1 contrast, Samsung has engineered the backlight to have its local dimming feature turned on all the time. In my SDR tests, I measured around 25,000:1 with full rendering of all brightness steps with absolutely no clipping. HDR contrast was even higher as I could not measure the black level there, making its dynamic range theoretically infinite.
With specs like these, you’d expect the G8 to be very expensive and it is indeed a wallet-punishing purchase. But where other Mini LED screens like ViewSonic’s XG321UG and Asus’ PG32UQX sell for over $2,000 at this writing, the G8 comes in at $1,400.
That’s hard to ignore, considering its phenomenal performance.
The G8 impresses on paper and my initial impressions are extremely positive. There’s nothing to do now but hook it up and play.
Assembly and Accessories of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
You’ll need to break out the Phillips-head screwdriver after extracting the G8 from its crumbly foam packaging. The base bolts to the upright, then you attach it to the panel with four fasteners already in place. And don’t forget to put the trim ring on before securing the bolts. Ask me how I know. An adapter bracket is included if you’d rather use a 100mm VESA-compatible arm or mount. And a cover snaps over the input panel once connections are made. A large white brick serves as the power supply and is supported by white cords with right-angle plugs. Additional cables include DisplayPort and USB but not HDMI.
Product 360
Image 1 of 7
(Image credit: Samsung)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Samsung)(Image credit: Samsung)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
There is no mistaking the G8 from all perspectives as anything but a Samsung gaming monitor.
It’s all business up front with a thin bezel and subtle LED lighting at the corners. Under the tiny Samsung logo is a four-way button pad, a center key surrounded by four directionals. The screen’s anti-glare layer is very effective, with a flatter finish than typical LCDs. You’ll have a hard time washing out the image with anything but the brightest sunlight.
The top view shows the G8’s extreme curve of 1000R. It doesn’t get tighter than that in the 32-inch 16:9 size, and it does not distort the picture in any visible way. The curve does mean a lot of panel depth, as the side view shows. It’s nearly seven inches thick.
The back is all white, with a small grill at the top to vent heat. The LEDs are behind two thin strips on either side of the attachment point. In the photo above, I had not yet installed the plastic trim ring that hides the four bolts, my bad. At the bottom of the upright is a little rubber clip to keep cables tidy.
The base is very deep to ensure stability and does its job well.
It’s all metal, while the upright is white plastic over a metal core. The attachment point is small and creates a bit of wobble. It took me a few tweaks to get the screen perfectly level. Yes, there is a 90-degree portrait mode along with 15 degrees swivel, -9/13 degrees tilt and a 120mm height adjustment. Movements are firm, but there is some play after you take your hands off. The screen sits well ahead of the stand, so you’ll need a bit more desktop area to position the screen to your liking. One thing I appreciated was how high I could raise the panel. It’s easy to set it vertically and place your eyepoint at center screen.
The lighting feature, called Infinity Core, has LEDs in front and back. You can change the color and effect and sync them with on-screen content using Samsung’s CoreSync app and a USB connection. You get one upstream and two downstream 3.0 ports, two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort 1.4. The yellow jack is 3.5mm audio for headphones or powered speakers. There is no built-in sound, but you can control the volume in the OSD.
OSD Features of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The G8’s OSD has a game-oriented look with status info at the top of every screen and six sub-menus. It’s controlled by five buttons under the panel’s center in a directional/select configuration. It’s unusual to see this instead of a joystick, but it works intuitively.
Image 1 of 7
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
While in the Game menu, you can select either 120 or 240 Hz for the max refresh rate. You’ll have to turn on 240 Hz before it’s shown in the Windows or Nvidia Control Panel. The Response Time option is grayed out when Adaptive-Sync is on, but I saw subtle ghosting that indicated overdrive was active. Ultrawide Game View switches the aspect ratio to 21:9 with black bars top and bottom, but you need to turn off AS to use it. Video processing options are a bit confusing, but you’ll be golden if you leave settings on their defaults and simply turn on 240 Hz.
This menu also provides a selection of six aiming points.
Infinity Core Lighting can be on in the front and/or the back. There are five effects, including static and you can choose the color. Using the CoreSync app, color and effect can change with on-screen content.
Seven picture modes include a usable sRGB option. All others employ the full wide gamut for both SDR and HDR material. Custom includes calibration controls that include custom color temp and three gamma presets. Contrast Enhancer is another layer of dynamic contrast, but it’s best left off unless you want the picture to be very bright. Local Dimming is always on in some form, as I discovered in my tests. You’ll never want for dynamic range from the G8.
You can view two sources at once using the picture-in-picture (PIP) menu. It’s also accessible using the right OSD key. The window can be moved around the screen, and you choose which source produces sound through the headphone output.
In the System menu, represented by a wrench, is a Local Dimming option.
It says that Auto will employ dimming only for HDR, but it’s also active for SDR material. In fact, there is no way to turn it off completely. However, that isn’t a problem because it’s well-implemented and doesn’t mask any highlight or shadow detail.
Calibration Settings of Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
The G8 is enjoyable without calibration, and my adjustments didn’t make a visible improvement. The Custom color mode uses the full DCI-P3 gamut along with a 6500K white point and gamma that rides just below 2.2. There, you have a choice to make. Since there’s so much contrast, I thought the G8 looked better on gamma Mode 3, which runs around 2.3 average. That setting also improves color saturation which I could measure and see. My recommended settings are below.
In HDR mode, you can still choose any of the available picture modes and adjust brightness, color temp and gamma. I recommend sticking with Custom, Normal color temp and Gamma Mode 1.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Picture Mode (SDR) | Custom |
| Brightness 200 nits | 53 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 30 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 24 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 18 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 10 (min. 15 nits) |
| Contrast | 73 |
| Gamma | Mode 3 |
| Color Temp User | Red 51, Green 51, Blue 50 |
Gaming and Hands-on with Samsung Odyssey Neo G8
A monitor like the G8 is built for gaming. Other uses are secondary when considering a purchase, but it certainly can get through work tasks. I found the extreme curve to be a little distracting when editing Word documents. There’s no way to ignore the curve when you place a page center screen. However, spreadsheets were not a problem. Photo editing will depend on your particular needs. The simple graphics work I do is easily accomplished on the G8, but a flat screen will better serve photographers.
Watching videos is a unique experience. Though I’ve experienced many curved monitors, 1000R is rare. Sit too close and you must turn your head to see the sides. Sit too far and you’ll perceive distortion like an hourglass on its side.
But between two and three feet, it’s perfect. The entire screen is in focus and within my peripheral vision. I had to plug in headphones since there’s no built-in sound, but watching YouTube and Netflix was fun, thanks to the G8’s stunning picture.
The contrast here is real and rivals an OLED. Samsung has truly raised expectations for what’s possible in a Mini LED panel. Though I enjoyed gorgeous visuals from Asus’ and ViewSonic’s offerings, the G8 is a cut above those, especially with HDR content.
Gaming is also on another level when compared to other 4K screens. I could play comparably to other displays when the detail in Tomb Raider, Call of Duty WWII and Doom Eternal was maxed. Frame rates stayed around 120 fps, which is typical performance from my GeForce RTX 3090. But back off the detail a click and I could hit 240 fps with ease. Motion clarity is about the same as a QHD screen at 240 fps but with the G8’s greater pixel density and contrast, the picture had more vibrance and depth.
The G8 is in essence, two monitors. With game detail maxed, it runs at 120 fps and provides the same feel and response as a 144 Hz UHD screen. With detail turned down a click, it turns into a competition tool with frame rates at or near 240 and control response worthy of a top esports player.
I was never tempted to turn off Adaptive-Sync to use the overdrive settings. There were no artifacts during gameplay at any frame rate. I also tried the backlight strobe option. It’s hidden amongst the overdrive choices and called Extreme MBR. To use it, turn off Adaptive-Sync AND Local Dimming. I found it completely ineffective. Blur was increased, and brightness was reduced. It’s a pain to use and has no benefit.
The best configuration is the default which employs all the G8’s attributes.
- Local Dimming – Auto
- Adaptive-Sync – On
- Refresh Rate – 240
With these settings, Low Input Lag and Response Time will be grayed out. But my tests showed they are indeed active.
MORE: Best Gaming Monitors
MORE: How We Test PC Monitors
MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide
MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8: Price Comparison
$1,199.99
View
$1,559.72
$1,199.99
View
$1,499.99
$1,199.99
View
Show More Deals
powered by
- 1
Current page:
Features and Specifications
Next Page Response, Input Lag, Viewing Angles and Uniformity
Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom’s Hardware US. He’s a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors.
Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ 32″ IPS Gaming Monitor 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), 144Hz, 1ms MPRT, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, DisplayHDR 600, Quantum-Dot Technology, DisplayPort 1.4 | 90
Delivery options and delivery speed may vary by location.
Sign in to manage addresses
OR
A country
AustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAnguillaAngolaAndorraAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAfghanistanBahamasBangladeshBarbadosBahrainBelarusBelizeBelgiumBeninBermudaBulgariaBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBurki FasoBurundiBhutanVanuatuHungaryVenezuelaUSVirgin IslandsEast TimorVietnamGabonHaitiGuyanaGambiaGhanaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuineaGuinea BissauGermanyGuernseyGibraltarHondurasHong Kong ChinaGrenadaGreenlandGreeceGuamDenmarkDemocratic Republic of the CongoJerseyDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEgyptZambiaZimbabweGoIsraelIndiaIndonesiaJordanIrelandIcelandSpainItalyCape VerdeKazakhstanCayman IslandsCambodiaCameroonCanadaCanary Islands,Caribbean NetherlandsQatarKenyaCyprusKiribatiChinaColombiaComorosKosovoCosta RicaIvory Coast arCubaKuwaitKyrgyzstanCuraçaoLaosLatviaLesothoLiberiaLebanonLithuaniaLiechtensteinLuxembourgMauritiusMauritaniaMadagascarMayotteMacao, ChinaMacedoniaMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaltaMoroccoMartiniqueMarshall IslandsMexicoMicronesiaMozambiqueMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontserratM Yanmar [Burma]NamibiaNauruNepalNigerNigeriaNetherlandsNicaraguaNiueNew ZealandNew CaledoniaNorwayUnited Arab EmiratesOmanCook IslandsTurks and Caicos IslandsPakistanPalauPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPolandPortugalPuerto RicoRepublic of the CongoReunionRussiaRwandaRomaniaSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSwazilandSaint HelenaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesNorthern Mariana IslandsSeychellesSenegalSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSerbiaSingaporeSyriaSlovakiaSloveniaUnited KingdomUnited StatesSolomon IslandsSudanSudan rinam Sierra Leone Tajikistan ri-LankaEcuadorEquatorial GuineaEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaSouth AfricaSouth KoreaJamaicaJapan
City
BerlinAach B TrierAach, HegauAachenAalenAarbergenAasbuettelAbbenrodeAbenbergAbensbergAbentheuerAbrahamAbsbergAbstattAbtsbessingenAbtsgmuendAbtsteinachAbtswindAbtweilerAchbergAchernAchimAchslachAchstettenAchtAchtbachAchterwehrAchtrupAckendorfAdde buellAdelbergAdelebsenAdelheidsdorfAdelmannsfeldenAdelschlagAdelsdorfAdelsheimAdelshofen, Kr FuerstenfeldbruckAdelshofen, MittelfrAdelsriedAdelzhausenAdenauAdenbachAdenbuettelAdendorfAderstedtAdlersteigeAdligstadtAdlkofenAdmannshagen-BargeshagenAdorf/Vogtl.
AebtissinwischAerzenAffalterbachAffingAffinghausenAfflerAgathenburgAgethorstAglasterhausenAhamAhausAhausenAhlbeckAhlden (Aller)Ahlefeld-BistenseeAhlenAhlerstedtAhlsdorfAhlstaedtAhnatalAhnebyAhnsbeckAhnsenAholfingAholmingAhorn, BadenAhorn, Kr CoburgAhorn talAhrbrueckAhrensboekAhrensburgAhrensfeldeAhrenshagen-DaskowAhrenshoeftAhrenstedtAhrenvioelAhrenvioelfeldAicha Vorm WaldAichachAichelbergAichenAichhaldenAichstettenAichtalAichwaldAidenbachAidhausenAidlingenAiglsbachAilertchenAindling
G-Sync monitors on HOTLINE – buy monitors with G-Sync
Porіvnyati
19 131
UAH
14 880 – 29 725 UAH
All propositions (63)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
13 315
UAH
11 399 – 14 015 UAH
All propositions (42)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
16 367
UAH
13 999 – 19 166 UAH
All propositions (7)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
27 340
UAH
24 636 – 47 252 UAH
All propositions (46)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
30,002
UAH
26,850 – 43,050 UAH
All propositions (10)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
32 129
UAH
30 449 – 36 024 UAH
All propositions (17)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
18 183
UAH
16 870 – 20 543 UAH
All propositions (17)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
20 082
UAH
18 526 – 27 798 UAH
All propositions (76)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
61 426
UAH
47 899 – 80 020 UAH
All propositions (13)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
15 591
UAH
14 210 – 23 001 UAH
All propositions (49)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
13 175
UAH
11 830 – 16 031 UAH
All propositions (12)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
56 803
UAH
53 000 – 59 999 UAH
All propositions (4)
Change the prices
Porіvnyati
9 840
UAH
9 299 – 11 745 UAH
All propositions (66)
Change the prices
Experts for a selection of products Monitors with IPS and TN matrices.