Fingers-on: Samsung’s 6K gaming monitor will bully your graphics card

Samsung makes a darn good monitor, although it tends to make you pay for the privilege. The firm was additionally on the forefront of the gaming OLED house, although once more, it’s removed from something approaching “affordable” territory until you discover one on sale. That development continues with no fewer than 4 new Odyssey designs for 2026, together with one with a ridiculous 6K decision. 

I’ll begin with the most important and most dramatic as a result of it’s additionally essentially the most fascinating (although it isn’t OLED). This up to date model of the 32-inch Odyssey G8 with a quick IPS panel pushes the decision to “6K,” at a ridiculous and odd 6144×3456 decision. For context, that’s virtually thrice the entire pixels of an ordinary 4K monitor, although clearly not fairly as a lot as an 8K show. Even in the usual 16:9 side ratio, I think about that even essentially the most beefy gaming PC goes to wrestle beneath the load with all of the settings turned up, even at a comparatively humble 165Hz refresh fee. 

If your desktop begins screaming for mercy, you can provide it some. This can also be the most recent dual-mode design, with a much less intense “3K” decision (presumably half in each instructions) providing precisely double the velocity, as much as 330Hz. Other options embody HDR10+ assist for wealthy colours, G-Sync assist, and an included USB hub. 

I’ve to say, at 32 inches, it’s comparatively small in comparison with some huge gaming displays in the marketplace, so I didn’t see the purpose of 6K decision. My eyes can’t inform the distinction between that and 4K at this dimension, particularly with all the consequences of a sport like Cyberpunk 2077, and that goes double if there’s any movement on the display screen.

If you might have completely unbelievable peepers, perhaps you’ll be able to recognize 21 million pixels on the panel at any given time… however I can’t. Between that and the bizarre decision, I can’t see this being higher than a 4K possibility, although maybe a mega-sized 6K providing could be higher obtained. That mentioned, I’d must spend extra time with it earlier than making a closing name.

At $1,600 earlier than any included reductions — $50 for early patrons and as much as $300 in Samsung retailer credit score, sadly not relevant instantly — this monitor is certainly an “investment” in a gaming setup. But contemplating the dual-mode functionality and the flexibleness for workplace work, I believe it’s not fully unreasonable. I’d really feel quite a bit higher if the guarantee lasted greater than a 12 months, and I’d nonetheless watch for a standard sale. 

If that 32-inch mannequin is just too wealthy on your blood or too large on your desk, there’s additionally a 27-inch model coming. The smaller dimension means “just” 5K decision on the IPS panel (5120×2880), with the total res providing 180Hz and doubling to 360Hz at QHD decision (1440p). Otherwise the specs on this model of the G8 are the identical, with a value of $950 earlier than reductions. This could be extra fashionable with esports gamers, or those that don’t assume their PC can deal with the odd 6K kind issue. It nonetheless received’t be low cost at $950.

Meet Samsung’s new OLED gaming displays

At the identical occasion, Samsung confirmed off a pair of latest 32-inch OLEDs. The new 32-inch 4K OLED G8 now has an lively cooling system to assist stave off the dreaded panel burn-in, although it’s additionally protected by a 3 12 months guarantee. Samsung reps instructed me that the next-gen penta tandem QD-OLED panel’s stacked pixel setup means a peak brightness of as much as 1,300 nits, although its extra typical brightness score wasn’t on the spec checklist. The 4K panel can also be licensed for DisplayHDR True Black 500, a primary for OLED displays. 

Otherwise this mannequin is providing the now-standard 240Hz refresh at 4K, although I’m glad to see USB-C video with charging at as much as 98 watts, which ought to be sufficient for many gaming laptops. It’ll price $1,300 when it goes on sale. There’s additionally a 27-inch 4K mannequin for $1,100 — I’d say in case you’re going to spend that a lot, spring for the larger panel. Also this was the one one proven in a silver case shade.

A brand new possibility from Samsung this 12 months is an up to date Odyssey G7 (GG73SH), breaking with the corporate’s typical anti-glare finishes for a shiny, media-focused 4K OLED. Though it drops the lively cooling panel safety, it makes up for it with the dual-mode trick: 165Hz refresh at full decision, 330Hz at 1080p. This one can also be a little bit extra inexpensive at $1,100, so players would possibly discover it extra interesting, particularly when the standard reductions arrive. 

Even in Samsung’s devoted presentation house, the shiny OLED panel was distractingly reflective. I’d suggest towards this one until you might have a completely perfect gaming setup, otherwise you solely play after darkish. But with the twin mode possibility, it could be extra interesting to these with a necessity for aggressive velocity.

Though these 4 designs have been offered as Samsung’s gaming lineup for 2026, there could also be different Odyssey displays coming later. Previous press releases known as out a penta tandem improve for the 49-inch, dual-1440p mannequin particularly. But if that’s within the works, I didn’t see it at Samsung’s presentation.