It’s a good time to be a gamer looking for a new gaming monitor—that is, if you have a bit of discretionary income. The wildly over-powered Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor is $1,099.99 (originally $1,799.99), but if you don’t care for an OLED panel, the just-as-comically-wide Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor is currently $799.99 (originally $1,299.99) after a $500 discount.
This Odyssey G9 gaming monitor was released in January of this year and is a refreshed version of the original Odyssey G9 gaming monitor with a new stand, HDMI 2.1, a black design, and a cheaper launching price of $1,299.99 (the 2020 version launched at $1,479).
The 2024 Odyssey G9 is a gamer’s dream, with a 1ms response time, 240Hz refresh rate, Nvidia’s and AMD’s adaptive sync technologies, and a huge 49-inch diagonal screen with a sharp curvature of 1000R and a 178-degree viewing angle. Because of its curve, the monitor measures 11.5 inches front to back. So make sure you have enough space on your desk before you decide to buy it.
The VA LCD panel and matter screen has a 5,120 by 1,440 resolution with a 32:9 aspect ratio, which is equivalent to two side-by-side 2,560 x 1,440 monitors. If you’re an Xbox Series X or PS5 gamer, be mindful that they output at 16:9, meaning you’ll have empty space on the sides of the screen.
If you’re not sure if you should go with the more expensive OLED G9 or this more affordable LCD G9, consider the main two differences (outside of price). The OLED G9 doesn’t get as bright, with only 250 nits, while the LCD reaches 1,000 nit peak brightness. Also, the OLED gets “true black” with OLED technology, while the LCD won’t. If brightness is more important to you over colors—or if you’d just rather save some money—the Odyssey G9 gaming monitor is your best bet.