User replaced their LED screen with a $1,300 OLED monitor, detailing the subsequent events

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8: A Transformative Gaming Experience

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8, a 4K OLED gaming monitor, has proven to be a significant upgrade in PC hardware use for one gamer, marking a notable change after 20 years of gaming. However, this new addition to the gaming setup didn't come without its initial hiccups.

On day one, the author encountered an issue with a screw inside the VESA mount, but this was soon rectified. Despite this minor setback, the benefits of the Odyssey OLED G8 quickly became apparent.

The monitor's dynamic picture quality, with its deep blacks and vibrant colours, has been noteworthy for the author. The Odyssey G8 supports a maximum frame rate of 240Hz, ensuring ultra-smooth gameplay, and boasts an exceptionally fast response time of around 0.03ms (GTG).

To ensure regular pixel turnover and protect the monitor from burn-out, the author has adopted a strategy of using a collection of 4K desktop wallpapers, moving and shifting windows constantly, and hiding all Windows desktop icons while enabling auto-hide on the Task Bar.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is equipped with advanced features such as Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, and HDR10+ Gaming. It's also worth mentioning that the author managed to secure the monitor at a significant discount of £764.

Comparing the impact of the OLED monitor to previous upgrades, such as switching from a 560 Ti to a 970, or from 1080p to a 4K monitor, the author suggests that any high refresh rate gaming monitor could offer a similarly transformative experience for discerning gamers.

However, OLED technology does have its drawbacks. The risk of burn-in, while mitigated by Samsung's Safeguard+ technology, still exists. Additionally, variable refresh rate support can cause some brightness flicker in darker scenes.

Despite these drawbacks, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 offers several benefits over traditional LCD or LED monitors, such as perfect blacks and infinite contrast, extremely fast response times, high refresh rates, wide viewing angles, glare reduction, low blue light, and flicker-free technology for eye comfort.

In conclusion, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is superior for gaming visual quality, speed, and immersive experience compared to LCD/LED monitors, especially for users who prioritize deep blacks and responsiveness. For productivity, it offers excellent contrast and eye comfort but requires caution with static images due to potential burn-in. Users prioritizing static image longevity and maximum brightness might prefer high-end LCD/LED displays instead.

Benefits of Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 vs LCD/LED Monitors:

Perfect blacks and infinite contrast: OLED pixels emit light individually and can turn off completely, resulting in true black levels and vibrant colours without backlight bleed common in LCDs.
Extremely fast response times: Around 0.03 ms GTG response, nearly instantaneous pixel transitions eliminate motion blur and ghosting, crucial for fast-paced gaming.
High refresh rates: Models support up to 240Hz refresh rate, enabling ultra-smooth gameplay and minimizing input lag (about 4 ms), which exceeds many LCD monitors.
Wide viewing angles and glare reduction: The Odyssey G8 uses anti-glare matte coating that reduces reflections significantly more than typical LCDs—54% less glossy—to maintain clarity in bright environments.
HDR True Black 400 certification: Provides enhanced dynamic range and visible detail in dark scenes without light bleed, improving immersion in games and productivity content.
Low blue light and flicker-free for eye comfort: OLED flicker-free tech and low-blue filter modes reduce eye strain for longer productivity or gaming sessions.

Drawbacks Compared to Traditional LCD/LED Monitors:

Burn-in risk: OLED panels can suffer from image retention or burn-in if static elements (HUDs, UI) remain on screen for prolonged periods, which can be an issue in productivity uses or some games. Samsung’s Safeguard+ technology aims to reduce this risk but doesn't eliminate it fully.
Brightness flickering with VRR: Variable refresh rate support (FreeSync Premium, HDMI 2.1 VRR) can cause some brightness flicker in darker scenes. Samsung offers settings to control this, but the fix may increase input lag or stuttering, potentially complicating the gaming experience.
Typically higher cost: OLED gaming monitors like the Odyssey G8 tend to be more expensive than comparable LCD/LED models due to the advanced panel technology.
Brightness levels: While OLED has excellent contrast, peak brightness may be lower than some high-end LED-LCD displays, which might affect visibility in extremely bright rooms or HDR highlights.

Summary Table:

| Aspect | Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 | Traditional LCD/LED Monitors | |----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | Contrast & Blacks | Near infinite contrast, true blacks | Lower contrast due to backlight bleed | | Response Time | Ultra-fast ~0.03 ms GTG response | Generally slower (1-5 ms typical) | | Refresh Rate | Up to 240Hz (some models) | Varies, often 60-165Hz gaming models | | Input Lag | Very low (~4 ms) | Comparable or slightly higher | | Viewing Angles | Wide, stable colours | Varies; IPS better than TN/VA but some colour shift| | Glare & Reflection | Anti-glare coating reduces reflections significantly more than typical LCDs | Glossy or less effective anti-glare coatings | | Burn-in Risk | Present, mitigated by Samsung Safeguard+ | None or negligible | | Brightness Flicker (VRR) | Minor flickering possible in dark scenes | Typically no VRR-related flicker | | Cost | Higher cost premium | Generally more affordable | | Productivity Use | Excellent for color-accurate and dark scenes but caution for static elements | Good for static content, no burn-in concerns |

User replaced their LED screen with a $1,300 OLED monitor, detailing the subsequent events