Tested: Samsung's new OLED monitor is part PC display, part TV

Price When Reviewed

$1,599.99

Best Prices Today: Samsung Smart Monitor M9

$1,599.99

$1599.99

$1599.99

Want a 32-inch good tv with good picture high quality? Or a 32-inch OLED monitor that you need to use for Netflix and cloud gaming even when your PC is turned off? The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 is perhaps your resolution. This good monitor has Samsung’s Tizen OS and helps all of the options and performance you’d count on of a Samsung tv—for higher, and generally, for worse.

Read on to be taught extra, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparability.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 specs and options

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s primary specs are typical for a 32-inch OLED, although only a tad underwhelming. It gives 4K decision, however the most decision is 165Hz (some rivals attain 240Hz). The monitor helps HDR10+, however not Dolby Vision. And whereas it helps USB-C upstream enter with 90 watts of energy, it has restricted downstream USB connectivity.

• Display measurement: 31.5-inch 16:9 facet ratio
• Native decision: 3840×2160
• Panel sort: QD-OLED (matte)
• Refresh price: 165Hz
• Adaptive sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
• HDR: Yes, HDR10+
• Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 2.0 downstream
• Audio: 2x 10-watt audio system
• Additional options: Tizen OS, distant management, 4K webcam and dual-microphone array, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2
• Price: $1599.99 MSRP, $1,299.99 typical retail

However, the Smart Monitor M9 has what most 32-inch OLED displays lack—a wise TV working system. Specifically, it ships with Samsung’s Tizen OS. To help that, it additionally has a distant management, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A webcam with microphone is thrown in for good measure.

The Smart Monitor M9 has a retail MSRP of $1,599.99, nevertheless it doesn’t seem to retail at that value typically. It’s regularly discounted to $1,299.99. That’s a bit costly for a 32-inch OLED monitor, however according to premium rivals just like the HP Omen Transcend 32 and LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B (neither of which have good TV options).

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 design

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 leans on a conservative, stylish design that doesn’t take dangers however ought to look good in any scenario. From the entrance it’s nearly all display, apart from the highest bezel, the place a webcam lurks.

Around again it’s an expanse of gunmetal supplies, largely plastic, that are understated however look costly. The panel is sort of skinny, too, and whereas it does have a bump-out that incorporates the ports, it’s small and unobtrusive.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The monitor ships with an L-shaped stand that has a compact, flat base that received’t take up a lot area on a desk. Annoyingly, although, the stand requires a screwdriver to assemble (most monitor stands use a thumb screw).

While the stand gives ergonomic adjustment, it’s not nice. It adjusts 120mm for peak and may also pivot 90 levels. However, it will possibly’t really be utilized in portrait mode as a result of the quantity of peak adjustment obtainable doesn’t maintain the show excessive sufficient off a desk to help portrait mode. Instead, the sting of the show will run into your desk at round 60 levels of rotation. The stand permits tilt however doesn’t swivel, which most 32-inch monitor stands help.

The monitor can be suitable with 100x100mm VESA mounts to be used with third-party monitor arms and stands.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 connectivity

The again of the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 gives three video inputs. One HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB-C with DisplayPort. All three help the monitor’s most refresh price and backbone, although solely in Game Mode (the utmost exterior Game Mode is 120Hz). Three video inputs are typical for the class, although some, just like the HP Omen Transcend 32, present 4.

Connecting to the USB-C port additionally gives 90 watts of USB Power Delivery, which is sufficient to energy many mid-range Windows laptops, and most MacBooks. The USB-C port gives downstream entry to a pair of USB-A ports. They’re solely USB-A 2.0, although, so that they’re largely there for a wired keyboard and mouse.

That makes the Smart Monitor M9’s connectivity a little bit of a mixture. On the one hand, it gives an excellent number of inputs and USB-C with Power Delivery, which is a must have on a monitor on this value vary. But it’s outclassed by displays just like the HP Omen Transcend 32, which not solely has extra video inputs, but additionally has USB-C with 140 watts of energy. The LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B additionally has a slight benefit, as its USB-A ports are no less than USB 3.0, and it has a 3.5mm audio-out, which the Smart Monitor M9 lacks.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 Smart TV options

The “Smart” within the Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s identify means it ships with Samsung’s Tizen OS, the identical working system discovered on the corporate’s good televisions.

And very similar to on good televisions, Tizen gives entry to an enormous vary of apps and companies. You can watch Netflix or play cloud gaming companies like Amazon Luna, amongst different issues. Put merely: The Smart Monitor M9 is a brilliant TV. In reality, it’s arguably greater than that. It may even entry some productiveness apps, like Microsoft 365, so you can sorta-kinda use the monitor like a computer. You can use the Smart Monitor M9 to manage Samsung SmartIssues units, too.

Remember, although, that as a result of it lacks a TV tuner, the Smart Monitor M9 can’t natively deal with an over-the-air or coaxial cable TV sign.

I shuttle on how Samsung’s Tizen OS compares to LG’s WebOS, discovered on displays just like the LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U, and Google TV OS, discovered on displays just like the MSI Modern MD272UPSW. Tizen OS is definitely the busiest of the three, in no small half as a result of vary of Samsung options which might be built-in (you need to use some Samsung telephones to calibrate the monitor, for instance, although you too can use some iPhones). That’s useful should you’re all-in on the Samsung ecosystem. If not, it will possibly show distracting.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Unfortunately, the good monitor options imply that setup is far more sophisticated than most displays. It’s a multi-step course of that includes Wi-Fi, Samsung accounts, phrases of service, and extra. I completed setup in about 5 minutes, nevertheless it’s positive to bother those that simply desire a monitor to be plug-and-play.

Oh—and what concerning the 4K webcam? It’s an odd inclusion but additionally a pleasant bonus. The webcam is accessible as a plug-and-play digicam for any PC related to the monitor’s USB-C port. That’s useful and, higher nonetheless, each the digicam and microphone array present higher high quality than a run-of-the-mill webcam. It’s not good; the webcam lacks a bodily privateness shutter, and the default field-of-view is unusually huge. Still, it’s good to have should you frequently use a webcam to take video calls at your desk.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 menus and settings

Smart TV options apart, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 gives an honest vary of picture high quality adjustment. There are choices for gamma, coloration temperature, coloration calibration, and several other preset modes that concentrate on particular coloration area.

The menu system is complicated, nevertheless. Samsung inexplicably constrains the menu to a small portion of the show, so there’s not sufficient area to record the complete textual content of some menu gadgets (they as an alternative scroll). I additionally observed that many menu choices, like fine-grain coloration temperature changes, are locked behind particular modes, whereas others are listed but didn’t appear accessible. The monitor’s handbook wasn’t useful, both.

Samsung, like LG, additionally makes the unusual resolution to summon an alternate menu when Game Mode is turned on. The menu is organized in a different way and highlights totally different choices, including to the confusion. Game Mode can be required to entry the 165Hz refresh price.

In abstract: The menu system is a little bit of a large number. The identical can be true of LG webOS good displays, however I believe Samsung’s menu system is perhaps even worse. Both Samsung and LG would do properly to re-think their menu methods. At the very least, can we get a menu massive sufficient to record the complete textual content of the choices on-screen and ditch the bizarre alternate menu system for Game Mode?

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 audio

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 ships with 10-watt audio system that present satisfactory audio. They are clear, crisp, and pleasurable at decrease ranges of quantity, however shortly turn into muddy and harsh as quantity ranges ramp up. I’m actually a bit perplexed as to why Samsung even permits the audio system to turn into as loud as they’ll, as they’re clearly lower than the duty of delivering high quality audio at something above roughly half the speaker’s most quantity.

Despite that, it’s value point out that many rivals don’t even have built-in audio system, and people who do have them are sometimes worse. The HP Omen Transcend 32 has a pair of 3-watt audio system and the Alienware AW3225QF doesn’t have audio system in any respect. The Smart Monitor M9’s audio is ok for much less demanding conditions. For instance, they had been pleasurable when taking part in Rimworld and listening to podcasts on YouTube.

LG’s Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, which has an progressive “Pixel Sound” system, is the one competitor that places the Smart Monitor M9’s audio to disgrace. The LG 32GS95UE-B isn’t a wise monitor, although, and it’s often $100 costlier than the Samsung.  

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 SDR picture high quality

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 in fact has a Samsung QD-OLED panel. QD-OLED is a recognized amount at this level. It constantly gives nice efficiency, a lot in order that I’ve argued it doesn’t really matter which OLED monitor you buy—no less than, not in relation to SDR picture high quality.

The Smart Monitor M9 does little to disprove that time, nevertheless it appears to be like nice. It additionally has a matte show end, which is uncommon for an OLED and can make or break the show for some.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 produced a sustained SDR brightness of 252 nits. As the graph reveals, that’s typical and mid-pack for an OLED monitor, with most falling between 240 and 260 nits. That stage of brightness is ok for indoor use in a room with mild management, nevertheless it may appear dim in a really brightly lit room, or reverse a sunlit window.

With that mentioned, the Smart Monitor M9 has a matte coat, which is uncommon. The coat successfully diffuses reflections, which makes it simpler to see the monitor in vivid rooms, or when a vivid mild supply is reverse the show. On the draw back, although, it’s going to make the monitor appear a bit much less contrast-rich than a shiny various.

I favor a matte coat over shiny, however your opinion could differ, and it’s a key level. The matte show end is perhaps the rationale you select the Smart Monitor M9, or keep away from it, relying in your choice.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

While the matte coat can scale back obvious distinction attributable to the way it diffuses mild throughout the show, the Smart Monitor M9 nonetheless gives the identical infinite distinction ratio as different OLED shows. That’s true as a result of it reached an ideal minimal luminance of zero nits. As a outcome, it gives a wealthy and immersive picture with an excellent sense of dimensionality.

The identical is true of all trendy OLED displays, nevertheless. The distinction ratio, although clearly wonderful, doesn’t set the Smart Monitor M9 other than the pack.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

QD-OLED displays are wonderful in coloration gamut, offering a large coloration gamut that shows many colours. As a outcome, the Smart Monitor M9 can show 100 % of the sRGB coloration gamut, 98 % of DCI-P3, and 94 % of AdobeRGB. The monitor appears to be like vivid and saturated.

However, as soon as once more, the Smart Monitor M9’s wonderful efficiency doesn’t separate it from the pack. All QD-OLED displays have comparable coloration gamut. Monitors with an LG WOLED panel fall a bit behind QD-OLED, although their coloration gamut continues to be stable general.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The Smart Monitor M9 additionally has wonderful coloration accuracy straight out of the field. While eager customers with particular wants could wish to calibrate it to achieve sure requirements, the default picture is exceptionally correct for normal use.

The monitor’s coloration error is extra outstanding in grayscale than it’s in coloration, which contributes to a default gamma curve worth of two.3. That means the picture is a bit darker than meant. It’s a small distinction however would possibly lead to some slight lack of shadow element in uniformly darkish scenes. Color temperature, however, was spot on the goal worth of 6500Okay. That means the picture doesn’t look too heat or too cool.

Sharpness is a perk. The native decision of 3840×2160 works out to about 140 pixels per inch throughout the 31.5-inch OLED panel. Though clearly not as sharp as a 27-inch 4K show, it’s nonetheless a wonderful pixel density that appears sharp in every thing from video games to Microsoft Word.

In abstract, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s SDR picture is precisely as wonderful as anticipated. It performs identically to different QD-OLED displays. The solely main distinction is subjective: the matte show end. Whether you want that, or not, will rely by yourself choice.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 HDR picture high quality

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black licensed. That’s typical for a QD-OLED monitor. However, it seems that HDR brightness is a draw back for the Smart Monitor M9.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

I attempted the Smart Monitor M9 in all obtainable HDR modes, nevertheless it by no means crept a lot greater than 450 nits even in peak highlights. Lighting a bigger space of the show led to even decrease HDR brightness, which is typical for an OLED monitor.

That’s to not say the Smart Monitor M9 appears to be like dangerous in HDR. It nonetheless has the distinction and coloration efficiency wanted to ship a vibrant, saturated, correct picture.

However, the dearth of brightness might be noticeable in vivid HDR highlights. In the Gargantua scene from Interstellar, for instance, I observed much less element within the vivid swirling gasses closest to the black gap. Subtle variations in brightness which might be seen on another OLED displays weren’t seen on the Smart Monitor M9.

On one last be aware, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 does permit brightness adjustment in HDR mode. While more and more frequent, not all displays permit this, as HDR sometimes controls brightness based mostly on content material. For a monitor, nevertheless, full brightness management is preferable, and I’m glad to see the Smart Monitor M9 gives it.

Samsung Smart Monitor M9 movement efficiency

The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 isn’t a gaming monitor, nevertheless it nonetheless gives a good most refresh price of 165Hz.

That’s inferior to 32-inch OLED gaming displays, which are inclined to hit 240Hz, nevertheless it nonetheless gives a serious increase in movement readability over a 60Hz show. Fast-moving objects look crisp and quick digicam pans in 3D video games present respectable element.

The distinction between the Smart Monitor M9’s 165Hz refresh price and a superior 240Hz monitor is most noticeable when viewing small textual content or UI parts. If you’re making an attempt to trace the HP bar or standing icons above an enemy, for instance, it may be a bit harder on the Smart Monitor M9 than on a 240Hz various, just like the HP Omen Transcend 32 or Alienware AW3225QF.

Of course, these alternate options aren’t good displays, so that you’ll have to choose between movement readability and good options.

Adaptive Sync is supported on the Smart Monitor M9, and it even lists official help for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible. That’s nice to see in a monitor that doesn’t invoice itself as a gaming show.

Should you purchase the Samsung Smart Monitor M9?

Samsung’s Smart Monitor M9 is a bundle of perks and disadvantages that make for a complicated suggestion.

The monitor has a complicated menu system, restricted downstream connectivity, and mediocre HDR brightness. However, it additionally packs helpful good TV options, full with distant management, and has a uncommon (for OLED) matte show end that reduces glare and makes the monitor extra viewable in brighter room.

Deciding whether or not the Smart Monitor M9 works for you requires cautious consideration of those perks and issues. It can work as a TV various in small areas, has the colour efficiency for artistic work, and a matte coat that appears nice when writing in Word or looking the online. But in order for you an OLED monitor largely for PC gaming, or HDR leisure, you’ll discover higher efficiency elsewhere.