Announced back at CES, Samsung's highly anticipated Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) is now available for pre-order at $1,300. Early birds who pre-order from Amazon, Best Buy, or Newegg will receive a $300 gift card, effectively reducing the monitor's price to $1,000. This pricing makes it competitive against similarly specced monitors like the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UCDM (currently $1,200 on Amazon) and MSI MPG 272URX (currently $1,100 on Newegg).
The Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) launches on April 22 as Samsung's first 27-inch 4K OLED monitor. Packing a fresh Gen 4 QD-OLED panel, it's a step up from last year's G80SD, but might be a downgrade for some users.
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Still, if you're hunting for a premium OLED gaming beast, the combo of 240Hz, a blistering 0.03ms response, FreeSync, and that sweet OLED picture quality should put this monitor on your radar, especially if you prefer smaller 27-inch monitors.
Same Epic OLED Power, Now In A 27-Inch Samsung Frame
Samsung has an impressive lineup of OLED gaming monitors, including the gorgeous Odyssey QD-OLED G8 (G80SD). However, until this year, their 4K OLED offerings were limited to 32 inches, leaving 27-inch fans with only 1440p options. The upcoming Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) is the first monitor to bridge this gap and is one of the 27-inch 4K 240Hz monitors announced back at CES.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF Specifications
- Display: 27-inch, 4K (3840x2160), 166 PPI
- 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time
- VRR: FreeSync Premium Pro and G-SYNC Compatible
- Glare-Free technology
- VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400
- Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, and Headphone Jack
Offering 4K resolution at 27 inches, the Odyssey OLED G81SF boasts a higher pixel density (166 PPI vs. 138 PPI), delivering crisper text and sharper images compared to 32-inch monitors. This translates to significantly more detail in games and also makes text easier to read, making it ideal for both gaming and productivity tasks like programming.
Another major upgrade is the new and improved anti-glare coating, which Samsung claims "makes your screen 54% less glossy than conventional Anti-Reflection film."
However, the G81SF lost the built-in speakers and Smart TV features found in the G80SD, which could be a deal-breaker for some. Many users appreciate the ability to seamlessly switch between monitor and TV modes, as well as the included remote, which makes it easier to navigate the OSD.
If these features matter to you, the new G81SF might be a downgrade, especially since the 32-inch G80SD is available at around the same price point.
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Samsung does offer a 32-inch version of the G81SF, but it uses the same panel as the older G80SD. For those who want the best picture quality, even in bright environments, the 27-inch G81SF stands out as a top choice.
Its QD-OLED panel delivers rich, saturated colors, and the enhanced anti-glare coating makes it exceptionally suitable for bright rooms. In addition, with the current $300 pre-order gift card promotion, the G81SF undercuts the competition by hundreds of dollars.
If you need DisplayPort 2.1, you'll need to consider the ASUS ROG Swift PG27UCDM or MSI MPG 272URX instead, as the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF) still uses DisplayPort 1.4.