The Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor is one of the most popular and highly-rated gaming monitors currently available. With its curved QLED panel, ultra-fast refresh rates, and Nvidia G-Sync/AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, it offers an incredibly immersive and responsive gaming experience.
In this Samsung Odyssey G7 review for 2024, we’ll take an in-depth look at the features, performance, design and setup of this gaming monitor to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your gaming rig.
Overview of the Samsung Odyssey G7 Gaming Monitor
The Odyssey G7 comes in 27-inch and 32-inch screen sizes with a 1000R curvature and QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution. It features a VA panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, 600 nits peak brightness with DisplayHDR 600 support, and is Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified for variable refresh rate support.
Some of the key specs and features of the Odyssey G7 include:
- 27 or 32 inch screen sizes
- 2500R curved VA panel
- QHD 2560 x 1440 resolution
- Up to 240Hz refresh rate
- 1ms GTG response time
- VESA DisplayHDR 600 (32-inch model)
- 600 nits peak brightness
- 2500:1 contrast ratio
- Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support
- Low input lag
- Tilt, height and swivel adjustment
- RGB lighting on the back
- 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB ports
Samsung Odyssey G7 Review: Design and Setup
The design of the Odyssey G7 gaming monitor screams “gamer” with its aggressive angular stand, futuristic looking back with RGB lighting, and tightly curved screen. The build quality is excellent with an all metal and high quality matte plastic construction.
The 32-inch model weighs in at 29 pounds while the 27-inch version is slightly lighter at 24 pounds. The stand provides tilt, height and swivel adjustments but no option to rotate to portrait orientation. There is a hole for VESA mount compatibility to use your own monitor arm if desired.
Setting up the G7 is straightforward — the base attaches easily to the stand with a simple click and screw method. The provided cables include DisplayPort, USB and power.
The on screen display menu is controlled by a large directional joystick at the back of the monitor. It provides quick access shortcuts as well as full menu access for the various settings such as game mode presets, brightness/contrast, color settings etc.
One minor gripe is that the RGB lighting on the back can only be controlled through installing the G-Menu software on your PC as there are no controls for it through the monitor itself.
Samsung Odyssey G7 Review: Gaming Performance
This is where the Samsung Odyssey G7 really shines. Its combination of the 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time speed, variable refresh rate support from G-Sync/FreeSync Premium Pro, and the curved immersive screen makes for an extremely responsive and smooth gaming experience.
The 27-inch WQHD resolution and 32-inch screen size also provide the ideal balance between high pixel density for sharp details and large on screen real estate for immersion. The G7 handles fast motion extremely well with hardly any ghosting or motion blur thanks to the VA panel’s quick pixel transition times.
It supports HDR content and has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification for good HDR performance. However, since it lacks any meaningful local dimming, the HDR experience is not as good as monitors with full array local dimming or OLED panels. For predominantly SDR gaming, the image quality is excellent with the QLED VA panel providing vibrant colors and deep blacks.
Gaming with variable refresh rate enabled through G-Sync or FreeSync Premium Pro allows for smooth gameplay free from stuttering and screen tearing. The G7 has an extremely low input lag of around 5ms, ensuring reactive and responsive controls. It also supports black frame insertion at 120Hz for added motion clarity.
Overall, if you have a powerful gaming system that can push high frame rates, the Samsung Odyssey G7 will provide you with an incredible fast and immersive big screen gaming experience.
Samsung Odyssey G7 Review for Work and Multimedia Use
Besides gaming, the G7 works equally well for work use and watching movies/videos. Its ergonomic stand with extensive height/tilt adjustment provides optimal positioning for work.
The 27-inch and 32-inch sizes are perfectly suited for productivity tasks and the QHD resolution delivers sharp details for text and images. Having PBP (picture-by-picture) and PIP (picture-in-picture) modes allow you to view from two input sources simultaneously. The VA panel provides good viewing angles and color accuracy after calibration.
For watching movies or videos, the G7 provides an engaging viewing experience thanks to the curved screen and excellent contrast. HDR content looks good although a bit dimmer compared to monitors with better HDR capabilities. The speakers are basic 2W stereo but do the job for casual listening.
Overall, in addition to gaming, the versatile Samsung Odyssey G7 is equally capable as an all-round monitor for mixed usage.
Setup and Calibration Tips for the Samsung Odyssey G7
Here are some important setup and calibration tips to get the best picture quality from your Samsung Odyssey G7 monitor:
- Install the latest firmware — Samsung occasionally releases firmware updates to fix bugs and improve performance. Install the latest one for your G7 model.
- Use DisplayPort for maximum performance — Only the DisplayPort input supports the highest 240Hz refresh rate. For 4K resolution, use the HDMI port.
- Enable VRR mode for G-Sync/FreeSync — Set up G-Sync or FreeSync Premium Pro for variable refresh rate support based on your system’s GPU.
- Try different color profiles — The default picture mode is tuned for bright lighting. Try switching to Custom or sRGB mode for better color accuracy.
- Calibrate colors with a colorimeter — For the most accurate color reproduction, use a hardware color calibration tool like the X-Rite i1Display Pro.
- Adjust black equalizer setting — Boost the black equalizer to brighten dark areas and shadows in games without overexposing the rest of the image.
- Update graphics drivers — Keeping your Nvidia or AMD graphics drivers updated can improve performance and compatibility.
- Position monitor for ideal ergonomics — Place the monitor directly in front of you about an arm’s length away and at eye level for best posture.
Samsung Odyssey G7 Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely fast 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time
- Smooth G-Sync/FreeSync variable refresh rate support
- Great motion handling with almost no blurring or ghosting
- Excellent image quality with vibrant, accurate colors
- High contrast ratio and deep blacks thanks to VA panel
- Aggressive futuristic design ideal for gaming
- Ergonomic stand with extensive tilt, swivel and height adjust
Cons
- Curved screen may not suit all users
- Basic HDR performance — no local dimming
- Mediocre built-in speakers
- RGB lighting can’t be controlled through monitor
- No pivot to portrait mode with stand
FAQs about the Samsung Odyssey G7 Gaming Monitor
Is the Samsung Odyssey G7 worth buying?
With its blazing fast refresh rate, extremely low response times, variable refresh rate support and gorgeous QLED picture quality, the Odyssey G7 delivers an exceptional gaming experience. For those looking for a high-performance gaming monitor it is definitely worth the investment.
Is the Odyssey G7 good for competitive gaming?
Thanks to its insanely fast refresh rate, flawless motion handling and low input lag, the Odyssey G7 is one of the best gaming monitors suited for competitive gaming and eSports titles like CS:GO, Valorant, Apex Legends etc. It will give you an edge over the competition.
Can the Odyssey G7 support 4K resolution?
No, the highest resolution the G7 supports is 2560 x 1440 (1440p or QHD). For a 4K Samsung gaming monitor you would need to look at the higher-end Odyssey Neo G8 or Neo G9 models.
What sizes is the Odyssey G7 available in?
Samsung offers the Odyssey G7 gaming monitor in two sizes — 27-inch and 32-inch screen variants. The 27-inch is the C27G75T model while the 32-inch version is the C32G75T model.
Is the Odyssey G7 good for PS5 or Xbox Series X?
Yes, thanks to the HDMI 2.1 ports the Odyssey G7 works great with the PS5, Xbox Series X and other next-gen consoles. It supports up to 1440p @ 120Hz with VRR enabled for super smooth gaming.
Does the Odyssey G7 support HDR?
The Odyssey G7 has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification.