With Samsung releasing its first 500Hz OLED gaming monitor, I had to give it a go. As a long-time PC gamer, I’ve always gravitated towards competitive games. More specifically, first-person shooters and anything that requires strategy in a team environment.
As modern games increasingly demand more of your gear, upgrading your hardware is inevitable. At some stage, the margin between winning and getting kicked out comes down to the finest of margins. Missing a shot by a single pixel or failing to hit with your ability by a fraction of a second.
With the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6, not only do you get an absurd refresh rate, but it also comes with a bright and vivid 27-inch QD OLED display. What more could a gamer want?
Table of contents
- Specifications and price
- Display quality
- Refresh rate and response time
- Build quality and design
- Performance testing
- Who is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor for?
Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 specifications and price
| Display size | 27 inches |
| Panel type | QD OLED |
| Resolution | 2,560 x 1,440 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Brightness | 300 cd/㎡ |
| Curvature | None (Flat) |
| Refresh rate max | 500Hz |
| Response time | 0.03ms(GTG) |
| Display position adjustments | Tilt Height Swivel Pivot |
| Price | $1,699 |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Official website | Samsung Australia |
Display quality
I have been using this G6 for the past four weeks now as my dedicated gaming monitor, and I am in love. It has far exceeded my expectations. Make no mistake, this is a high-end gaming monitor, so it is hard to compare to my 21-inch, approximately 10-year-old display.
Although the display isn’t 4K, it is still super impressive. A lot of that is because of the QD-OLED panel, a vibrant and colourful display technology. This was most noticeable when playing super-saturated games like Overwatch 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Valorant. With a ratio of 16:9, this QHD screen feels nice and familiar, making it a comfortable transition from other gaming monitors.
Refresh rate and response time
A 500Hz refresh rate is absolutely insane. To be clear, that means the picture is refreshed 500 times a second. I distinctly remember a time when I upgraded my screen to a 144Hz monitor; at the time, it was the benchmark for competitive gaming.
Some of my friends claim a refresh rate so high isn’t something the human eye can detect, so it was somewhat of a pointless upgrade. This debate still rages on, yet there is no doubt in my mind that a sense of smoothness and fluidity is evident when using a monitor with such a high refresh rate. Ultimately, this makes my gaming experience better, and that’s what it’s all about.
To add some perspective to this, the typical refresh rate you will expect to see for competitive gaming is 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz or even 360Hz. 500Hz is a very new thing. So new that it’s only available on a handful of super high-end gaming monitors. Pairing this with a super quick 0.03 ms response time, this monitor blew me away.
Specs are one thing, but a monitor’s overall feel is far more valuable in my eyes. And I can tell you the G6 didn’t disappoint. I will touch on the games I tested a little further down, but I can confidently say that any first-person shooter or high-paced action game will look amazing on this screen. That’s not to say that slower-paced strategy games won’t look great; it’s just that this display was built for speed!
Build quality and design
Visually, this monitor ticks all the boxes. It has a sleek-looking silver design that is slim, modern and minimalistic. The monitor is finished in a real metal casing, which was somewhat of a surprise to me when unboxing it. This metal certainly adds a premium feel. It also comes with a noticeably thin bezel which only adds to what is already a fantastic-looking product. The stand is also very flexible, with the ability to adjust the monitor’s position in any and all directions and tilts.
Around the back, there’s some nice, yet not over-the-top lighting. Samsung’s CoreSync allows you to either choose your lighting or let it match the colours of your on-screen game. It’s a very cool feature that I am sure many gamers will love.
There are also lots of inputs, including a DisplayPort, two HDMI 2.1 ports, two USB Type-A ports, a USB-B port and a headphone port. Basically, everything you would expect on a high-end gaming monitor.
Performance testing
This is where the Samsung Odyssey G6 really pulls ahead of the competition. As touched on earlier, the response time is outstanding, and with a refresh rate that is so mind-blowingly fast, your eyes may be unable to detect it.
Considering the main benefit of a lighting-quick refresh rate is to make fast-paced games seem buttery smooth, my main test game came to mind instantly. That is Overwatch 2. Not only is Overwatch 2 the fastest-paced game I play, but it is also super colourful with a wide range of well-designed and styled levels. A perfect place to test both the G6’s incredible specs and the QD-OLED display.
For those who haven’t played Overwatch 2, it is a team-based hero shooter with over 40 heroes to select from. Each hero has unique abilities, making for an unpredictable and dynamic match. Right away, the vibrant colours present so well on the G6.
Once I was running around and mixing it up with my team in battles and capture-the-point action, the smoothness of the refresh rate is nothing short of remarkable. It truly feels like this is the monitor a game like this was designed for. Something that feels so natural, and it very quickly helped improve my game. It’s almost like I would not be able to go back to my old 144Hz monitor, as I now take for granted the pixel-perfect aiming and silky smooth movement. What a dream monitor this is!
Helldivers 2 was another I tested along the way. It’s a fair bit darker and helped highlight the deep blacks and shadowy landscapes. This much more open game with a far different art style was in complete contrast to Overwatch.
Again, the G6 performed extremely well, especially in those combat scenarios where I was being overwhelmed by a huge dropship of enemies. Not once did I notice the monitor not keeping up with the pace of things. I spent a fair bit of time diving (pun intended) into other games as well, yet these two told the story. Overall, a super impressive monitor across a huge range of games.
Who is the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor for?
This monitor was no doubt built with a specific audience in mind: hardcore competitive gamers. For that reason, the specs are vital in marketing the product. Gamers at the top of the pile are always looking for the next bit of tech that can help them get the edge, and I must say, the Odyssey OLED G6 really delivers. The super high refresh rate and response time will make this gaming monitor the number one item on all FPS gamers’ wishlists.
In terms of the style of games I would recommend this monitor for, I would suggest anything fast-paced. Specifically, first-person shooters with intense battle scenes that require quick reactions.
To be fair, this monitor will work great for any game you choose, yet to get the most out of the ridiculous specs, games like Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2 and Valorant come to mind. Borderlands 4 and Helldivers 2 are also good bets for something a little different.
