Samsung’s 55-inch Odyssey Ark: Taking gaming monitors to a whole new dimension

2022 has been an ideal 12 months for displays. We’ve already gotten the world’s first QD-OLED monitor from Alienware with one other on the best way from MSI. And earlier this summer season, Sony joined the fray with its new Inzone model of gaming {hardware}. However now, Samsung is taking issues to an entire new stage with the Odyssey Ark.

Boasting an enormous quantum mini LED panel with a 1000R curve, the Ark delivers an immersive expertise with nice visuals and surprisingly good sound. Not solely does Samsung declare that the Ark is the world’s first 55-inch monitor with a 4K decision, 165 Hz refresh fee and a 1ms response time, you additionally get assist for HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. And whereas the sound on many displays is usually an afterthought (assuming they’ll even output something in any respect), the Ark incorporates a complete of six audio system: one in every nook and two woofers in again. And when mixed Samsung says the Ark’s audio system have been designed to create a dome of sound.

And now, after getting the prospect to verify this factor out in individual, I can say this monitor is not like anything available on the market. Even in comparison with different ultrawide shows, the Ark’s dimensions enable it to wrap round you want some kind of high-tech cocoon. Colours are wealthy and, because of its matte end, you don’t have to fret about reflections ruining your graphics. The monitor additionally helps AMD FreeSync Premium Professional for VRR, so you will get one of the best efficiency regardless for those who’re gaming on a console or a PC. And when you received’t see pure blacks such as you would with an OLED show, Samsung says the Ark’s distinction is 4 instances higher than its previous-gen displays.

In the meantime, to make controlling the Ark straightforward, Samsung contains not one however two remotes, each of which have built-in photo voltaic panels so that you don’t have to fret about preserving them charged. The primary distant is much like what you’d get with a TV, however the one which feels a bit extra particular is the wi-fi Ark Dial. It enables you to rapidly change video settings, modify quantity and swap between the monitor’s particular show modes. It’s tremendous straightforward to make use of, and better of all, it means you don’t have to achieve round again and fumble with hidden buttons or a joystick such as you do with a whole lot of rival displays.

The most effective factor in regards to the Ark is all of the modes and options Samsung included that will help you get probably the most out of this big panel. First, there’s Flex Transfer Display screen, which lets you modify the scale of your content material and transfer it round, , in case you don’t want the Ark’s full 55 inches. There’s additionally Samsung’s Gaming Hub which helps sport streaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia natively. You even get RGB lighting on the again, not that you would be able to actually see it with so muchscreen between you and the rear of the show.

However my favourite factor is the Multi View mode, which helps you to have as much as three totally different apps open without delay, together with the power to maneuver and resize home windows nevertheless you want. Meaning you’ll be able to sport whereas having a film and social media on the facet, or you’ll be able to double up by having two video games open plus YouTube, or principally something in between. And if there’s a format you significantly like, it can save you that association so subsequent time, you’ll be able to open every little thing up with a single press. The one caveat is that resulting from a limitation of HDMI, you’ll be able to solely show content material from the Ark’s built-in apps and one exterior system on the similar time. So when you can have a console and a PC plugged in on the similar time because of assist for 4 HDMI ports (all of that are HDMI 2.1), you’ll be able to’t output content material from each concurrently.

Lastly, there’s the Ark’s particular transfer, which is having the ability to rotate into portrait orientation, or as Samsung calls it, Cockpit mode. You continue to get assist for the entire monitor’s options like Multi View and Flex Transfer, however now on a show that curves up and over your head. And what, it actually does really feel such as you’re sitting within the pilot’s seat on a airplane. My solely remorse is that I want I may have put in a shoot ‘em up like Ikaruga, so I may actually reap the benefits of the Ark’s verticality in Cockpit mode. And in order for you an enormous new show however don’t have a ton of desk area, Samsung even features a VESA wall mount within the field.

That stated, beginning at $3,500, the Odyssey Ark is a giant monetary dedication for anybody. But when not one of the different displays launched this 12 months are large enough for you, Samsung’s new flagship gaming monitor may very well be the huge centerpiece your house battle station wants.

Pre-orders for the Odyssey Ark begin in the present day, earlier than gross sales formally go stay someday in early September.

[Update 8/22/22] Samsung has supplied up to date pre-order data for the Ark. The corporate says prospects who reserve the Ark will obtain $100 off its common $3,499.99 value, and anybody who pre-orders will get an extra $200 e-certificate on Samsung.com to be used on another product apart from the Ark.