Samsung Takes On Apple And LG With Its Own 5K Display For Creative Pros

© Photo: Samsung Viewfinity has an aluminum base and enclosure.

Samsung's 2023 display plans don't just include the Odyssey gaming monitor and a new version of its smart display - the company is directly following Apple and LG with a 27-inch 5K display called the Viewfinity S9. Samsung claims the 5120x2880 IPS display has a matte finish and covers 99% of the wide DCI-P3 color gamut.

ViewFinity S9 supports a wide range of inputs/outputs including HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and DisplayPort. It can charge laptops up to 96W. The sleek design and metal body of the S9 is compatible with Apple's Studio Display and LG's advanced OLED displays. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get an answer at press time if newer Samsung monitors have local dimming. If so, I think they will highlight this feature. So black levels and overall contrast may not be on par with smaller LED and OLED screens. Samsung claims that its "HDR600 improves shadow and highlight detail in the image".

While this screen is aimed at manufacturers, that hasn't stopped Samsung from integrating its Tizen TV operating system into the Viewfinity S9. This way you can access all your usual streaming apps even when the display is not connected to an external device. It comes with a slim 4K webcam that you can attach as needed for video calls, and Samsung says the software will automatically zoom in and intelligently track your subject.

Samsung has tried to simplify the process of calibrating its latest monitor accessories by managing everything through an app on the smartphone. "The built-in color calibration engine ensures accurate color and screen brightness, allowing users to adjust white balance, gamma and RGB color balance with their phone for perfect accuracy via the Samsung app Smart Calibration,” the company wrote in a press release. How it works in practice, we'll have to see for ourselves.

As usual with CES product announcements, Samsung has yet to share pricing details for the Viewfinity S9, but says it will ship "early" this year. The 27-inch Apple Studio Show starts at $1,599 when configured with a standard glossy display. My hunch is that Samsung will undercut it with a great 5K display, but it will be interesting to see how much the prices drop.

Stay tuned for first-hand impressions of the ViewFinity S9 at CES 2023 in Las Vegas this week. The company also announced the SmartMonitor M80C, a minor update to last year's display that comes in new colors and adds an on-screen SmartThings hub and a feature called My Contents that adds photos, timelines, weather, etc. , according to Samsung, will be available in white, pink, blue and green.

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