Samsung Odyssey 3D (G90XF) Review: Ultimate Gaming Experience

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-04-25 09:11:19

Discover the Samsung Odyssey 3D (G90XF) in our in-depth review. Uncover its features, performance, and why it's a top choice for gamers.
The Samsung Odyssey 3D (G90XF) emerges as a bold contender in the gaming monitor arena, particularly within the niche of glasses-free 3D technology. While previous iterations of this technology have often been relegated to specialized professional displays or felt like a gimmick, the Odyssey 3D aims to bring a true 4K, no-glasses 3D experience to mainstream PC gaming. Priced at a premium of $1,999, this 27-inch monitor boasts an impressive array of features, though its high cost and the currently limited selection of compatible games warrant a thorough examination.

Samsung Odyssey 3D (G90XF) Review

Unveiling the Specifications: A Look Under the Hood

The Odyssey 3D, identified by the model number G90XF, presents a sleek aesthetic with its "Mercury Silver" all-silver chassis. The 27-inch panel, measured diagonally, offers a native resolution of 3840 by 2160 pixels, adhering to the 4K Ultra HD standard and maintaining a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. Samsung has opted for an IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen technology for this display, a departure from the increasingly popular OLED panels found in many premium gaming monitors like the Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED (AW2725Q) and the LG 27 UltraGear OLED (27GX790A). While IPS panels might not achieve the same level of vibrant colors and deep blacks as OLED, they offer significant advantages in terms of wider viewing angles, accurate color reproduction, and a resistance to screen burn-in, often at a more competitive manufacturing cost. The rated screen luminance for the Odyssey 3D stands at 350 nits.The monitor is supported by a wide and stable stand that provides a comprehensive range of ergonomic adjustments, including height adjustment, pivot functionality (allowing rotation between landscape and portrait modes), and tilt, enabling users to find their optimal viewing position. However, it notably lacks swivel adjustment, which might be a consideration for some users with specific desk setups. Adding a touch of ambient lighting, a strip of RGB LEDs is integrated just below the monitor's bezel. This lighting feature can dynamically react to and complement the colors displayed on the screen, enhancing the immersive experience.In terms of connectivity, the rear of the Odyssey 3D features an outward-facing port cluster, a design praised for its ease of cable management. This array includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, catering to the latest generation of gaming consoles and high-bandwidth video signals. Additionally, it offers two USB-A ports for connecting peripherals, a USB-B upstream connector which is essential for enabling the 3D functionality and communication with Samsung's Reality Hub software, a convenient headphone jack for audio output, and a single DisplayPort 1.4 input for PC connectivity. While the inclusion of a headphone jack and the above-average sound quality of the built-in speakers are commendable, the monitor's port selection is somewhat limited. The absence of a USB-C connector, which is increasingly prevalent for both display and peripheral connectivity, is a notable omission. Furthermore, the lack of support for DisplayPort 2.1, the newest display interface standard offering significantly higher bandwidth, might seem surprising for a premium monitor. However, the review suggests that Samsung's recommendation to utilize the HDMI port for the optimal 3D experience might mitigate the perceived relevance of DisplayPort 2.1 in this specific context.

The Magic of Glasses-Free 3D: Technology and Implementation

For years, 3D technology in consumerelectronics has been associated with cumbersome glasses, amusement parkgimmicks, and a feature often quickly disabled by users. However, recent advancements have expanded its utility beyond mere entertainment,finding applications in fields like industrial training, engineering,and architecture. Samsung, with the Odyssey 3D, clearly believes in thetechnology's potential to elevate the home entertainment experience,particularly for PC gaming.

The core of the Odyssey 3D's groundbreaking capability lies in a sophisticated combination of eye-tracking technology, a proprietary lenticular lens integrated into the display, and intricate view-mapping algorithms. This synergy allows the monitor to create a stereoscopic 3D image that, unlike earlier implementations, aims to provide a comfortable andimmersive experience without the need for specialized glasses. For thistechnology to function effectively, the user must be positioned directly in front of the monitor, ensuring that their eyes are roughly at thesame level as the integrated lenses. A crucial step in enabling the 3Dis connecting the user's computer to the USB-B port onthe monitor, which facilitates the necessary data transfer for theeye-tracking and 3D rendering processes. Furthermore, users are required to download and install Samsung's Reality Hub app, which acts as a central interface for managing compatible games and the 3D settings.

Reality Hub: Your Portal to 3D Gaming

The Reality Hub application serves as a relatively straightforward game launcher. Uponopening, the app intelligently scans the user's computer for games thatare compatible with the Odyssey 3D's glasses-free 3D technology.Importantly, the platform on which the game was purchased is irrelevant; whether it resides on Steam, the Epic Games Store, or another digitalstorefront, if it's compatible, it should seamlessly integrate with the3D monitor. The Reality Hub presents these compatible games in an easily navigable format, offering both a list view and a grid view forconvenient access. Samsung has emphasized its ongoing collaboration with major game developers to expand the library of titles that offertailored 3D experiences on the Odyssey 3D. The first fruits of thesecollaborations include The First Berserker: Khazan,which is visually highlighted with a gold ribbon within the Reality Hubto denote its optimized 3D integration. Samsung has also indicated that Lies of P will receive similar dedicated 3D treatment in the future, although atthe time of the review, it lacked the gold ribbon designation.

For games co-developed with Samsung, the 3D settings are seamlesslyintegrated directly into the game's own settings menu, typicallyaccessible within the Display or Graphics sections. This contrasts withthe broader range of simply compatible games, for which a small 3D overlay appears in the top right corner of the screen. This overlay providesquick access shortcuts to adjust the intensity of two key 3D parameters: 3D Pop-Out, which controls the degree to which elements appear to leap out of the screen, and 3D Depth, which manipulates the sense of distance and layering within the 3Dscene. During initial hands-on testing, the reviewer noted a potentialissue where the default shortcut keys for the Reality Hub overlaysometimes clashed with important in-game controls, leading to awkwardadjustments. However, it was subsequently confirmed that these shortcuts are indeed customizable within the Reality Hub application, addressingthis initial concern.

Benchmarking and Gaming Performance: A 3D-Centric Evaluation

Beyond its unique 3D capabilities, the Samsung Odyssey 3D was subjected to acomprehensive suite of benchmark tests to evaluate its fundamentaldisplay performance. Color gamut, brightness, and contrast ratio weremeticulously measured using Calman monitor calibration software and aKlein K-10A colorimeter. Additionally, real-world gaming performance,particularly within the 3D mode, and input lag were assessed through aseries of gaming sessions and the Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester.Unfortunately, HDR brightness could not be measured due to an issue with the testing equipment.

In theinitial brightness test, conducted under the monitor's default gamingprofile with an SDR signal, the Odyssey 3D achieved an averagebrightness of 328 nits. This figure is slightly belowthe monitor's rated maximum brightness of 350 nits but still surpassesthe brightness levels observed in many recent OLED monitors, includingSamsung's own Odyssey OLED G8.

Moving to color gamut performance, the Odyssey 3D demonstrated impressive coverage, spanning 99.6% of the sRGB color gamut, 84.1% of Adobe RGB, and 91% of DCI-P3 in the conducted tests. These results indicate a wide color rangesuitable for both gaming and content creation. The monitor is rated for a peak contrast ratio of 1,000:1. In the testing, a contrast ratio of 1,376:1 was measured, which is considered excellent performance for an IPSpanel, known for typically having lower contrast compared to VA or OLEDtechnologies.

To quantify themonitor's responsiveness, input lag was measured using the Leo Bodnar 4K Input Lag Tester at various resolutions and refresh rates. At both 4K/60Hz and 1080p/60Hz, the Odyssey 3D recorded a low input lag of 9.2 milliseconds (ms). Switching to 1440p/60Hz resulted in a slightly higher input lag of 11.1ms. While the Bodnar tester does not support testing at the monitor'smaximum refresh rate of 165Hz, input lag was measured at 120Hz. At 1080p/120Hz, a commendable input lag of 5ms was observed, while at 1440p/120Hz, it increased to 18.4ms. Generally, an input lag of 16ms or less is considered playable forcasual gaming at 60Hz. While competitive gamers often seek even lowerinput lag found in dedicated esports monitors, the overall takeaway isthat the Odyssey 3D does not significantly compromise quick responsetimes in its pursuit of glasses-free 3D. Furthermore, the monitorsupports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and is Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, technologies that effectively reduce screen tearing, stuttering, andinput lag when paired with compatible high-end graphics cards.

The ad hoc game testing for the Odyssey 3D was uniquely focused on the 3Dexperience. At launch, Samsung confirmed a limited but intriguing listof 3D-compatible titles, including: Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch, Grand Theft Auto:The Trilogy—Definitive Edition, Little Nightmares II, Palworld, TheSmurfs: Dreams, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, Stray, andWigmund. Samsung has stated that they aim to have fifty titlescompatible by the end of the year, with forthcoming additions includingDarksiders Genesis, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Octopath Traveler, andPsychonauts 2. Notably, the initially compatible games share a commoncharacteristic: they were all developed using Unreal Engine 4. Samsung has confirmed that the monitor's 3D support will initially beexclusive to games developed in this engine, with no confirmation yetregarding support for games built in the newer Unreal Engine 5.

To ensure optimal testing of the 3D capabilities, the reviewer utilized ahigh-end Alienware Area-51 (2025) desktop equipped with an Intel CoreUltra 9 285K processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card, and64GB of RAM. Samsung provided testing codes for Palworld and SpongeBobSquarePants: The Cosmic Shake. After confirming the ability to remap the Reality Hub overlay shortcuts, the reviewer spent time exploring theopening hours of Palworld in full 3D and found the effect to beimpressive, although inherently difficult to capture in video orphotographs. Similar positive impressions were noted while playingSpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, with its colorful visualstranslating well into the 3D experience. Text boxes remained legible,and after a brief adjustment period, no significant eye strain wasexperienced, even with slight side-to-side head movements. While are-evaluation of The First Berserker: Khazan was not possible for thisreview, the reviewer's prior hands-on experience at Samsung's facilityleft a strong positive impression regarding the game's 3D depth and thelack of apparent visual compromises. Overall, the tested games performed well in 3D without inducing significant eye fatigue. However, thelimited number of games co-developed with Samsung for maximumcompatibility remains a key consideration, suggesting that purchasingthis monitor currently leans heavily on the promise of future expandedsupport.

Media Playback Performance: 2D to 3D Conversion

Beyond gaming, the Odyssey 3D incorporates artificial intelligence to transform compatible 2D video content into a simulated 3D experience. The reviewer tested this feature with various movie and game trailers,as well as music videos. While the effect was noted as impressive, itdid not reach the same level of immersion as playing games specificallydesigned for 3D. The 2D-to-3D conversion also comes with severallimitations: HDR (High Dynamic Range) is not supported, playback must be in fullscreen mode, and the effect cannot be applied to content with digital rights management (DRM) enabled.

The lack of DRM support is a particularly significant limitation, asdemonstrated by the reviewer's inability to apply the 3D effect to afree Hollywood movie on YouTube, resulting in a black screen. Thereviewer suggests that offering a library of movies optimized for this3D conversion, similar to the co-developed games, might enhance thefeature's utility. Currently, the 2D-to-3D conversion is characterizedas a "fun party trick" rather than a core functional strength.Furthermore, utilizing the 3D video conversion feature has specifichardware requirements, necessitating an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU or higher (or an equivalent AMD GPU), along with an Intel Core i7 or higher (or an AMD Ryzen 7 1700X or higher) processor and 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM.

Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future of 3D Gaming

The Samsung Odyssey 3D (G90XF) represents a significant step forward inglasses-free 3D gaming technology, delivering an undeniably impressivestereoscopic experience within its currently restricted ecosystem ofcompatible titles. Its robust specifications, including a sharp 4K IPSpanel, excellent contrast for its panel type, and low input lag,contribute to a solid foundation for both 2D and 3D gaming. However, the monitor's premium $1,999 price tag is a substantial investment, largely justified by the innovative 3D capabilities. The current limitations in the number of games optimized for its 3D technology and the caveatsassociated with its 2D-to-3D conversion feature are crucialconsiderations for potential buyers. Ultimately, the Samsung Odyssey 3Dappears to be a compelling option for early adopters and enthusiasts who are eager to embrace the potential of glasses-free 3D gaming and arewilling to invest in a technology that promises to evolve with futuresoftware support and game development. For the broader gaming market,the Odyssey 3D's appeal currently hinges on the anticipated expansion of its 3D-compatible game library.

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