Just ahead of their official India launch, Samsung invited me for an exclusive hands-on session with their latest and most futuristic gaming monitors: the Samsung Odyssey 3D and the Odyssey OLED G8. I spent around 20–30 minutes with both displays, and while the OLED G8 was every bit the showstopper it promised to be, my eyes (and honestly, my brain too) were mostly glued to the Odyssey 3D. Why? Well, it’s not every day a monitor makes eye contact with you… and literally follows your every move. Oh, and did I mention it delivers a full-on 3D experience without the need for glasses?
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Odyssey 3D – The Tech Behind the Magic
At first glance, the Odyssey 3D (G90XF) looks like any other premium Samsung monitor—sleek design, clean lines, and a sturdy stand. It’s not an OLED, but instead features an IPS panel. That said, Samsung’s packed so much intelligent tech into this thing, it easily stands out from the crowd.
The real wizardry lies in its eye-tracking system, paired with view-mapping algorithms. And let me tell you—it works like a charm. As I leaned forward or shifted to the side, the 3D perspective shifted naturally with me. It genuinely felt like I was peering through a window into another world, rather than staring at a regular screen.
Of course, the 3D magic is designed for solo use, since it only tracks one viewer at a time, which makes sense since the camera and AI are focused directly on your face. So, no split-screen multiplayer with shared 3D effects. But as a single-player experience, it’s nothing short of mind-blowing. In fact, here’s where it gets really clever. The content you’re viewing doesn’t even need to be natively 3D. The moment an app switches to full screen, a prompt pops up, giving you the option to let the system know whether the content playing is 2D or 3D side-by-side. Based on your selection, the system automatically adjusts the visuals with depth-mapping magic, thus delivering a 3D experience without any glasses required.
Even watching a casual trailer or a YouTube video felt different when toggled to 3D—like the content had suddenly gained layers and depth. That said, the real wow factor kicked in when I tried a native 3D title—The First Berserker: Khazan, which Samsung is co-developing with Nexon to showcase this tech. The environments felt more alive, with a noticeable sense of space and distance that traditional 2D simply can’t replicate.
Connectivity & Performance
To ensure proper 3D syncing and eye-tracking, the monitor must be connected directly to your PC using the USB Type-B upstream port. The good news? You also get two USB-A downstream ports to plug in other peripherals. For display, there are Dual HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4, about what you’d expect from a premium gaming monitor.
When it comes to gaming performance, the Odyssey 3D isn’t just about gimmicks. With a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync support, it delivers fast, smooth, and stutter-free gameplay. I didn’t experience any lag or visual hiccups during my brief session. The built-in Spatial Audio speakers were a pleasant surprise, too, and they are good enough to skip the headset for casual gaming. And yes, Edge Lighting makes an appearance, adding a subtle ambient glow to further enhance immersion.
Pricing and Value
When I tried the Odyssey 3D, pricing hadn’t yet been revealed for the Indian market. But considering it had launched in the U.S. for $1,999 (~Rs 1.7 lakhs), I braced myself for a similar figure. So imagine my surprise when Samsung announced the India price at Rs. 1,27,999, which is significantly more competitive!
That said, it still lands squarely in the enthusiast territory. Most casual gamers probably won’t see it as a must-buy. But if you’re someone who craves bleeding-edge tech and wants a true standout piece in your gaming setup, this is it. It’s bold, futuristic, and genuinely one of a kind. It may not be for everyone, but it certainly gives us a glimpse into what gaming displays might look like in the near future.
Odyssey OLED G8 – The Powerhouse for the People
Right next to the 3D marvel sat the Odyssey OLED G8, and while it didn’t have eye-tracking wizardry, it still managed to hold its own with sheer performance and polish. I got to try out the 32-inch model, and it was absolutely stunning.
Samsung’s Quantum Dot OLED panel delivers everything you’d expect and more: deep, inky blacks, vibrant colours, and buttery-smooth motion. With a 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, this display feels like it was built for serious competitive gaming and cinematic single-player adventures alike.
The brightness, clarity, and colour vibrancy are all enhanced thanks to the VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400 certification, which helps maintain high contrast even at lower brightness levels. And the glare-free coating? Game-changer. Despite the overhead lights in the demo room, I barely noticed any reflections. Instead, there were just crisp, uninterrupted visuals.
OLED lovers (and worriers) will be happy to hear that Samsung’s pulled out all the stops to prevent burn-in. The OLED Safeguard+ tech features a Dynamic Cooling System with a Pulsating Heat Pipe—a first in a gaming monitor—to help maintain panel longevity and temperature control.
Design-wise, the OLED G8 is clean, sharp, and undeniably premium. The slim metallic chassis, ergonomic stand, and Core Lighting+ system make it a solid fit for modern setups. Whether mounted or desk-bound, it oozes sophistication with a subtle gaming flair.
You get two size options here—27-inch priced at ₹91,299 and 32-inch at ₹1,18,999. While still on the premium side, the pricing feels much more accessible compared to the Odyssey 3D. If you’re after top-tier image quality, ultra-fast response, and versatility across both gaming and work, this one’s the real MVP.
Final Thoughts
Honestly? Both of these monitors are incredible in their own right, and it really depends on what kind of gamer you are. If you love being on the bleeding edge and want to try something truly next-gen and experimental, the Odyssey 3D is like owning a concept car. But if you’re after pure performance, better panel quality, and practical use across gaming and productivity, then the Odyssey OLED G8 is a no-brainer. It’s the kind of monitor you’ll not only admire on your desk but also use confidently for years.
That said, these are still early impressions based on a quick demo. The real test will come once we get these monitors on our test bench and dive into calibration, real-world gameplay, and day-to-day usage. Make sure to stay tuned to 91Mobiles for when our full review goes live.
