Is it just us, or does it feel like Samsung and LG engineers feel the need to scam each other every year with something consumers probably don’t need; we were a little stunned by the new one last week LG 43-inch Bendable LX3 OLED 4K Flex TV — and that just makes us more cynical about the new Samsung Odyssey Ark.
A curved 55-inch 4K gaming TV that rotates. For $3,495.95 USD.
Does the Odyssey Ark package contain two TVs? That’s a biblical joke for those who failed Hebrew or Sunday school.
We were so excited about both releases that we conducted an informal poll of 13 gamers; including my 16 year old son who spends at least 24 hours a week on his game station and some of his friends from nearby and overseas who battle it out every night after doing their homework.
These kids already use 42″+ TVs, gaming chairs, gaming headsets from companies like Audeze and Beyerdynamic, and spend hundreds of dollars on all kinds of add-ons to improve their favorite games.
After they circulated the press release on their smartphones, the majority wanted to know who could afford a $3,495 TV or how it would fit on their desktop, or who had parents who would let them replace their existing TV with this?
Three of the respondents admitted to using multiple 27″ screens on their desks in their bedrooms, but couldn’t imagine sitting this close to a 55″ curved screen without feeling slightly claustrophobic or eyestrain.
LG’s LX3 OLED Flex TV seemed more reasonable to most respondents, but only if the price was below $2,000 USD – which is rather unlikely and LG hasn’t confirmed a price yet.
The LX3 is a 4K, 120Hz OLED panel that works well with Dolby Vision HDR and offers some of the features gamers demand, including support for HDMi 2.1, a variable refresh rate and a low latency mode for those who play on game consoles.
PC games are not left out in the floodwaters by LG as the LX3 offers all of the above features along with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync.
So what do you get with the Samsung Odyssey Ark for $3,495?
Let’s let the animals… I mean put kids to sleep and take a look.
the skinny one
The Samsung Odyssey Ark represents a bold new direction for gaming: its rotating 55-inch curved 4K display delivers an immersive, cinematic gaming experience for console and PC gamers.
The large 1000R curved screen wraps around a gamer’s field of view, filling their peripheral vision for next-level immersion. This is further emphasized by Odyssey Ark’s Cockpit Mode, which allows the screen to rotate vertically for a whole new gaming and multitasking experience.
The design and size of the screen allow gamers to view three (or four) different screens at once.
To create a cinematic gaming experience, Odyssey Ark uses Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Matrix Technology Mini LED technology that provides precise light expressions and detailed HDR control for superior 4K image quality. Odyssey Ark’s matte display protects against glare and reflection, minimizes distraction and keeps users focused on the content in front of them.
The screen features Sound Dome Tech with Dolby Atmos, AI Sound Booster and Quad Object Tracking Sound (OTS), providing surround sound for all entertainment purposes.
The box itself has four HDMI ports, USB ports and an Ethernet port for those who prefer a wired connection rather than using the built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.
Samsung didn’t include DisplayPort, which might seem odd for a PC monitor. However, the HDMI 2.1 ports can handle game consoles at 4K and 120Hz and PC games at even higher refresh rates.
Looking through the specs, it seems you’re limited to using one HDMI source at a time; meaning you can play a game, watch TV, read a spreadsheet and surf.
Can people really do all those things at once?
Vertical mode has little practical application at work, but we can see the appeal of gaming, although having to look up all the time can cause serious neck strain.
Gamers will probably look closely at this one, but the $3,495 asking price makes this a very niche product.
Where to buy: $3,499 at Amazon | Best Buy (USD) — Available September 12, 2022.
$3,999 at Amazon.ca | BestBuy.ca (CAD)
0 Comments