Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF Monitor Review

Of course, there are plenty of hurdles to 3D monitors taking off, and the Odyssey 3D G90XF certainly isn't cheap. Does this 3D monitor usher in a whole new world of 3D gaming? Or should you wait a little to see how 3D plays out in the PC gaming world.

About the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF Monitor

• Display size: 27 inches
• Resolution: 4K (3,840 x 2,160)
• Display type: IPS
• Refresh rate: 165Hz
• Typical brightness: 350 cd/m2
• HDR support: HDR10, HDR10+
• Color depth: 10-bit
• Contrast ratio: 1000:1
• Ports: DisplayPort 1.4 (1), HDMI 2.1 (2), USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 (2)
• VRR support: G-Sync, FreeSync Premium
• Hardware requirements: 3D content requires Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or higher, 32GB of RAM, and Intel Core i7 or higher.
• Price: $1,999.99

The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF technically works just fine with any computer, just like any other HDMI or DisplayPort monitor. However, you probably wouldn't buy it unless you were interested in its 3D features, considering the price point.

In order to use the 3D features, you'll need a Windows computer with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or higher, an Intel Core i7 or higher, and at least 32GB of RAM. You'll also need to install the Samsung Reality Hub software.

Why you should trust us

Our reviewers are experts in their field. Christian de Looper, the reviewer who wrote this article, has personally tested dozens of monitors, both budget and high-end alike. Beyond that, he's tested hundreds of other screens, from high-end TVs to tablets to smartphones. He's an avid gamer and has a deep understanding of what makes a great gaming monitor—and what makes a sub-par one.

What we like

Sleek design with good input selection

The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF has a relatively sleek and stylish design, and it should look great on any desk. To support the 3D features, the monitor has two small cameras in the upper bezel, which it uses for eye-tracking, combining that data with its proprietary screen technology.

One neat design touch is the use of an LED light strip on the bottom edge of the display panel, which automatically adjusts its color depending on what's on the screen when it's active.

On the back, the monitor has a good selection of ports. You'll get two HDMI 2.1 ports, along with a DisplayPort 1.4 port. There's also a USB B port, which you'll need to use to get the 3D features. I would have liked to see a USB-C port or two, and it is a little weird that the monitor has DisplayPort 1.4 instead of DisplayPort 2.1, though that's likely because you need to use HDMI to get the best 3D effect, so most people won't want to use DisplayPort anyway.

Also, on the back is a small joystick to control the on-screen software, which is easy to use, though if you're anything like me, you'll set up the monitor how you want it and then never really touch that software again.

You don’t need to wear 3D glasses to get the full effect

The obvious reason to buy this monitor over any others is the fact that it delivers 3D content without the need for weird-looking glasses or any other tech. And, thankfully, the 3D effect works very well. It raises the level of immersion quite a bit, and gives games a level of depth that you simply can't get without something like a VR headset.

The tech works through a combination of eye-tracking and some fancy display tech. The fact that it uses eye-tracking means that the monitor can adapt as you move. While you're meant to stay relatively close to the screen and directly in front of it, content on the screen will move a little when you move, so you can still line up the cursor with things like buttons and other on-screen content properly. This works quite well.

On top of visuals looking pretty incredible, they don’t get tiring, even during longer gaming sessions. Often, 3D tech can get a little exhausting, but I found that my eyes weren't tired even after an hour or two of gaming, which was great to see.

In addition to supporting select games, the monitor can also use AI to upscale some 2D content to 3D content. The caveats are that it can't perform this trick on any DRM content, it won't work with HDR enabled, and you must watch in full-screen. I was able to get it to work, but the effect was nowhere near as impressive as in games.

So is the 3D tech enough to warrant the price? Well, that kind of depends. It is very cool, and I would argue that it's certainly not a gimmick. But, the low game selection means that you might not use it all that much, unless you happen to exclusively play Palworld or something.

Solid image quality overall

This monitor is built to take advantage of 3D content, but even when you're not viewing 3D content, you'll get decent image quality overall. The monitor has an IPS panel, which means it can't deliver the same deep black levels as OLED monitors. That's a bit of a bummer for a monitor in this price range, but it still delivers relatively accurate colors and high brightness, and it has an excellent contrast ratio for an IPS panel. Its 4K resolution means that content is crisp and detailed, and its refresh rate of up to 165Hz ensures content is nice and smooth.

You can tell that there's a lenticular lens layer over the top of the screen when you're not viewing 3D content, but it's not very distracting, and you get used to it.

I will say, though, the display is extremely reflective, which can be distracting depending on where the monitor is placed in your home. If there is a window opposite your monitor, you may find these reflections to be an issue. If elsewhere, you shouldn't have much of a problem.

While the image quality isn't as good as other monitors in this price range, the point of this monitor is to support 3D content. So, if you're not going to use it for 3D gaming, you can get a much better-looking screen for a much lower price.

Again, if your budget is this high, you should consider a high-end OLED monitor.

Software works well

To use the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF, you'll need to download the Samsung Reality Hub software, which allows you to tweak settings and features of your monitor and acts as a hub for your 3D supportive content library. The software itself is shown in 3D, and while it's kind of gimmicky, with the oversized buttons and massive use of the 3D effect, it's still kind of cool.

The software will automatically scan the games installed on your computer for anything compatible, and it should work regardless of the platform. Some games will also have their own 3D settings in Reality Hub. However, I wasn't able to test this.

What we don’t like

3D content is limited

The actual content that supports the 3D tech offered by the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF is very limited. There are some heavy-hitters, like Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy–Definitive Edition and Palworld, but don't expect that you'll be able to play all of the games in your library in 3D. To test the 3D feature, I mostly played Khazan Deluxe Edition.

Thankfully, much more content will support the 3D features soon, and Samsung says that over 50 titles will get compatibility by the end of 2025. All of the titles are developed in Unreal Engine, and Samsung has confirmed that only Unreal Engine games will support 3D.

It's expensive for most budgets

The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF is expensive. In fact, if you're not going to make heavy use of the 3D features, then it's way more expensive than much better-looking monitors.

To be clear, its 3D features are not a gimmick, and if you think that they could make your gaming experience more immersive, then you may find the monitor to be worth the cash. But if you won't make use of those features, then you should spend your money elsewhere.

High hardware requirements

You can't just plug in the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF and start playing 3D games. You'll need certain hardware to make use of the 3D feature. These hardware requirements are specific.

Samsung says you'll need an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 or higher with 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core i7 or higher. Many gamers willing to spend this much on a monitor probably have a computer that meets those requirements, but it's still important to keep in mind that you'll need a compatible PC to actually get 3D content. In testing, I used a gaming PC with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, an Intel Core i7-12700H, and 32GB of RAM.

Warranty

The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF monitor comes with a one-year limited warranty. However, it's worth noting that the warranty only covers manufacturer defects. In other words, if you buy the monitor and it arrives broken, it should be covered—but if it's in perfect condition and you somehow damage it, you're out of luck.

What Owners Are Saying About the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF

Because the monitor is so new, there are very few owners out there just yet. But, those who do own it seem to be very impressed with the 3D effect.

• Reddit /Monitors: Over at the Monitors subreddit, a user found that the monitor offered an incredible 3D effect for games that supported it, but found the real-time AI conversion for 2D content to be a little lacking.

Should you buy the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF Monitor

Maybe, but only if you're willing to pay a premium for limited 3D

The 3D effect on the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF (available at Samsung for $1,999.00) is very cool, but it's limited in availability right now. That means that you'll have to be a pretty niche buyer to be interested in it. You'll want to play the supported games a lot, and be willing to spend this amount of money on a monitor that looks great, but not as good as alternatives when it's not displaying in 3D.

Unless you're that perfect buyer, it's worth going for a better 4K monitorthat doesn’t feature 3D, like the Acer Nitro XV282K KV.