Verdict
The Samsung M8 Smart Monitor combines the chic characteristic of a modern TV with the form factor of a desktop monitoring equipment for one of the most forrad - thinking products in its category . The 2023 exemplar introduce a new 27 - inch sizing along with the stock 32 - inch , as well as a full - sized HDMI port , but the excellent 4 cat valium exhibit remains the exact same as the preceding year .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Samsung is one of the first companies to push smart monitor onto the deal , offering the smarting of a modern TV to bring home the bacon access to all of your favourite cyclosis apps without the need for an outside machine .
I look back theSamsung M8 ( 2022)last year and was really impressed with the gamey - quality showing and bounty of overbold features . Jump forward to 2023 , and Samsung has updated its monitor with enhanced bright feature such as My Contents , as well as a full - size HDMI embrasure , new pivot functionality and the addition of a new 27 - inch modeling along with the stock 32 - column inch invention critique here .
picayune else has been upgrade , with Samsung refraining from work any pinch to the 4 K screen . That make it difficult to warrant elevate between example , but which offer the best time value for fledgeling ? After spending a couple of hebdomad with the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor ( 2023 ) , here are my thoughts .
Design
I ’m a big fan of the design of the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor ( 2023 ) . It reckon almost selfsame to its 2022 herald , but it ’s difficult to see where else Samsung could have improved .
It flaunts a wafer - thin black bezel that neatly frames the screen , with Samsung assume a fresh , minimalist approach that gives me strongiMacvibes .
While the design is visibly distinguishable from the 2022 exemplar , Samsung has made a pair of minor tweaks . The 2023 version I have for revaluation , with the stand included , is 41 millimeter taller and 3.7 millimeter thin than its herald . That ’s not enough to make a noticeable difference , although it does make it slenderly heavier to carry around at 7.2 kg .
Initial setup is easygoing peasy , with the stand slotting effortlessly into the screen ’s rear . You will need to screw the stand into its root , but the screw is include and only take a matter of endorsement to tighten . Once assembled , the monitor has a secure base , so you should n’t need to worry about inadvertent topples .
Adjusting the height of the monitor ( up to 12 atomic number 96 ) is as easy as rend and pushing , while there ’s also the option to tip the monitoring machine send on and backward . novel to the 2023 model , the Samsung M8 now supports wall mounting ( 100×100 ) and can pivot by up to 92 degrees for a portrait alignment – this form is useful for take farseeing articles online , although most masses will likely opt to keep the monitor horizontally .
The Samsung M8 Smart Monitor was antecedently only available with a 32 - inch screen , but Samsung has now made it usable in a 27 - inch form . This makes Samsung ’s monitor more accessible to those on a tight budget , with the smaller sieve sizing available for just £ 599/$649.99 , whereas the 32 - inch mannikin is price at £ 649/$699.99 .
Samsung claims the M8 monitor is available in clean , pinkish or immature . unhappily , I can only find the white choice on Samsung ’s prescribed UK web site , with a warning that colour pick will vary count on the country . That ’s a great disgrace for Brits , especially when the old 2022 iteration of the monitor is still available with blue , green and pinkish colourways . Nevertheless , the nonremittal white colouration is still pleasing to the eye with a patterned cultivation on the rear .
My personal favorite upgrade for the 2023 modeling of the Samsung M8 reminder is the introduction of a full - sized HDMI connectedness , swapping it in for the Micro HDMI port which is n’t as commonly used . Alongside 1xUSB - Cand 2x USB - A , it ’s now considerably easygoing to link up the proctor to well-nigh any laptop computer . The only illustrious omission is DisplayPort , but that ’s not a major issuing .
A trivial white remote control come with the M8 , making it easy to pilot the options and all of the integrated streaming apps . It run around a USB - C interface for recharges , although I don shelling life is prospicient as I never needed to reload the cell during the testing process .
The M8 is also bundled with an extraneous webcam , which magnetically clips to the back of the monitor to let the camera to chirrup over the top . I ’d in person prefer Samsung to incorporate the webcam into the monitor itself , but also read Samsung ’s desire to keep the silver screen bezel as lithesome as potential .
Video character is outstanding with a 1080p resolve , while the webcam can be tilted up and down .
I ’m disappointed with Samsung ’s efforts when it comes to sustainability . reprocess plastics have not been used for the monitor ’s construction , and there ’s excessive plastic and polystyrene in the boxful . The M8 Smart Monitor also has a yard rating in the Energy Efficiency Class , which is the bad potential grievance . This is a big disappointment , especially since Samsung has made such big eco - friendly strides for its smartphones and laptops .
Screen
Samsung has n’t made any alteration to the screen for the Samsung M8 Smart Monitor ( 2023 ) compare to its 2022 predecessor . That ’s unsatisfying , as it would have been nice to have the option of anOLEDorMini LEDpanel , or even a higher refresh pace , but this is yet an excellent presentation .
Both the 27 - inch and 32 - inch version of the M8 fun a 4 K ( 3840 x 2160 ) answer for a pixel - packed picture able of sharp imagery . partner off this with the bold colours and mellow brightness , and this is an excellent monitor for both productivity and streaming video .
I used a colorimeter to get precise build of the reminder ’s performance . Samsung claims a peak brightness of 400 nit , but my review example was actually equal to of an impressive 450 nit . Either room , the M8 is far brighter than your modal monitor .
Out of the box seat , the M8 recorded a contrast of 3255:1 , but by pushing up the brightness I was capable to better the contrast to 4900:1 . This is an fantabulous result , and is likely the main reason why the impression appear so darn good to the naked middle .
Upgrading to an OLED or Mini LED would have improved the picture even further , with Samsung opting for a more bog - stock VA screen instead . But to Samsung ’s mention , I recorded a humbled black level of just 0.09 nit , so it is n’t too far by from display perfectly inky pitch blackness like an OLED instrument panel .
The Samsung M8 is n’t quite so sound when it comes to color coverage , with just 85 % and 88 % reporting for theAdobe RGBandDCI - P3profiles respectively . This means you could line up good monitors suit to color - sensitive work for originative professional , although those score are still plenty high enough for more daily work .
Serious gamers will desire to look elsewhere too , as the refresh pace is limited to 60Hz . you could get higher speeds at half the price , although you will mislay out on general moving picture tone and all the smart software . If you only intend on punt through the likes of Game Pass , or do n’t care about high refresh rates , then the M8 is still dead fine to expend for gambling .
Speakers are work up into the monitor , so you do n’t take to bother with an external sound recording system . loudness can be increased to a room - filling dB . I ’ve happily used the monitor ’s speakers for Spotify music playback and film watching .
Software and Features
The unique selling point that makes the Samsung M8 such a compelling leverage is all of the smart software system stuffed inwardly . This is one of few monitors that can manoeuvre severally , and so can stream all of your favourite apps without the pauperization of being hooked up to a microcomputer .
The M8 uses Samsung ’s ownTizenoperating arrangement , which has an abundance of pre - installed apps and features . It find very similar to the experience of a forward-looking day smart video .
Netflix , Disney Plus , Apple TV , Now , YouTube , Prime Video , ITVX and more are all pre - installed on the monitor for gentle access code . Samsung TV Plus even let you access a foreign mix of bespoke TV channels such as Mythbusters and American Idol .
There ’s a dedicated gaming section too , with pre - installed apps for cloud platforms such as Xbox Game Pass , Amazon Luna , Nvidia GeForce Now and Utomik . but connect a play restrainer to the reminder via Bluetooth , and signalise up to one of these subscription , and you ’re honest to go .
Both Bixby and Amazon Alexa are built into the admonisher too , admit you to use phonation commands to navigate through the reminder ’s software . It works just as well as you could desire for too .
A brand novel feature of speech for the 2023 model includes My Contents . This is a customisable screensaver that will be displayed whenever your smartphone is in law of proximity of the monitor , falling into standby mode once you move aside . you’re able to fix your photos and calendar to this screensaver , and even configure it to display a weather paper .
However , I regain this feature article to be a nuisance to set up , requiring function of theSmartThingsapp . You seemingly only get full functionality when using a Samsung Galaxy smartphone , and so will likely disaffect the bulk of its substance abuser base .
The Multi View mode has been treat to an upgrade to , finally permit you to use Microsoft 365 apps and the browser app app in full screen way . But this feels more like a fudge factor than a new feature article to get excited about .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The Samsung M8 ’s upright feature is the ability to operate streaming apps without the indigence of an external twist . This includes the the likes of of Netflix and Xbox Game Pass .
The M8 may be able to run various gaming apps , but its 60Hz refresh pace bound its appealingness for playing games through aPS5,Xbox Series Xor PC . Check out ourBest Gaming Monitorguide instead .
Final Thoughts
The Samsung M8 Smart Monitor ( 2023 ) is one of my all - clip favourite productiveness monitors . It boasts excellent mental picture quality , while the integrated apps and smart features see it ’s still utile when your PC is n’t associate .
It ’s more of a venial rescript than an upgrade on the2022 editionhowever . The screen specification have n’t been altered at all , while Modern features such as My Contents do piddling to improve the software offering . More ready to hand is the new full - sized HDMI port , as well as the intro of the smaller and more affordable 27 - inch example .
These rise are n’t quite enough to shew that the M8 is a better value purchase than theSamsung M7 Smart Monitor , which is perceptibly more affordable . Meanwhile , gamers are good off look into out theSamsung Odyssey Neo G7 , and creative professionals who own a Mac should deal theApple Studio Display . For more option , check out ourBest Monitorguide .
Trusted Score
How we test
We apply every monitor we test for at least a week . During that time , we ’ll check it for ease of purpose and put it through its paces by using it for both unremarkable tasks and stretch play academic session
We also check its colours and double caliber with a colourimeter to test its reporting and the display ’s quality .
FAQs
There are n’t a immense bit of difference between the monitors . The M8 video display is bright than the M7 , and has a more agio and hardy stand . The M7 also lacks a bundled webcam , forcing you to try an external solution or else .
Picture quality will look slap-up here with the 4 K settlement . However , the 60Hz refresh rate of the admonisher means you wo n’t be able to visibly profit from the possible 120fps performance for select games .
The 27 - inch model of the Samsung M8 has a price of £ 599/$649.99 , whereas the 32 - in fashion model is price at £ 649/$699.99 .
Test Data
Full Specs
