Samsung’s huge 49-inch gaming monitor is an ultrawide dream

As you can imagine, Samsung’s 49-inch behemoth makes an impression. I use an ultrawide Dell screen on my gaming rig, so I’m familiar with giant displays. Still, this monitor surprised me with the amount of desk space it took up. Its 32:9 ratio is noticeably bigger than 21:9 monitors, which typically feature 34-inch or 27-inch screens. It’s base is also larger than most other displays, and the screen’s sides jut much farther out — almost comically so. Once I sat down in front of it though, I could easily see the appeal. It offers the most real estate I’ve seen in a single desktop display.

The monitor’s 3,840 by 1,080 resolution is a bit odd. Ultrawide monitors typically feature either 2,560 by 1,080, or 3,440 by 1,440 pixels, for a comparison. It also features a deep curve (1800R), which makes it easy to see all sides of the screen. The display has two HDMI ports and two DisplayPort connections (one of which is a MiniDisplayPort). There’s also a USB 3.0 hub on the back with three ports. The on-screen configuration menu is also a step above what we typically see today from other monitors. It’s large, easy to read, and clearly lays how to get to various settings.

Gamers will definitely appreciate the monitor’s fast one-millisecond response time and 144Hz refresh rate. Both of those features will make first-person shooters like Call of Duty and Overwatch more responsive and perform more smoothly. As with most modern screens, it also sports HDR capabilities, as well as support for AMD’s Freesync 2 standard. The latter feature smooths out game performance so there’s no screen tearing. It’s also a part of Samsung’s new “Quantum Dot” QLED gaming lineup, which means it uses nanoparticles to deliver better lighting and color representation than typical LED screens.

I’ve tested plenty of gaming monitors over the years, but I was particularly eager to try out Samsung’s 49-inch display simply because its so unusual. And it didn’t disappoint. During a brief demo in New York City, I had a chance to play Battlefield 1 and Mass Effect Andromeda, both of which looked fantastic. The display had no problem keeping up as I moused around during firefights; Colors looked astoundingly realistic and the bright HDR elements popped off the screen. There was also plenty nuance in darker scenes, which was especially useful for Battlefield’s harrowing open mission.