Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF Review 2025: Ultimate 32-Inch QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

Evaluating design elegance, panel performance, and user interface improvements to determine the Odyssey OLED G81SF’s value in modern gaming setups

Hardware by Katmin on Jun 08, 2025

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF is the latest 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor, refreshed for 2025. Just like its predecessor, it features HDR capabilities, adaptive sync, a 240Hz frame rate, and a high-contrast panel. This update promises a familiar yet better experience for both content creators and high-end users, with minimal changes to functionality and pricing.

Samsung, Odyssey OLED G81SF, Review, 2025, 27-Inch, QD-OLED, Gaming Monitor, NoobFeed

OLED G81SF Specifications

The G81SF utilizes the third-generation QD-OLED panel, first introduced in early 2024, which offers a 3840 × 2160 resolution at up to 240 Hz, with full HDR and adaptive sync compatibility. You still get DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 ports at 48 Gbps (also with DSC), a two-port USB A hub, and a headset jack.

The external power brick helps maintain a slim chassis, while the monitor supports tilt, swivel, pivot, and an ample height adjustment range.

OLED G81SF Design

I find the Odyssey OLED G8’s industrial styling to be among the best in its class. Rather than lumping electronics into a central box behind the panel, Samsung integrates components neatly into a curved rear housing, resulting in a thinner profile and cleaner lines. The combination of matte silver and black plastic exudes a high-quality feel, and the RGB LED light ring at the stand joint adds a subtle flair.

The slim bezels and compact chin frame the panel attractively, while the flat metal base doubles as a convenient shelf for peripherals or a keyboard. Although the two-tone plastic stand pillar is visually a weaker link, it remains sturdy and fully adjustable for most desktop setups.

On-Screen Display and Smart Features

One of the most notable changes in the G81SF is the removal of smart TV functionality in favor of a traditional on-screen display controlled by a small rear joystick. You lose built-in streaming apps and remote control, but you gain a fast, uncluttered interface tailored to PC use.

This simplified menu allows you to adjust brightness, color, gaming presets, and HDR modes without navigating a bloated TV-style operating system. If you still crave innovative features, you might prefer last year’s G80SD, which remains on sale in some channels.

Samsung, Odyssey OLED G81SF, Review, 2025, 27-Inch, QD-OLED, Gaming Monitor, NoobFeed

Screen Coating and Subpixel Layout

Samsung’s decision to use a matte anti-glare coating sets the G81SF apart from other glossy QD-OLED monitors. This finish diffuses reflections more effectively under bright lighting, although it introduces a fine grain that slightly softens text clarity compared to glossy variants.

The underlying RGB subpixel arrangement yields text quality equivalent to that of a 140 PPI IPS panel, with minimal color-fringing artifacts. Suppose your workspace is exposed to significant ambient light. In that case, you’ll appreciate the matte surface—just be mindful that black levels can still rise under strong front-lit conditions, a trait inherent to OLED technology.

Burn-In Considerations

All OLED displays carry a risk of permanent burn-in if static imagery remains on screen for prolonged periods. While occasional desktop use won’t pose issues, sustained productivity workflows with static toolbars and icons could increase burn-in potential.

Samsung mitigates this with a three-year burn-in warranty on the G81SF. I still recommend rotating content or enabling screen savers during extended office hours to preserve pixel health.

Response Time and Motion Performance

OLED’s instantaneous pixel switching grants the G81SF sub-millisecond response times—around 0.3 ms—across its entire refresh range. In practice, you never need to tweak an overdrive setting, and you avoid the overshoot artifacts common to certain LCD panels.

Combined with a variable refresh, the result is a clarity level of 240 Hz that rivals 360 Hz LCDs in fast-paced gaming. You should be aware, however, that motion sharpness on OLED correlates directly with the refresh rate you choose; there’s no hidden low-latency trick beyond selecting a higher Hz setting.

Input Lag and Power Consumption

I measured an end-to-end latency of below 1 ms in SDR and HDR modes, with a value of just 1.7 ms at 60 Hz—performance on par with other high-end OLED displays. In desktop white-screen tests, the G81SF drew about 93 W, slightly lower than most QD-OLEDs, though gaming scenes push consumption higher. Compared to W-OLED monitors, QD-OLEDs typically consume somewhat more power under dynamic loads, so expect around 10–15 W more during gameplay.

Samsung, Odyssey OLED G81SF, Review, 2025, 27-Inch, QD-OLED, Gaming Monitor, NoobFeed

SDR Color Performance

Out of the box, the G81SF covers 99.7% of DCI-P3 and 97% of Adobe RGB, with approximately 80.6% of Rec. 2020—excellent for HDR viewing or wide-gamut work. The factory grayscale and gamma settings are reasonable, although the delta E averages fall in the mid-range compared to top-tier calibrated displays.

Samsung’s sRGB emulation mode locks down the gamut and improves delta E to around 6.0, allowing you to fine-tune the white balance if needed. While not the most accurate sRGB implementation on the market, it’s fully adjustable and responds well to manual calibration.

Brightness, Contrast, and Uniformity

The G81SF achieves approximately 243 nits in SDR, matching other QD-OLEDs, with uniform brightness both across the panel and as window sizes are resized. Blacks remain true and deep, and viewing angles are vast, with no noticeable color shift. The dirty-screen effect in dark scenes is minimal, highlighting QD-OLED’s uniformity advantage over competing OLED technologies.

HDR Performance and Tone Mapping

Thanks to per-pixel dimming, HDR on the G81SF delivers perfect black levels and minimal blooming, making high-contrast scenes pop. Peak brightness varies by HDR mode: “Off” caps around 450 nits, “Medium” around 530 nits, and “High” up to 1000 nits in small highlights, though mid-to-high APL content triggers panel dimming.

Samsung’s unlocked HDR settings, including tone mapping and white balance, allow you to optimize for either dark or bright content. However, switching modes mid-session may be necessary for the most accurate results. Be aware that on non-NVIDIA GPUs, FreeSync Premium Pro can limit peak brightness, so you may need to employ an EDID hack for full luminance.

HDR Accuracy and Colour Volume

In HDR grayscale tracking, the G81SF ranks near the top among QD-OLEDs, and color accuracy is strong in typical viewing modes. While some W-OLEDs maintain more consistent brightness at high APL, QD-OLED offers a wider color volume and superior color brightness, especially in the “High” peak mode. If you value punchy highlights and deep, inky blacks, this monitor excels.

Samsung, Odyssey OLED G81SF, Review, 2025, 27-Inch, QD-OLED, Gaming Monitor, NoobFeed

Important Takeaways

The 2025 Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF builds on a proven 4K 240 Hz QD-OLED foundation with a sleeker design and a more focused user interface. I appreciate the streamlined OSD and clean industrial styling, but the matte coating and removal of innovative features may divide opinions.

If you demand the absolute best motion clarity, OLED HDR, and flexible color tuning, and you can find the G81SF near its US MSRP of $1,300, it stands as a top contender. Otherwise, consider last year’s G80SD for smart functionality or competing models for slightly better out-of-box calibration, USB-C connectivity, or DisplayPort 2.1 support.

Also, check our other hardware articles: