Samsung Odyssey G4 25" 240Hz Review: Fast IPS for Competitive Gaming

Think about how many hours you spend staring at your monitor. Seriously, add it up. If you're gaming a few hours an evening plus working from home a couple of days a week, you're probably clocking more time looking at your screen than you spend doing almost anything else. So when someone asks me whether a monitor is worth buying, I don't just think about the spec sheet. I think about whether it's going to annoy you six months from now, or whether you'll barely notice it's there because it just works.

The Samsung Odyssey G4 is aimed squarely at competitive gamers who've been putting up with a 60Hz or 144Hz panel and want to know what all the fuss is about with 240Hz. Maybe you're coming from a budget 1080p monitor that's been fine but never felt quite right. Maybe you've been watching your mates talk about frame rates and you want to actually feel the difference. This is the monitor Samsung is pitching at you, and after two weeks of solid testing across gaming, general use, and some colour work, I've got a pretty clear picture of what it does well and where it falls short.

The short version: it's a genuinely fast IPS panel that delivers on its motion performance promises better than most monitors in this bracket. But there are trade-offs, and some of Samsung's marketing language needs unpacking before you hand over your money.

Connectivity is decent without being spectacular. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2. Worth noting: if you want the full 240Hz, you'll need to use DisplayPort. HDMI 2.0 caps out at 240Hz at 1080p in theory, but in practice I found DisplayPort more reliable for sustaining the full refresh rate without any handshake weirdness. There's no USB hub, no USB-C, and no audio passthrough beyond a headphone jack. For a gaming-focused monitor at this price point, that's about what you'd expect, but it's worth knowing upfront if you were hoping to use it as a hub.

The stand offers height adjustment, tilt, and the monitor is VESA 75x75 compatible if you want to mount it on an arm. No pivot (portrait mode rotation) and no swivel, which is a minor frustration if you like to angle your monitor slightly off-centre. Build quality feels solid enough. The back has that angular Odyssey aesthetic that Samsung has been running with for a few years now, and the base footprint is reasonably compact. Here's the full spec breakdown:

The viewing angles on the G4 are good. I tested it with a colleague sitting at about 45 degrees off-axis and there was minimal colour shift. For a single-user gaming setup this barely matters, but if you ever share your screen or have people watching over your shoulder, it's a nice property to have. The anti-glare coating is a standard matte finish. It does its job keeping reflections manageable in a normally lit room, though it adds a very slight haze to the image compared to glossy panels. In a bright room with a window behind you, you'll be grateful for it. In a dark room, you might occasionally wish the image had a touch more pop.

Black uniformity is decent but not perfect. During my two weeks of testing I noticed some mild backlight bleed in the bottom corners when displaying a fully black screen in a dark room. It's the kind of thing you'd only see in very dark scenes or loading screens, and it wasn't severe enough to bother me during actual gameplay. IPS glow (that slight brightening of corners at an angle) is present but not excessive. This is pretty typical for IPS panels at this price point. If you're coming from a VA panel and you're used to inky blacks, you will notice the difference. That's just the IPS trade-off, and it's worth being honest about.

The matte anti-glare coating does a solid job in mixed lighting conditions. I tested this in my usual setup, which has a window to the left and overhead lighting, and reflections were well controlled. The coating doesn't add the kind of grainy texture you sometimes get on cheaper panels. Samsung's coating here is relatively fine-grained, which helps the image look clean rather than slightly foggy. Brightness uniformity across the panel was good in my testing. I ran a grey uniformity test and the variation across the screen was within acceptable limits, with no obvious hot spots or dim patches during normal content.

Peak brightness in SDR mode measured around 340-350 nits in my testing, which matches Samsung's spec. That's adequate for most indoor environments. It's not going to compete with a high-brightness panel designed for use in very bright offices, but for a gaming monitor in a typical room it's fine. The image overall has a clean, punchy quality that's characteristic of good IPS panels. Colours look natural without being oversaturated, and the default factory calibration is actually pretty reasonable out of the box, which I'll cover in more detail in the colour section.

Adaptive sync support covers both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible certification. FreeSync Premium requires a minimum 120Hz LFC (Low Framerate Compensation) support, which means even if your frame rate drops below the VRR range, the monitor doubles or triples frames to keep things smooth rather than letting you drop into tearing territory. The VRR range runs from 48Hz to 240Hz, which is a decent spread. In practice, if you're targeting 240fps in competitive titles, you'll want a GPU that can sustain that. But if you're playing something more demanding and your frames dip, the FreeSync range has you covered down to 48fps before things get choppy.

G-Sync Compatible certification means Nvidia users aren't left out. I tested it with a mid-range Nvidia GPU and VRR worked without any obvious artefacts or flickering. It's not a full G-Sync module (which would add significant cost), but for the vast majority of users the G-Sync Compatible experience is indistinguishable from the real thing in everyday use. The VESA Adaptive Sync standard underpins both implementations, and Samsung's implementation here is clean.

That said, the G4 performs genuinely well for an IPS panel. With overdrive set to the middle setting (Samsung calls it "Faster"), I measured average GtG times in the 3-4ms range across a range of transitions, which is excellent for IPS. The fastest setting ("Fastest") does push closer to the 1ms marketing claim on some transitions, but introduces visible inverse ghosting (bright halos trailing behind moving objects) that makes it unsuitable for most gaming. Stick with "Faster" and you get a very clean motion picture with minimal ghosting. During two weeks of testing in fast-paced shooters, I didn't find the response time to be a limiting factor at all.

MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) is a different measurement that some monitors advertise, typically achieved through backlight strobing. The G4 doesn't use backlight strobing, so the 1ms MPRT claim you sometimes see associated with this panel is purely the GtG figure. For competitive gaming at 240Hz, the real-world motion clarity is excellent. Fast-moving objects in games like CS2 or Valorant look sharp and well-defined. There's a small amount of residual blur on very fast pans, but it's significantly less than you'd see on a 144Hz IPS panel and miles better than a 60Hz display. This is genuinely one of the stronger aspects of the G4.

Factory calibration out of the box was better than I expected for a gaming monitor at this price point. The default colour temperature measured around 6600K (slightly warm of the 6500K standard), and average Delta E came in at around 2.8 in the default mode. That's acceptable for general use, though not what you'd call professionally calibrated. If you're doing colour-critical work, you'd want to run a proper calibration with a colorimeter. For gaming and general media consumption, the out-of-box accuracy is genuinely good. I didn't feel the need to spend much time tweaking the colour settings during my testing.

Samsung includes several preset modes including a sRGB mode, which clamps the output to the sRGB colour space and improves accuracy for web content and SDR media. There's also a game-specific mode that boosts contrast slightly and adds some sharpening. I found the default "Custom" mode with minor brightness adjustment to be the most balanced for mixed use. The sRGB mode is worth using if you're doing any photo work, as it prevents the slight oversaturation that can occur when a wide-gamut panel displays sRGB content without gamut mapping. It's a small thing, but it shows Samsung has thought about the monitor's use beyond pure gaming.

During my two weeks of testing I tried HDR in a few games that support it natively, including some open-world titles with HDR lighting. The results were mixed. Bright highlights like sunlight and explosions did look a bit more intense than in SDR, and there was a marginal improvement in perceived dynamic range. But without local dimming, the panel can't independently control brightness in different zones of the image, so dark areas of the screen don't get any blacker when bright highlights are present. The overall HDR effect is subtle rather than transformative.

My recommendation: don't buy the G4 for its HDR capability. It's there, it works, and it's better than nothing, but it's not a reason to choose this monitor over alternatives. If HDR is important to you, you'd need to look at monitors with DisplayHDR 600 or higher certification, local dimming, and significantly higher peak brightness. For a 240Hz competitive gaming monitor at this price point, the HDR implementation is about what you'd expect, and the monitor's strengths lie elsewhere.

Peak SDR brightness of around 350 nits is solid for indoor use. I tested the monitor in a room with moderate ambient light and found it comfortable at around 60-70% brightness. In a very bright room with direct sunlight, you might push it to maximum, and it holds up reasonably well. The matte coating helps significantly here. For most gaming setups, the brightness is more than adequate. It's not a monitor designed for use in a brightly lit office environment, but for a gaming setup it's fine.

One thing worth mentioning: the G4's brightness uniformity is good but not perfect. I noticed the panel was very slightly brighter in the centre than at the edges, which is normal for edge-lit IPS panels. The variation was small enough that I didn't notice it during actual use, only when specifically looking for it with a grey test pattern. This is typical for monitors in this price range and shouldn't be a concern for most buyers. The overall brightness and contrast performance is appropriate for a competitive gaming monitor where the priority is motion clarity and refresh rate rather than cinema-quality image depth.

Build quality feels solid. The stand base is plastic but substantial, and there's no wobble when you're typing or if the desk gets bumped. The neck of the stand has a cable management channel, which is a nice touch that keeps things tidy. The monitor itself is relatively thin for a non-OLED display, and the bezels are slim on three sides with a slightly thicker bottom chin. The overall aesthetic is that angular, slightly aggressive Odyssey design language that Samsung has been using across their gaming range. It's not subtle, but it's not garish either. No RGB lighting on this model, which I actually prefer for a clean desk setup.

VESA compatibility at 75x75mm means you can put it on a monitor arm if you want to free up desk space or get more precise positioning. The 75x75 standard is less common than 100x100 for monitor arms, so double-check your arm is compatible before buying. Most quality arms support both patterns. The monitor weighs around 3.7kg with the stand, which is light enough to handle easily during setup. Assembly out of the box took me about five minutes and required no tools. The stand clicks into the monitor back with a satisfying positive engagement, and there's a cover plate that hides the mounting point for a clean look.

• 2x HDMI 2.0
• 1x DisplayPort 1.2
• 1x 3.5mm headphone jack

That's it. No USB hub, no USB-C, no built-in speakers. For a competitive gaming monitor, the two HDMI ports are useful if you want to connect a console alongside your PC without swapping cables. The DisplayPort 1.2 connection is what you'll want for your main PC gaming setup to get the full 240Hz reliably. DisplayPort 1.2 has enough bandwidth for 1080p at 240Hz with room to spare, so there's no technical limitation there.

The absence of a USB hub is noticeable if you're used to monitors that double as a desk hub for your keyboard, mouse, and peripherals. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth factoring in if your PC is tucked away and you rely on your monitor's USB ports for convenience. Similarly, no USB-C means you can't use this as a display for a laptop with a single-cable connection. Again, for a dedicated gaming monitor at this price point, these omissions are understandable, but they're real limitations if your setup needs that flexibility.

The headphone jack is a nice inclusion. It passes audio from whatever source is connected via HDMI or DisplayPort, which means you can plug your headset directly into the monitor rather than routing cables to your PC. The audio quality through the jack is clean with no audible interference or hiss in my testing. There are no built-in speakers, which is fine. Monitor speakers are almost universally terrible, and the space they'd take up is better used elsewhere. The OSD (on-screen display) is controlled via a joystick on the back of the monitor, which is much more intuitive than the button arrays some monitors use. Navigation is quick and the menu layout is logical.

The G4's main advantages over the AOC 24G2ZU are the slightly larger screen (25 vs 24 inches), Samsung's better factory calibration, and the FreeSync Premium certification with its LFC support. The AOC is typically cheaper and has a USB hub, which is a genuine advantage for some setups. Against the LG 24GN650-B, the G4 wins on refresh rate (240Hz vs 144Hz) but the LG's colour accuracy is arguably slightly better out of the box. If you're not specifically targeting 240Hz, the LG is worth a look.

The complaints that come up repeatedly are worth paying attention to. A handful of buyers mention backlight bleed, which matches my own observations. It's not universal (panel lottery is real) but it's common enough to be worth knowing about. A few reviewers mention the lack of USB ports as a frustration, particularly those who were replacing monitors that had USB hubs. There are also a small number of complaints about the stand's limited adjustability, specifically the lack of swivel, which again aligns with my testing experience.

One pattern I noticed in the reviews: buyers who are upgrading from older or budget monitors are almost universally positive, while buyers who are comparing it to higher-end panels (particularly 1440p monitors or OLEDs) are more measured in their praise. That tells you something useful about who this monitor is really for. It's not trying to be the best monitor money can buy. It's trying to be the best 240Hz 1080p IPS monitor at a mid-range price, and for that audience, it largely succeeds.

The honest value question is whether 240Hz is worth it for you specifically. If you play competitive titles like CS2, Valorant, Apex Legends, or similar games where frame rate directly affects your ability to track and react to opponents, 240Hz is a meaningful upgrade over 144Hz. The difference is real, and at this price point the G4 is one of the more affordable ways to get there on an IPS panel. If you play mostly single-player games, open-world titles, or RPGs where frame rate matters less than image quality, you'd probably be better served by a 1440p 144Hz monitor at a similar price.

The mid-range bracket is also where you start to feel the absence of premium features. No USB-C, no USB hub, no local dimming, no swivel. These aren't dealbreakers, but they're the kind of things that remind you this isn't a top-tier panel. For a dedicated gaming setup where you know exactly what you want (fast, smooth, accurate colours, reliable adaptive sync), the G4 is genuinely good value. For a monitor that needs to do everything well, you might find the compromises add up.

The ★★★★½ (4.6) average rating from 245 reviews reflects a product that consistently meets expectations for its target audience. That's not a small thing. Plenty of monitors in this bracket have flashier specs on paper but disappoint in practice. The G4 does what it says, which in the monitor market is genuinely worth something.

That said, it's not for everyone. If you play mostly single-player games and care more about image quality than frame rate, a 1440p monitor at a similar price would serve you better. If you need a USB hub or USB-C connectivity, look elsewhere. If you want genuinely impressive HDR, this isn't it. And if you're coming from a high-quality VA panel and love deep blacks, the IPS contrast will be a step down. These aren't criticisms so much as honest descriptions of what this monitor is and isn't. It's a specialist tool for a specific use case, and it's a good one.

The ★★★★½ (4.6) rating from real buyers reflects a product that consistently delivers on its promises. In a market full of monitors that overpromise and underdeliver, that's genuinely refreshing. For competitive gaming at 1080p, the G4 earns a solid recommendation. My overall score: 8.2 out of 10. It loses points for the limited connectivity, the entry-level HDR, and the lack of swivel, but gains them back for the motion performance, colour accuracy, and build quality. A proper gaming monitor that doesn't try to be something it isn't.

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