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Best Monitors for Console Next-Gen: Is a Discounted Samsung Odyssey G5 Still a Top Pick?

ggamesconsole

2026-01-26

11 min read

Is the discounted Samsung Odyssey G5 the best QHD monitor for PS5/Series X/RTX owners in 2026? We break down real-world performance, HDR, input lag, and value.

Is the discounted Samsung Odyssey G5 the sweet spot for console players in 2026?

Shopping for a monitor for consoles in 2026 feels like juggling trade-offs: Do you want crisp QHD clarity, high refresh for smoother motion, or a bright HDR experience that actually looks better than average? If a recent Samsung sale — highlighted by Kotaku in January 2026 — dropped the 32" Samsung Odyssey G5 to near "no-name" prices, it’s natural to ask: is this the moment to buy a trusted brand, or should you keep chasing cheaper alternatives?

The pain point: consoles vs. monitor specs

Console and PC ecosystems diverged in how they use monitor features. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S have pushed high-frame-rate modes (120Hz) for competitive and immersive gameplay, while NVIDIA RTX GPUs and PC setups chase 1440p/165Hz and beyond. That creates confusion for buyers: does a QHD 165Hz curved VA monitor like the Odyssey G5 fit your PS5 or Series X workflow — and how does it stack up against cut-price, no-name panels that promise similar specs?

Quick takeaway

Short answer: If you want a QHD 32" curved screen for 120Hz console play, the G5 on sale is generally a strong value compared to no-name models — provided you understand its limits (modest HDR, VA black crush, and console-port constraints).
Buy it if: you play primarily at 1440p/120Hz, value brand reliability, and want a big curved screen for single-player immersion or competitive FPS on PC/console hybrids.
Skip it if: you need true HDR/4K@120Hz via HDMI 2.1, prefer an IPS wide-view panel, or want the absolute lowest price regardless of longevity or warranty.

What the Samsung Odyssey G5 brings to console gaming (2026 context)

The Odyssey G5 lineup (32" QHD curved models like the G50D/G5 variants) hit a specific sweet spot: QHD (2560x1440) pixel density, high refresh rates up to 165Hz, and a deeply curved 1000R VA panel that boosts immersion. In early 2026, with more games and engines optimizing performance-mode 120Hz builds on consoles, QHD monitors have moved from niche to mainstream for console players who want smoother motion without jumping to 4K.

Key specs that matter

Resolution: QHD (2560x1440) — better image detail than 1080p, lighter GPU load than 4K.
Refresh rate: Up to 165Hz (practical console cap: 120Hz).
Panel type: VA — excellent contrast, deeper blacks, some viewing-angle and black crush drawbacks versus IPS.
Curve: 1000R — more immersive for single-screen play, may be polarizing for desktop multiscreen setups.
HDR: Basic HDR10 support — not true HDR like mini-LED or OLED; peak brightness often underwhelms for standout HDR highlights.
Ports: Most G5 variants offer DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 — important for PC to hit max refresh, but limits console feature sets that require HDMI 2.1 for 4K@120Hz.

How consoles and RTX GPUs actually use the G5: real-world experience

Three typical buyer profiles will benefit from the G5 differently:

PS5 owners who now prefer 1440p: Since Sony added 1440p output and many developers include 120Hz modes, a QHD screen is an excellent middle ground. The PS5 will output 120Hz at 1440p where supported by both game and monitor, giving you smoother animation and reduced input latency compared to 60Hz.
Xbox Series X owners: Series X supports 1440p and 120Hz in many titles and can leverage VRR. The Odyssey G5’s high contrast VA panel is great for darker single-player games that benefit from deeper blacks.
RTX GPU owners who game on PC and console: On PC you’ll want DisplayPort 1.4 to reach 165Hz and activate adaptive sync ranges. On console you’ll use HDMI — you’ll be capped by HDMI 2.0 on many G5 models, but since consoles typically target 120Hz at 1440p, the lack of HDMI 2.1 is only a limitation if you want 4K@120Hz or richer HDR from console sources.

Input lag and response time — what to expect

Response time (pixel transition) and input lag (processing delay) are distinct but both matter for competitive play. The Odyssey G5 advertises 1ms MPRT response — a marketing figure that reflects motion blur reduction, not the real gray-to-gray speed or total system input lag.

In practice: expect low input lag suitable for fast-paced console play and esports-level reflexes, particularly at 120Hz. If you measure competitive-level input lag under 10ms as the ideal, the G5 typically lands in a range that satisfies most competitive console players — while cheaper no-name displays often cut corners in scaler quality and exhibit higher processing lag.

G5 vs. no-name cheaper models — the head-to-head

When Kotaku flagged the Samsung sale in January 2026, they highlighted that a well-known 32" Odyssey G5 was priced like a no-name monitor. That prompted a deeper comparison: what do you really get from Samsung for the extra (or in this case, similar) money?

Where Samsung wins

Panel consistency: Samsung sources its panels from tier-one fabs; expect fewer dead pixels, even backlight distribution, and tighter manufacturing tolerances.
Build quality & ergonomics: sturdier stands, cleaner mounting, better cable management, and often better VESA implementation.
Firmware & driver support: brand models receive firmware updates and clearer support paths; cheaper models often lack long-term firmware fixes.
Warranty & RMA: Samsung’s warranty and retail support outpace many no-name vendors; that matters if you plan to keep the display for 3–5 years.
Adaptive sync and VRR compatibility: Samsung’s adaptive sync implementations tend to be more robust across PCs and consoles, giving better experience with NVIDIA/AMD/console VRR ecosystems.

Where no-name alternatives can compete

Lower upfront cost: if the cheapest possible price is the only metric, no-name models often undercut even sale-priced mainstream monitors.
Spec lists: some budget brands copy high refresh/QHD spec sheets; you’ll see 165Hz and 1ms claims that look identical on paper.
Experimenters & short-term buyers: if you upgrade yearly or change configurations often, the initial saving may matter more than long-term support.

The decisive differences

Color calibration out of box: Samsung tends to ship better factory calibration than knockoffs; for console players who expect accurate color for story-driven titles, that matters. If you do content creation, consider a dedicated colorimeter or calibration workflow.
HDR performance: both will be limited, but Samsung’s panels generally yield less washed-out HDR within the same price class.
Longevity: warranty, firmware fixes, and reliable QA make the G5 a safer long-term purchase.

Actionable buying advice: when the Odyssey G5 sale is a clear win

If you primarily play PS5 or Xbox Series X at 1440p and want a larger, immersive single-screen experience, buy the G5 on sale.
If you also use a PC with an RTX card, and you want 165Hz for PC esports titles while using 120Hz on console, the G5 is a great hybrid monitor.
If you value long-term warranty, better customer service, and consistent panel performance — choose Samsung over a no-name monitor priced similarly.

When to skip the G5

If you need true HDR or OLED-level contrast and color (consider Mini-LED or OLED alternatives).
If your use case is 4K@120Hz from console — get an HDMI 2.1-capable monitor or TV.
If you need wide viewing angles for a big family couch setup — IPS or OLED panels fare better than VA in off-axis color and gamma.

Practical setup tips for PS5/Series X/RTX GPU owners

Buy the G5? Here’s how to get the most from it:

Console steps (PS5 & Series X)

Enable 120Hz in console settings: PS5 → Settings → Screen and Video → Video Output → Enable 120Hz (ensure game supports 120Hz).
Set resolution to 1440p if available in system settings (PS5 added 1440p support in recent firmware updates; if not present, use 4K or the default). Series X supports 1440p natively in many titles.
Enable VRR where available (Series X supports VRR broadly; PS5 selectively supports VRR depending on firmware/game updates).
Turn on Game Mode on the monitor to reduce processing and input lag; tweak overdrive to reduce ghosting but avoid inverse ghosting artifacts.

PC & RTX GPU steps

Use DisplayPort 1.4 to access full 165Hz on PC and enable adaptive sync in your GPU control panel (NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible / AMD FreeSync).
For ray-traced titles on RTX cards, set DLSS/FSR appropriately to maintain high frame rates at 1440p.
Calibrate color with a free tool or colorimeter if you want accurate sRGB or DCI-P3 mapping for content creation.

Troubleshooting common problems

Here are three frequent issues console owners face with the G5 and how to fix them:

120Hz not showing: Confirm HDMI cable is high-speed and the monitor input is set to the port supporting highest bandwidth. If console doesn’t see 1440p/120Hz, try switching resolution temporarily to 1080p to force a mode, then back to 1440p.
HDR looks flat/washout: Turn on the monitor’s HDR mode, then toggle console HDR auto settings. Many VA panels need manual contrast tweaks; consider reducing brightness or enabling dynamic contrast to recover highlights.
Ghosting or smearing in dark scenes: Adjust overdrive/MPRT settings. High MPRT can reduce blur but may introduce inverse ghosting — find the sweet spot via quick gameplay tests.

Value analysis: is the Samsung sale enough?

When a trusted brand like Samsung discounts the Odyssey G5 to near no-name prices, the decision should weigh more than headline specs. Consider the total cost of ownership:

Initial price parity: if the sale makes the G5 the same price as an unknown 32" QHD panel, you gain better QA, return policies, and likely longer usable life.
Resale value: brand monitors keep value better — that offsets part of the upfront premium. See our local-first guidance on preserving resale channels for specialty gear.
Peace of mind: Samsung’s customer support and a lower chance of DOA units can save time and hassle compared to budget vendors.

2026 trends and future-proofing your purchase

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw several trends that inform whether the G5 remains a smart buy:

More QHD-optimized console modes: Developers increasingly ship 120Hz performance modes tuned for 1440p. That boosts the relevance of QHD monitors for console players.
HDMI 2.1 proliferation at lower prices: By 2026, more monitors include HDMI 2.1, closing the 4K@120 gap between TVs and PC displays. If you want future-proof 4K@120 via console, buy an HDMI 2.1 monitor instead of a G5 with HDMI 2.0.
Mini-LED and OLED alternatives gaining affordability: Improved HDR and contrast are more accessible; if HDR fidelity matters, consider one of the newer mini-LED or OLED gaming monitors that entered mid-price bands in late 2025.
VRR standards and software: VRR implementations and console firmware updates in late 2025 improved compatibility; expect continued refinements in 2026 that reduce artifacts across brands. See broader ecosystem context in our cloud gaming & platform trends report.

Final verdict: is the discounted Odyssey G5 still a top pick?

Short verdict: Yes — with caveats. On sale, the Samsung Odyssey G5 is one of the best value propositions for console owners who want a 32" QHD screen with high refresh and a deep curve. It beats similarly priced no-name models through better factory tuning, build quality, warranty, and long-term support. However, if your priorities include true HDR, 4K@120Hz via HDMI 2.1, or the best wide-angle color reproduction, look elsewhere.

Recommended alternatives by priority

Need 4K@120Hz & HDR from console: pick an HDMI 2.1 monitor or a next-gen OLED TV with low input lag.
Want IPS color accuracy & wide viewing angles: consider a 1440p IPS gaming monitor at similar price points.
On a strict budget (replace often): a no-name QHD 144Hz monitor will save money but expect trade-offs in warranty and panel quality.

As Kotaku noted in January 2026, a 42% discount on a 32" Odyssey put Samsung’s quality within striking distance of budget alternatives — and for many console players that math justifies the buy.

Actionable next steps

If the G5 is on sale now and you want a big QHD console monitor: buy it. Prioritize seller returns and check warranty terms.
Before checkout, confirm the exact G5 model’s HDMI version and panel revision — that will tell you whether any 4K/120 plans are future-proofed.
If unsure, compare the G5 to one HDMI 2.1 alternative and one IPS alternative in the same price range; weigh HDR, viewing angle, and warranty.

Closing — our recommendation

For PS5, Series X, and hybrid PC/RTX owners who value an immersive 32" QHD experience and want the reassurance of a major brand, the Samsung Odyssey G5 on sale is a practical, high-value pick in early 2026. Just be honest about the limitations: basic HDR, VA panel quirks, and HDMI bandwidth constraints. If the sale price is comparable to no-name options, the extra support and consistent panel quality usually make Samsung the smarter long-term buy.

Call to action

See current prices, compare updated user benchmarks, and sign up for our console monitor deal alerts — we track Samsung sales, HDMI 2.1 drops, and the best alternatives so you get the right monitor for your playstyle. Ready to lock in a deal or need a tailored recommendation? Click through to our console monitor comparison hub and get a buying guide matched to your console and GPU.

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