Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Glasses-free 3D is actually getting better

The Samsung Odyssey 3D wants to make 3D gaming viable for the modern era.

Introduced last year during Gamescom, the Odyssey 3D uses eye-tracking technology to make 2D images appear three-dimensional. Eye Tracking technology (as Samsung calls it) tracks your eyes’ movements using a built-in stereo camera, while View Mapping tech constantly adjusts the image to enhance depth perception. This not only works with supported games but even some videos.

This 27-inch gaming monitor offers 4K resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate and a low 1ms response time. Support for AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR (variable refresh rate) also helps everything run smoothly and without image tearing.

3D gaming never caught on, which made me skeptical about the Odyssey 3D when it was announced. However, after a Samsung briefing and some initial hands-on time with the monitor, my skepticism is waning. I can’t say this device revolutionizes 3D gaming, but it certainly makes the strongest case for it.

My full Samsung Odyssey 3D review will be posted soon. For now, here are my hands-on impressions of Samsung’s device.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Samsung Odyssey 3D is a glasses-free 3D monitor that utilizes advanced tech to create a more immersive 3D experience.
• Who is it for? For folks who want to play games and watch videos on a glasses-free 3D monitor.
• What does it cost? The Samsung Odyssey 3D costs $1,999 on Samsung’s website. Right now, you’ll get a $300 Samsung credit if you pre-order any new Odyssey monitor.
• What do we like? The 3D effect can be impressive on supported titles. We also like the monitor’s sleek design and 27-inch 4K display.
• What don’t we like? Only a limited number of supported games.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Specs

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Price and availability

The Samsung Odyssey 3D is now available to pre-order for $1,999 on Samsung’s website.

You’ll receive a $300 Samsung credit for pre-ordering the Odyssey 3D or any of the new Odyssey monitors.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Display

The Odyssey 3D is a 27-inch gaming monitor featuring 4K resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and support for AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR. All of these are pretty standard for modern gaming monitors, so it’s good to see this device doesn’t skimp on the basics.

So far, I’ve noticed the display has a sort of vignette effect where the edges are darker and blurrier than the center. This isn’t too apparent during gaming, but when using the monitor to browse the web or work in Google Docs, it’s a bit distracting.

To be fair, it’s possible Samsung has yet to issue a firmware update to address this. Or, the vignette effect could just be a side effect of the 3D panel. Hopefully, we’ll discover what’s happening after more testing.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: 3D effect

The Odyssey 3D uses eye-tracking technology and view mapping algorithms to create a 3D effect in games. It also uses built-in AI to analyze and convert videos to add depth to objects. This effectively covers the two major forms of entertainment you’ll indulge in when using this monitor. How well does the 3D effect work? Well, it’s a mixed bag.

A supported game like The First Berserker: Khazan does an excellent job of delivering a 3D effect. The best way to describe it is that I feel as if I’m staring at a fish tank. The background looks suitably far away, while foreground elements like rocks, trees, or even the protagonist’s axe seem to pop off the screen. It’s pretty impressive stuff.

Converted videos are hit or miss. For example, a Lady Gaga video I watched didn’t look particularly 3D-ish, while a Kendrick Lamar video delivered convincing depth of field. The Lady Gaga video was very dark and the Lamar video was bright, which suggests the effect works better in videos with brighter lighting.

Since the monitor uses two cameras to track your eye movements, you won’t destroy the illusion whenever you move—a problem that devices like the Nintendo 3DS suffered from. No matter how much I moved, the display does a job of maintaining the 3D effect.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Design

The Odyssey 3D has a fairly minimalist design. If you don’t enable its RGB lighting, you might not think this was a gaming monitor at all. The Mercury Silver chassis, with its sharp angles, looks striking and should feel at home in any gaming den or work environment.

There’s a fair amount of ports located on the back. This includes two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, two USB-A ports and a USB-B port. The ports are fairly easy to reach if you’re in front of the monitor, though you’ll want to turn it around to see what you’re doing. There’s also a small OSD (On Screen Display) joystick for accessing and navigating the various menus.

Similar to other Odyssey monitors, this monitor features a wide and flat stand that keeps it firmly in place. The base is large enough to place items like your phone or an extra controller. There’s an opening in the shaft for cable management, though it’s not as large as I would have preferred.

As a 27-inch monitor, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding enough room for it on your desk. And since it only weighs 16.5 pounds, the monitor is easy to move around if you need to adjust your viewing angle or access the ports on the back.

Samsung Odyssey 3D hands-on preview: Outlook

I’ll need to complete my testing before rendering a final verdict, but based on my time with the Samsung Odyssey 3D, I think it does an admirable job of delivering glasses-free 3D. Though the effect isn’t perfect and there isn’t a wide range of games optimized for this monitor, this is the best 3D I’ve seen in a long time.

I’ll have my full review of the Samsung Odyssey 3D for you soon, so stay tuned!