Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 is a stylish 5K display for creative professionals

Samsung’s 2023 monitor plans aren’t the only Odyssey gaming screens and a new version of its smart monitor: the company is coming directly next to Apple and LG with a 27-inch, color-accurate 5K monitor called the Viewfinity S9. The Samsung 5120×2880 IPS display has a matte finish to reduce glare and covers 99 percent of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut.

The ViewFinity S9 supports a wide mix of I/O, including HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and DisplayPort. It can charge laptops up to 96 watts. The sleek design and metal casing of the S9 are harmonious Apple Studio view and LG’s high-end OLED monitors. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an answer at press time as to whether Samsung’s latest monitor has local dimming. If they did, I’m guessing they would have highlighted that aspect. So black levels and overall contrast may not quite measure up to mini LED and OLED screens. However, Samsung claims that “its HDR600 improves image shadow and highlight detail.”

This monitor didn’t stop Samsung from building its Tizen TV OS into the ViewFinity S9. So even if the display isn’t connected to any external devices, you’ll still be able to access all the usual streaming apps. It ships with a slim 4K webcam that you can attach to what’s needed for video calls, and software that Samsung says automatically zooms in and intelligently tracks the subject.

Samsung has tried to simplify the calibration process for the latest addition to its monitor lineup. “The built-in color calibration engine ensures accurate screen color and brightness, allowing users to adjust white balance, gamma and RGB color balance for perfect accuracy with their smartphones through the Samsung Smart Calibration app,” the company said in its press release. We will have to see for ourselves how well it works in practice.

As is typical with CES product announcements, Samsung hasn’t yet shared any pricing details on the ViewFinity S9, but says it will ship “early” this year. Apple’s Studio Display starts at $1,599 when configured with a 27-inch, standard glossy screen. My gut tells me Samsung will undercut it with its stylish 5K display, but it will be interesting to see how aggressive the pricing is.

Stay tuned for live recordings of the ViewFinity S9 from CES 2023 in Las Vegas this week. The company also announces a minor update, the SmartMonitor M80C Last year’s scene It comes in new colors and adds a SmartThings hub to the display — and a feature called My Contents, which “adds photos, schedules, weather and more to the screen’s surround view,” according to Samsung. It is available in white, pink, blue and green colors.