Samsung M8 32″ Smart Monitor Review

Summarized

The Samsung M8 is a smart monitor that attaches great importance to design. The screen is equipped with Samsung’s Tizen operating system with which apps can be installed. For example, you can use streaming services such as Netflix or YouTube without connecting a PC or laptop and even productivity if Office use is considered. The screen also has a detachable webcam with face tracking. In addition to the design, the image quality is also okay, but the latter could certainly be improved, partly because of the lack of a real sRGB mode. In addition, the HDR mode cannot be switched on with streaming services and that feature is not much more than a check mark on the spec list. The sound is also not convincing, making the use of streaming services even more uninteresting. What remains is a fairly pricey monitor that offers only mediocre image quality for its money.

–

–

–
–

With its M-series ‘smart’ monitors, Samsung has created a market segment in which it is currently all alone. The concept of a screen that can be used without a PC to use Netflix or other streaming services, for example, has of course been known as TV for a long time, but with the M series that functionality is also available in PC screens. With the Smart Monitor M8 Samsung has launched its latest model, full of features and improvements.

A good year ago we reviewed the M7, the direct predecessor of this M8. The smart functionality consisted of a full-fledged Tizen operating system, with access to the associated app store and all applications that can be found there. At the time, we were mainly disappointed in the image quality of the screen, which is a fairly essential characteristic of a screen, and the lack of ergonomics. Just like the M7, the M8 has the Tizen OS on board and has a screen diagonal of 32 “, but unlike the ‘old’ model, it is adjustable in height.

Samsung promises beautiful image quality, but mainly presents the M8 as a ‘lifestyle’ product. To this end, the screen is now also available in trendy colors such as green, pink and blue, in addition to a standard white variant. In addition, the screen will have a more or less built-in webcam, speakers, microphone and wireless connectivity. All this has pushed the price up considerably: the M8 costs about 800 euros. For a 32″-4k screen, that’s quite expensive, but we’ll see if the extra functionality justifies it.

–