For those waiting for an economical option in the realm of 240Hz gaming monitors, look no further than the Samsung Odyssey G4. This model is now available at its most affordable price to date: just $179.99, slashed from $279.99, as noted by price tracking services.

This monitor features a 25-inch 1080p panel that prioritizes speed over aesthetics. Absent are the RGB lighting and fancy bells and whistles, giving it a straightforward design that embodies a “budget gamer” aesthetic rather than luxury. Despite a somewhat flimsy stand, this device shines with rapid response times, minimal input lag, and compatibility with both FreeSync and G-SYNC, ensuring a seamless experience whether using AMD or NVIDIA graphics cards as long as DisplayPort is in play.

The monitor excels in PC gaming, offering a stellar 240Hz refresh rate and excellent response times across all modes—60Hz, 120Hz, and 240Hz—for seamless motion without noticeable ghosting or blurriness. It also offers gaming-specific features like a persistent crosshair overlay and an ultra-wide simulation mode that extends the aspect ratio to 21:9 for an enhanced field of view. However, console gamers may want to consider alternatives, as it struggles with 4K or 1440p scaling and displays subpar variable refresh rate performance when connected to a PS5. While it performs better with an Xbox Series X, full HDR or high-resolution features are still not fully realized.

Image quality is reasonable given the price point, though it’s not without flaws. The monitor performs adequately in bright environments and effectively reduces glare, however, it lacks the capability for deep blacks or striking HDR visuals. The monitor lacks local dimming, resulting in a lackluster contrast ratio where blacks can appear gray in dark settings. Nevertheless, for gamers primarily in well-lit situations, it performs adequately. The viewing angles are sufficiently wide for co-op gaming without significant color distortion. The connectivity options consist of dual HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort, and a 3.5mm audio jack, alongside features like automatic source switching, blue light filtering, and energy-saving settings.