Samsung Odyssey G61SH 27" Black 2026

The Samsung Odyssey G61SH is a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time that lands in the 98th percentile for performance. It delivers exceptional motion clarity and color accuracy, though brightness tops out at 200 nits typical. US pricing ranges from USD 430 to USD 600, so shop around to get the best deal. If you're a competitive gamer who wants OLED speed at 1440p, this is one of the best options on the market right now.

The headline numbers here are the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, and both are genuinely top-tier. In our database, this monitor's performance lands in the 98th percentile, which puts it among the absolute best gaming displays we've tracked. For fast-paced shooters or competitive titles, the motion clarity is exceptional. You won't see ghosting or smearing, and the difference between this and even a good 144Hz IPS panel is immediately noticeable.

What the numbers don't tell you is how the QD-OLED panel handles brightness. The spec sheet lists 200 nits typical and 400 nits peak, which is fine for most indoor setups but not going to blow you away in a bright room. HDR10 support helps with highlights and shadow detail, but this isn't a display that will make your retinas beg for mercy. The real strength is the contrast ratio, which Samsung lists at 1 million to 1. That's OLED doing what OLED does best, making dark scenes look properly dark instead of that grayish glow you get on IPS panels.

The most direct competitor is the MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2, which uses a similar 27-inch QD-OLED panel at 1440p and 240Hz. MSI tends to price aggressively, and if you can find it cheaper than the G61SH, it's worth a serious look. The trade-off is that Samsung's glare-free coating and OLED Safeguard system are genuinely useful features that MSI doesn't match. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG steps up to 4K, which means more detail but also more GPU demand. If you're running a mid-range graphics card, the G61SH's 1440p resolution is actually the smarter choice for maintaining high frame rates.

The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B and Alienware AW2725D are both strong alternatives with their own strengths. LG's UltraGear line has a reputation for excellent color accuracy out of the box, while Alienware's AW2725D often comes with aggressive sales pricing. The Gigabyte MO27U2 also targets 4K, so it's less of a direct comparison. What the G61SH does better than most of these is the combination of glare-free coating and burn-in protection, which matters if you use your monitor for work during the day and gaming at night.

Pricing on the G61SH is all over the place depending on where you shop. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 430 to USD 600 across five vendors, which is a USD 170 spread. That's a huge range for the same monitor, and it means you should absolutely shop around before pulling the trigger. The lowest price we're tracking comes in at USD 430, which is genuinely compelling for a QD-OLED panel with these specs. At USD 600, it's a harder sell when competitors are nipping at its heels.

For Canadian buyers, the spread is even wider in absolute terms, ranging from CAD 645 to CAD 821 across three listings. That CAD 176 difference is significant, and again, the lowest price is where the value proposition really shines. At the low end, this monitor undercuts several competitors while delivering the same core QD-OLED experience. At the high end, you're paying a premium for the Samsung name and the glare-free coating, which may or may not be worth it to you.

The Samsung Odyssey G61SH is one of those monitors that makes you wonder why you waited so long to go OLED. It's a 27-inch QD-OLED panel running at 2560 x 1440 with a 240Hz refresh rate, and it lands in that sweet spot where high-end gaming performance meets a price that doesn't require selling a kidney. Samsung is clearly aiming this at enthusiasts who want the OLED experience without stepping up to 4K or paying for a 32-inch panel.

What's interesting here is the combination of speed and color. The 0.03ms response time is basically instant, and the QD-OLED tech means you get that deep contrast OLED is known for plus a wider color gamut than traditional OLED panels. Samsung claims 99% DCI-P3 coverage and Pantone validation for over 2100 colors, which matters if you do any photo or video work on the side. The Glare Free coating is also a nice touch for anyone with a window behind them.

This monitor sits in a crowded field though. ASUS, MSI, LG, Gigabyte, and Alienware all have competing 27-inch QD-OLED or OLED panels at similar price points. The G61SH differentiates itself with Samsung's OLED Safeguard burn-in protection, a 3-year warranty, and that glare-free finish. Whether those extras justify the price depends on what you value, but we'll dig into that below.

If you're primarily a console gamer who wants to hook up a PS5, Xbox, and maybe a streaming device all at once, the single HDMI port on the G61SH is going to frustrate you. Look at the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B or the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG instead, both of which offer more input options. Similarly, if you do color-critical work in a bright studio environment, the 200 nits typical brightness will feel limiting. A brighter IPS panel or a mini-LED display would serve you better for that use case.

If you're running a high-end GPU like an RTX 4080 or 4090 and want maximum detail, you might also want to consider stepping up to a 4K OLED like the Gigabyte MO27U2 or the ASUS XG27UCDMG. The G61SH's 1440p resolution is perfect for maintaining high frame rates on mid-range hardware, but if you've got the horsepower for 4K at high refresh rates, you'll get more visual detail from those alternatives.

If you're a competitive gamer who wants OLED speed without the 4K tax, the G61SH is an easy recommendation, especially if you can snag it near that USD 430 low end. The 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time are best-in-class, and the QD-OLED panel makes everything from Valorant to Cyberpunk look fantastic. The glare-free coating is a genuine differentiator if your setup has windows or bright lights.

For mixed use, the story gets a little more complicated. The 200 nits typical brightness means HDR content won't pop the way it does on brighter panels, and the limited connectivity (one HDMI, one DisplayPort) is annoying if you want to hook up both a PC and a console. But if you're primarily a PC gamer who occasionally watches movies or does some photo editing, the color accuracy and contrast more than make up for those shortcomings. Just make sure you're getting it at the right price.