Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen 55" 2024

A gloriously ridiculous 55-inch curved Mini-LED monitor that rotates into a vertical tower of multitasking madness. It's completely impractical, wildly expensive at the wrong retailer, and we desperately want one.

What surprised us most was the color performance. This Mini-LED panel hits 95% DCI-P3 and pumps out up to 1000 nits of peak brightness, landing it in the 98th percentile for color in our database. That's best-in-class territory, making HDR games and movies look absolutely stunning. The 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time keep motion buttery smooth, though it's not quite at the bleeding edge for competitive esports. The real shocker is how well the massive 55-inch screen handles desktop work. With the multi-view features, you can effectively have three or four 27-inch monitors stacked without a single bezel in sight.

The Odyssey Ark doesn't really have a direct competitor because nobody else is crazy enough to make a 55-inch rotating gaming monitor. The LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B is a more practical ultrawide with a better aspect ratio for gaming immersion, but it can't touch the Ark's sheer size and HDR punch. The ASUS ROG Strix X27AQDMG and MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED are better pure gaming monitors with faster response times and OLED contrast, but they look like postage stamps next to this thing. If you want a monitor that doubles as a TV replacement and a flex piece, the Ark stands alone. If you just want the best gaming performance per dollar, get the MSI OLED and a wall mount.

Value is a tricky word when the price spread is over $42,000 across vendors. At the low end around $1,928, this is actually a compelling deal for a premium 55-inch Mini-LED gaming display with these features. But at the high end, you're getting absolutely fleeced. B&H Photo seems to have the most reasonable pricing we've seen, often bundling free fast shipping and tax perks. If you're paying anywhere near the $4,000+ mark, you should just buy a high-end OLED TV and a separate ultrawide monitor and still have cash left over.

The Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen is the most absurdly extra monitor we've ever tested, and we kind of love it for that. It's a 55-inch, 4K, 165Hz Mini-LED beast that wraps around your face with a 1000R curve, basically replacing your entire desk setup with a single, massive screen. The one thing to know is that this isn't just a big gaming monitor. It's a full-blown entertainment command center that can pivot into a vertical 'Cockpit Mode' for the most ridiculous multitasking setup you've ever seen. It's completely impractical for most people, and that's exactly the point.

If you're looking for a competitive gaming edge or a color-accurate reference monitor for professional print work, this isn't it. Go get a 27-inch 360Hz IPS panel or a proper OLED ultrawide instead. This is for people who want to make a statement and feel like they're inside the game, not for pixel-peeping esports pros.

Buy this if you want the most outrageous centerpiece for your gaming room and have the space and budget to accommodate it. The Samsung Odyssey Ark 2nd Gen is a flawed masterpiece that delivers an experience no other monitor can match, even if it stumbles on some basic PC connectivity quirks. It's not the best gaming monitor, but it's the most fun we've had with a display in years. Just make sure you're grabbing it from a vendor selling it under two grand, and budget for a reinforced desk.