Now that Mobile Pixels has made us realize that perhaps vertically stacked monitors are what a multi-monitor setup should be, perhaps we should be thinking of getting rid of the bezel in between. If that is what is on your mind, then perhaps you may want to check out the new Samsung 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor.
Before we go on, yes, the Samsung 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor is indeed a monster 55-inch diagonally and yes, it is one single monitor. As the name suggests, it is designed with gaming in mind but also it has this feature called Cockpit Mode that enables the screen to rotate with HAS (Height Adjustable Stand), tilts, and pivots.
This allows it to be in portrait mode, which is absolutely bonkers. I mean. You realize that we are talking about a 55-inch vertical screen that is curved at 1000R. That will be the most immersive YouTube Shorts and TikTok experience ever – if you are using the vertical mode for viewing short videos.
But the true highlight in portrait mode isn’t for short video consumption. The software can split the screen into three 27-inch monitors, stacked vertically, without bezels in between. There you have it, three stacked monitors that you have lean back so you can take it all in without straining your neck. You probably don’t need a 55-inch vertical monstrosity but hey, if don’t want bezels in between, this is an option.
The Samsung 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor is the world’s first 55-inch 1000R curved gaming screen, btw. I don’t think anyone will ever make one in such specifications other than Samsung.
The Cockpit Mode isn’t the only trick up its sleeve. It also comes with a TV-style remote, along with an exclusive controller called Ark Dial. The latter lets you tweak the screen parameters like brightness and stuff without stretching out to reach for the control on the monitor. The dial is wireless and it can be placed alongside your mouse and keyboard.
One of the controls the dial offers is a feature called Flex Move Screen. Flex Move Screen is a smaller virtual screen for times when you do not need or want to utilize the entire 55-inch real estate. In addition to letting you adjust the screen size between 55- and 27-inches, it also lets you move the virtual screen around and change the aspect ratio.
Oh, the remote and the dial has solar panels and so, in theory, they should never need recharging which is pretty neat.
The display boasts Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Technology that employs Quantum Mini LEDs, and it further touts 14-bit processing, 16,384 black levels, a Neural Quantum Processor Ultra for upscaling content to up to 4K, 165 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response (GTG), a million-to-one static contrast ratio, an anti-glare and anti-reflection panel, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and Samsung’s Matte Display and Sound Dome Technology.
Speaking of sound, the monitor has four speakers, one at each corner, plus two central woofers, AI Sound Booster and Dolby Atmos. Expect no less than 60W 2.2.2 channel from this beast of a monitor that can rumbles as low as 45 Hz.
Befitting its purpose as a gaming monitor, the Samsung 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor has Samsung Gaming Hub built in that support several game streaming platforms including Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Google Stadia, Utomik, and Amazon Luna.
The Samsung 55-inch Odyssey Ark Curved Gaming Monitor is not just a TV-size monitor; it also has a TV price too, commanding a princely sum of US$3,499.99. It is available for pre-order now.
All images courtesy of Samsung.
