From the specs and price list to the minimalist metal design, Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 seems to be aiming straight for the Apple Studio Display.
Like the Studio Display, it’s a 27-inch 5K monitor with built-in speakers, 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, 60Hz maximum refresh rate, and 600 nits brightness. Like the Studio Display, it has a Thunderbolt 4 port with direct power delivery to charge your laptop (up to 90 watts) and three USB-C ports. Rather than Apple’s built-in 12MP ultra-wide webcam, the ViewFinity S9 includes a snap-on slim-fit 4K webcam.
It will even cost the same when it goes on sale in the US in August for $1,599.
Where Samsung hopes to differentiate the S9 is by offering better value for this price. Samsung’s monitor includes a height-adjustable stand and a standard VESA mount, while Apple charges $400 more for its height-adjustable stand and only offers the Studio Display with either a VESA mount or a stand (not both). Samsung’s screen also has a matte finish, while Apple’s is glossy, unless you pay an extra $300 for the nano-textured glass option.
And of course, the Samsung display is also designed for Windows PCs with an integrated mini DisplayPort connector.
Perhaps most interestingly, the ViewFinity S9 includes a remote control and Samsung’s Smart TV apps, so you can use it to watch streaming services or use streaming game services like GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass by streaming without connecting it to a TV. We’ve often noticed how the Studio Display’s hardware is more than enough to make it a full Apple TV, but it lacks any network connectivity.
Of course, specs are one thing and quality another, and we don’t yet know how good this 5K display actually looks in use. But the auto-calibration feature is quite intriguing – you can use Samsung’s SmartThings app with your phone to calibrate the screen in basic or advanced mode. And since Samsung already supplies many Apple displays, it’s definitely a solid option for anyone looking to buy a Studio display.
