Seven months after announcing the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 desktop monitor at CES 2023, Samsung is finally circling again with pricing and availability details. Let’s jump right in: The 5K display, which is being positioned as a prosumer option meant to compete with monitors from LG and Apple, will cost $1,599.99 and you’ll be able to buy it from Samsung and other retailers in August.
$1,599 is the same starting MSRP as Apple’s Studio Display – also a 27-inch 5K monitor. Rumor has it (though not confirmed) that these two screens could use nearly identical panels, if not the exact same part. A 5K display is incredibly sharp at 27 inches, but by the rest of today’s standards this display feels a bit dated: there’s no local dimming, which is an important technical feature for optimal contrast on LCD TVs. Samsung says the ViewFinity S9 covers 99 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, so it’s perfectly suited for photo editing.
Aside from the panel, you could argue that Samsung is giving you a little more for your money with multiple connectivity options and a height-adjustable stand included as standard; by choosing the height-adjustable Studio Display, Apple’s price skyrockets to $1,999.
The ViewFinity also has a “pivot mode”, where it rotates 90 degrees to fit more text on screen with less scrolling. Instead of building a webcam directly into the bezel of the display, Samsung “adds a built-in 4K SlimFit camera that connects via a pogo pin without any additional cables or equipment.” The Studio Display’s camera was rather disappointing before a firmware update brought it back to normal, so we’ll see how Samsung’s approach compares.
Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge
For I/O, the ViewFinity S9 offers Thunderbolt 4 (with up to 90 watts of pass-through charging), USB-C, and Mini DisplayPort. And as is the case with its SmartMonitor lineup, Samsung loads this 27-inch 5K display with its standard mix of TV streaming apps and additional features like its Gaming Hub (with access to Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now). Samsung also talks about the S9’s calibration process, which uses your phone’s camera for easy adjustments without separate, expensive tools:
The ViewFinity S9 uses the Smart Calibration function controlled with smartphones, the first in the industry. Users can easily adjust the screen for accurate settings without expensive, complex calibration equipment whenever they want. Using the SmartThings app, users can choose to calibrate in Basic mode for quick and easy adjustment of white balance and gamma settings, or use Professional mode for full control over color temperature, luminance, color space and gamma settings. Users can easily initiate this process by pointing their smartphone camera at the ViewFinity S9 and once calibrated they can view a report detailing the adjustments made and the Delta E color accuracy.
Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge
And while I didn’t get to hear them during my CES preview, this monitor does have built-in speakers. Samsung says they have an Adaptive Sound Plus feature that “automatically adjusts noise levels.” And yes, there is an included remote.
You can bet we’ll be pitting the ViewFinity S9 and Apple Studio Display against each other in August to gauge how similar their 5K LCD panels are – and whether Samsung’s variety of ports and that detachable webcam are enough to capture the awesome Apple build quality and system-level macOS integration.
