Samsung CHG70 FreeSync 2 Monitor Review: 32 Curved Inches Of Smooth HDR Gaming
Samsung CHG70 FreeSync 2 Monitor: Design And Aesthetics
At the heart of the Samsung CHG70 (model C32HG70) is a 32” curved WQHD (2560x1440) VA (Vertical Alignment) panel with an 1800R curvature. VA panels are typically considered upgrades from more common and less expensive TN (Twisted Nematic) panels, with better color accuracy and viewing angles, but not quite on the level of higher-end and more expensive IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels.
The particular panel used in the CHG70 also features Quantum Dot technology. That may sound like nothing more than a foofy marketing term, but it isn’t. Quantum Dots are actually physical particles, arranged in a layer in the panel, which leverage the backlighting to emit pure colors. Not only does the technology improve brightness and result in a wider color gamut, but it also reduces the crosstalk of typical RGB color filters. Of course the panel also supports HDR – HDR10 specifically. We should note, however, the panel doesn’t quite meet all of the specifications necessary to be fully HDR10 compliant. For example, the CHG70 can produce 10-bit color with 95% DCI-P3 color space coverage, which is equivalent to 125% of the sRGB gamut, but its maximum brightness is “only” 600nits, whereas the spec calls for 1000 nits. Its 3000:1 contrast ratio also falls far short of 20000:1 recommendation for HDR10, but it is still better than many other gaming monitors in this respect.
The panel also has a 144Hz maximum refresh rate and 1ms response time, with a 48Hz – 144Hz FreeSync range. Ideally we’d like to see an even wider range that creeps all the way down to 30Hz, but if you aim to keep your games chugging along at or above the 60 FPS mark, things should be just fine.
The panel assembly looks good in our opinion, with relatively thin bezels all around and a single, small blue LED at the lower-right corner. The controls for the monitor are in two locations – there is a joystick on the rear (on the left when looking at the back of the display) and three buttons on the bottom-right. The joystick is used to navigate through the OSD and works very well for its intended purpose. Each direction “clicks” so you know you’ve activated the stick and everything in the OSD is clearly labeled and intuitive to navigate. The buttons on the bottom are used to rotate through three gaming presets built into the display. There are actually modes built-in for FPS, RTS, and RPG games, as well as Cinema, High-Brightness, and Custom options as well.
Also on the back of the display is some small back-bias lighting. The lighting surrounds the stand mount, and can be turned on or off via the OSD. It is not dynamic and isn’t reactive to what’s happening on-screen, but more for simple ambiance and back-bias effect. It projects straight out of the back of the display and doesn't emit any sort of design or pattern.
The CHG70’s stand consists of a wide “Y” shaped base and two articulating arms. The stand offers Tilt adjustments from -5.0° + 15.0°, Swivel from -15.0° - +15.0°, and rotation adjustment – though you probably wouldn’t want to use the rotation on a curved 32” display. Incorporated into the stand is a simple cord guide, which complements a removable plastic panel on the back to help hide any cabling attached to the various inputs / outputs. The stand and cable management hardware leave some things to be desired in our opinion. Snaking cables requires working some funky angles and snapping a flimsy panel on and off the back of the display, and the stand itself is simply massive. When assembled on the stand, this monitor is about 22lbs and measures 28.51" x 24.48" x 14.98". Yes, you read that right, that’s 15” of depth that's required. Most other panels this size require only a fraction of the depth.
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung CHG70 has a pair of HDMI ports, a single DisplayPort, 3.5mm audio pass-through (in / out), and three USB 3.0 ports – two downstream, one upstream. That’s a good assortment of options, especially for those potentially looking to use this display with more than just a PC. The USB ports are a nice bonus too, but when the back-cover is attached they’re difficult to get to.
The particular panel used in the CHG70 also features Quantum Dot technology. That may sound like nothing more than a foofy marketing term, but it isn’t. Quantum Dots are actually physical particles, arranged in a layer in the panel, which leverage the backlighting to emit pure colors. Not only does the technology improve brightness and result in a wider color gamut, but it also reduces the crosstalk of typical RGB color filters. Of course the panel also supports HDR – HDR10 specifically. We should note, however, the panel doesn’t quite meet all of the specifications necessary to be fully HDR10 compliant. For example, the CHG70 can produce 10-bit color with 95% DCI-P3 color space coverage, which is equivalent to 125% of the sRGB gamut, but its maximum brightness is “only” 600nits, whereas the spec calls for 1000 nits. Its 3000:1 contrast ratio also falls far short of 20000:1 recommendation for HDR10, but it is still better than many other gaming monitors in this respect.
The panel also has a 144Hz maximum refresh rate and 1ms response time, with a 48Hz – 144Hz FreeSync range. Ideally we’d like to see an even wider range that creeps all the way down to 30Hz, but if you aim to keep your games chugging along at or above the 60 FPS mark, things should be just fine.
The panel assembly looks good in our opinion, with relatively thin bezels all around and a single, small blue LED at the lower-right corner. The controls for the monitor are in two locations – there is a joystick on the rear (on the left when looking at the back of the display) and three buttons on the bottom-right. The joystick is used to navigate through the OSD and works very well for its intended purpose. Each direction “clicks” so you know you’ve activated the stick and everything in the OSD is clearly labeled and intuitive to navigate. The buttons on the bottom are used to rotate through three gaming presets built into the display. There are actually modes built-in for FPS, RTS, and RPG games, as well as Cinema, High-Brightness, and Custom options as well.
Also on the back of the display is some small back-bias lighting. The lighting surrounds the stand mount, and can be turned on or off via the OSD. It is not dynamic and isn’t reactive to what’s happening on-screen, but more for simple ambiance and back-bias effect. It projects straight out of the back of the display and doesn't emit any sort of design or pattern.
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung CHG70 has a pair of HDMI ports, a single DisplayPort, 3.5mm audio pass-through (in / out), and three USB 3.0 ports – two downstream, one upstream. That’s a good assortment of options, especially for those potentially looking to use this display with more than just a PC. The USB ports are a nice bonus too, but when the back-cover is attached they’re difficult to get to.
