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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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Samsung Odyssey G7 S40FG75 — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

In SDR mode, with local dimming turned off, I measured a peak of 341 nits. That’s plenty bright for such a large panel, but if you need even more output, the top four screens have a little extra. For indoor use, you’ll never need to max the brightness slider unless you wear sunglasses while playing. In the black level and contrast test, the Odyssey G7 is solid for a VA screen but has a little less dynamic range than the others. However, it’s still visibly better than any IPS monitor.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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The Odyssey G7 maintains consistent contrast throughout its brightness range with a solid 2,516.9:1 score after calibration. Don’t let the last-place finish concern you; it’s still a dramatic screen with more depth than any IPS display can boast. In the ANSI test, I observed consistent results with a ratio of 2,300.9:1. This indicates Samsung has made sound component selections and is maintaining excellent quality control.

Test Takeaway: The Odyssey G7 shows average brightness and contrast performance for its category. It doesn’t quite reach the 3,000:1 average I’ve observed for VA panels, but it comes close at around 2,600:1, more than IPS by almost 3x. It’s the closest you’ll get to an OLED for under $1,000.

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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.