The Korean manufacturer will soon release the Smart Monitor M8, an ultra-thin 32-inch 4K screen equipped with a webcam, which can be used as a computer monitor or as a television for streaming services.
Offering screens for both work and entertainment: such is Samsung’s ambition with its Smart Monitor range, inaugurated at the end of 2020. A concept that is perfectly in tune with the times, as many people today use their computer both for surfing the Web and producing documents in an office suite as well as for watching videos via streaming services, sharing photos on social networks, video chatting with loved ones or even playing games. However, if a 14-inch laptop screen is enough to do everything when you are on the move, it is still much more pleasant to connect a large monitor when you are at home, especially when teleworking. And it is precisely to offer more comfort in fixed use that Samsung is extending its family of mixed screens with the Smart Monitor M8, its brand new high-end multifunction monitor which will be marketed in France from April 15th.
The first advantage of this model: its format. The Smart Monitor M8 is indeed a screen with a diagonal of 32 inches (nearly 82 cm), the equivalent of an average television. A “large” size that does not result in being overweight since it has ultra-thin edges and its thickness does not exceed 12 mm (excluding the foot). Above all, it works in 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels), like all current televisions. It thus displays larger and more defined images than the “classic” 27-inch computer monitors, often limited to WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels). A significant asset for all those who like to have a maximum of elements on the screen (windows, applications, widgets, etc.). Especially since with a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a contrast of 3000:1, it promises a quality display. Only regret, its refresh rate is limited to 60 Hz, which is not an ideal model for games, gamers now favoring high frequencies (120 or 144 Hz, or even more). Shame.
But the size and the definition are not the only assets of the Smart Monitor M8 which integrates a microphone, a webcam and loudspeakers which allow easy videoconferencing, like on a laptop or all-in-one, without requiring additional accessory. Stamped Far Field Voice, the microphone is a high-sensitivity model capable of picking up distant voices and is associated with a voice control function to control devices compatible with Bixby voice assistants and Amazon Alexa. And thanks to the Always On Voice mode, you can use Bixby even when the monitor is on standby. In addition, its magnetic and removable SlimFit camera can be attached to the screen without cluttering the workspace with wires. It incorporates a face movement tracking mode and automatic zoom to focus on the person in front of the screen. Practice !
That’s not all ! As the Smart Monitor M8 runs on Tizen, Samsung’s operating system for smart TVs, it offers functions inherited from connected TVs. You can therefore install many Tizen-compatible applications on it, and in particular streaming video services (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc.) to watch films and series via the Internet, directly over Wi-Fi. really enjoy the large format and ultra high definition. Even better, the Smart Monitor M8 can connect wirelessly to a computer (PC or Mac) using various services and functions (Samsung DeX, Apple AirPlay 2, Microsoft 365, etc.). And since it has a new version of Smart Hub, a Samsung device, it can also be used with mobile devices (smartphone or tablet) without going through a computer. And by adding a SmartThings (VG-STDB10A) sold separately, it can be used to control Zigbee-compatible connected objects.
Finally, note that the Smart Monitor M8 has a micro HDMI port and two USB-C ports, including one delivering 65 W, and that it is available in various “trendy” colors (white, pink, blue and green) to better accommodate current interiors much like the latest iMacs. There remains the question of the price, around 750 euros. Certainly, it is much less than the brand new Apple Studio Display which is around 1700 euros – and which suffers from several problems of youth, in particular with its webcam… –, but it is more than a 4K inch TV or a a 32-inch 4K monitor: there are models – less complete – at 300 euros, including at… Samsung! To sweeten the bill a bit, Samsung will give away a pair of wireless earbuds and a pair of Galaxy Buds Pro with any order between April 7 and April 14.