Samsung on Tuesday officially unveiled the latest in its M-series smart monitors, with a 27-inch studio display competitor priced at $649.
Samsung’s new M8 Smart Monitor
Announced at CES 2023, Samsung’s M series monitors feature smart all-in-one solutions not available in other “dumb” monitors. The new 27-inch M8 model competes directly with Apple’s Studio Display, albeit at a significantly lower price.
Samsung’s official announcement states that these new monitors, the M8 (M80C), M7 (M70C) and M5 (M50C), are designed to cater to the needs of each individual. However, its biggest selling point might be the new 27-inch model, which complements the flagship 32-inch option.
Now available in a new size, the M8 continues to be packed with features including support for 4K resolution, HDR10+ and up to 400 nits of brightness. Both the M8 and M7 smart monitors also offer up to 99% sRGB color coverage, so colors should be represented well on the screens.
According to Samsung, the M8 and M7 smart monitors feature an “iconic slim design” with a back measuring just 11.39mm. And both monitors have height- and tilt-adjustable feet. The screen itself can even be rotated 90 degrees so documents can be viewed in portrait orientation.
The smart monitors come with a number of built-in streaming apps like Amazon Prime and Netflix, and also include the company’s smart TV features like Samsung Gaming Hub. This allows users to play a variety of different games without the need for a console or PC.
Thanks to Matter support and an integrated SmartThings Hub, they also support the connection, management and control of various smart home products. This means users can use Samsung’s SmartThings app to control the lights in their homes and more.
The M8 and M7 also have built-in voice assistants – Samsung’s Bixby and Amazon’s Alexa. To help with this, both monitors also have built-in microphones with far-field voice support.
For Apple users, they have integrated AirPlay 2 – for both audio and video.
But wait, there’s a little more
The 2023 line of smart monitors also features “My Content,” which Samsung says allows users to “quickly access helpful information.” The company explains how the smart monitors can recognize a “registered smartphone” via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and then display calendar information, photos, weather statistics and more.
The M8 also features a magnetic, detachable camera. It supports FHD resolution and auto framing, which keeps the user in the center of the camera during a video call.
The M8 starts at $649.99 for the 27-inch option or $699.99 for the 32-inch model. The 27-inch M7 is $549.99, while the 32-inch model is $599.99. The M5 retails for $279.99 and $299.99 for the 27- and 32-inch models, respectively.
Finally, the M8 is available in four different colors: Warm White, Sunset Pink, Spring Green and Daylight Blue. The M7 is available in warm white, while the M5 is available in either black or white.
Each of the new M Series smart monitors will go on sale in June.
In comparison, Samsung’s previous M8 Smart Monitor performs admirably compared to Apple’s Studio Display.
We tried out Samsung’s latest monitors at CES earlier this year and were impressed by the wide variety Samsung has brought to the market, including productivity and gaming models.
