Product test
Samsung M8 review: a smart monitor on steroids
by Kevin Hofer
Smart monitors: Samsung M5 and M7 review
12.3.2021
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Samsung’s M5 and M7 are a monitor and TV in one. They’re the South Korean manufacturer’s response to the need for flexible products and hybrid solutions that marry home office and personal use.
A lot of us have been working from home now for almost a year. I reckon the way we work will continue to look a bit different in post-Covid times. One that will require some rethinking at home to accommodate hybrid forms of working. In other words, our homes will also become our workplaces. Since we don’t all live in palaces, Samsung has helped with space-saving by delivering a monitor and TV in one in the form of the M5 and M7.
Comparing the monitors
Samsung gave me an M5 and M7 to test out for this review. The differences are obvious. The M7 features a 32-inch display with UHD resolution, and it delivers a bit more in terms of ports. Here’s a direct comparison of the M5 and M7:
Connectivity
You can either connect the smart monitor via the traditional route of HDMI cable or by connecting wirelessly. This works with Windows and MacOS, with Samsung smartphones via DeX and with iPhones and iPads thanks to Airplay 2. Tap View is also included. It lets you mirror a Samsung smartphone screen by tapping it on the monitor. The various connection options are generally easy to use and quick to set up – for me at least, they always work seamlessly.
You can also connect remotely to your work device in the office. You obviously have to connect the keyboard and mouse. It’s not the fastest connection, but it’s fine for standard office tasks. The M5 and M7 also come with the Office 365 app, which lets you access your Office files in the Cloud without a PC.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test out DeX as I don’t have a Samsung smartphone. But if my experience with Samsung’s ecosystem is anything to go by, it should work well. After all, Samsung is sort of like the Apple of the Android world – if you’re comfortable with the ecosystem, it’ll work for you.
Thanks to all these connection options, you can operate the M5 and M7 smart monitors without a PC or notebook. If you’re a tech nerd like me, that might not be a decisive factor, although it can be for a lot of other people, as it lets you connect work and home life in the best possible way.
I mean, you can obviously still achieve that by hooking up any old monitor to your PC or using a Chromecast. But then you’d still end up with an extra device. Whereas, with smart monitors, you've got everything integrated in one.
Sign of the times: monitors will probably have smart options more often
The built-in speakers are fine and on a par with other smart TVs. In other words, you’ll be looking for bass and volume controls to no avail. Fortunately, one of the HDMI ports features ARC, which lets you use a soundbar.
Display quality
When it comes to watching TV, I like the image quality on the M5 and M7. Although I do prefer the M7 as it boasts 2160p-resolution. I didn’t detect any anomalies with either of the monitors when I did the EIZO monitor test.
I used the x-rite i1 Display Pro to measure the monitors.
Based on static contrast, the M5 panel fares well. The contrast is 3620:1, while Samsung’s official spec is 3000:1. It’s not as good a result with the M7. I record 3105:1. But in both cases, the figure is better than Samsung’s promised 3000:1. What’s pleasing in both monitors is that backlight bleeding is minimal.
When we come to colour space coverage, it doesn’t look as good for the M5 or the M7.
M5
- 96.7% sRGB.
- 71.5% Adobe RGB.
- 74.7% DCI P3
M7
- 93.4% sRGB.
- 67.2% Adobe RGB
- 69.8% DCI P3
For standard office-related work, these values are ample. But if you're doing any serious image or video editing, the Adobe RGB and DCI P3 values won’t cut it. You’d need to be looking at percentages above 90. But as we’ve already discussed, these monitors are designed for a home office.
Shaky stand
Looks-wise, the smart monitors are like your average office monitor: plain casing on an inconspicuous stand. The monitors are almost bezel-less. When they’re switched off, the edges at the top and sides are only about 3 mm. Once you switch the monitors on, you get another 5 mm blacked out at the edge.
While the plain, metal stand ensures the monitors don’t tip over, it does make both the M5 and M7 shake a fair bit. It’s a good thing we don’t get big earthquakes in Switzerland.
From an ergonomics point of view, the M5 and M7 are more like smart TVs than monitors. You can only tilt them forwards or backwards. There’s no option to adjust the height or swivel them.
Verdict: the M5 and M7 have carved out their niche
For gamers or people who need greater image quality, neither the M5 or M7 deliver the goods. Similarly, these smart monitors probably aren’t for people who already have a separate monitor and TV.
So, why should you choose the M5 or M7 over a TV as a monitor? Thanks to their ports and image quality, smart monitors have more to offer than a comparable TV in the same price range. And what’s wrong with just using a monitor as a TV? You’d need to either use an additional device, such as a Chromecast or a PC/notebook.
I’m sure there's a market for the M5 and M7. But for those of us with slightly greater requirements, it would be great to see another more expensive model released with improved image quality and a higher refresh rate.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
Computing
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
