REVIEW: Smart Monitor M8 2023, Samsung's multipurpose screen

The monitor market has received major updates in recent years: screens with higher fps rates, formats that deviate from the traditional 16:9, higher resolutions, better types of screens (OLED), but monitors continued to be just monitors and depended on other devices to perform your role.

A Samsung thought of changing the segment a little by bringing more features to the device. Ability to connect to the internet, super complete operating system and features that are rarely seen on monitors: the SmartMonitor M8 This is a versatile product, you can use it in different ways, including as a TV or connected wirelessly to a computer. We received the product to test and below you can see our impressions.

Design

Not much has changed since the previous version, and that's not a bad thing. O Smart Monitor M8 from 2022 (which we already have a review) It has a design that no one can fault.

Thin edges, very elegant body… it's a really beautiful monitor. At the bottom right we have the area for the remote control sensors, which even comes in the box with it. Speaking of the contents of the box, in addition to the monitor and control, we find some cables, the webcam and the power supply, which is a mess.

The body of the monitor is very thin and this is partly due to the power supply that is not built into it. On the front we have the screen, which is matte. In the image below you can see how thin it is and the matte appearance of the screen.

It is only sold in white and this can be a problem for those who live in regions where dust is abundant. It doesn't seem to be the type of material that will turn yellow, but it will definitely get dirty with dust. Talking quickly about the controller, it is very small and portable, has the buttons you could use most and can be recharged via USB-C.

On the back we have the connections, the Samsung logo, the button to navigate the menu and control it and the speakers, positioned on both sides to offer stereo sound. Regarding connections, there is USB-C, 2 conventional USB inputs and an HDMI 2.0 input.

Its base allows you to adjust the height, angle and rotate it 180°. Speaking of which, it is a very rigid and heavy base (around 3 kilos) to handle a screen of this size. It even has a hole to pass the cables through so they don't get messy on the table.

It's super easy to assemble everything, just connect base by base and then the monitor and that's it. You can do it yourself and you will only need a screwdriver to pry the base screw.

Finally, it is worth remembering that the monitor does not support the VESA standard for attaching to other types of supports or for attaching it to the wall. It's a shame, but its support is very beautiful and elegant and for aesthetic reasons you won't want to change it.

Image

A 32-inch monitor in 2023 practically requires 4K resolution or higher and here we have 3840 x 2160 pixels, that is, 4 Full-HD screens can fit in it — ideal for those who love multitasking.

The images reproduced are beautiful. To attend Foundation, the Apple TV+ series is a spectacle! Both for films, series, music videos, as well as for work and everyday life. He leaves something to be desired if his focus is on playing. The 60Hz refresh rate may hinder you depending on the games you play.

Among the screen specifications, it is worth highlighting:

• Static Contrast of 3,000:1;
• Response Time 4ms (GTG);
• Update Rate maximum 60Hz;
• HDR10 and even 1 billion colors;
• Brightness minimum of 300 cd/m² and maximum of 400 cd/m²;
• Type Panel GO;
• Viewing Angle (Horizontal/Vertical) 178°(H)/178°(V).

My main use has been for work and entertainment and it's wonderful to enjoy the productivity that 4K screens offer.

Extra Features

This is not an ordinary 4K monitor: Samsung spared no extra resources here and it works independently for several things, you can even play Xbox games via the Gaming Hub. Among the atypical monitor functions you have:

• AirPlay: to mirror iPhone, iPad or MacBook screen;
• Bluetooth: to pair with speakers or video game controllers;
• Bixby and Alexa: personal assistants;
• SmartThings: to control your home appliances via the monitor;
• Xbox CloudGaming: To play Xbox games via the cloud.

Operating System – Tizen

There is a universe of things that can be done in it. And as we already said, unlike traditional monitors that only “work” when connected to the computer/notebook/whatever, there is no need to connect any device for you to use it.

The system here is the well-known Tizen, the same one that comes with the manufacturer's TVs, and that's why you can download several common TV applications and enjoy several other functions that you will see below.

Remote control

Guys, it's a monitor with remote control. There's no way not to talk about it. It's exactly what we've seen in TV controls, you can increase and decrease the volume, navigate between menus, watch TV, access Bixby (the TV's personal assistant). Samsung), turn off and on and quickly access Netflix, balloon play, Amazon Prime Video and Samsung TV Plus, the free TV that Samsung offers in its products.

Removable camera

It's a monitor focused on those who will use it for work, and video calls are very common. Samsung ships a camera that can be attached to the back of the screen.

The manufacturer does not provide the resolution, but it comes with a magnetic cap to cover the camera when you want to make sure no one is watching you, and when activated it displays a red light. The image quality is quite good, not the best in the world, but it is sufficient. If you are going to use the Smart Monitor M8 on a notebook, to use the monitor's camera just click on “Switch camera” there.

I confess that although it is possible to adjust its height, it almost doesn't point downwards, where I am. So in the end I ended up using my laptop camera anyway.

Just connect the adapter to the camera and then to the monitor and that's it, everything is working.

gaming hub

Games are an increasingly present reality in the lives of more people and nowadays even those who do not have a console dedicated to gaming can enjoy console games. This monitor is an example of a product that offers this, via Xbox CloudGaming you can play games Xbox via the cloud, as long as you have a subscription to the service.

Wired Connections

This little guy's connections deserve to be highlighted and that's why a topic just to highlight them. Do you know the USB-C connection? So, in addition to being used for data, since it is a DisplayPort type, you can use it to recharge your notebook's battery. I used the M8 connected to my Dell Inspiron (which we already have a review of) using just one cable — what connected the notebook to the monitor. It was not necessary to have the notebook plugged in. If your notebook needs up to 65W of power, the monitor will do the job.

It also has 2 normal USB ports that you can use to connect your peripherals. Nowadays we know that notebooks come with almost or no normal USB input, so if you need it, just connect it to the monitor. It `s not perfect? Here I use everything wirelessly, and my notebook only has a USB input, so I connected the keyboard adapter Logitech MX Mechanical Mini (which we already reviewed) and Logitech MX Master 3 mouse.

See the photo below: 4 devices, and only 1 wire connecting them:

Audio

The Smart Monitor M8 has two sound outputs, one on each side for stereo, but there is no information about their power, except that there is Adaptive Sound+.

Look, given its price range, I confess that I expected better sound quality. You can listen to music through it, but not with the same involvement as on a TV. It's not bad, but the experience watching films/series and listening to music is not the same. For a monitor that presents itself as a multimedia solution, here is a suggestion for improvement.

Price

With so many features and functions, it is not cheap. At pichau the Smart Monitor M8 is costing R$ 4.199,00 in cash. By way of comparison, a 55″ QLED 4K Smart TV Also from Samsung, it costs R$3.400,00. They have very different proposals and uses, but the price difference needs to be remembered. The 8 Smart Monitor M2022 is R$200,00 cheaper, so it's worth paying more for the most current model.

For those who don't want to pay so much, or don't need something so big and full of features, another option is the Smart Monitor M5, also from Samsung (and we already have a review).

Smart Monitor M8 technical specifications

Córdoba	Smart Monitor M8 2023 LS32CM801ULXZD
Resolution	4K (3840 x 2160)
Game Mode	Yes
Adjustable	HDMI-CEC 2.0; 2 USB; USB-c (65W)
Aspect Ratio	16 × 9
Brightness	400 cd / ㎡
Refresh rate	60Hz
Response time	4ms (GTG)
HDR10	Yes
Operational system	Tizen
Size	Product with Base (WxHxD, mm) 713.4 x 616.2 x 200.1 mm Product without Base (WxHxD, mm) 713.4 x 423.8 x 24.5 mm
Weight	Weight of set with feet or base 7.2 kg Product weight without feet or base 4.2 kg
Accessories	Power cable with source; HDMI cable; USB-C cable; Remote Control; USB extender.

Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim (2 / 10 / 23)