Samsung prices its 27-inch 5K monitor at $1,599 – just like Apple’s Studio Display

Seven months after announcing the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 desktop monitor at CES 2023, Samsung is finally spilling the beans on pricing and availability details. Let’s get this straight: The 5K display, which is being touted as a possible alternative to rival monitors from LG and Apple, will cost $1,599.99 and you’ll be able to buy it from Samsung and other retailers in August.

$1,599 is the same starting MSRP as Apple’s Studio Display — also a 27-inch 5K monitor. It is rumored (though not confirmed) that both these screens could use almost identical panels if not exactly the same components. The 5K display is incredibly sharp at 27 inches, but by the rest of today’s standards, this display feels a bit outdated: There’s no local dimming, which is a key technical feature for optimal contrast on LCD TVs. Samsung says the ViewFinity S9 covers 99 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, so it’s perfect for photo editing.

Putting the panel aside, you could make the case that Samsung is giving you a bit more for your money with multiple connectivity options and a height-adjustable stand out of the box; Choosing the height-adjustable Studio Display brings Apple’s price up to $1,999.

Viewfinity also has a “pivot mode” where it rotates 90 degrees to fit more text on the screen with less scrolling. Instead of building a webcam directly into the screen’s bezel, Samsung has included “a built-in 4K SlimFit camera that connects via pogo pins without additional cables or tools.” The Studio Display’s camera was pretty weak before a firmware update fixed it, so we’ll see how Samsung’s approach compares.

Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge

For I/O, the ViewFinity S9 offers Thunderbolt 4 (with up to 90W passthrough charging), USB-C, and Mini DisplayPort. And as is the case with its smart monitor lineup, Samsung is loading this 27-inch 5K display with a standard mix of TV streaming apps and additional features like its gaming hub (with access to Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now). Used to be. Samsung is also talking up the S9’s calibration process, which uses your phone’s camera for easy adjustments without the need for separate, expensive tools:

The ViewFinity S9 uses a smartphone-controlled Smart Calibration feature, an industry first. Users can easily customize the screen for precise settings whenever they want without expensive, complicated calibration tools. Using the SmartThings app, users can choose to calibrate in Basic mode for quick and easy adjustments to white balance and gamma settings, or they can use Professional mode for complete control of color temperature, brightness, color space and gamma settings. Can Users can initiate the process by simply pointing their smartphone’s camera at the ViewFinity S9, and after calibration, they can view a report detailing the adjustments made and Delta E color accuracy.

Photo by Chris Welch/The Verge

And although I didn’t get a chance to hear them during my CES preview, this monitor does have built-in speakers. Samsung says that their Adaptive Sound Plus feature “automatically adjusts to noise levels.” And yes, there is also a remote control included.

You can bet that in August we’ll be pitting the ViewFinity S9 and Apple Studio Display against each other to find out just how similar their 5K LCD panels are — and whether Samsung’s different types of ports and ports are what separates them. Decent webcams are enough to beat Apple’s great build quality. and system-level macOS integration.