What just happened? Samsung showed off another of its Odyssey gaming monitors at CES yesterday, one that falls into the category of unconventional. Not only does the Odyssey Ark measure a TV-like 55-inches, but it also has a massive curve and can be rotated into portrait mode.
Samsung grabbed gamers' attention earlier this week when it revealed the 32-inch Odyssey Neo G8, the world's first monitor to combine a 4K resolution with a blistering 240Hz refresh rate. With the Odyssey Ark, another 4K display, Samsung didn't reveal the refresh rate or other specs, but it does have a few features that set it apart from the pack.
The most noticeable element of this monitor is that it's massive: an outrageous 55-inches, making it the size of many standard television sets. Samsung says the 16:9 display's "multi-view" feature uses an "adaptable screen size to fit the game or the program without compromising its 4K display and bright, colorful images." It also comes with a dial controller for managing the lighting and the interface.
The monitor has what looks like a pretty extreme curve---Samsung didn't reveal the radius (R). The 49-inch Odyssey Neo G9 has a 1000R curve, so we could be looking at the same thing here.
Here is a first look at the INSANE Odyssey Ark from @Samsung! This is a curved 55" 4K Monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio... Can do some serious gaming/multitasking on this! #ces #samsung pic.twitter.com/Y82hbeY9gg
--- Tim Schofield (@qbking77) January 5, 2022
But the most interesting feature in the Odyssey Ark is its ability to swivel into portrait mode. It's a feature available in plenty of monitors, but not something you'd expect to find in one measuring 55-inches and with such an aggressive curve. Samsung says it gives users a "cockpit-style" view to "[offer] a new gaming experience." Tim Schofield shows how this orientation can be used for multitasking with games, streams, and videos open simultaneously---or you could just have the world's longest Twitter feed on your display.
No word on the Odyssey Ark's availability or price. The Odyssey Neo G9 has a $2,500 MSRP, so expect this one to carry a hefty price tag.