Just like a standard Samsung telly, all of these popular content platforms are easily accessible via the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. To make things feel even more like a television, the Smart Monitor even ships with a remote control to help whizz through menus, change the input settings and pump up the volume, from the other side of the room.
Now, it’s worth noting that, unlike a normal telly, there’s no aerial socket on the back of the Smart Monitor, but if you’re one of the millions who now stream their boxset binge, this really shouldn’t be an issue.
Along with being able to watch content directly from the web, there’s also other useful extras including in-built AirPlay 2. This makes it easy-peasy to beam content from Apple devices, like an iPhone or Mac, to the bigger screen. If you own a Galaxy device things get even better as you can just tap your phone on the side of the panel to share photos, games, and movies on the display.
If you’re like most people right now in lockdown, it’s likely that you may find yourself staring at a display for long periods and Samsung has you covered. If you do end up sitting in front of the Smart Monitor for hours of work and an evening of movies you’ll find your eyes are helped via useful Adaptive Picture technology which automatically adjusts brightness and colour temperature in response to room conditions.
Spin the screen around and you’ll find a couple of HDMI ports and there are two USB-A sockets which mean you can charge your gadgets straight from this display.
There’s certainly plenty to like about this concept and we can see consumers could be tempted by a monitor that’s also an entertainment hub, however, we do have some niggles. We tested the cheaper 32-inch M50A, £279, model which only features a 1080p HD (1,920 x 1,080) display. It’s pretty good but certainly doesn’t give you the same stunning experience we’ve come to expect from Samsung’s mainstream Smart TV range.
If you want a better resolution it might be worth upgrading to the £399 M70 which gets a 4K panel and 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. This more expensive model also ships with a USB-C port, which lets you transmit data and pictures over a single connection.
Another issue we had with the Smart Monitor is the stand. Despite twisting the screws in as hard as we dare, the display wobbled and never felt that secure. It’s not going to cause you a massive headache but it doesn’t feel like the premium products we’ve come to expect from Samsung.
One final annoyance is that skipping quickly through the on-screen menus can feel a little stuttery at times. It’s almost like the screen is a split second behind what your fingers are doing on the remote.
All that said, this versatile monitor starts from £229 for the 28-inch model which is pretty good value considering that it can also act as your connected TV.
PROS – Easily transforms into a smart TV • Ships with a remote control • Simple set-up and connection
CONS – Doesn’t feel that premium • Screen resolution not the best • Skipping through menus feels stuttery
If your home office doubles as a TV snug or a spare bedroom for guests, and you want a monitor for your PC that doubles-up as your entertainment hub – the M50 ticks all the right boxes.
It offers instant access to the most popular streaming services and the bundled remote control really makes it feel like a standard telly once your day in the home office is behind you. There are enough ports on the rear case to keep most people happy and the simple wireless connections to both Apple and Samsung devices is another big bonus.
However, opting for this two-in-one device does leave you with a slightly subpar experience when it comes to using the Smart Display as both a work monitor and as a telly. Most notably, the brightness and resolution really weren’t up to scratch, although this is fixed with the much pricier M70A model.
All in all, the Smart Monitor is a nice new idea from Samsung. However, your boss might not agree if your productivity levels take a drop.
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