Samsung C27F591 Review

Samsung have put together a new range of ultra curved monitors that promise to provide you with a unique immersive gaming experience. I’ll have to be honest, I’ve never owned a curved monitor so I am unable to comment on whether these monitors deliver on that promise but I have to admit the Samsung C27F591 does look like one attractive looking display.

The C27F591 is gamer friendly thanks to the included gamer mode, and more importantly, it is FreeSync compatible for those who have an appropriate AMD graphics card to connect up to it. FreeSync helps provide us gamers with super smooth tear free gaming even when your PC is struggling to keep up with the on screen action.

It does seem fairly pricey at launch, but we hope the price will drop down to become more competitive. Whilst this is a stylish looking monitor and one of the most curved models we’ve seen it is only a 1080p display and that might not be enough to convince you to pay a premium over the ever increasing number of game ready competitors out there.

There is a cheaper model to consider, the CF27F390. It looks very similar on the surface with the only obvious feature difference being the lack of speakers and different physical design. The Samsung press release does mention superior colour range on the C27F591.

Build Quality

The key feature of the Samsung C27F591 must be its 1,800mm radius curve in comparison to the more typical wider 2,400mm-radius curve seen in existing monitors. The design breaks the typical mold, it has a rounded base, satisfyingly thin left, right and top bezel with a silver metallic plastic finish throughout. The overall look is stylish and uncluttered.

Setup is made easier thanks to a control joystick positioned on the rear. This all sounds good but unfortunately it loses out when it comes to adjustability. The C27F591 is stuck at a fixed height, the taller amongst us may what to place the stand on a a couple of books to raise it up – which does nothing for the aesthetics of this stylish monitor!

There are built in speakers, but don’t get too excited. If you have any interest in high fidelity music you won’t be using them. However, if you like having speakers to hand for playing the odd bleeps and blips that Windows throws out at you then you’ll be glad they are there.

Performance

The Samsung is a 60hz 1080p monitor which means you wouldn’t really categorise it as a gaming monitor. That said, thanks to its 4ms response time it is not slouch when it comes to reproducing fast moving graphics. It also includes the FreeSync adaptive synchronisation technology which eliminates screen tearing thus providing with a clear unbroken image during moments of high action. So whilst it is not specifically designed for games, it will do a good job.

The Samsung uses a VA panel, typically most monitors we see here are either TN or IPS based, this technology provides deeper blacks and punchy colours but as usual you can’t have it all as viewing angles are slightly restricted. But the VA technology delivers vibrant punchy colours on the C27F591 right out of the box. Professional reviewers have scored the colour accuracy highly so you can be sure of faithful reproduction. There are a number of inbuilt configurations, for example Eye Saver and Cinema mode, which will pre-set the monitor to appropriate levels of brightness etc.

As predicted, there is an issue with viewing angles. It should be OK when sat directly in front of the monitor at your desk, but you don’t have to move your head far before the colour accuracy begins to deteriorate. I guess you can’t have it all.