Some people don’t need to have both a TV and a monitor in their office or bedroom. There might just not be enough space, or money might be a factor. If this sounds like you, consider the beautifully designed Samsung M8, a smart monitor that doubles as a TV and a gaming hub, currently $399.99 (originally $699.99) after a 43% discount.
This 32-inch monitor has a 4K UHD 3840 by 2160p resolution VA display that can withstand brightly lit rooms, thanks to its 400 nits bright display (good for a monitor, but not for a TV). If you’re going to watch media in HDR, it supports HDR10+ and still gets bright, but the contrast won’t be as good as TVs around this price range in bright settings. If you’re watching in a dark room, details will be more noticeable. The monitor comes with a remote, which is what gives it that TV feeling. It makes moving around the built-in Samsung Tizen OS a breeze.
It comes with Alexa built in as well, which adds to the smart monitor aspect. You can control your smart home or get the usual voice assistant features. The removable webcam can easily attach to the back of the monitor; while the resolution is good, the color is subpar. There are built-in speakers, but they’re not the best, and there is no audio-out jack, which limits what speakers you can hook up to it if you want to do that in the future.
Gamers might appreciate the Samsung Gaming Hub on Tizen OS, again, which is easily accessible with the controller. The monitor has a high native contrast ratio, which will make games look good, but there is no motion handling, VRR, or fast refresh rate (only 60Hz). So it’s best for casual gamers but not serious ones.
Daniel Oropeza
Staff Writer
Daniel is a Staff Writer for Lifehacker. He served in the U.S. Navy, where he reached the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class as a Logistic Specialist and was awarded a Navy Community Service Medal and Navy Letter of Commendation for his exemplary service aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. He earned his bachelor’s in Environmental Science from the University of California, Davis, and earned his master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Daniel was a business reporter for the Miami Herald before joining Lifehacker. He lives in Atlanta, GA.
