Review of the curved 4K UR59C monitor from Samsung: premium image,…

Just five years ago, Sharp released one of the first UHD / 4K monitors, the 32-inch PN-K321 at a high price of $ 3,000. It wasn’t long before cheaper alternatives emerged, but they relied on 28-inch TN panels to keep prices closer to $ 600.

Pro

• Impressive image
• Accurate after calibration
• Build quality
• Effective curvature

Cons

• There is no G-Sync or FreeSync
• No USB port
• Calibration required

Verdict

Samsung UR59C left some features to reach its 4K budget price. But it makes up for it with amazing image quality and solid gameplay when handled with fast graphics cards.

Currently, it is not difficult to find a 32-inch 4K resolution monitor priced under $ 1,000. Our favorite for general use is the BenQ PD3200U, which we reviewed in 2017. The display is valid for $ 700 at time of writing, but what if you could put a 32-inch curved UHD monitor on your desk for under $ 500? Well, you can with Samsung UR59C.

Samsung UR59C 4K curved monitor. (Credit: Samsung)

Samsung UR59C 4K monitor specifications

UR59C (you may also see it listed as U32R59C) is a curved, 16: 9 VA monitor with 31.5-inch active area and a resolution of 3840 x 2160 for a pixel density of 139 pixels per inch. VA stands for high contrast, and UR59C doesn’t disappoint with a dynamic range of over 2,500: 1. Color is in the realm of sRGB, where Samsung claims 103% volume.

Unfortunately, the refresh rate is maximum at 60Hz, and there is no adaptive sync (like FreeSync or G-Sync). That’s a bit frustrating for gamers, but to be fair, Samsung doesn’t market the UR59C as a gaming monitor. To its credit, it has a fast 4 mile response time, and our tests show it has a lower input lag than most other 60Hz UHD monitors we’ve tested.

Disassembly and Accessories

The base and upright must be installed with retaining bolts, then the panel is mounted with a Phillips screwdriver. External power supply, but instead of ordinary bricks, you get a large wall wart, which is narrow enough not to block other plugs on the strip. The only other cable is HDMI. There is no USB port, therefore there are no more cables.

360 products

The UR59C is simple and unpretentious, while it is a clear Samsung. The 1500mm curve radius sounds tight on paper, but because it is not ultra wide, the curve seems less extreme in person. There is no image distortion, and the curves are quite natural, transporting the sides of the screen naturally and long enough to keep the entire desk in peripheral vision when sitting 3 feet away.

This image is very clear, thanks to the anti-glare coating that is very good at maintaining reflections from the road. Slim bezels surround the top and sides with a wide band across the bottom. Control is done with a joystick on the rear right. Change power and navigate the on-screen display (OSD) easily and intuitively.

Some savings seem to come from the stand, which is a minimalist affair. Although it is very solid, it is also very light and thin. With no vertical or rotary movements, the only setting is 17 degrees back and 2 degrees forward slope. The fulcrum is low, so tilting the panel keeps it away from the top. There is no VESA mount, which means it is stuck with a factory mount.

The side profile is as thin as a curved monitor. On the back, you will find a textured plastic surface that is not broken by corners or vents. Heat is not a factor; You can expect a good UR59C race.

The entry panel is hidden under the snap-on circular cover, and you can pull the cable through the hole for a super clean look. The photo shows the Mini DisplayPort input, but our sample comes with a standard size port, version 1.2. HDMI is version 2.0, so it works with the full native resolution of the monitor. There are no internal speakers, but there is a headphone jack, plus volume control on the OSD.

OSD function

To call the OSD, press the joystick, click and press again. You can also adjust the picture-in-picture (PIP) and source without entering the full menu. The feature set is suitable for this type of monitor with a three-level overdrive, game mode and all necessary controls for calibration.

Samsung calls Magic Bright drawing mode, and UR59C has four. Custom is the default setting and the best starting point for calibration. Yes, you will want to make some adjustments because in the factory settings we see some loss of detail in the darkest and brightest areas of the image. Color looks great from the get-go, but high-contrast VA panels can provide plenty of detail and dynamic range when configured correctly.

If you prefer to use low blue light mode to help reduce eye fatigue, that setting, known as the Eye Saver, is available in the second part of the Image menu. This heats the color temperature and reduces the brightness.

There is also a game mode, which changes colors to help focus the image. It works as promised, but after that some colors are not natural. Instead, we recommend making some changes to the RGB slider, the default gamma, and the HDMI black level. We will show you which one below.

There is also a game mode, which changes colors to help focus the image. It works as promised, but it makes some colors look unnatural. Instead, we recommend making some changes to the RGB slider, the default gamma, and the HDMI black level. We will show you which one below.

If you want to view two sources at once, you can choose between PIP and Picture-by-Picture (PBP). Contrast can be adjusted independently on both windows, and you can choose which audio headphone jack you are sending.

Settings and Calibration

The biggest problem we noticed when turning on the UR59C was its gamma curve. Initial measurements show that it is tilted, so subtle light and shadow details are difficult to see.

At a minimum, we recommend changing the HDMI black level to Normal and selecting the Gamma 2 mode setting. If you want to go further, try our RGB setting below. Once called, this monitor is very accurate, as a professional level, on all metrics.

These are the values ​​we use during testing:

Play and practice

Many users ask why there is a 16: 9 curved monitor. Based on previous observations, we have asked the same. They don’t offer enough curves to really make a coverage effect, at least unlike the ultra-wide screen. But UR59C managed to do something new. Thanks to its 1500R radius, the curve makes a noticeable difference and provides significant benefits.

The 32-inch monitor is undoubtedly large, and at a typical desktop viewing distance, the flat panel has the user positioned windows in the middle with less important elements lowered to one side. I wrote this article on a 32 inch flat screen, and although I have several windows open, only the middle one (Microsoft Word) can get my attention. When I try the same in UR59C, I can leave a message windows open to the side, and the content stays on my visual radar. Still, the effect is subtle but palpable.

The clarity of the UR59C is first-class, due to the high pixel density and high contrast. The benefits of a wide dynamic range cannot be underestimated: everything looks better. Thicker colors, clearer photos and videos, and black text on a white background are easier to read. If color accuracy is a priority for you, this monitor won’t disappoint. Image fidelity is the best we’ve seen.

We approach the game with skepticism. After playing on so many FreeSync and high-speed G-Sync monitors, we wondered how it would return to the usual 60Hz screen. With a PC using an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FE graphics card, the experience exceeds expectations. In Tomb Raider, we find the best results when configuring V-Sync in triple buffer mode. No input lag can be seen and screen breaks are removed. Turning it off produces the expected tears, though a constant speed of 60 frames per second (fps) prevents the action from getting stuck or stuttering. Overdrive UR59C works well in the fastest configuration. It makes blurry movements to a minimum, and we never see traces of ghosts or objects.

Samsung’s high contrast makes Call of Duty: WWII a real treat. The cut scene looks like a live-action movie, no doubt due to its 4K resolution and exceptional color. Although we are fans of fast, low-resolution monitors like Gigabyte Aorus KD25F (240Hz, 1080p resolution), there is something to be said for high pixel density and contrast. Like ours Windows Experience, everything in the game looks better. Trees and grass are more realistic, rocks are more rocky, the ground is dirtier, and reflections from shiny objects really create a sense of depth. No IPS or TN screen can duplicate image quality and this kind of realism.

It’s hard to admit, but we don’t miss adaptive timing. What you can extract is that if your video card is fast enough, it is not absolutely necessary. Because our frame rate remains solid at 60fps, the UR59C’s fast response creates blur and input delay, which is not an issue. Although it is not a complete gaming monitor, we believe that most gamers will be satisfied with the experience it provides.

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