In brief: Most people assume that 3D consumer displays became obsolete many years ago, joining the likes of VHS cassettes and fax machines. But Samsung's new Odyssey gaming monitor does offer 3D capabilities, albeit with a difference: not only are glasses not required, but it can also switch between 2D and 3D content with the press of a button.
Samsung first showed off the Odyssey 3D at CES in January this year. We've seen several glasses-free 3D TVs over the years, but consumers generally seem uninterested in the technology.
Samsung believes things could be different with its monitor, though. The Odyssey 3D's stereoscopic 3D visuals are enabled using Light Field Display (LFD) technology. It combines a lenticular lens, which uses hardware to direct different images to each eye, with a pair of built-in eye-tracking cameras and view mapping tech that adjusts the image to enhance depth perception.
Sending the different images to a user's eyes is what creates the Stereoscopic 3D effect. This means the 3D images can only be viewed by one person at a time, but that shouldn't be an issue with a gaming monitor.
Samsung boasts that the monitor can "seamlessly" switch between 2D and 3D and will be available with a 27-inch display and a 37-inch screen, the latter of which is an unusual size for a monitor.
As for its other features, the Odyssey 3D features a 4K resolution on its QLED panel, 1ms GtG response time, FreeSync Premium, and a 165Hz refresh rate, all of which make it sound like a good gaming monitor even without any fancy extras. It also comes with a single DisplayPort 1.4 input, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a tilting, height-adjustable stand. What Samsung hasn't mentioned is the all-important price, which could be a make-or-break factor; one expects the 37-inch version to be especially expensive.
Opinions on the quality of the monitor's 3D capabilities have been mixed. The Verge writes that it left a good impression and not having to wear glasses made the experience a fun one. PC Gamer wasn't as impressed, saying the effect isn't entirely convincing.
When it was shown off at CES, Samsung wasn't clear if the Odyssey 3D was a concept or if it would become a real product. The Korean giant has now confirmed that it will be released "within this year."
Samsung's 4K Odyssey monitor that can switch from 2D to glasses-free 3D arrives this year
