‘Is there a point where refresh rate just stops mattering?’: I chat to Samsung’s monitor experts about its crazy-fast 1100Hz gaming display
I caught up with Samsung's Jeremy Demont and Pepe Distra at Gamescom 2026 to talk through the 2027 Odyssey range.
At Gamescom 2026, Samsung showcased its cutting-edge 2027 Odyssey OLED lineup, which included monitors and TVs with impressive features. Among the highlights were monitors with refresh rates as high as 1100Hz, 6K gaming displays, and glasses-free 3D technology. The company emphasized the importance of strong partnerships with eSports professionals and studios to optimize its products.
One of Samsung's latest offerings is the Odyssey OLED G8, a 32-inch 4K tandem QD-OLED panel that runs at 360Hz natively, but can drop to 1440p resolution for 520Hz or Full HD for 680Hz. This triple-mode feature was a first for Samsung, as it couldn't be added later via firmware. The purpose of this triple mode was to provide a middle ground, where high-end gamers could benefit from the increased refresh rate, while average users could enjoy a more practical refresh rate after dropping from 4K to 1440p.
When asked if there's a point where refresh rate stops mattering, Samsung's Head of Monitor Pepe Distra said that focusing solely on 1100Hz would limit the market to eSports enthusiasts. He explained that the company's dual- and triple-mode panels allow users to adjust the refresh rate according to their needs, dropping back to a lower resolution for everyday use.
Distra didn't commit to pushing refresh rates beyond 1100Hz, but acknowledged that future developments would depend on the industry's collective efforts and content support.
Samsung also showcased its commitment to glasses-free 3D technology, which has faced challenges in the past. The company believes that content issues, rather than hardware limitations, hindered the technology's success. To address this, Samsung has focused on securing AAA game support, primarily with the recently announced Cyberpunk 2077 3D compatibility.
The company sees a parallel with HDR10+ on TV, where streaming giants quickly adopted the standard once the ecosystem made it easy to support. Samsung is optimistic about similar adoption curves for HDR10+ gaming, with over 20 games expected to support the standard by the first half of 2027.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
