expirediconian | Staff posted Sep 27, 2024 06:59 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
expirediconian | Staff posted Sep 27, 2024 06:59 PM
32" Samsung M70C 4K UHD Smart Monitor w/ Streaming TV (White)
+ Free Shipping$249
$600
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I like the multi use, but buying the same one and risking it doing the same thing does not make sense. The LG 32"32SR73U-W will give similar features for a little more money and it also has a remote. I use this monitor in as my top monitor and I cannot easily reach a control button. This deal is still good. I need to decide quickly.
TLDR:
I would wait till Black Friday and see if you can get a better model - if you can, go for the higher spec M80 series which have brighter and possibly more colourful screens. For me the 300 nits max of the M70C is too low as a monitor and for movies unless you're in a dark room. I would look out for reviews (watch out there are fakes) esp around comments on colour - suspect the M80 series is better there too. Lastly, if you're looking for PBP or PIP for HDMI + USB-C I believe this is not possible (but I could be wrong). Maybe look out for a mini-LED monitor and chuck a firestick on it - prices are coming down and they'd be much better picture quality.
Long version
I bought the earlier, slightly lower spec 32" M70A back in April 2021 from NewEgg for about this price - it came in at $265 incl shipping and tax. At that price, I am ok about making a mistake and repurposing (which I have - my kiddos use it to watch movies at night and are approaching the age where a second screen for school work would be useful).
That model's tech specs said that it could handle HDR 10, but think that's a red herring - the panel is for me, dim at 250 nits max brightness. The M70C in this Slickdeal is I believe only a little brighter at 300 nits.
Also with the M70A, the colour is not good - 8 bit panel - you won't hear people talking about it being "vibrant" or "colourful". It is really meh. The RGB or DCI-P3 specs are not published for the M70A, but I'll bet they're low. I would be checking the colour out for the M70C - it does say the colour support is 10bit (vs 8) but it's worth looking at.
I had intended to use it for work as an external monitor, and had been duped by the early Samsung promo pictures which showed multiple screens on the same monitor - it was a complete fake btw - these smart monitors (and I believe this goes for all of them for all revisions, M7 and M8) CANNOT support PBP or PIP for USB-C and HDMI input. This may have changed but I DO NOT believe the "Multi view" feature that came in subsequent versions allows you to use say HDMI and USB-C in PIP/PBP.
I do occasionally still use it as my external monitor. The sound is REALLY tinny. My macbook is FAR, FAR better. Not just different grid square better, different planet better.
Overall, my M70A just didn't hack it as a computer monitor - even my 2012 iMac is streets ahead and I can't imaging what a more recent 27" Apple 5k iMac looks like. Maybe Apple spoiled me, but if I had to do this again, I would either:
1. Wait till the M8 version goes on sale AND watch for comments about colour in the reviews - but I'd really only go this route if I wanted a dual use system that had to be SIMPLE (as in for young kids to use)
OR
2. Since things have moved on and we're seeing miniLED monitors come out at increasingly affordable prices, perhaps go that route - that would be my preference now since I value the display quality over the convenience of the built in "smarts"
So if you're looking at the 70C on offer here, if you're ok with all the above, go for it but personally I'd wait to see if the M80 or mini-LEDs go on special. Black Friday is after all just around the corner.
hth Dingo
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