Samsung Odyssey 2019 Hands-on Review: A Promising Gaming Laptop


5 min read 01-11-2024
Samsung Odyssey 2019 Hands-on Review: A Promising Gaming Laptop

Samsung Odyssey 2019 Hands-on Review: A Promising Gaming Laptop

In the ever-evolving world of gaming laptops, Samsung has made a bold entry with the Odyssey 2019. This sleek, powerful machine promises a premium gaming experience, but does it deliver on its lofty aspirations? We recently got our hands on the Odyssey 2019 and spent some quality time with it to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Design and Build

The Odyssey 2019 is a head-turner. Its futuristic design, with sharp angles and a bold, almost aggressive aesthetic, immediately sets it apart from the pack. The dark gray chassis, accented by blue accents, has a distinct premium feel, thanks to the use of high-quality materials. The build quality is excellent, with no creaking or flexing, even when subjected to some light pressure. The keyboard is a delight to use, with responsive keys that provide a satisfying click. The touchpad, too, is smooth and accurate, making it a viable alternative to a dedicated mouse in many situations.

One of the most striking design elements is the integrated RGB lighting strip, located at the rear of the laptop. This lighting adds a touch of flair and can be customized with different colors and patterns. It's a small detail, but one that adds to the overall visual appeal of the Odyssey 2019.

Display: A Visual Feast

The Odyssey 2019 comes equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display boasting a refresh rate of 144Hz. This high refresh rate is a key element for a smooth gaming experience, especially in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts. The display also features a response time of 3ms, ensuring minimal motion blur.

During our hands-on time, we were impressed by the vibrant colors, sharp details, and impressive contrast ratio. The display handled even the most demanding visuals with ease, providing a truly immersive gaming experience. The 144Hz refresh rate really shines in games like "Apex Legends" and "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive," where smooth, fluid action is essential for competitive play.

Performance: Power to Spare

Under the hood, the Odyssey 2019 boasts powerful hardware that can handle the most demanding AAA games with ease. Our review unit was equipped with an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a GeForce RTX 2070 GPU. This combination delivers exceptional performance in both single-player and multiplayer games, providing a smooth and lag-free gaming experience.

We put the Odyssey 2019 through its paces with a range of games, including "Red Dead Redemption 2," "Shadow of the Tomb Raider," and "Forza Horizon 4." The laptop performed exceptionally well in all of them, maintaining high frame rates and smooth gameplay even at demanding graphics settings. The RTX 2070 GPU, with its support for ray tracing and DLSS, ensures a truly next-generation gaming experience.

Thermals: Keeping Cool Under Pressure

One of the major concerns with high-performance gaming laptops is overheating. Samsung has addressed this issue with the Odyssey 2019 by implementing an advanced cooling system. The laptop features a dedicated cooling module with multiple heat pipes and fans, ensuring efficient heat dissipation.

During our testing, we were impressed by the effectiveness of the cooling system. Even after prolonged gaming sessions, the laptop remained cool to the touch, with no noticeable throttling. This is a testament to Samsung's engineering prowess and a key selling point for gamers who demand consistent performance.

Battery Life: A Mixed Bag

While the Odyssey 2019 is primarily designed for gaming, it's also capable of handling light productivity tasks. However, its battery life is not its strongest suit. We found that the laptop could last for around 4-5 hours on a single charge, which is decent for light tasks but falls short of the 6-7 hours we expect from a modern gaming laptop.

It's important to note that the battery life can vary significantly depending on usage patterns. If you're solely focusing on gaming, you can expect even shorter battery life. However, if you are primarily using the laptop for light tasks like browsing the web and writing documents, you can get closer to the 4-5 hour mark.

Connectivity: A Comprehensive Offering

The Odyssey 2019 is well-equipped in terms of connectivity. It offers a variety of ports, including USB Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals. The laptop also features Wi-Fi 6 for fast and reliable internet connectivity, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 for connecting wireless devices.

Audio: Immersive and Clear

The Odyssey 2019 is equipped with a pair of stereo speakers that deliver clear, crisp audio. They are loud enough for gaming and multimedia consumption, though we did notice some distortion at high volumes. The audio quality is acceptable for casual gaming and multimedia, but for a truly immersive experience, we recommend using a headset.

Verdict: A Strong Contender in the Gaming Laptop Arena

The Samsung Odyssey 2019 is a compelling gaming laptop that offers a premium gaming experience. Its sleek design, powerful hardware, and excellent cooling system make it a strong contender in the crowded gaming laptop market. However, its battery life falls slightly short of expectations, and the audio quality could be better.

Overall, the Odyssey 2019 is a promising gaming laptop that strikes a good balance between performance and portability. If you are looking for a powerful and stylish gaming laptop, the Odyssey 2019 is definitely worth considering.

FAQs

Q1. Is the Samsung Odyssey 2019 good for casual gamers?

A1: Yes, the Odyssey 2019 is a great choice for casual gamers. Its powerful hardware and high refresh rate display provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience.

Q2. What are the system requirements for the Samsung Odyssey 2019?

A2: The Odyssey 2019 requires a minimum of Windows 10 64-bit operating system, an Intel Core i5-8300H processor, 8GB of RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card.

Q3. Is the Samsung Odyssey 2019 good for streaming?

A3: Yes, the Odyssey 2019 is an excellent choice for streaming. Its powerful hardware and dedicated graphics card allow for smooth and high-quality streaming.

Q4. How long does the battery last on the Samsung Odyssey 2019?

A4: The battery life of the Odyssey 2019 varies depending on usage patterns. You can expect around 4-5 hours of battery life for light tasks and less for gaming.

Q5. What are the benefits of using the Samsung Odyssey 2019 for gaming?

A5: The Odyssey 2019 offers several benefits for gamers, including its high refresh rate display, powerful hardware, excellent cooling system, and immersive audio.

Conclusion

The Samsung Odyssey 2019 is a bold statement in the gaming laptop market. It combines a sleek design, powerful performance, and a comfortable user experience, making it a strong contender for gamers seeking a premium gaming experience. While its battery life could be better, and the audio quality has room for improvement, the Odyssey 2019 is a promising gaming laptop that delivers a smooth and immersive gaming experience. If you are looking for a stylish and powerful gaming laptop, the Odyssey 2019 is worth considering.