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00:00Hey guys, I'm Tom of Tech Chap and if you had to pick between having a monitor or a TV, which would you go for?
00:06Well, what if I told you you could have both in one?
00:10Let me introduce you to the Samsung smart monitor M8 and I say monitor
00:15But this is just as much a TV as it is a regular 32 inch 4k monitor
00:21Samsung reckon this is all you need when it comes to working and also, you know
00:25Kicking back and watching some Netflix or Disney or binging the latest tech chat videos on YouTube
00:31but for
00:32699 pounds same in dollars. Is this actually worth buying?
00:36Well, first of all a big thank you to Samsung for sending this over for me to have a bit of a play with and
00:41Also sponsoring this video, but as always all opinions are my own
00:45So what exactly can this do? Well, it has all the major streaming apps
00:49You have free live TV channels a remote control USB C and HDMI for hooking up your PC or your Mac
00:56There's also screen casting and airplay for mirroring your phone your PC or your Mac
01:01We get smart home controls a face tracking webcam even a built-in browser deck support and actually office 365
01:08So you don't even need a computer attached to this to use it and there's also this very nifty
01:14Detachable webcam which just magnetically slots on the back there
01:18It also comes with a little lens cap cover if you want
01:22Privacy or you can just physically take the whole thing off and I love this design
01:26Especially having just come from the Apple studio display, which is very good in its own, right?
01:30But with that there is no physical way of hiding the camera. It also supports Amazon's voice assistant
01:37I don't want to say the name because with a in case it triggers your one as well as Bixby
01:41The thing is I genuinely haven't seen a monitor with as many features as the m8 since well last year's m7
01:49This is actually Samsung's second attempt at their smart monitor following the old model that I reviewed last year
01:54And while the m7 shares a lot of the same smart well smarts as the new m8
01:59It was let down a little bit by fairly ropey image quality and a bit of a cheap bill, especially given the price
02:05Don't get me wrong
02:06I did like the m7
02:07But this just feels like a refinement in almost every way including image quality, which is much better
02:13But there are still a couple of issues which I'll come to later in the video
02:17Design wise I think this thing looks great with narrow bezels a slim profile with this flat back and also this herringbone
02:24Kind of texture. We also get this neat little camera module and a nice clean design stand
02:30We even get four apparently flavorful color options
02:33Although the color only extends to the stand and this little strip along the front
02:38Height adjustment is pretty good
02:40Although it won't get quite high enough to sit above a 13 or 14 inch laptop screen
02:44Unless you tilt a fair bit as well
02:46And there's also no swivel except for moving the whole thing and the range of tilt is only just okay
02:52So who should actually buy this? Well, I think is kind of aimed at families
02:58Students even businesses where maybe you can't have a TV and a monitor for space or money issues
03:04And you just want something that does everything in one the screen basically acts as an all-in-one work
03:10Entertainment and smart home hub now if you are a regular on the channel, and if not, why not?
03:15But you'll hear me go on about how 27 inch 4k monitors are just a bit too small
03:20You really want 32 inches to fully take advantage of that higher resolution, which is what we have here
03:25I think this is the ideal size that's big enough. You could use as a TV maybe in the bedroom, you know
03:30From a few feet away, but also not so huge that it takes up your entire desk
03:35So you simply pick up the remote and turn it on and you'd be forgiven for thinking
03:39This is a TV the interface the settings menu feels lifted straight from a Samsung TV
03:44But actually once you get used to it
03:46It does all start to make sense with all the entertainment stuff under media and then wireless
03:51Casting options under workspace and with settings covering inputs and shortcuts and other smart home controls
03:58Every now and then I do see it sort of take a second or slow down a little bit
04:02So a slightly faster processor perhaps would have been nice
04:05But generally most the time it is pretty quick
04:09So media is basically the home screen and you get suggested TV and movies from streaming apps like Netflix
04:15Disney Plus Prime Apple TV and all the main UK based ones
04:19It also suggests shows from Samsung TV Plus which streams live TV channels via a TV style guide
04:26There aren't that many to choose from and also some of them are pretty obscure
04:29But it is free extra content and it's kind of fun
04:32We don't get a TV tuner built into this everything is streamed
04:36But you could always hook up a cable or satellite box via HDMI if you wanted to I'll tell you what it is
04:41We're doing this job sometimes
04:43Watching yourself back and sort of spending hours staring you in face when you're editing videos
04:47Anyway, as you'd expect from an all-in-one display like this we do get built-in speakers
04:53Like so
04:56And they get pretty loud
05:00Definitely lacking in a bit of bass. I still think a good pair of speakers
05:04Perhaps Bluetooth speakers would be better to really get that sort of immersive experience, especially if you're watching movies
05:10But they're okay. It does also have some clever adaptive sound tech that alters the audio to match ambient conditions
05:17But for me, I'd still prefer to have a separate set of speakers now around the back
05:21We have two USB C ports one of which supports display port and also a micro HDMI
05:26And yes, they do bundle a micro to full HDMI cable with the display in either case
05:32I got full 4k 60 without any issues
05:34And if you do go through the USB C port then you also get 65 watt laptop
05:39Charging and you can also use the m8 as a hub by connecting peripherals or storage drives to the second USB C port
05:45Alternatively, you can just cast your phone your PC or your Mac straight to the display, which is incredibly easy to set up
05:52Although depending on your connection, you may feel a bit of that latency and lag
05:56You can also use the m8 to control your smart home via the smart things control panel
06:01Although whether this is easier than just grabbing your phone in the first place
06:04I'm not sure but it is pretty convenient having the option direct on screen
06:08Especially as you can use the voice assistant even in standby mode
06:11We also get a built-in Tizen OS interface for browsing as well as office 365
06:17Just connect up a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard and you're good to go. No PC needed
06:22Alternatively if you install remote access to your computer at work, then you can actually log into it from the m8 at home
06:28We also get multi view which lets you use picture by picture or picture in picture from different inputs
06:34There are so many options with this and some of them you may never actually want to use
06:38But others could be exactly why you want to buy this
06:41Now there is a quick setup process required
06:44It's not just plug and play like a regular monitor
06:46But it's easy and you can either use the remote or the smart things app on your phone
06:50Once you're up and running you can jump into the settings menu
06:53Which is as I say lifted straight from a Samsung TV
06:56Although we do get some specific picture modes depending if you're working or after some entertainment
07:01There's even a dedicated game mode so far so good then but what about the actual image quality the panel?
07:07Well, I think it is worth keeping in mind that this is more of a general-purpose screen
07:12It's not really designed for a pro level graphics or editing but more for everyday office tasks and entertainment
07:17So I must admit it was pretty surprising that it's as color accurate as it is
07:21I tested it in multiple picture modes and found the graphics option to be the most accurate
07:25It is also a matte screen which helps reduce reflections
07:28We do get HDR 10 plus support and also brightness maxes out at around 425 nits, which is okay
07:36Viewing angles are they're not the best you definitely want to be sort of front and center with this
07:41That is something perhaps I would have liked to see and more of an improvement on especially as this could be you know
07:45On the other side of your room if you're watching TV with it
07:47I also found when there's a bright white background that you do get some quite obvious
07:52Vignetting or dimming towards the left and right hand edges even when you're sad dead center
07:57But overall considering the price and what this is meant to do. I think it's pretty good
08:02So if you go to connected devices then hop over to Samsung slim fit camera
08:07Which we've got mounted on top of here. You can hi there
08:11You can make Google duo calls straight to the display. You can also use it to watch yourself while also watching a YouTube video
08:18They suggest you could check your form
08:21While you're doing your bicep curls and you do all your stuff like that
08:25Which is pretty cool
08:26And you can change the source and also how big the screen is where it is
08:30if you want set picture-in-picture
08:31Add Bluetooth speakers if you want
08:34They've thought of everything. You also have the option up here to turn on smart camera, which then follows your face and keeps you
08:42nice and center in the frame or if you prefer the wider field of view and
08:46Know that motion you can just turn it off. All right, there we go
08:49This is being recorded with the webcam on top of the smart monitor
08:53I've got this running off my laptop, which is hooked up by USB C
08:57So hopefully it gives you an idea of that video and audio quality
09:01So I reckon by this point you're either thinking yes, give it to me take my money
09:05That is what I've been looking for in terms of a display a TV and a monitor or you're thinking well some nice features there
09:12But probably not something I would use very often in which case perhaps look elsewhere
09:16But if you are after a good quality 32 inch 4k display
09:21There can also be a bit of a TV and a bit of a smart home hub for you
09:25Considering it's what just under 700 pounds $700. I think it's pretty good value and also we get this nice slim design
09:32But what do you reckon? Could you see yourself using this?
09:35Let me know what you make of the m8 in the comments below and I'll also leave a link in the description if you want
09:39Check this out for yourself
09:40Thank you so much for watching guys. I'll see you next time right here on the tech chat