Samsung C24F390 Review
A budget monitor that offers crisp 1080p images and plays well
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BOTTOM LINE
EDITORS RATING
GOOD
The Samsung C24F390 is a an affordable 24-inch curved monitor that offers decent features such as AMD FreeSync and good color performance than most competitors. It’s not quite perfect, but these features are hard to beat at this price point.
The Samsung C24F390 might be the ultimate monitor users and gamers have been waiting for. It starts inexpensively but packs feature after feature into an elegant curved 1080p display that has good color accuracy and additional touches that makes everyday a pleasure. Between its affordable price and beautiful curved display, the C24F390 has everything you need to get productive whether at home or the office, and you can play games thanks to AMD FreeSync support.
Design
The Samsung C24F390 has an understated aesthetic, but very common among budget monitors. It lacks the bold colors and aggressive, angular stylings seen on competing gaming monitors like the 34-inch Sceptre C345W-2560UN gaming monitor. Instead, the monitor is cut from a dark-grey plastic with a subtle blue tint. It gets a simple stand that attaches to a circular base. The Samsung C24’s 24-inch curved panel measures 21.6 x 12.8 x 3.4 inches and weighs 6.2 pounds.
The most visually interesting apart of the monitor’s external design is the 24-inch curbed design. The stand has a vaguely industrial look that manages to be utilitarian without any bling. If you’re unimpressed by the blaring, over-the-top designs used on so many gaming peripherals, you’ll certainly like the C24F390.
The display itself has a curved panel. Compared, the LG 34UC89G-B has a gentle arc with a 3800R curve – meaning the arc has the same radius as a circle with a 3800-millimeter circumference – while the Alienware AW3420DW (1900R) has a more aggressive curvature. The Samsung C24 is more aggressive than both, with a curvature of 1800R, when it comes to monitor curvature, lower numbers indicate a smaller, tighter arc.
Inputs
In terms of inputs, there is an HDMI port, a D-Sub port, and a power connector, all placed around the back. They’re easy to access because they point outwards instead of downwards. There’s a 3.5mm. audio jacks – one for plugging in headphones and can be used for maintenance. It lacks a USB hub though, which is slightly disappointing.
Performance
The Samsung C24F uses a VA panel with a 1080p resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio to deliver good gaming performance and produces more shades of color. For the price, the monitor’s color quality is pretty great. When playing Grand Theft Auto V, night scenes look a little more true to life, with bright, glowing headlights and signs that are well illuminated against the low lighting. Colors are vibrant, especially blue tones in images of California skies and the red of the stolen sports car.
The display boasts a 4-milliseconds response time and a refresh rate of up to 60Hz, making it ideal for casual gaming action. It also supports AMD FreeSync, which matches frame rates and refresh rates that prevent screen tearing. It’s almost similar to Nvidia’s G-Sync technology in many respects, only that it doesn’t require the expense of additional hardware inside the monitor. That said, the second generation of FreeSync available on monitors like the Samsung CHG70, AMD also boosts color and dynamic range for games that support HDR (high dynamic range).
Color is accurate, too. However, the curved screen does introduce some odd issues with viewing angles. Thanks to the curve, some portions of the display are slightly closer to you than others, especially when you’re slightly off-center or moving your head. In these instances, the screen gets a pinkish hue on the outer edges, and red shifts slightly to more orange.
Bottom Line
The Samsung C24F390 is not unique, but at this price point offering a curved screen, AMD FreeSync support and punchy colors without compromising on gaming and color quality is a milestone few monitors manage. That said, the impact the curve has on such a small size may not be realized, unlike on a 27-inch or bigger screen. It also has a very minor impact on image quality, especially with the black bezel reflected onto bright backgrounds.
That said, the Samsung C24F390 is technically a very impressive budget monitor and sets the stage for a new breed of gaming monitors that don’t cost so much while not compromising on image quality.
If you want something bigger with excellent image quality, the Acer XF270HU is a great alternative. It costs slightly more, but with its 144Hz IPS screen, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel resolution and 27-inch size, it offers better value for those looking for a more immersive gaming experience.
Editors' Choice
Alienware AW3420DW Curved Monitor
1 used from $498.00
