Samsung has announced its second-generation 49-inch curved display supporting AMD’s FreeSync 2 technology. The new CRG9 monitor features a considerably higher resolution and brightness than the first-gen C49HG90 LCD introduced in mid-2017.

Samsung was the first display maker to launch a family of AMD FreeSync 2-supporting monitors in mid-2017 with a 49-inch curved C49HG90 LCD being its flagship offering. Without any doubts, the monitor was an impressive piece of hardware, yet at $1,499 it was not exactly perfect with its 3840×1080 resolution and a 600 nits brightness. Since then, a number of display suppliers have introduced their FreeSync 2-supporting offerings yet neither of them was actually as impressive as Samsung’s FS2 products. In the meantime, Samsung has been working on its second-gen FreeSync 2-enabled flagship monitor.

The new Samsung CRG9 ultra-wide display is based on the company’s new curved VA panel featuring a so-called 'dual QHD' resolution (5120×1440), a 1000 nits peak brightness, 178º/178º vertical/horizontal viewing angles, a 4 ms response time, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. In a bid to increase resolution of its flagship gaming display from 3840×1080 and brightness from 600 nits, Samsung had to lower refresh rate from 144 Hz to 120 Hz, which seems like a fair tradeoff.

Just like in case of the previous-gen 49-incher, the new CRG9 display has a LED backlighting enhanced with quantum dots that enable support for the DCI-P3 color space (as well as larger-than-sRGB gamut) and the HDR-focused AMD’s FreeSync 2. Speaking of HDR, the monitor fully supports HDR10 (but Samsung says nothing about Dolby Vision) and bearing in mind that we are dealing with a panel featuring a peak brightness of 1000 nits, it will likely carry VESA’s DisplayHDR 1000 badge.

Connectivity wise, the new monitor supports two DisplayPorts, one HDMI input, a USB 3.0 hub, and a headphone connector.

General Specs of Samsung's 2nd Gen 49-Inch LCD with AMD FreeSync 2
  CRG9 C49HG90
 
Panel 49" VA 49" VA
Native Resolution 5120 × 1440 3840 × 1080
Maximum Refresh Rate 120 Hz 144 Hz
Response Time 4 ms 1 ms MPRT
Brightness 1000 cd/m² 600 cd/m²
Contrast ? 3000:1 (typical)
2400:1 (minimal)
Backlighting LED w/Quantum Dots with local dimming LED w/Quantum Dots
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical (?) 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 1800R
Aspect Ratio 32:9 (3.56:1)
Color Gamut DCI-P3 95% DCI-P3
Dynamic Refresh Rate Tech AMD FreeSync 2
Pixel Pitch 0.234 mm² 0.312 mm²
Pixel Density 108.54 PPI 81.41 PPI
Inputs 2 × DisplayPort
1 × HDMI
1 × DisplayPort
1 × mDP
2 × HDMI
Audio 3.5 mm input and output
USB Hub USB 3.0 connectors 2 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors
1 × USB 3.0 Type-B input
MSRP ? $1499

Samsung did not disclose when it intends to start sales of the CRG9 monitor and how high its price is going to be. Based on unofficial information, the panel for the CRG9 display was expected to enter mass production in November 2018. If this is the case, then the commercial launch of the LCD is rather close. Samsung yet has to announce all the specs of its CRG9 monitor, so expect them to be disclosed around the time when it comes to market.

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Source: Samsung

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  • godrilla - Friday, February 1, 2019 - link

    The previous version is on the 600 nit list so I do not see why this model will not make the 1000 nit list.
  • lilkwarrior - Friday, January 4, 2019 - link

    I cringe every time these monitors are claimed to be 5K; I suppose LG had no choice but to call their true 4K ultrawide a "5K2K" monitor if we're gonna call 32:9 1440p monitors 5K
  • philehidiot - Saturday, January 5, 2019 - link

    Indeed, that caught me out. This isn't a true 5K monitor in my book. It's a 1440P ultrawide monitor. I find that incredibly misleading and also possibly something that will lose them sales. If I'm looking for a new monitor on a website, I do not include 5K monitors in my search. If they pop this in the 5K category, I will likely miss it or overlook it as soon as I see "5K" in the title. For my use, desk setup and system config, I want 1440P.

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