Introduction, design and specs
2015 is the year of curved devices and Samsung seems to be leading the charge. Samsung’s newest monitor, the 27-inch curved LED SD590CS, is gorgeously designed and easy to use.
Unfortunately, the SD590CS is quite costly for a non-4K monitor. With 4K monitors like the the 27-inch Viewsonic VX2880ml ($600, £399, AU$765), Samsung’s own gaming-centric 28-inch UD590 ($679, £429, AU$782), and the 28-inch Philips Brilliance 288P with a TN panel ($530, £345, AU$680), it’s hard to justify spending $429.99 (£278.26, AU$548.83), for a 27-inch monitor that isn’t 4K.
Design
The SD590CS features a minimalist design that is composed of a single metallic T-stand base that is elegant and simple. It is incredibly easy to set up – the base screws in with the neck (which uses thumb screws – though a screwdriver will make it secure) and the neck slides into the base of the monitor.
The bezel surrounding the monitor features a superb glossy black finish, and the metallic base accentuates the black for a nice design aesthetic. I would have liked a solid metal around the entirety of the monitor to create a bit of contrast, but the glossy black texture is easy on the eyes.
The base of the SD590CS tilts horizontally at -2 degrees to +20 degrees but does not rotate vertically. The lack of vertical manipulation is disappointing, especially at this price point, but the functionality would be added at the sacrifice of the design aesthetic.
Specs
The SD590CS monitor weighs an amazing 12.32lbs (5.59kg) with a stand, and 11lbs (4.99kg) without a stand. The SD590CS is a surprisingly light monitor for it’s size, and it is easily portable.
The SD590CS is a VA Curved 4000R Panel with a viewability of 178 degrees from the sides of the device. Samsung gave the SD590CS a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a natural aspect ratio of 16:9. Along with this, the SD590CS monitor has 3000:1 static contrast ratio and it uses Mega DCR for dynamic contrast ratio. The model features 16.7M color support a 4ms gray-to-gray response time.
The SD590CS comes with five-watt built-in speakers and has ports for 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 VGA, 1 Audio In, and 1 Optical Audio Out. I would have preferred the VGA to be removed in favor of a DVI connection.
Interface, performance and verdict
Samsung employs a joystick/d-pad menu that is truly amazing. I have used other monitors with the Menu, Select, Up, Down options and they are always confusing and maddening, whereas this choice simplifies the process.
The SD590CS does offer some cool features, such as Game Mode, but it isn’t perfect. For example, the Samsung Magic Bright mode allows you to choose from four predefined modes: Custom, Standard, Cinema, and Dynamic Contrast. However, if you choose Cinema or Dynamic Contrast, you lose the ability to change Brightness, Contrast, and Sharpness. And trust me, you will want to adjust this monitor as soon as you plug it in.
Performance
Samsung’s SD590CS screen is beautifully designed but the performance leaves a lot to be desired, especially at this price point. For starters, the resolution is only 1920 x 1080 and it was noticeable when I plugged in my MacBook Pro. The resolution on the 13-inch retina MacBooks are far better than the resolution of the SD590CS and it’s apparent. This is unfortunate. When you purchase a monitor you’re hoping it will enhance your devices’ image quality, rather than downgrade it.
If you look at the SD590CS up close, you can see the pixel matrix. Even after calibrating the monitor it is difficult to get the image perfect. Also, the SD590CS only runs at 60mhz. I have monitors that run at 144mhz and they’re noticeably faster. The contrast on this monitor is poor, so to get close to true black, you will have to play around with the settings. The sharpness, too, will need to be adjusted.
We liked
The minimalist design and easy-to-use navigation make the SD590C a pleasure to stare at and use. It features plenty of ports for people who like to connect to multiple devices. However, a DVI connection would have been preferable.
We disliked
Although this monitor isn’t astronomically priced, it’s unfortunate that it prices out so closely to same-sized 4K monitors. If I have to choose between screen curvature and higher resolution, I’ll go with a higher resolution model every time.
Fina verdict
The Samsung SD590CS is a beautifully designed 27-inch curved monitor that is easy to setup and use. Unfortunately the specs don’t match up with the price point. It is by no means a terrible monitor, but if you’re a CAD, a designer, a gamer, or someone who needs high quality images, then you’re better off going with a 4K resolution screen.
