Expert review of the Samsung Smart Monitor M8

With a 32-inch size, the Samsung M8 is larger on average than other monitors. The first thing that stands out is the design. The monitor has a very thin bezel, a colorful frame, and few connectors. It only has a USB-C and micro HDMI port, so keep in mind that you can't connect all devices to this monitor. But that isn't what the monitor was made for. All in all, it has a nice, thin, and sleek design which looks nice in a living room. I have the white version, but it's also available in blue and pink.

One of the most unique function is the wireless cooperation via Samsung Dex. I turned on Des on my Samsung Galaxy S21 and selected 'Screen Mirroring' on the smart monitor. Within 2 clicks, I saw the image of my smartphone on the screen of the monitor. I tried YouTube, Pokémon Go, and TikTok this way. All apps ran without delay. That's ideal if you work with your smartphone a lot, or if you quickly want to show photos or videos on a larger screen.

As said before, you can stream series and movies via the built-in Smart Hub. This app is powered by Samsung Tizen, which you also find on smartwatches. On the remote, you'll see 3 buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and the internet. I tested Netflix and got to my library without issues. That's a nice solution if you have no room for a television but still want a larger screen to watch your series and movies. Simply log in with your own account and continue where you left off.

Do you have multiple smart devices at home? In that case, the SmartThings hub is a nice addition. With this hub, I checked various smart devices nearby, which easily appeared on the screen. This way, I saw the smart robot vacuum, and smart lights on the screen almost right away. That's very useful if you're eating at your desk and want the robot vacuum to clean the crumbs. In addition to entertainments, you can also use the monitor for an overview of all your smart devices.

The box also contains a small camera, which you can attach to the monitor with a built-in magnet. It's strange their are no wires connected, but that has a reason. The monitor has a built-in camera and the webcam is the extension piece for video calls. The monitor supports apps like Google Duo, so you can call friends, family, or colleagues right away. With the rubber handle, you can easily adjust the camera, so you always have the right angle. That's a nice addition compared to it predecessors, for which you had to get a camera by yourself.

In addition to the main functions, the M8 offers even more. The screen has a 4K resolution with HDR10 support for very sharp and vibrant images. The speakers provide a nice sound. Via the built-in Bixby Voice Assistant, I asked the monitor to play a song, which happened without issues. The monitor is sadly not suitable for competitive gaming, due to the 75Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time. Fortnite is no problem, but for real gamers, this screen isn't fast enough.