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Samsung C49J890 Review – 144Hz DFHD Super Ultrawide Business Monitor

Paolo Reva
Samsung C49J890 release

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The Samsung C49J890 is a subdued variant of the well-loved C49HG90 super ultrawide monitor that has taken the world by storm. This presumably cheaper version lacks enthusiast-focused features such as HDR and FreeSync, but it still offers a 144Hz VA display that’s comparable to two 27-inch 1080p monitors. If you want an immersive experience and an extended horizontal space for jaw-dropping FOVs and supremely flexible workflows, the Samsung C49J890 could be the answer.

Samsung C49J890 Specifications

Design and Features

The Samsung C49J890 does not depart from the C49HG90’s aesthetic formula that works quite well for varying tastes in the gaming and professional markets. The monitor sports the same thin-bezel look thanks to the dual-stage design which is composed of a rigid outer layer and the common panel borders. This model retains the minimalist cues, but it uses a matte black chassis with gunmetal accents instead of the silver colors on the previous model.

This treatment makes the Samsung C49J890 more appealing for a wider audience, since, according to general feedback, subdued is always better. Business-oriented designs are better in the sense that they enable users to focus on the beautiful screen rather than ogling at exterior appearances. What we don’t like, however, is the omission of the LED lighting feature which gave the C49HG90 a desirable flair that doesn’t overpower the visual sense.

Build quality for the Samsung C49J890 is robust and reliable thanks to the brand’s use of premium materials. The stand’s wide-reaching base provides excellent stability, so there is no wobble even if the device isn’t particularly lightweight. You won’t notice any cosmetic defects since every panel and part is finely crafted.

The Samsung C49J890 includes a joystick for the OSD that doubles as the power button which is easier to use. The layout is located in the middle of the bottom bezel for easy access. Pressable buttons are passé for most, and we’re glad Samsung is already using the former for most of their newer display models.

There is also a specialized KVM function on the Samsung C49J890 which is one of its best selling points. You can connect one keyboard and mouse to the display and work on two different host devices alternately. Pressing the KVM switch near the OSD joystick will switch between two inputs in full-screen mode.

You can also use the monitor’s picture by picture mode to use both PCs simultaneously, but you have to press the USB switch near the joystick to switch controls between them. This feature is a big help for multitasking, but you are still mostly dealing with a 1080p screen and its virtual size.

The monumental cabinet of the Samsung C49J890 is supported by a Y-shaped stand that has a reach that will dominate most desktops. What’s great about this design is that it can actually support the 30-pound cabinet with a rigidity that can cure woes of toppling over and breaking the device. Users can adjust height, tilt, or swivel according to individual needs so that any user can use the C49J890 comfortably.

The Samsung C49J890 includes an I/O layout that sits behind a removable panel to enable neat setups. Users get to choose between DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI, and USB-C for video inputs and two USB 3.0 slots for peripherals. USB-C slot one provides up to 95 watts of charging which is suitable for laptops, while the secondary USB-C slot can only give up to 15 watts.

There is also a pair of 5-Watt speakers which should provide decent audio performance for near-field listening. The pair can get loud, but the output will immediately distort if the volume is too high. Finding a sweet spot is a must, but headphones or dedicated speakers will surely sound immensely better to anyone.

Display and Performance

The Samsung C49J890 sports an awe-inspiring 49-inch VA panel with a 3840 x 1080 DFHD resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and a 4ms response time. A contrast ratio of 3000:1 is specified, along with a 300cd/m2 backlight which directly indicates that this monitor does not have HDR support. Backlight strobing which is advertised as the MPRT feature for Samsung also did not make the cut.

You have to look elsewhere if you want an extra sharp screen since the Samsung C49J890’s screen size is simply too big for 1080p by today’s standards. You do get an extended landscape view, but you are still mostly confined to two regular 1080p displays side by side. The good news is it’s lighter to run for most GPUs, so gaming at high framerates won’t be too difficult.

The Samsung C49J890 renders 97% of the sRGB gamut which is decent for mixed-use monitors but underwhelming for a VA panel. The monitor doesn’t have the Quantum Dot treatment of its siblings, but most modern VA panels easily breach 100%. Thankfully, default accuracy is excellent since the errors only have a DeltaE average of 1.5.

Contrast, on the other hand, reached as much as 2950:1 at 50% backlight, resulting in deep blacks and punchy colors. Gamma is very close to the ideal 2.2, so the screen doesn’t look too bright or dark in specific instances such as the Clean House scene in Modern Warfare. We do recommend a more modest brightness setting (50% and below), but the screen can appear dim at times since it’s limited to around 330 cd/m2 at 100%.

Panel uniformity is surprisingly fantastic on the Samsung C49J890 despite its massive screen size. All of the quadrants, including the corners, look evenly lit at a glance, but there is some clouding on the top edges of the display. You won’t notice this minor flaw, but manufacturing tolerances could make each unit different.

Responsiveness isn’t a particular strength of the Samsung C49J890 since it isn’t primarily for gaming. Some blurs and trails become noticeable especially at low frame rates, but the monitor has a good overdrive feature which you can use to reduce them further. It’s not as fast as some of the TN and IPS models we’ve tested, but typical gaming applications will not be affected.

The biggest caveat of the Samsung C49J890 is its lack of FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility. These features are must-haves in today’s monitor market where gamers are particularly picky and sensitive to image defects such as tearing. Input lag is unnoticeable at 5ms when the screen is set to 144Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays or de-synced instances.

Thoughts on the Samsung C49J890

The Samsung C49J890 is a useful monitor for both productivity and casual gaming despite a few missing features. The VA panel’s image quality is excellent, although it’s not as vibrant as the Quantum Dot-treated C49HG90. The screen looks even with fantastic contrast, but of course, not all retail units will display the same characteristics.

The minimalist design coupled with utility add-ons such as the KVM feature help make the Samsung C49J890 a viable choice for business. However, it’s worth noting that two 1080p monitors and a dual-display arm will cost considerably less than what this offering is asking. However, you can’t beat a dual-HD 144Hz screen that doesn’t have a bezel in the middle to distract you.



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About the Author:

Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.

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