Hey there! Looking for help deciding between Samsung‘s latest M8 monitor and the previous year‘s M7 model? You‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve done some deep research into the specs, reviews and real-world performance of these two great monitors. After examining all the details, I can say the clear winner is the Samsung M8 for most people. Keep reading and I‘ll explain why in this comprehensive, side-by-side comparison review.
Introduction to Samsung‘s Stylish Monitors
Samsung makes some of the best monitors around in terms of functionality, design and value. The M7 and M8 models fall into their "Smart Monitor" line – meaning they have built-in Wi-Fi, app stores, streaming services and more. It‘s like having a smart TV experience packed into a monitor form factor.
Both of these monitors look great sitting on a desk with slim bezels and a minimalist style. You can also mount them on a wall to save space. They‘re ideal for productivity, gaming, streaming movies and more.
Now let‘s dig into the specifics to see how they compare.
Diving Into Display Performance
Let‘s start with the most important part of any monitor – the display.
Screen size and resolution
The M8 comes in a 32-inch size option only. But the M7 is available in 32-inch or a massive 43-inch version if you want an immersive big-screen experience.
Both monitors match on resolution at a crisp 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels). That‘s over 8 million pixels which makes images look perfectly sharp.
Panel type and refresh rate
An LED backlight powers the screen on both models. This LED illumination allows them to hit a standard 60 Hz screen refresh rate. That means the monitor redraws the image 60 times per second. This results in smooth motion and transitions.
Brightness, contrast and HDR performance
Here‘s where the M8 starts to pull ahead. Its 32-inch screen can hit a searing 600 nits peak brightness. That‘s a full 60% brighter than the M7 which tops out at 370 nits. Brighter images have more "pop" to them and make it easier to see the screen in sunlit rooms.
Contrast is also better on the M8 at 2500:1 compared to the M7‘s 1200:1. This higher contrast ratio creates deeper blacks next to bright whites for added visual impact.
For high dynamic range (HDR), the M8 implements the more advanced HDR10+ standard. The M7 is limited to baseline HDR10. With HDR10+, contrast and color are enhanced scene-by-scene for a more realistic, immersive picture.
Response time and input lag
Responsiveness is crucial for gaming and videos. The M8 pulls ahead again here with a gray-to-gray response time of just 4 ms. That means slightly less motion blur in fast-moving scenes compared to the M7‘s 8 ms response time.
Input lag is equally quick at just 5.4 ms on the M8 versus 10 ms on the M7. This barely perceptible delay between an input and display reaction benefits gamers especially.
Ideal uses
The M8‘s faster response time and HDR visuals give it an edge for gaming and movies. But the M7‘s bigger 43-inch screen is arguably more immersive for cinematic experiences and games. Either monitor provides excellent performance for casual gaming, streaming videos or web browsing.
Built-in Camera, Mics and Speakers
Here‘s an area where the M8 differentiates itself – it actually has a built-in webcam!
The M8‘s 1080p webcam pops up from the top bezel on command. This makes video calls through apps like Google Meet or Zoom so much easier. No need for an external camera.
The M7 unfortunately lacks any integrated webcam. So you‘ll need to supply your own camera.
For audio, both monitors have dual microphones you can use for voice control with Bixby or Alexa. There are also basic 5W stereo speakers built into each monitor. Don‘t expect room-filling sound, but they work fine for casual use. Connecting external speakers is easy via Bluetooth if you want higher audio quality.
Design, Ports and Connectivity
These monitors share a similar stylish, minimalist design that fits well in home or office settings. But there are some key differences in their form factor, stand and port selection.
Size and bezels
The M8 comes in a single 32-inch size, while the M7 can be either 32 or 43 inches. Both monitors have slim bezels (0.1 inches) around the top and sides. The bottom bezel is a bit thicker at 0.8 inches on the M8 and 0.9 inches on M7.
Stand and wall mounting
The M7 includes both a stand and wall mount right in the box. With the M8, you only get a stand in the package. The main benefit of the M8‘s stand is it allows you to swivel the screen side-to-side. The M7‘s stand keeps the monitor fixed facing forward.
Ports
For connectivity, the M8 includes one Micro HDMI port, one USB-C port, and one USB Type-C port. The M7 gives you a few more options with two HDMI ports, one USB-C port, plus two USB 2.0 ports. So the M7 makes it easier to connect multiple source devices at once.
Both monitors come with an HDMI cable. But only the M8 also bundles a USB-C cable.
Smart features and connectivity
This is where these monitors really shine. They both use Samsung‘s excellent Tizen operating system. This gives you access to apps for streaming shows, playing music, displaying art and more without any external device needed. You can cast content to the monitor wirelessly from your phone too.
Built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5Ghz bands) makes getting online easy. And Bluetooth support lets you pair smartphones, tablets or wireless keyboards to the monitor.
Comparing Ideal Use Cases
The M7 and M8 are both great choices for a range of uses. But each model does have strengths that make it uniquely suited for certain settings.
Samsung M8 – Perfect for office use
The M8‘s winning features for productivity are the built-in webcam and brighter display. The webcam makes joining online meetings easy. And that extra brightness reduces eye strain when working long hours. USB-C connectivity lets you hook up and charge a laptop over a single cable. The 32-inch size suits cramped offices nicely.
Reviewers overwhelmingly recommend the M8 for home office and business settings thanks to those conveniences.
Samsung M7 – Ideal for big-screen entertainment
What gives the M7 an advantage for entertainment is the expansive 43-inch version. For movie nights, gaming sessions or streaming sports, that big screen pulls you right into the action.
Review sites like Rtings praise the M7‘s contrast and color reproduction which excel in dark room viewing. And built-in Tizen gives you quick access to all your streaming video apps.
The Bottom Line – Samsung M8 Is the Best Choice for Most
Hopefully this detailed feature-by-feature comparison has helped illustrate the key differences between these two excellent monitors. To summarize:
The Samsung M8 is the best option for most people thanks to the integrated webcam, brighter display, faster response time and more professional design. It really excels for office settings.
For large-screen home entertainment, the 43-inch Samsung M7 is hard to beat. Its size and picture quality make movies and games look incredible.
So choose the M8 for productivity and the M7 for entertainment. You can‘t go wrong with either of these smart, stylish monitors. But I hope breaking down their specs and ideal uses makes your buying decision easier. Let me know if you have any other questions!
