Samsung ViewFinity S65TC 34″ 1440p HDR 100 Hz Curved Ultrawide Monitor

I recently purchased this and have been absolutely thrilled with the experience. As someone who isn’t very tech-savvy, I would like to share a few tips for those who might be in the same boat.

First Impressions:
Okay, so the box and the setup and operations instructions were questionable. I guess this must have come from a third-party seller because Samsung could NEVER. However, out of the box, the monitor is a beauty. The screen is expansive, and the design is sleek and modern. It’s perfect for my home office setup, surrounded by my plants and cozy decor. The ultrawide aspect ratio is a game-changer for productivity and gaming alike.

Resolution Setup:
Initially, I struggled to get the monitor to display its maximum resolution of 3440 x 1440. After some research and a bit of trial and error, I discovered that the secret lies in using a USB-C connection. If you’re like me and not too familiar with these things, here’s a simple guide:

Check Your Cables: The monitor comes with an assortment of cables, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. Make sure you’re using the USB-C cable that supports video output. Not all USB-C cables are created equal, and some only support charging.

Right Cable Choice: After downloading various programs to change my resolution and having no luck, I realized the provided USB-C cable (often referred to as a “lightning cable”) was actually the fix. Switching to this cable instantly solved my resolution issues.

Update Drivers: Ensure your graphics card drivers are up to date. This can often solve resolution issues.

Adjust Settings: Go to your computer’s display settings. Under “Display Resolution,” select 3440 x 1440. If this option isn’t available, reconnect your USB-C cable and restart your computer.

Performance:
Once I got the resolution sorted, the display was breathtaking. The colors are vibrant, and the extra screen real estate makes multitasking a breeze. For gaming, the high resolution and refresh rate provide an immersive experience. I’ve also found it fantastic for video editing and other creative tasks, where the detailed visuals make a significant difference.

Extra Features:
The monitor comes with a few extras that are worth mentioning. The built-in blue light filter is excellent for long work sessions, and the customizable settings allow you to tweak the display to your liking.

Conclusion:
Overall, I highly recommend this monitor. It’s a fantastic investment for anyone looking to enhance their workspace or gaming setup. If you’re struggling with getting the correct resolution, remember to use the USB-C cable that comes with the monitor and keep your drivers updated. This monitor is worth every penny, and the setup is a minor hurdle for the massive benefits it provides.

Overall, I am very happy with my new monitor. The visual quality and ultra-wide/curved elements make it fantastic for both work and gaming. Speakers and KVM have both been game-changers. I’m thrilled with the quality of the monitor. That said, I think the product photos are misleading. One of the reasons I chose this monitor over others I was comparing it to was its color. In the photos, the monitor appears to be crisp, bright white color. In reality, it’s a very, VERY warm white – nearing a yellowish-cream/beige color. It is listed as warm white at the bottom of the specs, so I put that 100% on myself for not reading the fine print, but I was admittedly disappointed/thought I received the wrong product when I first opened the box. If you are looking for a bright white monitor to match a certain decor or aesthetic vision, this might not be the one for you. Otherwise, this is a great monitor.

It’s a great monitor and I am very happy with my new setup. It connects to my MacBook Pro with one cable (Thunderbolt to USB-C) and the biggest bonus is that the cable also charges the laptop so no need for multiple cables, yay! The colors are vivid and the size is perfect for me. There’s a very limited choice when it comes to white monitors and this one is by far the best I could find. The eye saver mode is a wonderful feature and my eyes are very thankful for it. There is no eye strain at the end of the day. Someone mentioned the color being yellowish and while it is an off-white, the difference is not significant and as you can see it does match the white keyboard and trackpad.

This monitor is amazing and surprising. It truly creates an immersive experience. It’s great for working all day, especially with multiple windows open at once. My husband bought it because he works from home, and he’s in love with it. Highly recommended.

I only use this monitor for work (no gaming), but it has exceeded my expectations.

Pros: Resolution and pixel quality is great, color is vivid. It was easy to setup and isn’t too heavy, despite its size. It feels sturdy yet sleek, and I love the white base. Monitor is easily adjustable up and down, side to side, and face orientation.

Cons: sound quality is slightly lacking. The sound is a little echo-y, and volume control is not intuitive and a little annoying. I will probably go back to using my laptop speakers. It was also a little disorienting when I first started using it. I’m used to smaller, flat monitors, and switching across screens with the curves left me with a little vertigo. It took probably 15 minutes to get used to, and know I find it difficult to go back to my laptop screen!

I had the Viewfinity S5 in white, and it was a stunning monitor. The infinity display and high-end finish on the frame made it truly impressive. The true white color was perfect. Unfortunately, the speaker stopped working after five months. I sent it back for repair, but they couldn’t fix it and issued me a credit instead. Since the Viewfinity S5 was no longer available, with the credit, I ordered the S6 white, which was supposed to be an upgrade. However, it turned out to be the opposite of stunning. The white frame is almost beige, and it’s not a true infinity display—there’s a black frame around the picture inside of the beige frame. The picture is not at all the S5 – it was crisp and vibrant, but the S6 is dull and lackluster. I wish I could have my S5 back; I would have just purchased new speakers. Very disappointed. ALSO People want quality monitors in light colors. It is evident because you sell out of the white ones quickly. Give the people what they want. More minimalist. Please stop shoving black monitors down our throats – have your female gamers and business folks in the mix, too, in conversations with design.

So you want to connect multiple devices to one monitor? It’s possible, but way too hard to set up. Also, this feels like a $250-$350 monitor, not a $799 (list) or $499 (Amazon as of March 21, 2024) monitor.

UPDATE MARCH 28, 2024: I got a replacement due to the cosmetic damage and manufacturing defects, I had 2 of the same 4 problems (see below) with the replacement. Definitely some quality control problems, but the picture looks great.

FEATURES:
Yes, this ultra-wide will allow you to display two desktops in side-by-side or picture-in-picture mode. It’s not quite the right proportions for two 16:9 displays to fill the screen. So you have black bars at top and bottom of this screen. (Actual ratio is 21:9. There are 32:9 monitors available, if you want two fullscreen side-by-side displays.)

The refresh rate of 100Hz is good, but most gamers are looking for 120Hz. The 5ms response time is good, though most gamers are looking at times closer to 1 or 2ms.

The source-switching and KVM-switching works well, once you get everything set up. But the audio doesn’t switch when switching “focus” from one PC to another. I’m using the Thunderbolt/USB-C cable as a one-cable setup alongside the HDMI plus USB3 cable on a second PC. The USB3 doesn’t carry the audio and video, but it is still necessary for the keyboard and mouse when using the HDMI (not sure if the DisplayPort connection would carry the keyboard and mouse). I had a terrible experience setting up the keyboard and mouse via the included USB ports.

The built-in settings menu has several overlapping settings, meaning that in certain modes, picture controls are disabled. And it’s not obvious how to change the settings to unlock these basic functions again. It’s confusing to navigate, and frustrating to set up.

The “Easy Setting Box” software from the product’s website doesn’t work on either PC I installed it on. And there’s absolutely no documentation how to set up this device. It’s plug-n-PRAY. Also, there aren’t any good videos on their website or video sharing platforms, either (as of 3/21/2024).

DESIGN:
The monitor looks a bit strange with a bulging back side (to hold all the built-in power supply and electronics). Also, the ribbed texture on the back doesn’t add much to the design.

The screen has a black border of about 8mm or a little over 5/16″ around the top and two sides and 2mm or about 1/16″ along the bottom. I would have expected no black border/wasted screen space with such a thin bezel. It would look better to have a wider bezel than this black border or to make the bezel consistently thin (2mm is tolerable). I actually was looking for the screen size adjustment (there isn’t one) to get my display to fill the screen when I first set it up.

The cables included with this white monitor are all black, and the cable-management doesn’t conceal the cables. So it’s kind of a disappointment, aesthetically. The power LED is set to off by default. Which is a nice touch. The Samsung logo looks printed on, and is not illuminated, which it looks like it should have been.

The stand is actually nicely designed (except for the poor cable management). Height adjustment, tilt, and swivel all work well. The base is simple, thin, and unobtrusive. Assembly was a snap (literally and metaphorically). There are two complaints: poor cable management and on both of my stands, the plastic has a split at the bottom of the front seam, where the pole meets the base.

BUILD QUALITY:
The overall shape and feel of this monitor is kind of cheap. The stand has a vertical tube that has open gaps in the seams. The bezel had several nicks and scratches from the factory.

This monitor does put out noticeable heat as well. Likely this is caused by the built-in power supply and the high-end processor. It’s not a lot, but, you can feel it if you put your hand over the vents.

The screen’s low glare coating is pretty good.

PICTURE QUALITY:
The images are good, and there are some nice adjustments available. Eye relief (high, low, or off options) reduces the brightness and blue light. Brightness, contrast, sharpness, and HDR (on/off) settings all work. Some of the other settings didn’t make any visible difference, including gamma, HDR adjustment, and color temperature. UPDATE: Monitor 2 did show visible changes when making these adjustments.

Scrolling images quickly does blur sometimes (brave browser, RTX 2060 over HDMI). But generally the screen seems to show crisp, clear, and bright images.

AUDIO QUALITY:
The included speakers are fairly powerful, giving enough volume to fill my small home office. However, there’s not a lot of bass punch, and the high tones sound a little harsh. It’s not an audiophile’s dream, but dialog is clear and music is enjoyable. So you can definitely live with these.

Overall, it’s decent, but not worth the extra money compared to other ultra wide screen monitor options.

Excellent screen resolution & brightness. I really like the white aesthetic of the monitor as well. I use via MacBook, and connect via Thunderbolt 4 (cable included with purchase, no need to buy a separate one!).

I love this monitor.

The Samsung 34” ViewFinity Monitor has transformed my home office setup, offering not just functionality but also a visually pleasing workspace.

**Aesthetics:** The first thing you’ll notice about this monitor is its sleek, modern design. It boasts a clean, minimalistic look with thin bezels that make the screen appear larger and more immersive. The monitor’s stand is both sturdy and elegant, with a compact footprint that fits nicely into any workspace without overwhelming it. The overall aesthetic is one that elevates the look of your desk setup, making it a statement piece in any office environment.

**Display Quality:** The graphics and color reproduction on this ViewFinity monitor are nothing short of brilliant. With its Ultra-WQHD resolution (3440×1440), images are crisp, and text is sharp, which is perfect for those long hours of coding, designing, or reading. The colors are vibrant and true-to-life, thanks to support for HDR10, which makes everything from spreadsheets to movies look spectacular. Whether you’re editing photos or just browsing the web, the quality of the display enhances every visual task.

**Functionality:** This monitor has completely changed how I approach working from home. The wide aspect ratio provides ample screen real estate, allowing me to multitask with ease; I can have multiple windows open side by side without feeling cramped. The curved screen minimizes eye strain and offers a more natural viewing experience, keeping you focused for longer periods. The built-in features like Eye Saver Mode for reducing blue light emissions are thoughtful additions for those concerned with eye health during extended screen time.

**Connectivity and Ergonomics:** Equipped with multiple ports including USB-C, HDMI, and DisplayPort, connectivity is versatile. The height, tilt, and swivel adjustments allow for ergonomic customization, which was a game-changer for my posture, reducing neck strain significantly.

**Performance:** For gaming or video content, the monitor performs admirably with a smooth refresh rate, although it’s not primarily marketed as a gaming monitor. However, for productivity and creative work, it excels.

**Conclusion:** The Samsung 34” ViewFinity Monitor is a significant upgrade for anyone looking to enhance their working-from-home experience with both style and substance. Its brilliant graphics, ergonomic design, and aesthetic appeal have redefined my expectations for what a monitor can offer in terms of daily use. If you’re in the market for a monitor that looks as good as it performs, this Samsung is a stellar choice.

Too awesome monitor!!!! Changed my life totally. I used to be homeless now i am a millionaire because of this monitor.