The Consumer Electronics Show is a place where tech companies go to show not just upcoming commercial products but also concepts, such as the Samsung 2D/3D Gaming Monitor, which received the CES 2024 Innovation Award in the Gaming & eSports category.
This is a 37-inch 4K gaming monitor equipped with a Neo QLED display. Samsung has added proprietary screen technology and AI vision recognition that exploits the two cameras integrated into the upper part of the display to provide a glassless and headset-free 3D and/or VR experience. Here’s an explanation of how the Samsung 2D/3D Gaming Monitor works, according to a slide from the CES 2024 booth.
Feel 3D realism without glasses
Users can experience 3D gaming in addition to traditional 2D gaming, without any extra tools or devices. The monitor controls the intensity and direction of 3D graphics straight from the screen.
2D/3D Convertible panel
The Active Lenticular Lens automatically switches between 2D and 3D when 3D is enabled.
Real-time head and eye tracking
Al tracks the user’s head and eye position for real-time adjustments.
View mapping
Al maps the optimized pixel array to user’s location.
So far, press impressions of the Samsung 2D/3D Gaming Monitor have been very positive. Digital Trends, CNET, and XDA have posted brief video reactions that show excitement for the concept.
The Samsung 2D/3D Gaming Monitor isn’t likely to stay just a concept, as the company suggested it is partnering with game developers and publishers such as Neowiz (Lies of P is available to demo), Gaijin Entertainment, Frontier, and Crystal Dynamics to optimize their titles. More details regarding a possible market launch should be released later this year.
Granted, this isn’t the first instance of such a product. Acer pioneered the idea with their SpatialLabs technology that debuted last year. At CES 2024, Acer has doubled down with the announcement of the SpatialLabs View Pro 27. This 4K monitor supports up to 160Hz refresh rate and NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync VRR technologies. It is rated at 400 nits brightness and Delta E< 2 color accuracy. Compared to last year’s products, it offers an optimized 3D experience even in low light conditions, and it is equipped with an AI-driven beamforming sound system that, coupled with headtracking, provides the feeling of surround headphones. The Predator SpatialLabs View 27 will be available in North America in Q2 2024, starting at $1,999 and in Europe in Q1 2024, starting at €1,999. Acer also announced the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition laptop, which lets gamers use the technology on the go.
Acer has a more mature environment that supports many big games through the TrueGame technology. On the other hand, the Samsung 2D/3D Gaming Monitor seems to have rectified one of the main shortcomings of the technology, which usually only works well in a very small sweet spot and induces headaches over longer sessions.
Of course, whether this technology can take off remains questionable. 3D famously bombed, though part of that was due to the need for glasses, and VR is also struggling, partly due to headsets being bulky, cords still being a thing (as with PS VR2, for example), and more. These displays don’t have any of these drawbacks, allowing users to lay back and enjoy their games, but they are pricey, and they’ll go against increasingly impressive OLED and QD-OLED regular screens.
