Samsung Essential S3 S36GD 27-inch FHD Curved
By Samsung · Gaming Monitors · Audio & Electronics
- 27-inch VA panel
- 1920x1080 FHD resolution
- 100Hz refresh rate
- 1800R curvature
- 4ms GtG response time
Lowest price seen
~$119.00 (approx.)
from $119.00 at Amazon
- Amazon ~$119.00 (approx.)View at Amazon
- SamsungView at Samsung
- B&H PhotoView at B&H Photo
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- techdaddyaccsView at techdaddyaccs
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A 27-inch 1080p curved VA monitor with a 100Hz panel, built for budget office work and casual gaming. Check one thing before buying: it ships set to 60Hz, so you have to switch the refresh rate to 100Hz yourself in the settings menu.
Strengths
- The 100Hz refresh is a visible step up from 60Hz for scrolling and casual games.
- 3000:1 static contrast and the 1800R curve give a deep, immersive picture.
- AMD FreeSync smooths frame pacing on supported graphics cards.
- Eye Saver Mode and Flicker Free help during long work sessions.
- Sharp text and slim bezels suit office work, coding and spreadsheets.
- Setup is quick and needs almost no assembly.
Weaknesses
- No built-in speakers.
- No DisplayPort; input is limited to HDMI 1.4 and VGA.
- The stand tilts only, with no height, swivel or pivot adjustment.
- 250 nits is fine indoors but dim next to brighter panels.
- HDR10 is signal support only, not meaningful HDR performance.
- Some owners report poor motion clarity in fast games and a curve that looks distorted.
Verified specifications
| Model | LS27D36DGANXZA. |
|---|---|
| Screen size | 27 inches. |
| Panel type | VA (Vertical Alignment), 1800R curve. |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 (FHD). |
| Refresh rate | 100Hz. |
| Response time | 4ms (GtG). |
| Brightness | 250 cd/m². |
| Contrast ratio | 3000:1 static. |
| Color | 16.7M colors, 95% sRGB. |
| Viewing angle | 178° horizontal and vertical. |
| Adaptive sync | AMD FreeSync. |
| HDR | HDR10 signal support. |
| Ports | 1× HDMI 1.4, 1× VGA (D-Sub); no DisplayPort. |
| Stand | tilt only, -2° to 22°. |
| VESA mount | 75 × 75 mm. |
| Power | 35W max, external adapter, 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz. |
| Dimensions | 622.6 × 466.2 × 234.2 mm with stand; 3.8 kg (Australian sibling SKU; US figures not confirmed). |
| In the box | monitor, power adapter and cable, HDMI cable, VGA cable, 1-year limited warranty. |
Full research notes and sources
The 100Hz catch
The 100Hz panel is the headline feature, but the monitor ships set to 60Hz and the faster mode must be switched on in the on-screen menu. At least one owner felt misled, calling the headline refresh “a lie” after finding the default. Set it up on day one and confirm your input runs at 100Hz; over HDMI 1.4 the panel does 1920 × 1080 at 100Hz and will not go higher at a lower resolution.
Ports, stand and setup
There is one HDMI 1.4 input and one VGA (D-Sub) input, and no DisplayPort. VGA can look softer than HDMI. The stand tilts from -2° to 22° and does nothing else, so height and pivot come from a 75 × 75 mm VESA arm. Assembly is quick; the base and adapter go on in minutes, and the external power adapter is cheap to replace if it fails.
Gaming and the curve
AMD FreeSync is on board and the 4ms GtG response suits casual play. Owner feedback is mixed: some find 100Hz smooth, others say fast motion looks poor. The 1800R curve divides people too, with some liking the immersion and one owner thinking it made the picture look off. No instrumented test of this exact model was found, so treat these as owner impressions rather than measured results.
What it costs and who it’s for
Below $120 this is easy to recommend as a second screen or a basic desk. Between $120 and $150 it is fair value. Above $150 the missing DisplayPort, the tilt-only stand and 250 nits are harder to accept. For reference, Walmart lists it at $119, a rollback from $146; Abt lists it at $169.99 and B&H at $169.54; a Micro Center refurbished unit is $99.99 in store. The 1-year limited warranty is standard for this class.
Which model this is
This page covers the Samsung Essential S3 S36GD, model LS27D36DGANXZA, sold at Walmart and other US retailers. Samsung also sells the closely related LS27D368GANXZA and LS27D36CGANXZA, which share the same 27-inch VA, 1080p, 100Hz, 1800R panel. Match the model number before buying.
The listing covered here is ASIN B0DB9Q5G3R.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
- No instrumented professional test of this exact model was found.
Owner reports:
Parts and stores:
