This curved Samsung monitor is perfect for a WFH setup – and it’s on sale


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Ahead of Amazon Prime Day next week, Samsung’s 27-inch Essential S3 curved monitor has dropped to $110, saving shoppers 15% on the original price and matching the lowest price of the past year. I highly recommend taking advantage of this deal while it lasts. This is one of the better monitor deals that I’ve found so far, especially if you’re looking for a new, affordable monitor for work, streaming, or even casual gaming. There’s a lot to like here.

Also: The best early Amazon Prime Day deals: I found editor-approved tech already on sale

Its Full HD display sits on a 1800R curved VA panel, creating an immersive viewing experience. The screen extends to the corners of your peripheral vision. That design isn’t just for looks. As ViewSonic noted in a past blog post, the curvature closely matches the natural curvature of the human eye. It is more comfortable to look at than a traditional flat-screen display. The panel is also TÜV Rheinland-certified, which means it features technology that reduces harmful blue light and annoying flickering.

Also: Best Buy has better gaming deals right now than Amazon’s early Prime Day sale

The Essential S3 boasts a 3000:1 contrast ratio for deeper blacks and highly detailed images. On top of that, it has a 100Hz refresh rate, making everyday tasks, from browsing the internet to watching videos, look and feel noticeably smooth.

While you can use the display for gaming, it falls short of high-end gaming monitors. It doesn’t have all the visual-enhancing software. Still, for the price, the Essential S3 provides excellent value. If you need a dependable display for productivity or entertainment, this Samsung monitor is rock solid.

How I rated this deal

Under ZDNET’s rating system, I’d give this deal a 3/5. At $110, you’re getting a large 27-inch curved monitor from a trusted brand for a lower price than many companies charge for flat-panel displays. It’s an easy recommendation for remote workers, casual gamers, and anyone building a budget desktop setup.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 officially runs from Tuesday, June 23, through Friday, June 26. However, you don’t need to wait for the event to start saving. That’s because early deals are already appearing, as Samsung is rolling out discounts well ahead of the main sale. In fact, some of the strongest price cuts typically show up in the weeks leading up to Prime Day, so expect to see a lot more in the coming weeks.


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Deals are subject to sell out or expire anytime, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. It is unlikely that the monitor will sell out before Amazon Prime Day kicks off. If anything, I think it’ll extend beyond the event. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.


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We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.

In 2026, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editors’ deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.

At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors, like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Handcrafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.

Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026


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Recent Reviews


Forza Horizon 6 has already launched on Xbox Game Pass as a day one release, making May a big month for the subscription service. Still, what Microsoft gives, it also takes away, as two phenomenal JRPGs – Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden – will leave the service at the end of the month. 

Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month. 

Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in May. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in April, including Hades 2, and more options in our list of the best gaming subscriptions.


Forza Horizon 6

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Forza Horizon 6 is the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. This time, players can speed around Japan, from the busy cities to the countryside roads. More than 550 cars are available to collect via races, seasonal events and online challenges. The game continues the arcade-style racing the series is known for, and with more car customizations, a deeper progression system and dynamic weather changes affecting road conditions. 


Dead Static Drive

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Dead Static Drive mixes road trip exploration, survival horror and action gameplay in a strange post-apocalyptic world filled with supernatural threats. Players travel across highways and down while scavenging supplies, upgrading vehicles and fighting bizarre creatures. The game combines tense combat with quiet exploration, creating an eerie atmosphere with retro graphics. 


Pigeon Simulator

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Pigeon Simulator is a sandbox game unlike any other. As a pigeon, it’s up to the player to create as much disruption as possible in order to complete objectives, annoying pedestrians out for a walk and making use of the game’s unique physics systems. Players can fly over streets, knock over objects and find hidden secrets in this absolutely absurd game. 


Remnant 2

 On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

The soulslike subgenre is popular among gamers, and the Remnant franchise does a little something different by replacing swords with guns. In Remnant 2, players will fight off monsters and giant bosses in a world filled with secrets and loot. The sequel improves on the original by having more ways to customize your character and larger-scale battles intended for solo or cooperative play. 


Luna Abyss

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Luna Abyss is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a mysterious underground colony. The sci-fi horror shooter has players descending deeper into a massive prison facility while battling enemies and learning the secrets of what happened here. The game offers stylish combat with fast movement as the story is told via the environments, which creates a tense and exciting experience built around shooting and exploration. 


Escape Simulator 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 26.

Players work together to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues in Escape Simulator. The cooperative escape room experience puts players in themed areas such as mysterious labs or fantasy dungeons. Each room introduces new mechanics and requires teams to work together to escape. The game’s online community can also contribute to the game by creating their own rooms with custom scenarios. 


Echo Generation 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 27.

Echo Generation 2 continues the voxel-inspired RPG series with a new adventure focused on supernatural mysteries with turn-based combat. Players explore strange towns, investigate paranormal events and battle bizarre enemies. The sequel expands on the original game’s storytelling and combat system while keeping the colorful visuals and quirky humor.


The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 27.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the complete, remastered version of the 2019 sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This version includes the previously released DLC, a higher level cap, better graphics, improved performance, additional animations and more improvements on the original game.  


Crashout Crew

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 28.

A mix of party game chaos and cooperative action, Crashout Crew throws players into unpredictable arenas filled with traps, obstacles and physics-based mayhem. Players race to complete objectives while trying to survive the hectic action. Fast matches, colorful visuals and multiplayer gameplay make it easy to play online with friends or strangers. 


Kabuto Park

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 28.

Collecting rare insects and exploring colorful outdoor environments are at the center of Kabuto Park. You have to search forests and parks to find new species while upgrading equipment to compete in bug tournaments. The cheerful art style blends with exploration and creature collection, making for a relaxing game about finding bugs. 


Final Fantasy 6 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Final Fantasy 6 is not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but it’s also one of the best games ever. First released on the SNES in 1994, the game follows a cast of characters out to save the world. This version is part of the Pixel Remaster for the older Final Fantasy 2D games that improves on the visuals, updates the audio and adds modern gameplay improvements so new and returning players can enjoy. 


Jurassic World Evolution 3

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Building and managing a dinosaur theme park returns in Jurassic World Evolution 3. As the park manager, you’ll have to balance guest entertainment, scientific research and park security while also dealing with those giant dinosaurs just waiting to take over the island. Expanded customized tools, a new management system and improved creature behaviors improve on the previous games while adding more depth to the simulation gameplay, giving players a taste of what running a dinosaur park could feel like. 


Watch this: Your Phone is Disgusting: Let’s Fix That


Games that are leaving the service

While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it will also remove five games, including two amazing JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden. If you want to finish either of these games before the end of the month, now is the time as these games take many hours to beat.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.





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