The Multi-Window feature available for select Samsung smart TVs sounds like a godsend for console gamers who may want to play games and watch online content simultaneously on the same screen via Picture-in-Picture. It's the closest console gamers can get to a multi-monitor experience without using a PC with a multi-monitor setup.
That's the theory. However, in practice, I found some limitations to Multi-Window, which I feel many gamers need to be aware of. But before we go on, I must underline that this opinion is formed around my subjective experience.
For you, Multi-Window might be meaningful in other ways. For me, the only worthwhile scenario for Multi-Window is combining console gaming with video streaming.
Why would anyone want to do that instead of focusing on one or the other? Well, generally speaking, I agree with that sentiment. But sometimes, you find a video game designed to help players wind down. A video game so slow-paced and even monotonous that almost begs to be played in a Multi-Window environment. One example that comes to mind is Elite Dangerous, which some people have dubbed the space truck simulator.
But I digress, and the point is that Multi-Window has some strict limitations that console gamers, in particular, need to know of.
Multi-Window without Game Mode? But why?!
In short, the problem I found with Multi-Window is that it doesn't work in Game Mode. When you activate split-screen or picture-in-picture while using your gaming console, the TV turns Game Mode off and reverts to one of the standard TV presets, such Dynamic, Standard, Movie, Eco, and so on.
No matter how much you try, you can't turn Game Mode on when you use Multi-Window on your TV. The settings menu is simply grayed out and there's nothing you can do about it.
This means any HDR calibration you've done on your gaming console in Game Mode is useless in Multi-Window. It also means you can't benefit from anything else Game Mode offers, such as low latency. Essentially, you're playing your console games in a TV preset, which can be slow and not ideal in terms of image calibration.
To me, this is unacceptable and makes Multi-Window virtually useless. Sure, I could play my games without Game Mode if there was no other option, but as it stands, I feel it's too big of a compromise and I'd rather use my laptop or smartphone if I need a second screen.
Streaming app compatibility is lacking
To add to this problem, even if you can overlook the lack of Game Mode in Multi-Window, you may run into other issues. For example, streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ don't seem to work in Multi-Window. I only got YouTube to work.
I guess you could try using Samsung Internet in Picture-and-Picture and log in to your favorite streaming service on the web, but that might be asking too much. It all feels too clunky and far from a streamlined user experience. The Samsung Internet picture-in-picture is misshaped, and in the end, I'd rather try other multi-screen solutions.
I don't know about you, but until Samsung addresses this Game Mode issue, I can't fully recommend Multi-Window to console gamers who might be dreaming of a multi-screen experience on their TVs.
I should mention that I'm using a QN90C Neo QLED TV, and your mileage with Multi-Window could vary depending on which Samsung smart TV or Smart Monitor you are using.
