- Overall
The HP Omen 27 offers a high-speed 1440p panel that’s imbued with G-Sync for a smooth, tear and stutter-free gaming experience. This model is a sleeker-looking alternative to the Asus PG278QR thanks to its bezel-free face and the minimalist accents. Some users dislike TN panels and consider them passe, but can the HP Omen 27 offer a performance that can make them say otherwise?
HP Omen 27 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 1440p QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Twisted Nematic (TN)
- Refresh Rate: 165hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot– No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity:DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 24.41″ x 21.77″ x 9.37″
- Weight: 4lbs
Design and Features
The HP Omen 27 Review is a unique option in the QHD G-Sync monitor department thanks to its stylish, contemporary design. The face is bezel-free except for the bottom strip, making this product ideal for multi-display setups. The device is wrapped in matte black all throughout, although there are a few voodoo mask brandings as well.
The device itself is lightweight at less than 10lbs, and it is slimmer than most of the competition. The HP Omen 27 Review is excellently suitable for wall mounting since it is so thin, but you do have to use a separate VESA adapter.
One of the unique assets of the HP Omen 27 Review is its slim aluminum stand with a few ups and downs. The upright is positioned towards the rear of the diagonal base, meaning you can push the display closer to a wall for more space. Build quality is sturdy and superb, but the mechanism can only offer tilt and height adjustments.
However, we disliked the fact that HP did not use a joystick for the OSD which is pretty standard for premium monitors like this. You have to deal with five tactile buttons on the lower right which may require some getting used to. There is also an LED feature at the bottom which emits a light glow and can change color according to your desires.
Since the HP Omen 27 comes with a very limited I/O panel due to the restrictions of its G-Sync controller. You only get a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 for inputs, and two USB 3.0 connectors for peripherals. Built-in speakers are not part of the package as well, but that is a rarely-missed feature.
Display and Performance
The HP Omen 27 Review sports a 27-inch TN panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 165Hz maximum refresh rate, and 1ms response time. A 1000:1 contrast ratio with a 350 cd/m2 WLED backlight are specified, just like on the Asus PG278QR. The QHD resolution fits perfectly at this size since the pixel pitch strikes the perfect balance between sharpness and visibility
The HP Omen 27 falls short of our expectations when it comes to color reproduction since it is limited to around 96% sRGB. Accuracy is acceptable at Delta E 2.8, but it can be improved a bit further if you have a colorimeter. Despite these shortcomings, images on this model look lifelike since the color temperature does not stray too far from the D65 standard.
Gamma is also good at 2.19 for the HP Omen 27, while contrast is reasonable at around 850:1. It’s difficult to get better results than these when shopping for TN panels, although we’ve tested a few exceptions. One surprising feature of the Omen 27 is its backlight which exceeds its spec, reaching over 415 cd/m2 at 100% brightness.
Another thing our review sample of the HP Omen 27 Review excelled at is its panel uniformity. We did not notice any deviations which could ruin games and images, plus there is no backlight bleed or uneven light spots on the quadrants of the display. The only issue we noticed is that the panel tends to render all-black images to be slightly grayish, but it isn’t enough to disturb the visuals when the monitor is in use.
One of the key advantages of getting a TN monitor is its zippy pixel response time which helps to lessen blurring or ghosting. It’s difficult to see, but the HP Omen 27 still has a few streaks here and there when playing games like Overwatch. We found that setting the monitor’s Overdrive function to its middle setting is the best compromise, since maximizing it will introduce a ton of overshoot to the images you see.
As expected, the HP Omen 27 is a very capable monitor when it comes to intense action in E-Sports titles. The monitor’s input lag hovers around 6ms which means there is virtually no delay between your inputs and the screen. It isn’t the fastest in this category, but a few milliseconds of difference isn’t a big deal in real-world use.
Lastly, we think that the HP Omen 27’s G-Sync is a godsend for demanding games like PUBG which are perfect with this type of monitor. Our GTX 1080 Ti produced frames from an 80FPS to 115FPS range when the graphics are set to Ultra. During the test, we did not notice any tearing or stutters thanks to Nvidia’s premium VRR solution.
Thoughts on the HP Omen 27
The HP Omen 27 is a well-rounded and sexy-looking QHD gaming monitor whether if it’s for E-Sports or max-eye candy titles. The monitor’s 165Hz refresh rate and G-Sync isn’t the absolute creme de la creme in the display market, but it still is an awesome experience. The monitor’s modest design makes it a standout in a sea of aggressive, gamer-centric options with streaks of unwanted plastic everywhere.
However, the HP Omen 27 does have a few shortcomings in its capabilities which could make the meticulous turn to better options. Its image quality could use some improvements, plus the design should have included better flexibility. However, the HP Omen 27 is considerably cheaper than the Asus PG278QR, making it easy to live with the aforementioned minor flaws.
Kisho says
Should I consider this compare to Acer XB271HU even though its a tad expensive in my country ? My current issue is just the 4ms vs 1ms , does it impact shooters .
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Kisho! There is a difference between the two, but we don’t think it will be an issue even for shooters. The XB271HU has a slower label since it has an IPS panel, but it will look better due to its higher vibrancy. Cheers!
Ralph says
Justin, i tried to calibrate it.
First sett color to system and brightness to 10%.
Activate NVIDIA color adjustment and set gamma to 0.85.
Gives me a perfect image, dark black and not eye killing brightness.
Justin says
Could you please give me some help getting the black colors in this monitor to something acceptable, I get terrible black colors that look blocky.
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Justin! Have you tried adjusting the HP Omen 27’s gamma? We’ve seen feedback that says it’s the culprit for these kinds of issues.