The HP OMEN 27i offers a very compelling gaming package that includes a 165Hz IPS panel for a more reasonable price than its predecessors. It brings a winning formula of specifications such as G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility that’s neatly wrapped into a neat and cosmopolitan aesthetic. The one preliminary setback of the HP OMEN 27i is its higher price tag, but let’s check out if it’s an estimable dive.
HP OMEN 27i Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Speakers: No
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, USB 3.0 x 5, 3.5mm Jack x 2
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.1” x 20.5” x 10.1”
- Weight: 17.1 lbs
Design and Features
The HP OMEN 27i features the sophisticated appeal of its business-oriented siblings in the HP monitor line up. The device has a matte black appearance with plenty of metal parts, giving off the premium flair the brand is always going for with its products. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but you will still see panel borders when It is running.
The proportions are modest on the HP OMEN 27i, but what expands its total depth is the awkward diamond shape or position of the stand’s base. The device needs ten inches of depth, but its probably the most unintrusive since the bottom is thin and flat. It is slightly heavier at 17 pounds than some of its competitors, but that extra weight is attributed to its full metal stand.
Build quality for the HP OMEN 27i is excellent and there is no sign of cheapness on any of its chassis and parts. The plastics used are thick enough to withstand a bit of force, while the metal stand provides excellent stability to the monitor. You won’t get a feeling that it’s going to topple over, plus the mechanism holds the angle you’ve set immovably.
The HP OMEN 27i now has a joystick for its OSD instead of pesky buttons like the older models. The tool is positioned at the lower corner of the panel, but it is easy to reach even if you can’t see it since the chassis is quite slim and flat. It comes in handy for those quick adjustments you have to do in the heat of battle since it makes the process quicker and less prone to mispresses.
It’s also notable that the HP OMEN 27i has an RGB bias lighting feature around its diamond-shaped bulge at the rear. The LEDs aren’t bright enough to outshine your room’s lighting, but it shows its presence at night. It’s a nice feature to have, but we’re still stuck wishing that these companies would follow a universal RGB ecosystem that can sync every available light feature on all the parts and peripherals of a gaming PC.
The stand on the HP OMEN 27i is attractive and robust, but it only offers tilt and height adjustments. It shouldn’t be an issue for most users, but it can limit your options if in case you want to build a multi-monitor setup. You can opt for VESA mounts, but that will add to the already higher cost of this model versus the competition.
The HP OMEN 27i doesn’t have the restrictions of its G-Sync counterparts, so it has a complete suite of connectivity options for your convenience. The panel at the rear includes DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 2.0 ports for video inputs, along with a trio of USB 3.0 connectors and a 3.5mm jack for peripherals. That isn’t a lot by today’s standards, but it already covers most of what you will need in building a great gaming setup.
The HP OMEN 27i doesn’t have speakers, but that isn’t something that’s sorely missed in a gaming setup. Chances are it will be better equipped with gaming headphones or speakers, so built-ins rarely get used in that case. However, work from home has become recently popular, so a proper pair will come in handy for conference calls or Zoom sessions as needed.
Display and Performance
The HP OMEN 27i sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms boosted response time. The backlight has a 350 cd/m2 rated output while the contrast ratio sits at 1000:1 like most IPS panels. HP advertises an expanded gamut for this model, but it isn’t offered as an HDR variant, unlike the various recent releases which have some compatibility in one way or another.
27-inch QHD screens are perfect for just about any kind of computer use thanks to its excellent pixel density. You won’t need scaling with this monitor and it will look extra crisp and detailed while playing games. The downside is you get a considerable increase in GPU requirements, so making sure you have an upper mid to top range card is crucial for smooth gaming performance.
The HP OMEN 27 is capable of superb gamut coverages, with the sample reaching as much as 135% sRGB and around 92% DCI-P3. The default accuracy could be better since the deltaE average sits at around 3.23 which already makes variances noticeable. However, you might want to dial in a few tweaks since the color temperature is biased towards the warm side, making some white backgrounds look more yellowish than anyone would like.
Manually adjusting the settings provided can improve the dE average to 2.16 which is considerably better, but a colorimeter can get as low as 0.64. of course, we wouldn’t recommend spending the extra on the latter, since you can simply tweak the monitor to balance out its errors. The colorimeter will only be necessary for editing or content creation applications where the best possible color fidelity will be worth it.
The HP OMEN 27i exceeds its brightness rating at 368 cd/m2, but its contrast is quite low at 822:1 at 60% brightness. It’s one of the lowest results we’ve seen from the newer IPS models, where some like the Asus VG27AQL1A has already breached 1000:1. The screen has that extra color-pop, but it can look grayish or washed out in dark scenes.
Uniformity for the HP OMEN 27i’s IPS panel could be better since there are some clouding issues in some of the quadrants. This flaw becomes noticeable in dark or black backgrounds with visible loss in contrast, but full-color images aren’t as affected. this aspect varies wildly between every unit, so we know there are some out there that are better in this regard.
One of the best things about the HP OMEN 27i is its excellent pixel response time which doesn’t produce noticeable blurring. You only need to set the overdrive to Level 1, and you are good to go with zero persistence and smudging. Setting it any higher will add overshoot, so the former is the only viable option for any kind of gaming scenario.
The HP OMEN 27i is a FreeSync gaming monitor, but its also certified to be G-Sync compatible for Nvidia users. It’s a great choice if you are upgrading with the new RTX 3080, but it will also pair great with the upcoming Big Navi GPUs. Input lag sits at 4ms at 165Hz, so there is no need to worry about delays while playing competitively.
Thoughts on the HP OMEN 27i
The HP OMEN 27i is a great choice if you want a vibrant screen with excellent responsiveness and design. The monitor offers superb gamut coverage, but it doesn’t have filters that can tighten it for color-critical work. Its low input lag and FreeSync/G-Sync duality extends its flexibility, especially at a time where new and more powerful cards are dropping.
But the weakest link on the HP OMEN 27i is its weak contrast which many other brands have already improved with their iterations. Its also priced higher while having a few minor setbacks such as its limited stand, so many might reconsider getting the next best thing. The HP OMEN 27i is a strong choice in the 1440p category, but some of its limitations will put its competitors ahead in shopping lists.
Pros:
- Wide Gamut Coverage
- Easy to Calibrate with Good Results
- Attractive Design with RGB
- Durable and Stable Metal Stand
- Slim and Sophisticated Aesthetics
- Low Input Lag
- FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Low Contrast
- Uniformity Needs Improvement
- Higher Price than Closest Competitors
- Limited Availability (At the Time of Review)
-About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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