The HP Omen 34c is a reasonably-priced 1440p ultrawide that offers desirable specs for immersive gaming. It is not the cheapest in its category, but it promises premium-grade imaging and a solid yet stylish exterior. Let’s take a look to see if it’s an improvement over its cheaper alternatives in the market today.
HP Omen 34c Specifications
- Screen Size: 34 Inches
- Resolution: 3440 x 1440 UW-QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time: 1ms MPRT
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Audio Jack x 1m WiFi Antenna x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.8” x 22.9” x 9.6”
- Weight: 23.4 lbs
Design and Features
The HP Omen 34c doesn’t look as flashy as the ASRock PG34WQ15R2B, so it can be appealing to a wider audience. The monitor has a matte black finish, so it looks cleaner and more elegant than some of the options we’ve seen. The display doesn’t have bezels on three sides, but you will still see inner borders while it is in use.
It’s larger than your typical monitor, but its dimensions are modest since the design isn’t over-complicated. It is 32 inches wide overall, but it only needs 9.6 inches of depth from your desk. It is heavier than competitors at 23.4 pounds, so extra care during assembly or setup is necessary.
Its build quality is better and comparable with what its premium counterparts can offer. The plastic panels are thick and sturdy, plus there were no cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The stand is firm and stable, so the screen doesn’t wobble or sag unless you nudge it accidentally.
The HP Omen 34c has a D-pad for its OSD instead of a joystick, so it is not going to be as easy to use as some models. The keys are arranged in four directions and are complemented with a dedicated selector button, but it still requires multiple key presses. It takes more time, but it’s better than the regular layout.
The included stand only offers tilt and height adjustments, but that’s all you will need for daily use. Centering the monitor is essential to enjoy its benefits, and you only need two movements for that. VESA mounts are also compatible, but they only become necessary if space is an issue or if you have multiple monitors.
Its connectivity layout has been simplified to help with lowering its price. You get DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. A USB hub or even a USB-C port would have been useful here, but its lack of them is understandable. You also get 3-watt speakers in the package, but they lack the punch to be considered immersive.
Display and Performance
The HP Omen 34c offers a 34-inch curved VA panel with a 3440 x 1440 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms boosted response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output, while the contrast is listed at 3000:1, like most VA panels. This model is HDR400-compliant, but we all know how limited that is when it comes to quantifiable performance.
1440p ultrawides are great for a bevy of uses so they can enhance the value of every dollar you spend. They are great for immersive gaming, but that extra horizontal space also helps tremendously for multitasking. You will need an upper-range GPU for high framerates, but its requirements are still manageable compared to 4K.
The HP Omen 34c covers 100% sRGB and 80% DCI-P3, which is decent for a monitor in its class. Its default accuracy has a deltaE average of 1.39 using its standard mode, so it is pretty decent even if you don’t calibrate it. Most users should be able to enjoy it right away without taking the time or spending money on a calibration setup for it.
However, doing that to the device improved its dE to 1.08, making it almost comparable to creator-suitable monitors we’ve tested. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve a result like this. Those are not cheap, so we can only recommend them for professional or money-making purposes.
The HP Omen 34c’s backlight reached 448 cd/m2 at 100% brightness, but it only reached 474 cd/m2 when HDR was active. Its contrast peaked at 2977:1 at 30% brightness, enabling it to produce deep blacks like most VA panels. It’s great for complex or dark scenes, but it is not a true HDR monitor by any means.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some issues due to backlight leaks on the top edge of the display. They become visible in darker scenes, but lighter backgrounds are not as affected. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerances, so there are better ones out there.
The biggest weakness of the VA panel on the HP Omen 34c is its slower pixel response time versus IPS and OLED. However, this model seems to handle that quite well, provided that you use a decent amount of overdrive. Setting it too high can introduce overshoot, so finding a balance between your stable framerate and that function is key to a better experience.
The HP Omen 34c is compatible with both FreeSync and G-Sync for smooth gameplay with both GPU brands. It is essential to have both so you can extend a monitor’s value by keeping it and VRR after a brand switch. Input lag sits at 4ms at 165Hz, making it as fast as the best 165Hz monitors on the market.
Thoughts on the HP Omen 34c
The HP Omen 34c is a great choice if you want a sub-$500 ultrawide gaming monitor that performs well and is built nicely. It doesn’t feel like a budget model at all, so it is durable and reliable enough for years of use. Calibration did not perfect the panel’s output, but its default scores are more than enough for its intended purpose.
There are limitations, but the fact of the matter is it’s more expensive than competitors like the Gigabyte G34WQC or the AOC CU34G3S. The 34c has the imaging advantage, but that extra hundred or so might be a deal breaker. The best way to harvest what it has to offer is to get it on sale, so you better catch it if it ever gets its price slashed further.
Pros:
- Great Default Accuracy
- Superb Build Quality and Features
- FreeSyn and G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Limited Features
- Higher Price
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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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