The HP Omen Transcend 32 is a relative newcomer in the heavily contested OLED monitor market, but it aims to impress. It has a 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED panel, which we widely consider an endgame-level gaming monitor specification. Let’s check it out to see how it stacks against its competitors.
HP Omen Transcend 32 Specifications
- Screen Size: 32 Inches
- Resolution:3840 x 2160 UHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: QD-OLED
- Refresh Rate: 240Hz
- Response Time: 0.03ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1500000:1
- Brightness: 250 cd/m2 (1000 cd/m2 Peak)
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (4 x 3 Watts)
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 2.1 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD140W x 1, USB-C PD15W x 1, USB-C 3.2 x 1, USB 3.2 x 3, 3.5mm x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 28.31″ x 24.30″ x 9.58″
- Weight: 19.4 lbs
Design and Features
The HP Omen Transcend 32 has a minimalist design, but it also stands out with a few aesthetic elements. The monitor has a matte white and black finish, along with an RGB LED that spreads the light out nicely behind the display. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern displays.
It’s larger than your average monitor, but its dimensions are actually one of the most modest in its category. The device needs less than ten inches of depth, but it still is quite wide at 28.31 inches. The whole thing weighs 19.4 pounds with the stand, so it’s also a bit heavier than most OLEDs, which are typically lighter than their WLED counterparts.
Its build quality is excellent, and it truly feels like a premium gaming monitor compared to other options. The plastics used are thick and sturdy, and there were no cosmetic issues like burrs or uneven seams. The included stand is firm and stable, so the large screen doesn’t wobble or sag unless it is nudged with enough force.
The HP Omen Transcend 32 has a joystick for the OSD, so you can easily access its settings and features. It’s located on the right side of the display, so you have to reach in a bit since the screen is quite big. HP also has an app designed for this monitor that gives you more capabilities,s such as transferring files between two PCs through its KVM feature.
The included stand offers tilt, pivot, and height adjustments for your convenience. It’s easy to get a good angle, but you will need to center this monitor since it can’t swing left to right like most monitors with swiveling. You can use VESA mounts, but it is mostly unnecessary unless your desk space is very limited.
The HP Omen Transcend 32’s connectivity layout is quite impressive compared to its KVM-equipped competitors. It has DisplayPort 2.1 and two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a 140-watt USB-C port with DP Alt Mode. You also get two other USB-C ports, but only one of them has a 15-watt charging output,
You will also find a trio of USB 3.2 type A slots and a 3.5mm jack for peripherals and accessories. There is a lot going on with the Transcend 32’s innards because of this, and that’s great for the sake of functional flexibility. However, HP included a massive power brick to provide juice to all that hardware, so placement can be an issue.
Another interesting design for the HP Omen Transcend 32 is its quad-channel speaker layout. Each driver only has 3 watts of power, so they can’t get too loud despite being clearer than most built-ins. A woofer would have given it that dimensional bass output, but the monitor is quite slim so there is no real room to add it in.
Display and Performance
The HP Omen Transcend 32 sports a 32-inch OLED panel with a 3840 x 2160 resolution, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time. The panel’s typical brightness is at 250 cd/m2 while its peak is at 1000 cd/m2, and the contrast is listed at 1500000:1. This model is HDR 400 True Black certified, so it’s capable of fantastic HDR performance.
4K is more comfortable at 32 inches since its not too sharp due to the slightly more relaxed pixel density. It’s easier to read and type, although you will still need scaling most of the time. The real challenge is getting a GPU that’s powerful enough to maximize the 240Hz 4K output.
The HP Omen Transcend 32 covers 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 for stunning colors in games and movies. It looks like it’s pre-calibrated since the dE average is only at 1.21. Most users won’t need to do anything to it out of the box since it’s already optimized by the factory.
Using a colorimeter improved the dE average to 0.78, making it comparable with prosumer monitors in the market. This model is also great for color-critical work aside from just gaming, so you get more out of your money. However, you will need a colorimeter to squeeze more accuracy out since it’s already optimized out of the box.
The panel’s brightness reached 243 cd/m2 at 100%, but it peaked at 965 cd/m2, which is significantly higher than that of some OLEDs. Its contrast is incalculable, so you get true and deep blacks or dark backgrounds in games and movies. It offers fantastic HDR performance because of these traits, and only other OLED monitors can match it.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was great since there were no leaks due to it not having a backlight. There is also no haloing or clouding in HDR scenes since each pixel can independently change its output. The only worry with OLEDs is burn-in, but it is preventable if you take care of it.
The HP Omen Transcend 32’s response time is fantastic since there is no delay from a backlight like with WLED models. The screen is practically blur-free in fast-paced transitions, plus it goes up to 240Hz, so it comes naturally. This is another big advantage of OLED, although they don’t make 1080p models for professional E-Sports gamers to use.
The HP Omen Transcend 32 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tearing and stutter-free gaming. Dual compatibility is nice to have for expensive monitors, so you don’t have to buy one again if you want VRR when you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 3ms at 240Hz, so it is just as fast as the other 240Hz displays out there.
Thoughts on the HP Omen Transcend 32
The HP Omen Transcend 32 is a fantastic gaming monitor thanks to its excellent design and imaging performance. It boasts brilliant HDR qualities and color accuracy, putting it ahead of some of its competitors. It’s equipped with niceties that are functional and quickly becoming essential, so it’s future-proof and a good investment.
The only issues most will have with this monitor are its massive brick and its limited stand. Swivel is standard on ergonomic monitors, and most will find that gigantic block of plastic difficult to place safely. However, it’s an excellent buy overall, making the decision more difficult and better for consumers or gamers.
Pros:
- Bright and Color Accurate
- Excellent HDR Performance
- Great Design and Features
- Fast and Responsive – Great for Gaming
Cons:
- Expensive
- Giant Power Brick
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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