The HyperX Armada 27 one-ups its esteemed competitors by offering a premium-quality VESA arm instead of a stand. We first saw this on the smaller Armada 25, but its value increases with bigger models since they take up more space. Let’s see if this is the right upgrade for gamers who want an attractively priced
HyperX Armada 27 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
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot – Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.0 x 5, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 24.17” x 14.33” x 2.45”
- Weight: 18.63 lbs
Design and Features
The HyperX Armada 27 sports a cleaner and more sophisticated aesthetic simply because it doesn’t have a flashy base. The monitor has a matte black finish, so it will look good on both gaming and productivity setups. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
One of the things that make this monitor attractive over its closest competitors is its space-saving design. It only clamps on your desk, so you don’t have to deal with a flashy base that takes up a lot of your precious desktop real estate. The device is slightly heavier because of that, but its C-Clamp will work with desks reliably.
Its build quality is excellent, particularly on its monitor arm, which feels rugged thanks to its materials and design. The screen doesn’t wobble when it’s attached, and the arm is strong and firm enough to hold it in place. The key here is attaching it to a stable surface so it doesn’t suddenly give way while you are gaming.
The HyperX Armada 27 has a joystick at the back for your convenience. It’s located near the right side of the display, so you can’t see it, but it’s very easy to use compared to buttons. The only improvement available here is for it to be placed under the bottom bezel so you don’t have to reach in, but that’s not going to be an issue.
The Armada 27, as mentioned, doesn’t include a typical stand since it already has a VESA monitor arm. You get a full range of motion with it, and it even supports up to 32-inch monitors, so it is reusable for your next upgrade. The brand also offers expansion options so you can create a dual-monitor mount, but the addon arm is quite pricey at 79.99.
Its connectivity layout isn’t as well-equipped as we’d like since it only includes the basics. It only has DisplayPort 1.2 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, and there are no extras like USB ports or a 3.5mm jack for headphones. That’s fine in this case since most gaming monitors already have them built in.
You also don’t get speakers with this model since it is trying to reduce its price point as much as possible. However, we think this is acceptable since the monitor deserves a decent gaming headset. Those will help you focus better in games, compared to tinny-sounding and lifeless built-in speakers.
Display and Performance
The HyperX Armada 27 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 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 1000:1, like most IPS panels. This model is HDR 400-certified, but we know that it is limited when it comes to HDR performance.
1440p is the perfect resolution if you want a 27-inch monitor for gaming or mixed-use. It is not too demanding on GPUs like its 4K siblings, so it’s easier to reach the refresh limit with most GPUs. It’s easier to read, write, and browse on it without scaling, plus you still get to enjoy the higher pixel count.
The HyperX Armada 27 covered 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3, so it is vibrant for competitive gaming. It’s not dead accurate out of the box, with a deltaE average of 2.46, but most users will be hard-pressed to find errors. Calibration is unnecessary for gaming, but it does have an sRGB mode with lower gamut coverage and better accuracy for basic editing and creative tasks.
Using a colorimeter improved the dE average to 1.04, making it usable for professional use like editing or content creation. The downside is that you will need to buy the gadget to guarantee that you get the same results. No amount of copying settings or ICC profiles can give you the same score since every panel is different.
The HyperX Armada 27’s backlight reached 415 cd/m2 at 100%, and it peaked at 455 cd/m2 when its HDR mode is active. However, its contrast ratio was unimpressive since it only managed to reach 933:1 at 30% brightness. That means that it’s incapable of deep blacks like its VA counterparts, but that’s expected from an IPS panel with no special treatments.
Panel uniformity for the test sample did not have major issues like backlight leaks or clouding issues. There were some minor variances in the backlight’s spread, but it wasn’t completely noticeable while gaming. Note that this can vary between every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are worse units out there.
The HyperX Armada 27 barely shows any blurring, unlike some older IPS and VA alternatives. You don’t need to touch its overdrive setting since raising its level will induce overshoot. This means that the monitor is perfect for competitive play, where this kind of performance has the most value.
The HyperX Armada 27 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for tear and stutter-free gaming. This duality is essential so you don’t have to buy a monitor every time you switch to the other GPU brand. Input lag sits at 4ms at 165Hz, so users won’t feel any delays while using it.
Thoughts on the HyperX Armada 27
The HyperX Armada 27 is a fantastic choice for competitive gaming fans who want to save space and have a functional setup. The monitor performs well in both imaging and gaming performance, but it also has a unique design that’s hard to pass up. It comes with a HyperX-branded VESA arm that looks and feels good.
There are some missing features that you would expect to find on a monitor that was initially listed for $499. However, it is now heavily discounted in the monitor market, so it is easy to forget about its lack of USB ports or audio options. It’s a great pick if you want a unique 1440p monitor for gaming with performance that will not disappoint.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Premium Quality VESA Arm Included
- FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible
- Great Image Quality and Gaming Performance
Cons:
- Limited Connectivity
- No Speakers
- Low Contrast
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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