The HP Omen 27u is nothing short of an amazing monitor for any setup. There’s a little complexity when it comes to what you may choose to do on it, however this is one of the best viewing experiences I’ve had in a long time.
When first setting up and getting to use the Omen 27u, the diamond shapes of the base and the back where connectors are placed are the most stand out thing I’ve seen besides a soft back. How does this premium monitor stand up? Find out in our review:
HP Omen 27u
Manufacturer: HP Omen
MSRP: $699.99 USD
This is a review coupled with a supplemental video review. You can watch the video review or read the full review of the game below:
However, the form factor isn’t the only sight easy on the eyes; games can play at 4K resolution at 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rates (VRR) on new next-gen consoles via HDMI 2.1. More importantly, when using DisplayPort 1.4 with the HP Omen 27u on PC, the door is open for 144Hz at 4K. HDR is also available with 450 nits of brightness which can be changed via Omen Gaming Hub software. It looks amazing and is a very professional looking screen with no noticeable pixilation.
Testing out the Xbox Series S console, I played Destiny 2, a game that features not only 120hz, but HDR capabilities. The results were astounding and something I was proud to have accompany this great monitor. My PC’s, both equipped with a 1080 Ti and a 2060 Super in separate computers, were barely able to push out enough frames in bigger titles like Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch to match the 4K 144hz output. So they definitely mean this will make your PC jealous and this is a futureproofed piece of hardware to display your favorite games.
There are RGB lights underneath and on the back of the monitor, which is also where your connections are placed along with a headphone stand. The back is home to the button for power and browsing the menus. As far as connectivity, it comes with two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort connection, a USB-C port for video, and two USB-A ports. Connections are in the bottom of the diamond shape on the back of the monitor, as usual.
When cables are connected, they are tilted sideways instead of directly in flat like most other monitors. At some level, your cables, when going for cable management, will not bend to go through the open holes located in the stand, so it may be unpleasing to the eye if it’s a screen you plant to not move too much. It’s definitely a design choice that is unique and may take some getting used to.
Housed inside are speakers that I feel bring this otherwise fantastic monitor down a little. Located next to the connections areas on both side, the sound is directed down. They’re loud with not much, if any bass, but I’m happy with its inclusion. A start from sleep is also quick and makes no sound when it does, and that’s a favorite feature of mine personally. Actually, it freaked me out hearing speakers on a monitor for once besides the Sony PlayStation 3D Display from long ago which featured front facing speakers with worse speakers.
Startup times from rest mode are amazing. Compared to the other 4K monitor I use from Samsung, this is almost instantaneous, like a “blink and you’ll miss it”. I only encountered a moment of issues when I would switch between HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort and there was some sound distortion and small graphical glitches respectively. They did disappear either after a few moments or a restart of Windows, I don’t think most people will run into the issues there that I did.
There’s a lot of great that came out of this HP Omen 27u monitor with the exception of the speakers. I could nitpick with the inability to swivel or turn the monitor at all, as such it acts more as a TV experience than a monitor due to this but it isn’t awful. I’m recommending the HP Omen 27u 4K monitor for anyone in the market, but buyer be warned, it’s a little pricey for $700. Despite the high price tag – it’s worth every penny.
HP Omen 27u was reviewed with a rental unit from the manufacturer. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. For more information or to purchase this monitor, check out their website for the HP Omen 27u.
