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Response, Input Lag, Viewing Angles and Uniformity

To compare the Omen 27qs G2’s performance, I’ve rounded up screens running from 180 to 260 Hz. 280 Hz QHD is somewhat unusual, and the HP is the only example in my database from the past two years. The group is AOC’s Q27G4ZMN and Q27G40XMN, Gigabyte’s M27QA ICE and GS27QXA, and ViewSonic’s XG2736-2K.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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HP Omen 27qs G2 — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Omen 27qs G2’s 280 Hz is enough to put it on top of the response result with a 4ms draw time for a full white field pattern. In the world of LCDs, that 1ms is enough to be visible in a side-by-side comparison. The Omen 27qs G2 is very smooth even before overdrive is engaged. I only needed level 2 to eliminate nearly all blur. If you want perfect motion resolution, turn off Adaptive-Sync and engage the MPRT backlight strobe. It’s easily the best example of this tech I’ve seen, with no sign of the phasing artifact. It has five pulse width options, from bright to dark, and works best on level 2.

In the input lag test, the Omen 27qs G2 takes a bit longer to translate control inputs than the fastest screens, but not by much. 20ms is still an imperceptible amount of lag. For a gamer of average skill like me, the HP is the better choice for its smoother motion resolution. I didn’t notice the extra 4ms of lag in games.

Test Takeaway: The Omen 27qs G2 isn’t the absolute quickest screen in its class, but it is the smoothest with a more precise overdrive than its competitors. It also has the best MPRT backlight strobe I’ve ever seen. Input lag isn’t too far off the mark, and for me, I couldn’t perceive a difference. Pro gamers will want an OLED in their arsenal but for those on a budget, the Omen 27qs G2 delivers a superlative play experience.

Viewing Angles

The newest IPS panels still have the best off-axis image quality among LCD variants, and they’ve largely eliminated the slight color shift of their forebears. The Omen 27qs G2 has a slightly cool tone at 45 degrees to the sides and a roughly 10% drop in light output. Gamma remains consistent, which means there is no loss of fine detail. The top view is more blue and about 50% dimmer.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My Omen 27qs G2 sample had a slightly visible hotspot in its lower left zone, manifesting as a subtle glow. I couldn’t see it in most content, so for gaming, it wasn’t a distraction. The rest of the screen was smooth in tone with no visible problems. This is a sample-specific issue.

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Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.