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HDR Performance

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The Omen 27qs G2 renders excellent picture quality from HDR10 signals by using an eight-zone edge dimming backlight. It’s certified for VESA DisplayHDR 400 as well.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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

My Omen 27qs G2 sample peaked at a healthy 470 nits, well above VESA’s 400-nit requirement. This means highlights will pop with texture and dimension, especially when you factor in the low 0.0574-nit black level. This is only eclipsed by the two VA panels; it handily beats the other IPS screens. The eight-zone dimming backlight pays dividends with an excellent 8,202.2:1 contrast ratio. Again, only the VA panels can boast better HDR contrast. The only way to do better in the LCD genre is with a Mini LED Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) monitor.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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The Omen 27qs G2 grays out all its picture controls in HDR mode, but I found excellent color accuracy anyway. The grayscale test shows no visible errors over the full brightness range. The EOTF tracks very closely to the reference line with slight darkness below 40% and a tad too much light above that until the tone map transition at 65%. This is about as good as it gets for any monitor I’ve tested.

In the color test, the Omen 27qs G2 tracks DCI-P3 with some oversaturation in the mid tones and full coverage of every primary except green, which only comes up slightly short. This is typical of the wide gamut HDR monitors I’ve tested. A little extra verve makes for a more obvious difference between HDR and SDR. The Omen 27qs G2 delivers on hue accuracy too, with nearly perfect tracking in all six colors. In the BT.2020 test, it runs out of color at 88% red, 65% green and 95% blue, also typical performance for a non-Quantum Dot monitor.

Test Takeaway: The Omen 27qs G2 offers excellent HDR quality with a broad dynamic range featuring bright highlights and deep shadows, all filled with fine detail thanks to accurate luminance tracking. It nails the color tests too with just enough oversaturation to add impact without abandoning accuracy. Despite its lack of a FALD backlight or a QD layer, it delivers better than average HDR for an LCD panel.

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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.