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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

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HP Omen 34c G2 — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Surprisingly, the Omen 34c G2 is a little less bright than its predecessor, the Omen 34c. If you need 450 nits, don’t upgrade to the new screen. But if 357 nits are enough, they should be indoors, then the Omen 34c G2 is a worthwhile upgrade for many other reasons. It isn’t super bright, but it is more than bright enough. Black levels are a little better than before and so is contrast, which measures a little above the VA average at 3,333.7:1.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Calibration doesn’t change much except for peak brightness. Black levels are still deep, and contrast is now 3,216:1, a very good result. There are screens available with more dynamic range in this category from Titan Army and Gigabyte. The ANSI test has a consistent result of 2,934.8:1, which is in keeping with HP’s excellent quality control.

Test Takeaway: The Omen 34c G2 delivers decent brightness and above-average contrast for the 34-inch ultra-wide segment. With ratios around 3,000:1, it looks markedly better than its IPS competition and is less than half the price of an OLED.

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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.