The ultimate test of a gaming monitor is whether or not it pulls you into the action and lets you play comfortably and competitively for long hours. Do you need HDR for this? Not necessarily. Extended color certainly helps. But video processing is probably the most important element. A display that makes the most of its fast refresh rate while delivering low input lag and quick panel response is key. Specs alone don’t always tell the tale.
The HP Omen 27i certainly has impressive specs. That includes 165 Hz without overclock, FreeSync, G-Sync Compatibility and a superb overdrive. Image quality is also superb. Contrast tests didn’t show great results, but HP has included an excellent dynamic contrast feature that has no downside. Using it takes the 27i past many premium IPS screens when judging image depth.
The star, though, is color. Not only is there lots of it (over 93% DCI coverage), but it’s accurate right out of the box. With a few tweaks (see our recommended settings on page 1), we saw an image equal to many expensive professional displays. The 27i’s color gamut error score of 1.10dE puts it in an exclusive club inhabited by screens like the mini-LED Asus ProArt PA32UCX and Acer’s ConceptD CP7271K.
With color for days and premium game performance, the Omen 27i is easily worth its selling price. It’s bright and sharp, and we could play games or watch movies on it for hours. Plus, it excels at workday tasks. The 27i can handle just about anything. If you’re in the market for a premium IPS screen, it’s well worth considering.
