HP Omen 27u Review: Slick Style And 144Hz 4K Performance

The HP Omen 27u is a 27-inch IPS Ultra HD gaming monitor with 144 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR, HDMI 2.1 and extended color.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
last updated
HP Omen 27u
Editor's Choice
(Image: © HP)

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Grayscale and Gamma Tracking

The Omen 27u has some of the very best out-of-box color accuracy I’ve encountered. In fact, I could not improve its numbers with calibration. So, not only is adjustment unnecessary, but it also provides no benefit.

Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.

(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

There is only one grayscale chart that matters here, the default one. The Omen 27u is spot-on out of the box and cannot be improved in the tracking test. With all errors under 2dE, that’s a very good thing. Gamma tracks a tiny bit below the 2.2 line, but visually, it is perfect with a very small range of values.

Comparisons

Image 1 of 4
HP Omen 27u
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The Omen 27u wins the default grayscale contest and finishes fifth when the other monitors are calibrated. 1.13dE is a visually perfect score, so there will be no perceivable difference between the top five screens. It also fares well in the gamma comparison with the tightest value range and only a 3.18% deviation from 2.2. This is excellent performance, especially considering it comes from the factory this way.

Color Gamut Accuracy

Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.

(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

The Omen 27u’s color gamut accuracy is equally impressive. Again, this is an out-of-the-box test. No adjustments I made could improve the result. Not only is there near-total DCI-P3 gamut coverage, but all points are on target. The boxes represent 1dE, so if the dot is inside or in contact, it’s visually perfect. The average score is among the highest in my database of almost 300 monitors tested since 2013.

Comparisons

Image 1 of 2
HP Omen 27u
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

This is a very impressive group of gaming monitors. None of them have visible color gamut errors and the Omen 27u is one of the very best. Getting close to 1dE is an achievement for any display, even a professional one. And the HP is the only one here that hasn’t been adjusted from its default settings.

While a handful of the latest extended color screens have larger color gamuts than the Omen 27u, its score of 90.99% is still above average. If you refer to the Calman chart, you’ll notice how perfectly balanced the saturation is, making it look even better. The 27u is well-qualified for color-critical applications. Its only flaw is the lack of an sRGB mode. You’ll need a compensation profile for that task.

Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

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.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • cknobman
    Mfg's should not be allowed to label something "HDR" with an edge lit panel and no local dimming.
    It's fake "HDR" at best.
    Reply
  • wifiburger
    700$ is one garbage price to pay to get 144hz at 4k

    there's no way 144hz cost them more vs a 60hz model to make; it's pure price gauging

    It's been 7+ years and we're still at 700$+ for high refresh 4k; I just don't buy it:rolleyes:
    Reply
  • NormaBATES007
    32 ms input lag?? You sure?? I just bought it but I'm going to return the bloody thing. That is way too slow. Who wants 32 ms input lag! What monitor has 32 ms input lag these days? Ouch!! Or did you meant 3.2 ms. Cause 3.2 or 32 is a huge difference!
    If this is a mistake I would change it in the article cause no one will buy this monitor. I almost got a heart attack reading this! Going to return it.. This is bad if 32 ms input lag is the real thing..
    Reply