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HP Omen X 25f 240 Hz Gaming Monitor Review: Speed and Style

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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Acer XFA240
Alienware AW2518HF
Aorus KD25F

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

For comparison we’ve brought in a group of similar screens that all offer either 144 Hz or 240 Hz refresh rates and adaptive sync. The Alienware AW2518H, Aorus KD25F, Acer XFA240 and ViewSonic Elite XG240R are all TN panels, while the MSI Optix MAG24C is the lone VA monitor. All are FHD resolution and focused on gaming performance.

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HP rates the Omen X 25f at 400 nits, but our sample exceeded that with nearly 460 nits of maximum output. This is a seriously bright monitor, which is ideal for sunlit spaces or even outdoor use if you can somehow manage poolside gaming. The black level at full brightness is quite high at 0.5517 nit, which negatively impacts static contrast. That ratio puts the HP in last place among the comparison group. As you’ll see in our subsequent tests, this is the Omen X 25f’s only flaw. TN isn’t known for high contrast, but the other TN monitors manage to squeak out a little more dynamic range.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Our calibration hardly changed the contrast numbers at all, which is a good thing. The Omen’s black level is 0.0513 nit away from matching second place, not a huge amount. Of course, the VA-equipped MAG24C is in a league of its own. It comes down to speed versus dynamic range. The 240 Hz HP offers lower input lag and faster response but less image depth than the MSI.

The Omen X 25f’s ANSI contrast is nearly the same as its static value, which indicates a high-quality panel with good uniformity and a properly installed grid polarizer. We would like to see higher dynamic range here, but overall image quality is good thanks to the HP’s accurate color and grayscale tracking.

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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.