HP Omen X 65 Emperium Monitor Review: 65 Inches of Gaming Greatness

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Conclusion

We’ve seen many reader comments extolling the virtues of gaming on a TV versus a dedicated computer monitor--and our own managing editor uses a 49-inch HDR TV as his primary gaming and productivity screen at home. Obviously, flat panel TVs have a tremendous advantage when it comes to dollars per square inch. With 65-inch UHD displays selling for $1,500, they make for a compelling option. But once you’ve been bitten by the adaptive refresh bug, it’s almost impossible to go back to 60Hz.

During our time with the HP Omen X 65 Emperium, we enjoyed the best gameplay we’ve experienced to date. We watched UHD Blu-rays that looked fantastic and spent hours exploring the impressive Nvidia Shield interface’s games, movies and TV. All of these things were delivered looking amazing and sounding even better, thanks to the best built-in sound in the business.

This truly is a display that can do everything. High-end gaming? Check. Premium TV? Check. Lots of streaming choices built-in? Check. Audiophile sound quality? Check. You could even use this panel as a reference display in a video post-production studio. Or well-heeled photographers might employ it as the ultimate Photoshop palette. We can’t think of anything display-related that this monitor cannot do.

I assure you our impressions aren’t overstated. There is simply nothing else like this screen available in early 2019. There is no question that gaming on the Omen X 65 Emperium is the equal of the finest gaming monitors I’ve experienced and every bit as enjoyable as playing on the Asus ROG Swift PG27U and Acer Predator X27. While HP's BFGD sells for a very premium price, it delivers everything promised and then some. It defines state-of-the-art defining gaming and display technology. 

The only real question we're left with is if and when Asus and Acer will offer up their competing big-format displays and how they'll stack up in terms of price and performance. But at least for now, if you're after the best and biggest gaming screen on the planet, the HP Omen X 65 Emperium is unquestionably it.

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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.