HP's Omen X 27: A 240Hz QHD Monitor with FreeSync 2 HDR
by Anton Shilov on August 23, 2019 3:00 PM EST
Among the monitor announcements to come out this week, HP has introduced a new display aimed at hardcore gamers and esports professionals. With a 240 Hz max refresh rate, FreeSync 2 support, and HDR, the Omen X 27 is designed to be a jack of all trades for gaming monitors.
HP's new gaming monitor is based around a high-performance QHD TN panel, sporting a 240 Hz refresh rate, 300/400 nits brightness (SDR/HDR), and a 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut. Seeing a TN panel show up in a (marginally) HDR-capable monitor like the Omen is a relatively recent advancement; for years, TN displays have lagged IPS monitors when it comes to the color space that could be represented. However, recently developed TN panels and new types of backlighting have significantly improved the ability of such LCDs to cover wide color gamuts, a core requirement for HDR support.
The Omen X 27 is also an AMD FreeSync 2-certified monitor, which means that it not only supports a variable refresh rate technology, but also features Low Framerate Compensation (LFC), HDR, and allows select games to tone map directly to the monitor's native dynamic range. In accordance with its HDR support, the monitor also features zoned backlighting, with 16 edge-lit zones across the monitor.
Being aimed at hardcore PC gamers and esports professionals, the HP Omen X 27 has only two display inputs: a DisplayPort 1.4 input and an HDMI 2.0 port. The monitor also features a headphone output, which is common for gaming monitors these days, but it does not have built-in speakers. In addition, the Omen X 27 has a dual-port USB 3.0 hub and an adjustable stand with a headset rest, and a red ambient light.
The combination of a variable refresh rate of up to 240 Hz, HDR, and wide color gamut support will naturally be the key selling point of the monitor. Unfortunately, since HP has not disclosed all the specs of the display, we do not know whether it actually supports the HDR10 transport format, which is important for many. That said, while the monitor is full of interesting features, the whole picture is something that remains to be seen.
| The HP Omen X 27 | |
| General Specifications | |
| Panel | 27-inch 8-bit TN |
| Native Resolution | 2560 × 1440 |
| Maximum Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Response Time | 1 ms GtG with Overdrive 3 ms GtG |
| Brightness | SDR: 300 cd/m² HDR: 400 cd/m² |
| Contrast | 1000:1 |
| Backlighting | 16-zone bottom edge lit |
| Viewing Angles | 170°/160° horizontal/vertical |
| Curvature | none |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Color Gamut | 90% DCI-P3 sRGB |
| DisplayHDR Tier | N/A |
| Dynamic Refresh Rate Tech | AMD FreeSync 2 |
| Pixel Pitch | 0.2335 mm² |
| Pixel Density | 109 PPI |
| Inputs | 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 1 × HDMI 2.0 |
| Audio | Headphone output |
| USB Hub | 2 × USB 3.0 Type-A connectors 1 × USB 3.0 input |
| Adjustments | Height: 0-130 mm Tilt: -5 to +23 degrees |
| MSRP | $649 |
HP’s Omen X 27 will be available starting from September in the US at $649 and starting from November in the UK for $£579.99.
Related Reading:
- Acer Launches Predator XN253QX Monitor with 240 Hz & 0.4 ms G2G Response Time
- AOC’s Agon Monitors with 0.5ms Response Time & 240 Hz Refresh Now Available
- IO Data Launches GigaCrysta 24-inch 1080p Monitors at 240 Hz with HDR10 Support
- Acer Unveils KG1 Displays with Sub-1ms Response Time
- BenQ Announces ZOWIE XL2546 ‘eSports’ Display: 24'', FHD, 240 Hz, DyAc ULMB Tech
- Smooth As 240 Hz Butter: LG's 27GK750F-B, a 27-inch eSports Monitor with FreeSync, Launched for $550
Source: HP
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nathanddrews - Friday, August 23, 2019 - link
"Good" is relative. Better than 5 years ago, but still lagging IPS/VA, which are also better than 5 years ago. If this were 32", I would preorder it right now.Alexvrb - Friday, August 23, 2019 - link
IPS still lags far behind TN on everything speed related. What is good or bad completely depends on your requirements. For an all-in-one gaming display, a panel like this is ideal. Very good gaming performance, but still decent at everything else.Alistair - Saturday, August 24, 2019 - link
Not really true. The PG279Q TN monitor has a response time average of 2.9ms (1ms is marketing bull, only the fastest transition, not the average, and not with normal OD) that allows up to 344hz. The new LG IPS gaming monitor averaged 4.8ms, which is also VERY low and would allow up to 208hz nicely. So honestly there are many great IPS gaming monitor options for 144-165hz. 240hz is a bigger problem, but in my experience, the only 240hz monitor I've bought, the Dell, had broken overdrive at 240hz and left large trails behind scrolling horizontal black or grey lines. It only worked properly at 144hz, so I went back to IPS since IPS works just as well at 144hz nowadays.Alistair - Saturday, August 24, 2019 - link
I meant PG278Q earlier, the PG279Q is the IPS one.just4U - Saturday, August 24, 2019 - link
Alistair, are you talking about the new LG 27GL850 IPS panel? It's advertised as 1ms but reviews suggest it doesn't quite make it there.. but considering it's price, 144hz.. and low response time it's considered one of the better ones out there.Alistair - Saturday, August 24, 2019 - link
Yes, but LG is doing what the other people do, there is no 1ms TN monitor either. As I said, high end TN panels, like the PG278Q are about 3ms average GtG, and high end IPS like the LG are about 5ms GtG, both more than high enough to support 144hz.When people think of slow IPS, they are thinking of old panels, or displays without quality overdrive. Native TN vs native IPS. But OD TN, vs OD IPS is very similar, and has been for a few years now. VA is the only one that isn't that fast today, as it suffers from slow dark transitions. VA can be fast overall, but slow with dark content, and often has poor text legibility as it has non standard sub pixel arrangement. Contrast is its one strong area.
nathanddrews - Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - link
Alistair is probably referencing this excellent video by HU:https://youtu.be/081ccrxYwDo
IMO, we gained some great things moving away from CRT, but we also gave up a lot of great things. Unfortunately, the brutal reality is summed up in the Blur Busters Law: we need 1,000Hz displays. https://www.blurbusters.com/blur-busters-law-amazi...
eek2121 - Monday, August 26, 2019 - link
Yeah I only buy IPS monitors these days. I'll take the 'glow' over poor color reproduction and viewing angles any day.Oxford Guy - Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - link
If monitor makers wouldn't cheap-out, IPS glow can be eliminated with the addition of a polarizer.eek2121 - Friday, August 23, 2019 - link
How can you have a TN HDR monitor? I mean I guess technically that's possible, but honestly I'd avoid it. Oh, it's an 8 bit panel, not a 10 bit one. Sounds like they are faking it somehow.