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HP OMEN 27i Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Sep 16, 2020 at 08:45 am
Latest change: Writing modified Sep 13, 2023 at 01:07 pm
HP OMEN 27i Picture
7.0
Mixed Usage
7.7
Office
7.8
Gaming
6.7
Media Consumption
7.2
Media Creation
2.9
HDR

The HP OMEN 27i is a great gaming monitor. It has an outstanding response time, resulting in clear motion when gaming, as well as low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. Although it natively supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, it's also certified for NVIDIA's G-SYNC-compatible technology. It's well-built, with a solid metal stand that supports it well, easy-to-access inputs, and RGB bias lighting. The 27" 1440p screen is great for multitasking and for gaming, and the IPS panel delivers wide viewing angles and an outstanding SDR color gamut. Unfortunately, the stand has disappointing ergonomics, and like all IPS monitors, it has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in a dark room. It's also not very accurate out of the box, so media creators might prefer to look elsewhere.

Our Verdict

7.0 Mixed Usage

The HP OMEN 27i is a good monitor for most uses but is best suited for gaming. The high peak brightness and good reflection handling make it a good choice for the office. It has an outstanding response time and low input lag, and it supports FreeSync, great for gaming. On the other hand, the low contrast ratio and disappointing accuracy out-of-the-box make it only a decent choice for multimedia or content creators.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Outstanding response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
7.7 Office

The HP OMEN 27i is a good monitor for office use. The 27" 1440p screen is great for multitasking. It has good peak brightness and good reflection handling, so glare won't be an issue. The image remains accurate when viewed at an angle, so you can easily share your screen with someone else. Unfortunately, the stand has a limited range of motion, so it might be difficult to place it in an ideal viewing position.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Outstanding response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
  • Disappointing accuracy out of the box.
7.8 Gaming

The HP OMEN 27i is a great gaming monitor. It has an outstanding response time, so there's very little blur behind fast-moving objects. It also has excellent low input lag for a responsive gaming experience and supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology. On the other hand, this monitor isn't a great choice for late-night gaming, as it has a low contrast ratio and poor black uniformity.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Outstanding response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
6.7 Media Consumption

The HP OMEN 27i is a decent monitor for multimedia. It has wide viewing angles, good peak brightness, and good reflection handling, so it's great for watching videos with friends, even in a bright room. On the other hand, it has low contrast and poor black uniformity, so it's not a great choice for watching videos in a dark room and has disappointing accuracy out of the box.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Outstanding response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
  • Disappointing accuracy out of the box.
  • Doesn't support HDR.
7.2 Media Creation

The HP OMEN 27i is a decent monitor for media creation. The large, high-resolution screen makes seeing more of your work at once easier, and the wide viewing angles are great for sharing the screen with clients. It has excellent gray uniformity and outstanding gradient handling, with almost no noticeable banding. Unfortunately, it has disappointing accuracy out of the box, which may be an issue for some content creators.

Pros
  • Image remains accurate at an angle.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Outstanding response time.
Cons
  • Low contrast ratio.
  • Disappointing accuracy out of the box.
2.9 HDR

The HP OMEN 27i doesn't support HDR.

  • 7.0 Mixed Usage
  • 7.7 Office
  • 7.8 Gaming
  • 6.7 Media Consumption
  • 7.2 Media Creation
  • 2.9 HDR
  1. Updated Sep 13, 2023: Added that the newly-reviewed HP OMEN 27qs has a higher 240Hz Refresh Rate.
  2. Updated Feb 20, 2023: Added text in the macOS Compatibility and Console Compatibility boxes and clarified text throughout as part of Test Bench 1.2.
  3. Updated Feb 17, 2023: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
  4. Updated Sep 16, 2020: Review published.
  5. Updated Sep 10, 2020: Early access published.
  6. Updated Aug 31, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  7. Updated Aug 28, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Jul 11, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27" OMEN 27i, the only size available. We've also tested a few other HP OMEN monitors.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or their HP OMEN 27i doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, like the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Model Size Refresh Rate Resolution
OMEN 27i 27" 165Hz QHD(2560x1440)
OMEN 27 27" 144Hz QHD(2560x1440)
OMEN X 27 27" 240Hz QHD(2560x1440)

The model we tested was manufactured in June 2020.

Compared To Other Monitors

The HP OMEN 27i is a great gaming monitor with a fast refresh rate. There are quite a few similar displays on the market, including the ASUS TUF VG27AQ and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QZ, but most of them are more expensive.

See our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 27" monitors, and the best 144Hz monitors.

Dell S2721DGF

The HP OMEN 27i and the Dell S2721DGF are very similar. They're both 27 inch IPS monitors with a 1440p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. The Dell has better response times to deliver clearer motion with less blur trail behind fast-moving objects. It also has significantly better ergonomics because it can swivel and rotate to portrait mode, and it supports HDR. 

HP OMEN 27qs

The HP OMEN 27qs is a newer and higher-end monitor than the HP OMEN 27i, so there are a few differences. The 27qs has a higher 240Hz refresh rate and much better motion handling for a smoother feel. The 27qs also has better picture quality with higher peak brightness and improved color accuracy, and it even supports HDR, which the 27i doesn't, but it has limited HDR performance anyway.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B and the HP OMEN 27i perform very similarly, but the LG is slightly better overall. The LG supports HDR, although this doesn't add much. The LG has a slightly faster response time, but there's also more overshoot in our recommend 'Fast' overdrive setting. The LG is also more accurate out of the box. On the other hand, the HP is better-built, with excellent build quality.

ASUS TUF VG27AQ

The ASUS TUF VG27AQ is much better than the HP OMEN 27i for most users. The ASUS has much better ergonomics, so it's easier to place it in an ideal viewing position. The ASUS also supports HDR, and it has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature. While the ASUS is slightly better overall for gaming, some gamers might prefer the HP, as it has a much faster response time when gaming on a console at 60Hz.

HP OMEN 27

The HP OMEN 27i is better than the HP OMEN 27 for most users. The 27i has better viewing angles, better reflection handling, and better uniformity. Some gamers may prefer the older OMEN 27 though, as it has a faster response time, and it supports NVIDIA G-SYNC variable refresh rate technology.

HP OMEN 27c

The HP OMEN 27i and the HP OMEN 27c are both great gaming monitors with a few differences between them. They use different panels, as the IPS panel on the 27i provides wider viewing angles, and the VA panel on the 27c has better contrast. Even though the 27c has a higher 240Hz refresh rate, motion looks smoother on the 27i because there's less black smearing. The 27c supports HDR and has a local dimming feature, both of which the 27i doesn't have, but it doesn't add much as the local dimming on the 27c is terrible. They're built almost the same way, but the 27c has a curved screen while the 27i is flat.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The HP OMEN 27i has a very similar design to the HP OMEN 27, but it's been updated a bit, with slimmer bezels and a sturdier stand. The back of the monitor has a unique design, with easy-to-access inputs and a nice RGB backlight feature. It has only basic cable management, but it's extremely well-built.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

The HP OMEN 27i is extremely well-built. The stand is solid, made of metal, and supports the monitor well. The display is made of good-quality plastic; we didn't notice any gaps or loose panels.

6.9
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
5.1" (13.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The HP OMEN 27i has okay ergonomics but can't swivel. For a similar monitor with better ergonomics, check out the ASUS TUF VG27AQ.

The back of the monitor has a straightforward design, but it looks great. The inputs are angled to the sides, making them very easy to access, and there's an RGB bias lighting feature around the box that houses the monitor's inputs and electronics. Cables can be routed through a hole in the stand, providing very basic cable management.

Also, it can be VESA mounted, but it's very important to make sure that your mounting bracket can rotate at least 45°, as the mounting holes are on an angle.

Design
Stand
Base Width
10.1" (25.6 cm)
Base Depth
10.1" (25.6 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
7.7" (19.6 cm)
Weight (With Display)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)

The stand is slim but solid, supporting the monitor extremely well.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.2" (61.4 cm)
Housing Height
14.5" (36.9 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.7" (6.8 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
11.5 lbs (5.2 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Design
Controls
Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • Manual
  • Power supply
  • Power cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • Allen key

Picture Quality
5.5
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
755 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

Typical for IPS panels, the HP OMEN 27i has a low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray in a dark room. In a brighter viewing environment, this isn't as noticeable. HP advertises a typical contrast ratio of 1000:1 for this display, so these results are a bit on the low side, but this varies between units. If you want a monitor with a VA panel for better contrast, check out the HP OMEN 27c.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

There's no local dimming feature on this monitor. This video is provided for reference only.

7.8
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
324 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
333 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
334 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
334 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
334 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
334 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
333 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
334 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
334 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
334 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
334 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
43 cd/m²

With very good SDR peak brightness, this monitor can easily overcome glare in a brighter viewing environment. It's also extremely consistent, with no noticeable change in brightness with different content.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
N/A
Peak 2% Window
N/A
Peak 10% Window
N/A
Peak 25% Window
N/A
Peak 50% Window
N/A
Peak 100% Window
N/A
Sustained 2% Window
N/A
Sustained 10% Window
N/A
Sustained 25% Window
N/A
Sustained 50% Window
N/A
Sustained 100% Window
N/A
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
N/A

The HP OMEN 27i doesn't support HDR.

8.5
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
46°
Color Washout From Right
46°
Color Shift From Left
52°
Color Shift From Right
53°
Brightness Loss From Left
48°
Brightness Loss From Right
49°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
59°
Gamma Shift From Right
60°

Unlike the TN panel on the HP OMEN 27, the HP 27i uses an IPS panel with excellent horizontal viewing angles. This is great if you often share your screen with someone else sitting nearby, as the image remains accurate even when viewed off-center.

7.0
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
35°
Color Washout From Above
33°
Color Shift From Below
43°
Color Shift From Above
28°
Brightness Loss From Below
40°
Brightness Loss From Above
37°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
58°
Gamma Shift From Below
35°
Gamma Shift From Above
31°

The HP 27i has decent vertical viewing angles. This is important if you often share your screen with someone standing next to you, as you can be confident they'll see the same thing you do.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.362%
50% DSE
0.140%

Excellent gray uniformity overall. The sides of the screen are a bit darker than the center, especially the left-hand side of our unit, but this can vary a bit between units. If you have this monitor, let us know if you notice the same thing in the discussions.

5.0
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.644%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

Unfortunately, the HP OMEN 27i has poor black uniformity. There's noticeable backlight bleed on our unit, especially from the bottom left corner, and the entire screen is a bit cloudy. Black uniformity varies between units, so if you have this monitor let us know how it looks.

6.2
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Gaming
sRGB Gamut Area xy
136.3%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
2.58
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,320 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.21
Color dE (Avg.)
3.38
Contrast Setting
80
RGB Settings
253-249-247
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
50
Measured Brightness
280 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The accuracy before calibration is mediocre. Although gamma follows the sRGB target curve well, there are errors in the white balance and most colors. There's also no sRGB mode, which is a bit disappointing. If you want a monitor with better accuracy out of the box, check out the Lenovo Legion Y27q-20.

9.8
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
100.4%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.39
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,506 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.16
Color dE (Avg.)
0.34
Contrast Setting
80
RGB Settings
253-250-254
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
19
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

After calibration, the HP OMEN 27i is much more accurate. The remaining inaccuracies in the white balance aren't noticeable, and except for highly saturated blues, colors are reproduced accurately.

9.4
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
99.5%
sRGB Picture Mode
Standard
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
84.6%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Standard

The HP OMEN 27i has an impressive SDR color gamut. It can display the entire sRGB color space used by most web content, and it even has great coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space, making it a great choice for content creators.

9.5
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
97.2%
sRGB Picture Mode
Standard
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
89.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Standard

Outstanding SDR color volume. The HP OMEN 27i is limited by the low contrast ratio, as it can't display dark, saturated colors. Like most LCD monitors, highly saturated blues aren't as bright as other colors, but this won't be very noticeable.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR. If you want a similar monitor that does, check out the LG 27GN850-B/27GN880-B.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

7.7
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.9%
Indirect Reflections
2.9%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.0%

It has very good reflection handling. Combined with the high peak brightness, glare won't be an issue even in a brighter room.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The HP OMEN 27i has decent text clarity, but it's recommended to enable ClearType, as seen in the diagonal and curved lines in the top photo.

9.9
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

Although this monitor doesn't support HDR, it can accept a 10-bit signal, but only if the refresh rate is below 120Hz. When sending a 10-bit signal, gradients are extremely clean, with almost no noticeable banding.

Motion
8.5
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
120 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
75 Hz

This monitor's refresh rate is good, but if you want a 1440p monitor with an even higher 240Hz refresh rate, check out the HP OMEN 27qs.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
165 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

The HP OMEN 27i supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology, but it's certified by NVIDIA to work with their G-SYNC Compatible technology. Although FreeSync works over both HDMI and DisplayPort, NVIDIA's G-SYNC Compatible mode only works over DisplayPort with this monitor.

8.3
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Level 2
Rise / Fall Time
3.5 ms
Total Response Time
8.9 ms
Overshoot Error
7.5%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
4.2 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
14.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
35.8%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
Level 1ChartTablePhoto
Level 2ChartTablePhoto
Level 3ChartTablePhoto
Level 4ChartTablePhoto

The response time at its max refresh rate of 165Hz is great. There's minimal blur trail with the 'Level 2' overdrive setting, but setting it to 'Level 3' or 'Level 4' causes inverse ghosting due to overshoot.

7.7
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Level 1
Rise / Fall Time
6.2 ms
Total Response Time
11.8 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
9.1 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
17.0 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
Level 1ChartTablePhoto
Level 2ChartTablePhoto
Level 3ChartTablePhoto
Level 4ChartTablePhoto

The response time at 120Hz is good. Unlike with the max refresh rate, the recommended overdrive setting is 'Level 1' as the higher settings have too much overshoot. This means that you may have to change the setting if the frame rate of your game drops or if you change sources.

7.3
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Level 1
Rise / Fall Time
6.3 ms
Total Response Time
14.5 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
9.5 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
18.2 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
Level 1ChartTablePhoto
Level 2ChartTablePhoto
Level 3ChartTablePhoto
Level 4ChartTablePhoto

The response time at 60Hz is decent, but there's a blur trail with fast-moving objects. Like with 120Hz signals, the 'Level 1' overdrive setting performs the best because it has the least amount of overshoot.

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

Unlike the HP OMEN 27, this monitor doesn't have an optional Black Frame Insertion feature.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight is completely flicker-free, which is great.

Inputs
9.0
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.6 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
11.1 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

Outstanding low input lag, resulting in a very responsive gaming experience. 60Hz input lag is slightly higher than most similar monitors, but this isn't noticeable.

8.0
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
27.0"
Screen Area
310 in²

The 27", 1440p screen is great for multitasking. It also allows you to see more fine details in your favorite games and maintain high frame rates, even if you don't have a top-of-the-line graphics card.

3.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
No

The HP OMEN 27i has limited compatibility with the PS5 as it can't downscale a 4k signal and doesn't support VRR.

5.8
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
Yes

The compatibility with the Xbox Series X is disappointing. It supports the same signals as the PS5, but it supports VRR.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
1 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
HDR10
No
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
2
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The HP OMEN 27i works well with macOS using an HDMI connection. During testing, we tried three different DisplayPort to USB-C cables, and our MacBook didn't recognize the monitor with any of them, so we had to use HDMI. With that, you don't get VRR, and the refresh rate is limited to 144Hz, but there aren't any obvious issues. Like most monitors, windows return to their original position when waking a MacBook up from sleep, but not when you open the lid after it was closed.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

There are a few additional features, including a virtual crosshair overlay and frame counter, both of which are pretty common on gaming monitors. The HP OMEN 27i also has a controllable RGB backlight around the inputs section on the back.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)