HP has really upped its game in last few years with improved hardware design and performance. Its Omen series which is targeted to gamers is another testament to this fact. It features desktops, laptops, computer monitors and accessories. This series from the company can be recognized with tribal mask red logo. It is almost the same logo which VoodooPC used a few years back but HP acquired VoodooPC in 2006 and it is now using it for its new line of gaming products. HP Omen 32 inch QHD monitor which we are going to review today is part of this series.
HP Omen 32 is a perfect choice for gaming enthusiasts who don’t want to spend too much money on a large screen but at the same time they don’t want to compromise on performance. When the screen size is large and resolution is more than Full HD, you can expect to pay a premium for that monitor. You also need to take into account FreeSync Technology which also increases cost of the machine. Fortunately, this is not happening here as its price is quite reasonable.
Although, it is cheaper than most of the other alternatives in the market, you still have to analyze product carefully in terms of design, display and capability. This in-depth review of HP Omen 32 will provide answers to these critical questions.
Table of Contents
Design
When it comes to large displays, you can easily go wrong with the design but they have done a good job here. The build quality and material used in manufacturing this beast is of good quality. The front frame, back of the monitor and the stand have matte black finish. Front and back is constructed from plastic but it not of cheap material by any means and has a nice feel when you touch it. The wedge style stand is made from metal.
Bezels of HP Omen 32 monitor are not very thin but they are not too large or ugly either. It seems that HP opted for a bit large bezel after considering large panel as it really helps in keeping the panel firm and sturdy. You can tilt the stand to -5°/+21° angle but there is no height adjustment option. Thankfully, it comes with VESA mounting plate so you can also mount it on the wall if it your requirement. Power button, OSD buttons and ports are present on the back of the monitor. OSD buttons are well made with nice feedback but we think that they could be made more accessible as having them on the back side can be a problem for some people.
Display
Omen 32 has huge 32 inch immersive display with QHD resolution (2560×1440). The panel is VA instead of IPS or TN. In terms of panel quality, IPS is better than VA but the difference is minimum. We guess that HP made this decision to cut some cost of the machine but it was an intelligent decision to balance price and performance. At least, they didn’t use low quality TN panel. Colors on this monitor are still very accurate and some calibration will further improve the result to almost match IPS display. In order to further improve colors, Omen 32 uses 100% sRGB coverage and 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
This monitor uses matte display which looks not only stylish but also keeps it safe from fingerprints. Its large screen provides wide viewing area. It facilitates your concentration level and you would definitely enjoy watching movies and playing games on it like never before. Although, its display is QHD instead of 4K but it still exhibits 77 percent more pixels than Full HD so everything you see on the panel is crisp and clear without missing any detail.
Performance
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that performance-wise, it is a mid-range budget gaming monitor. 75Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time are above average specs for gamers. It doesn’t hit the extreme level of 144Hz/240Hz refresh rate or 1ms response time so we can’t say that it is a gaming monitor for all needs.
These shortcomings shouldn’t disappoint you though because HP has included AMD FreeSync technology with Omen 32. Thanks to this technology, your gaming experience will be smooth as long as you have AMD graphic card which supports FreeSync. Input lag and screen tearing will be a thing of past after buying this monitor. Even if you don’t own supported graphic card, you will not face any ghosting issue as long as you are not playing any intense FPS game.
Unlike many monitors, HP Omen 32 inch display is free from problems like light bleeding or dead pixels. Many large size displays have these but HP did a good job as far as quality control is concerned. BlurBusters flickers test didn’t show any sign of flicker on screen and you see only one straight line coming down on the panel. Overall, this machine runs really smooth without causing any headache.
Specifications
Display: 32″ LED with VA Panel
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Viewing Angle: 178°(H)/178°(V)
Response Time: 5ms
Refresh Rate: 75Hz
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Brightness(Max) : 300 cd/㎡
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 10,000,000:1
Speakers: No
Stand: Tilt -5°/+21°
VESA Mount Compatibility: Yes
Ports: 2 x HDMI with HDCP, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 with HDCP, 3 x USB 2.0
Pros and Cons
- Excellent design with attention to detail.
- Picture is of top grade from every angle in all lighting environments.
- It comes with VESA mount plate which you can use to mount it on the wall.
- There is no USB 3.0 port.
- OSD buttons are present on the back of the monitor instead of bottom edge of the screen.
- Stand height is not adjustable.
Conclusion
The best thing about HP Omen 32 monitor is its price when you see its large size, QHD resolution and AMD FreeSync. These things usually make the monitor more expensive but this is not true here. If you check offerings of same specifications from its competitors like Dell and ASUS, you will find that they will cost you a lot more. It is a great deal if you are on a budget but looking for a computer monitor which does the job for you.
Moreover, it is a great gaming monitor if you like playing RPGs. You will not find any stutter or lag while playing them. It is also ideal for casual FPS games lovers. We don’t recommend HP Omen 32 if you are buying it for sole purpose of fast paced FPS games as its response time and refresh rate is not good enough for this activity. It is a perfect choice for casual players and people who are going to use it for web browsing, document editing and routine work.
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