The HP Omen 27k ($579) is a 4K gaming monitor with a VESA DisplayHDR 400 rating, promising high-fidelity visuals at a decent price. And for the most part, it delivers. It offers exceptionally low input lag, good contrast and brightness ratings, and additional nice-to-haves like a built-in KVM switch. Add in a reasonably high 144Hz maximum refresh rate, and the HP Omen 27k becomes a worthy purchase for casual gamers with 4K-capable PCs or consoles and around $500 to spend on a monitor.
The Design: A Good Omen
Compact, at 27 inches on the diagonal, the Omen 27k sports a simple, clean look. Thin black bezels wrap around the screen’s edges, creating a nearly borderless frame, while the Omen logo adorns the bottom part of the monitor. Turn it around, and you’ll spot the Omen logo again, along with an RGB-lit diamond that surrounds the monitor's center. At the lower left corner, you’ll find the OSD control stick, as well as a few shortcut buttons. The stand itself is simple, with a square bottom that holds the monitor steady.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)As far as ports go, the HP Omen 27k should satisfy both console and PC gamers, with two HDMI ports (one 2.0 and one 2.1), a DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB Type-C (which can also be used as a DisplayPort input). The HDMI 2.1 support is essential for tapping into high frame rates on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. Using the HDMI 2.0 port will lock you at 60Hz, so you can't connect one of those consoles and a PC simultaneously and enjoy maximum performance.
Two 3-watt integrated speakers inhabit the right and left sides. They produce okay sound, though in testing we were tempted to grab a set of external speakers or a gaming headset for longer sessions.
Notably, you'll also find two USB Type-A ports, which work with the built-in KVM switch that's similar to the ones found on more premium gaming monitors like the Lenovo Legion Y32p-30. A KVM switch allows you to control multiple devices with one keyboard and mouse plugged directly into the monitor. It's a useful tool for multitaskers who find themselves switching between machines on the same display.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The HP Omen 27k measures 20.6 by 8.8 by 24.2 inches (HWD), and with the stand, it weighs 16.6 pounds. It comes in a little bigger and a little heavier than other 27-inch monitors, like the Sony Inzone M9. The stand allows for plenty of adjustment, with a height-adjust range up to 4 inches, support for a 90-degree pivot to portrait mode, and a -5 to +20 degree tilt.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The HP Omen 27k uses an IPS display, which is the go-to panel technology for most gaming monitors, as they often display lower response times, greater color accuracy, and better viewing angles than VA panels do. While these strengths make IPS panels a good match for gaming, OLED panels are better still, unmatched in color vibrancy. The trade-off is a much higher price, frequently north of $1,000, which makes the $580 Omen look like a downright bargain.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The Omen also includes additional customization functionality with the Omen Light Studio, an app that allows users to customize the monitor’s RGB lighting and link it to other compatible HP gaming gear for their own game-specific light show. The software should be familiar to anyone who has used similar utilities from other makers (such as Razer Synapse), though there may be a slight learning curve if you’re new to the world of custom RGB lighting effects.
Testing the HP Omen 27k: The Devil's in the Details
The HP Omen 27k is a capable monitor, on paper anyway. To better judge its true performance, we pitted the monitor against similar 4K gaming monitors in a benchmark gauntlet that measures color gamut, brightness, color accuracy, and contrast ratio using our Calman monitor calibration software, Murideo Six-G signal generator, and Klein K-80 colorimeter.
Our first test measures the monitor’s brightness over an SDR signal in its default picture mode. The Omen 27k reached 421 nits of brightness, slightly above its 400-nit rating. To measure peak HDR brightness, we use the VESA DisplayHDR compliance tests, available for free on the Microsoft Store. On this test, the Omen soared above its DisplayHDR 400 rating, measuring 552 nits.
Examining the monitor’s color-gamut coverage next, the HP Omen 27K spanned 95% of the sRGB color gamut, 70% of Adobe RGB, and 70% of DCI-P3. That's not bad, but we’ve seen better from other 4K monitors.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Measuring color accuracy next, the HP Omen 27k recorded a Delta E of 2. The higher the Delta E, the more the colors tend to stray from their intended hue. A value under 1 is ideal, though most gaming monitors tend to hover closer to 2, especially with out-of-the-box settings. The HP Omen 27k sits right on the intended mark, and the colors indeed look sweet on the screen.
Finally, we look at the contrast ratio, which indicates the difference in luminance between the brightest white and darkest black that a monitor can produce. It makes a difference in picture quality, especially during dark scenes in gameplay. The HP Omen 27k measured 1,035:1 with a black level of 0.5, which essentially matches the static contrast ratio of 1,000:1 advertised on the monitor’s product page.
Media and Gaming Performance
For a gaming monitor, the most important metric for many serious players will be its input lag. To measure that, we employ the HDFury Diva HDMI matrix. The HP Omen didn't disappoint, measuring less than 1ms of input lag. That’s an excellent result, and an ideal one if you’re hardcore about competitive games. AMD Freesync Premium is included, and so is Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, which should eliminate any potential screen tearing.
Some people might consider the monitor’s 144Hz refresh rate to be on the low end, given the advent of 240Hz and higher monitors (see the rocket-high Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor, for example) but I find that it’s a sweet spot for gamers who have midrange computers and consoles. (Remember: 240Hz is useful only if the game you're playing can hit 240fps on your hardware at your intended play resolution!) Running Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Cyberpunk 2077, and Rainbow Six Siege all proved successful, without any noticeable issues on the monitor’s part. Overall, gaming on the Omen is smooth—and good-looking, too.
Verdict: An Auspicious 4K Gaming Monitor
The HP Omen 27k offers good brightness, a wide color range, decent color accuracy, and remarkably low input lag. Better still, at under $600, it’s relatively affordable, and a far better deal than last year’s HP Omen 27u or recent 4K monitors like the Legion Y32p-30. While we recommend OLED models like the Corsair Xeneon 27QHD240 if you're in the market for a top-shelf 27-inch gaming monitor to pair with a kitted-out gaming PC, the Omen 27k delivers just about everything you need for gaming on your console or midrange PC in terms of performance, and it does it with pleasing 4K visuals.
