HP Omen 25i Gaming Monitor review: Perfect for fast-paced games
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HP Omen 25i Gaming Monitor review: Perfect for fast-paced games
Note: This review was first published on 30 March 2022.
The HP Omen 25i gaming monitor is shaping up to be a good fit for those who don't have too much space on their desk or too many bills in their wallet. The compact 24.5-inch panel won't endear it to multi-taskers looking for more screen real estate, but it's good enough for anyone else who doesn't need to constantly work with multiple windows.
At S$349, it's also a relatively palatable price to swallow, especially considering its well-rounded feature set. It's got a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS display, speedy 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT). However, HP hasn't specified what the grey-to-grey (GTG) response time is.
In addition, the panel is also rated for 400 nits brightness and DisplayHDR 400, which is the entry-level HDR standard by the VESA association. This means true 8-bit image quality, but no local dimming. The screen is still plenty bright, however, and I found that I had to lower the brightness for better comfort.
You also get a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, according to HP. This was borne out in testing with the Datacolor SpyderX Elite, which actually rated the monitor at 93% of the DCI-P3 colour space, slightly above what HP is claiming.
The monitor rating generated by the SpyderX Elite also rates the screen pretty highly, although its one weak area is luminance uniformity, which refers to how even the brightness levels are in different areas of the screen.
However, while the IPS panel produces reasonably accurate colours, it still falls a little short in terms of how vivid they are when compared to more expensive monitors like the LG UltraGear 27GN950. The colours lack the same punch that you get on higher-end screens, so you do after all get what you pay for.
Where the Omen 25i really shines is in games. The 165Hz refresh rate is perfect for fast-paced games, and everything feels smooth and fluid. It is also G-Sync Compatible and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro (read more about FreeSync Premium and the Pro tier here) for a tear-free gaming experience.
The OSD lets you choose between five different levels of blur-reducing backlight strobe ranging from levels 1 to 5. I found level 3 to provide the best middle ground. Go lower and you get noticeable motion blur in BlurBuster's TestUFO Ghosting Test, while you get obvious pixel overshoot or coronas if you go higher.
There are also gaming-oriented features like a customisable Dynamic crosshair and a dedicated framerate counter. While most gamers probably won't end up using the crosshair, it's worth pointing out how powerful the customisation features are. For instance, you're even able to change the colour, transparency and location.
One of the most interesting features is the Game Remaster mode, which helps you upscale older games to a 1080p resolution so details pop a little more. After all, classic games are making a comeback and are great nostalgia for many older gamers who grew up with them.
Round the back, the Omen 25i features one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4 input. There are also two USB 3.2 (Gen 1) ports. Each connector is clearly labelled, so you don't have to squint too hard to find the right one.
Design-wise, the Omen 25i fits in perfectly with the rest of HP's Omen gaming line. It's got slim bezels on three sides for a more modern look and an angular, square base. Unfortunately, the stand itself is lacking in terms of adjustment options. You can only adjust the angle of tilt, and there is no way to tweak the height or even swivel it to suit you better.
Conclusion
The HP Omen 25i is not a monitor you buy because you want an immersive visual spectacle or incredibly crisp images in 4K. Instead, its strength lies in its gaming performance, where the 165Hz refresh rate and support for the G-Sync Compatible standard and FreeSync Premium Pro ensure you get a smooth, responsive, and tear-free gaming experience.
This is a solid, no-frills gaming monitor for those who don't mind living without some luxuries. At S$349, you don't have to break the bank to get it either. If you're in the market for an affordable screen, this definitely deserves a look.
The monitor is currently available to buy from Lazada and Shopee.
