HP Omen 32C Monitor – TDP Review
DJI 20240816211243 0653 D
The Omen 32C is a 31.5-inch gaming monitor from HP that offers a lot of features for its price point, making it a solid choice for gamers looking for an immersive experience. With its 1500R curved VA panel, this monitor provides a wide field of view, enhancing gaming and multimedia experiences.
Pros and Cons of the Omen 32C Monitor
Pros:
- Immersive Curved Display: The 1500R curvature enhances the gaming and viewing experience by providing a more immersive field of view, ideal for both gaming and multimedia consumption.
- High Refresh Rate: With a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time with overdrive, the monitor offers smooth and responsive performance, reducing motion blur and enhancing fast-paced gaming.
- Good Color Reproduction: The monitor covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut and 90% of DCI-P3, delivering vibrant and accurate colors suitable for gaming and general multimedia use.
- Minimal Backlight Bleed: Unlike many budget monitors, the Omen 32C exhibits very little backlight bleed, even in dark settings, which is great for a more immersive experience during movies and games.
- Versatile Connectivity: Equipped with two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack, the monitor is versatile and can easily connect to multiple devices like gaming consoles and PCs.
- Adjustable Stand and VESA Mount Compatible: The height-adjustable stand and VESA mount compatibility offer flexibility in setting up the monitor to fit any desk or wall mount configuration.
- Affordable Price: Considering its feature set, including FreeSync Premium, high refresh rate, and curved display, the monitor provides great value for its price.
Cons:
- Average HDR Performance: The HDR 400 certification offers only entry-level HDR capabilities, which means it doesn’t deliver the full HDR experience that higher-end monitors provide.
- Potential Ghosting: While the VA panel does a decent job, there can be some ghosting in high-contrast scenes or fast-moving content, which may not be ideal for competitive FPS gaming.
- Limited Usefulness of Certain Presets: Some presets, such as HP Enhance+, which increases sharpness, are not particularly useful for most users and do not significantly enhance the viewing experience.
- Not Ideal for Fast-Paced Games: Due to the nature of VA panels, the monitor may show some smearing or ghosting in fast-paced games, making it less suitable for first-person shooters or fast-action RPGs.
- Mixed Performance with Consoles: While the monitor supports various resolutions and refresh rates, features like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) do not work when connected to gaming consoles like the PS5.
- Settings Limitations: Some settings can only be adjusted directly on the monitor and not through the HP Omen Gaming Hub, which can be less convenient for users who prefer software-based control.
Omen 32C Monitor Specifications
- Display Size (Diagonal): 31.5 inches (80 cm)
- Panel Technology: VA (Vertical Alignment)
- Curvature: 1500R
- Native Resolution: QHD (2560 x 1440)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Refresh Rate: Up to 165 Hz (DisplayPort), 144 Hz (HDMI)
- Response Time: 1ms GtG (with overdrive)
- Color Gamut: 99% sRGB, 90% DCI-P3
- Brightness: 400 nits (typical)
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (static), 10,000,000:1 (dynamic)
- Pixel Pitch: 0.27 x 0.27 mm
- Viewing Angles: 178° horizontal / 178° vertical
- Backlight Type: Edge-lit
- Screen Treatment: Anti-glare
- Bezel: 3-sided borderless
- Flicker-Free: Yes
- Low Blue Light: Yes, HP Eye Ease (Eyesafe® Certified)
- Panel Bit Depth: True 8-bit
- HDR Support: HDR 400
Connectivity
- DisplayPort: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
- HDMI: 2 x HDMI 2.0
- Audio Port: 1 x 3.5mm Audio Jack (Audio Out)
- HDCP Support: Yes, on both DisplayPort and HDMI
Physical Specifications
- Dimensions (Without Stand): 70.86 x 9.82 x 42.38 cm
- Dimensions (With Stand): 70.86 x 24.33 x 61.26 cm
- Weight (With Stand): 10.38 kg
- VESA Mounting: 100 mm x 100 mm (bracket included)
- Height Adjustment Range: 100 mm
- Tilt Adjustment: -5° to +20°
Power and Environmental Specifications
- Power Supply Type: Internal
- Power Consumption: 100 – 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
- Standby Power Consumption: 0.5 W
- Operating Temperature Range: 5 to 35°C (41 to 95°F)
- Operating Humidity Range: 20 to 80% RH
Additional Features
- Preset Modes: Gaming, Standard, Warm, Cold, Cinema, Night, Native, HP Enhance+
- Management Software: OMEN Gaming Hub
- Physical Security: None
- Sustainable Impact Specifications: Low Halogen, 100% sustainably sourced and recyclable packaging, 85% ITE-derived closed-loop plastic
Included in the Box
- Monitor
- DisplayPort Cable
- Warranty Card
- Quick Setup Poster
- AC Power Cord
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 years limited warranty
Design and Build Quality
The Omen 32C monitor boasts a sleek and modern design that fits well into any gaming or professional setup. Its 31.5-inch curved display is surrounded by a nearly borderless frame on three sides, maximizing screen space and enhancing immersion. The sturdy, ergonomic stand allows for height adjustments up to 100 mm and tilts between -5 to +20 degrees, providing a comfortable viewing experience tailored to your needs. Built with high-quality materials, the monitor feels solid and durable, with a stable base that minimizes wobble. It also features thoughtful cable management through a hole in the stand, keeping your desk tidy and organized. For added flexibility, the Omen 32C is VESA mount compatible, making it easy to attach to a wall or monitor arm. The user-friendly on-screen display (OSD) is controlled via a joystick on the back, allowing for quick and easy adjustments to settings like brightness, contrast, and gaming presets. Overall, the Omen 32C combines functional design with robust build quality, making it a great choice for gamers.
Display Performance
The monitor’s VA panel offers a QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), providing sharp and clear images. The 1500R curvature adds a level of immersion that is particularly effective for gaming and watching movies. With a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time with overdrive, the Omen 32C delivers smooth gameplay with minimal motion blur. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync™ Premium, which helps to reduce screen tearing and stuttering during fast-paced games.
However, like many VA panels, there can be a bit of ghosting, especially in high-contrast scenes. The overdrive setting helps mitigate this, and setting it to the “fast” mode seems to offer the best balance for most users, providing a responsive experience without introducing too much motion blur.
Connectivity and Features
The Omen 32C comes equipped with a variety of ports, including two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This makes it versatile for connecting multiple devices, such as gaming consoles and PCs. The monitor is also compatible with the HP Omen Gaming Hub, allowing users to adjust settings like color calibration and input management directly from their desktop. However, some settings, such as Adaptive Contrast, must be adjusted directly on the monitor.
Color and Image Quality
Covering 99% of the sRGB color gamut and 90% of the DCI-P3, the Omen 32C delivers vibrant colors, which is great for gaming and content creation. In SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) mode, the monitor performs admirably, producing bright, vivid images. While the monitor does support HDR, it’s only HDR 400, which is the entry-level HDR certification. This means that while HDR content is technically supported, it doesn’t provide the full HDR experience you might find on higher-end monitors. The HDR performance on Windows 11 is average and may require some calibration for optimal results.
User Experience and Presets
The Omen 32C monitor provides a versatile user experience with its array of preset modes and intuitive controls. It comes with eight different presets—Gaming, Standard, Warm, Cold, Cinema, Night, Native, and HP Enhance+—each tailored for different viewing scenarios. The Gaming preset, for example, optimizes the monitor for dynamic gameplay, while the Cinema mode enhances movie-watching with richer colors and contrast. Although some presets like HP Enhance+, which increases sharpness, may not significantly improve the viewing experience for all users, having these options allows for easy customization based on personal preferences.
Navigating the monitor’s settings is straightforward, thanks to the joystick control located on the back. This joystick makes adjusting settings like brightness, contrast, and color modes quick and hassle-free. Additionally, the Omen 32C integrates with the HP Omen Gaming Hub software, which allows for further customization from your desktop, although some settings, such as Adaptive Contrast, need to be adjusted directly on the monitor. Overall, the combination of user-friendly controls and a wide range of presets makes the Omen 32C easy to tailor to different uses, whether for gaming, work, or entertainment.
Gaming Performance
The Omen 32C monitor delivers strong gaming performance, particularly for gamers who enjoy immersive experiences and slower-paced games. Its 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time with overdrive ensure smooth and responsive gameplay, reducing motion blur and making it ideal for games that require precise timing. The 1500R curved VA panel enhances the immersive quality of the monitor, drawing players deeper into the action with a wide field of view that is especially effective in RPGs and cinematic games. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync™ Premium, which helps minimize screen tearing and stuttering for a smoother gaming experience.
However, the Omen 32C may not be the best choice for fast-paced shooters or games that require rapid movements. While the VA panel offers excellent color reproduction and deep blacks, it can exhibit some ghosting and smearing in high-contrast, fast-motion scenes, which might be noticeable in competitive first-person shooters. The monitor’s overdrive settings help mitigate these issues to some extent, but users looking for the absolute best performance in fast-action games might find the VA panel’s limitations noticeable. Despite this, the Omen 32C is well-suited for a wide range of games, providing a visually rich and responsive experience for most gaming needs.
Backlight Bleed and Build Quality Concerns
One of the most impressive aspects of the Omen 32C is its minimal backlight bleed, which is a common issue in many budget monitors. This unit shows very little bleed, even in dark settings, which is excellent for nighttime gaming or watching movies in a dimly lit room. This is a significant improvement over other budget monitors, where backlight bleed can be a major distraction.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Omen 32C monitor is an excellent choice for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, immersive display at an affordable price. Its 31.5-inch curved VA panel offers a great balance of sharpness, color accuracy, and immersion, making it ideal for slower-paced games, movies, and everyday use. With a high refresh rate of 165Hz and 1ms response time, it handles most gaming scenarios smoothly, reducing motion blur and enhancing the overall experience. The monitor’s design is sleek and functional, featuring adjustable height and tilt options, thoughtful cable management, and robust build quality.
While it excels in many areas, the Omen 32C does have some limitations, particularly for fast-paced, competitive gaming, where ghosting and smearing might be noticeable due to the VA panel’s characteristics. Additionally, its HDR performance is basic, so those looking for a more advanced HDR experience might need to look elsewhere. However, for the price, the Omen 32C offers a lot of value, combining a visually appealing design with solid performance and versatility, making it a strong contender in the gaming monitor market.
Want more? Click here for Omnidesk Ascent Standing Desk – TDP Review – Tech Drive Play
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
