The 34-inch ultra-wide genre looked like it was leveling out, but the HP Omen 34c G2 takes it up a notch with killer HDR and premium video processing with smooth motion and low input lag. It’s an addictive gaming screen and a great day-to-day display.
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Not long ago, curved monitors were an exotic and rare purchase. Initially, they seemed to answer an unasked question, but gamers quickly became attracted to their extra-wide shape that brought more of the virtual environment into the play experience.
Their popularity has spawned many new sizes and shapes among the best gaming monitors, but the bread-and-butter ultra-wide curved panel is the 34-inch 21:9 format. They come in multiple radii, but many users agree that the most versatile curved display is one that isn’t too curved. 1500mm is just about right, says the Goldilocks principle, because you get a little wraparound effect without distorting the image, which is better for productivity.
HP has long made displays for all uses, including gaming, and here I have its latest 34-inch 21:9 model, the Omen 34c G2. It’s the successor to theOmen 34c from two years ago, and it improves on that model in every way. It’s still 3440x1440 pixels (WQHD), but the refresh rate is up to 180 Hz, there’s a wider color gamut, and HDR contrast has tripled. And it delivers decent value for around $400 at this writing. Let’s take a look.
HP Omen 34c G2 Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight VA / W-LED, edge array Row 1 - Cell 0 8 dimming zones Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 3440x1440 @ 180 Hz Row 3 - Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native Color Depth and Gamut 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) / DCI-P3 Response Time (GTG) 1ms Brightness (mfr) 4000 nits Contrast (mfr) 4,000:1 Speakers 2x 3w Video Inputs 1x DisplayPort 1.4 Row 10 - Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.0 Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB None Power Consumption 43w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 31.8 x 19-23.1 x 9.3 inches (808 x 483-587 x 236mm) Panel Thickness 4.3 inches (109mm) Bezel Width Top/sides: 0.35 inch (9mm) Row 17 - Cell 0 Bottom: 0.9 inch (23mm) Weight 23.77 pounds (10.8kg) Warranty 3 years
The Omen 34c G2 utilizes a VA panel, so contrast is excellent right out of the gate. My sample delivered around 3,300:1, which is about average for the VA category. While that’s well short of an OLED, it’s more than triple the IPS average of 1,000:1. HDR contrast is even more impressive thanks to an eight-zone dimming edge backlight. I measured over 21,000:1 there, which is well above the VA average. Coupled with over 90% DCI-P3 coverage, the G2 significantly improves HDR picture quality.
Speed is also up from before. The top refresh rate is 180 Hz, achieved without overclock, and you get Adaptive-Sync and MPRT backlight strobing. Along with a precise overdrive, the Omen 34c G2 delivers premium video processing for a smooth experience and very low input lag.
The feature list is relatively long with eight adjustable picture modes, aiming points, frame counter, timers, and alignment marks. There are no USB ports, but you do get a pair of internal speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Video inputs include HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. I also found the build quality to be top-notch with simple and effective styling.
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