By My pick for 2024’s best displays are the newest 32-inch 4K OLED monitors. They are crisp and immersive, offering contrast and color performance that were unattainable from any display just five years ago. The majority, however, concentrate mostly on PC and console games. With its extensive connectivity and functionality, the HP Omen Transcend 32-dollar model is a popular choice for both work and play.
Specs and features
Anyone looking for a 32-inch 4K OLED monitor in 2024 will be familiar with the HP Omen Transcend 32’s basic features. It features a Samsung QD-OLED panel with a maximum refresh rate of 240 Hz, a 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio display, and a resolution of 3840 x 2160. Several 32-inch 4K OLED screens have the same features.
- 32-inch widescreen 16:9 display
- Resolution at birth: 3840 x 2160
- Type of panel: QD-OLED 10-bit
- Maximum refresh rate: 240 Hz
- VESA Adaptive Sync, Nvidia G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro are examples of adaptive sync.
- HDR: VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400. Approved Ports: One USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, two HDMI 2.1s, one DisplayPort 2.1 (UHBR10), and 140 watts of power delivery Three USB-A 3.2 downstream, one USB-C downstream, one USB-C upstream, and one 3.5mm audio line out
- Mounting VESA: Indeed, 100 x 100 millimeter
- Two 3-watt speakers are used.
- The MSRP is $1,299.99.
The Transcend 32 starts to deviate from the plan when it comes to connectivity. Although DisplayPort only offers UHBR10 data rates, which is not all that different from DisplayPort 2.0, it does support both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1. A USB-C port with DisplayPort and 140 watts of power delivery is the icing on the cake. Many rivals either do not have USB-C or have USB-C ports with significantly less power delivery.
Design
An impressive initial impression is created by the HP Omen Transcend 32. While a black alternative is available for a darker, more somber style, the white coloring I received has a contemporary, unique appearance. A quick look at the monitor’s front reveals a subtle design with thin bezels on three sides and a tiny chin at the bottom. However, a fantastic RGB-LED light bar makes the rear design stand out. Unlike most competitors, which usually use circular LED bars snugly wrapped around the stand neck, it stands out for its design and brightness. Some have no RGB-LED light at all, such as the Acer Predator X32.
Although the monitor’s material quality is good, the cost is not entirely justified. The main material is plastic, which is strong and flexible, but it does not have the same sumptuous feeling or feel as alternatives like Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 line, which has a more opulent metal panel design. The stand design is the same. It has an unimpressive plastic structure over a metal skeleton and is practical but unadorned.
The stand is easy to set and has a large height adjustment, however, my test device wobbled a little when jostled since the base was not completely level. For use in landscape mode, ergonomic adjustment features include height, tilt, and rotation up to 90 degrees. But it is not able to rotate. Because of these restrictions, users might decide to swap out the stand for a third-party arm. Although an included bracket is needed for VESA mounting, the monitor thankfully offers a 100x100mm VESA mount for third-party arms.
Features
Despite having the appearance and feel of a gaming monitor, HP markets the Omen Transcend 32 as a display for both creative professionals and gamers, referring to it as the “gateway between gaming and creating.” The marketing is supported by the features of the monitor. In a typical configuration, a joystick on the back-right side of the screen is used to access the on-screen menu. On the other hand, HP distinguishes itself from its competition with notably larger and more readable on-screen menus. If you are leaning back from the screen or do not have perfect 20/20 vision, this is extremely useful.
The menus are arranged logically and offer a wide variety of image quality settings, including full-color calibration, gamma, color temperature, and preset modes. For creators, that is excellent news. The ability to isolate the blue channel, capabilities for modifying the downstream RGB signal, and video and movie overlays are additional creator-focused tools. Curiously, the panel does not support direct HDR brightness adjustments, which would be a great inclusion. However, it does allow for clipping level control when in HDR mode, which is an unusual feature in 4K 240 Hz OLED monitors.
HP OMEN Transcend Gaming & Entertainment Laptop (Intel i7-13700HX 16-Core
Although the on-screen menus are excellent, HP’s Omen Gaming Hub software also offers monitor adjustments. HP’s software functions well, and this is typically faster and simpler than using the on-screen menu. Smaller, less expensive brands (such as AOC, Spectre, or Innocn) usually do not offer comparable software, but the majority of big competitors do. The Omen Gaming Hub software is particularly helpful if you possess an Omen laptop or other gaming accessories because it can also control other Omen devices.
When using several PCs, the Omen Transcend 32’s KVM switch and HP’s exclusive “Omen Gear Switch” make it easier to manage USB devices attached to the monitor. This enables users to switch between the PCs that the USB devices can connect to. Also, the warranty coverage is good. The Omen Transcend 32 is covered by a three-year warranty from HP. For its rival 4K OLED screens, Alienware and Samsung offer three-year warranties, but LG only offers two for the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B.
Performance
A 32-inch Samsung QD-OLED display with a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 is included in HP’s Omen Transcend 32. At this point, we have tested dozens of QD-OLED displays, and each one performs similarly. But with a few little wins, the HP Omen Transcend 32 manages to give a marginally higher SDR than the majority of its rivals. In SDR, OLED monitors are not particularly bright. This is not altered by the HP Omen Transcend 32, however, its maximum sustained SDR brightness of 257 nits is on the higher end of what is usually expected from a 4K OLED panel. Additionally, glare is effectively reduced by the monitor’s anti-glare coating.
The brightness of the Transcend 32 is more than sufficient for comfortable SDR watching, but it is insufficient to maintain the monitor’s comfort in exceptionally bright environments, such as a living room with large, sunny windows. In contrast, there is a tie. A minimum brightness of 0 nits and an almost infinite contrast ratio are achievable with all contemporary OLED monitors. Like all 4K OLED screens, the Transcend 32 produces an immersive image with realistic depth and shadow detail.
Color gamut comes next. The Transcend 32 works well, and this is usually a strength for Samsung QD-OLED panels, which use Quantum Dots to improve their color gamut. It is capable of displaying 94 percent Adobe RGB, 98 percent DCI-P3, and 100 percent sRGB. These numbers are better than OLED displays using an LG WOLED screen, but they are comparable to other QD-OLED monitors. Because it allows the monitor to display more colors overall, the broad color gamut is good news for creators. Additionally, it produces a vibrant, ultra-saturated appearance that most people will find pleasing. It is a powerful, seductive show.
With the second-best color accuracy of any OLED panel we have evaluated so far—only surpassed by the Alienware AW3225QF—the Transcend 32 truly shines out in terms of color fidelity. Even the pickiest viewers will find this genuinely remarkable degree of color accuracy to be flawless. Once more, this is good news for content producers because it means that information produced on the monitor should be a solid indicator of how it will appear on other screens. However, it also works well for realistic-looking video games and movies.
With a spot-on default gamma curve of 2.2, HP maintained its excellent gamma performance, ensuring that content does not appear brighter or darker than it should. At the default (Native panel) settings, the color temperature was warm, at 6000K, which is somewhat reddish and warm. The monitor’s settings can be adjusted to make up for this, though. Being sharp is a benefit. A 32-inch panel with a resolution of 3480 x 2160 corresponds to roughly 138 pixels per inch. While 4K games and movies are clear and sophisticated, little text is sharp.
An outstanding SDR display, the HP Omen Transcend 32 achieves its goal of providing most producers and gamers with excellent image quality. It combines 4K resolution, vivid, accurate color, and stunning contrast. As with other OLED displays, the brightness is a little dim, but that will not be a problem unless you want to use the monitor in an exceptionally bright space.
Conclusion
An excellent option for those who require a single monitor to manage demanding content creation and high-end PC gaming is the HP Omen Transcend 32, a sturdy 32-inch 4K 240Hz panel. The monitor performed mediocrely in HDR, but it did remarkably well in SDR. Along with several helpful extras like a KVM switch and an eye-catching, easily readable on-screen menu, it also offers an exceptionally robust variety of video and USB connectivity. For creators who also wish to play games on a single display, the HP Omen Transcend 32 is an excellent option (or vice versa). It is also a great choice if you wish to switch between your business laptop and gaming desktop computer regularly.
