HP X34 Gaming Monitor review: Great value ultrawide for gamers

Ask a pro gamer to define their ideal gaming monitor, and they’re likely to say “4K”. The concern, of course, is that driving a 4k monitor demands a high-end graphics card that can add a substantial amount to your budget. So, for most, a real sweet spot is a 1440p monitor that can be operated by a more mediocre GPU.

HP’s X34 seems to strike this sweet spot while presenting many added features for an affordable price. The headline attribute is its 34-inch ultrawide display with enormous screen real estate. It also has a high refresh rate of up to 165Hz, a 1ms response time, and supports AMD’s FreeSync Premium (and unofficially, Nvidia G-SYNC). These are all fantastic things to have on a monitor under $500.

The X34 makes an excellent first impression, with thin bezels along the sides and top and a little centralized base. Mounted on the included stand, the screen is height adjustable and tiltable. Unfortunately, it can’t be turned 90 degrees but can be mounted on a common VESA 100mm x 100mm bracket.

Connectivity options are where things drop down a little, with Just one DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0 connection. That’s not much if you want to hook up multiple gaming consoles and PCs simultaneously. And while it’s all fine on the PC segment, console lovers may have desired the latest HDMI 2.1 version. However, while the PlayStation 5’s new variable refresh rate feature is believed to require it, we found it worked fine at 1080p on this monitor. Hence, it’s not a prominent issue. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack for those using wired headphones. The other significant omission is there are no USB ports on this monitor, but that’s likely something gamers can live without.

In terms of performance, this reliable monitor delivers everything garners need. The IPS panel provides superior viewing angles, great color accuracy, and excellent contrast. Combined with the ultrawide setup, it offers an immersive experience. IPS also support response times, which go as low as 1ms if you enable it in the monitor’s settings. That’s low, and we can declare a highly responsive experience from the X34 when engaged.

SPECIFICATIONS

HP’s Eye Ease feature, which can be switched on or off, lowers high-energy blue ray emissions while maintaining color accuracy, which assists lower eye strain during those late-night long gaming sessions. Unfortunately, like almost all gaming monitors aside from the latest OLEDs, HDR performance is nothing extraordinary. Still, if you want to enable it in more cinematic titles, it’s there.

Like the 1440p resolution, the 165Hz refresh rate sits in the sweet spot for gamers—more than fast enough for anyone, excluding eSports players. In addition, there’s support for AMD FreeSync Premium, the mid-tier of AMD’s variable refresh rate norms. We also found the monitor supports Nvidia G-SYNC, though it’s not officially claimed by HP. That implies this is an excellent choice for gamers, no matter what graphics card they’re rocking. We enjoyed a smooth tear-free gaming experience from our RTX 3O7OTi.

While the X34 is marketed especially as a gaming monitor, content creators may also admire the 99 percent sRGB color space rating. Working on the X34 also feels efficient and productive due to the ultrawide form factor, making this an excellent all-around desktop monitor.

Something reassuring about this monitor is that it nails the basics as well as the advanced characteristics. It presents all the features most gamers need and offers excellent picture quality at a compelling price. If you’re in the market for a 1440p ultrawide, the X34 absolutely deserves a place on your shortlist.