HyperX Armada 25 Review: Solid Build Performance From New Line of Displays
HP has long operated a product line of HyperX branded gaming peripherals, including headsets, microphones, mice and keyboards. However, the brand is about to branch out with the release of 25-inch FHD 240 Hz Armada 25 and 27-inch QHD 165 Hz IPS Armada 27 gaming displays. Armada 25 is the panel we test here.
Users looking for speed over resolution should pay attention. Armada 25 offers 240 Hz operation with G-Sync certification and FreeSync compatibility. It has an effective overdrive and also includes a backlight strobe blur reduction feature. No HDR or enhanced color, but when it comes to responsiveness and clean video processing, HyperX has you covered. Let’s take a look at this new contender for our best gaming monitor list.
HyperX Armada 25 Specifications
Panel type/backlight | IPS/W-LED, edge array |
Screen size/aspect ratio | 24.5 inches / 16:9 |
Maximum resolution and refresh rate | 1920×1080@240Hz |
G-Sync: 48-240Hz | |
FreeSync compatible | |
Native color depth and color gamut | 8bit/sRGB |
Response time (GTG) | 1ms |
Brightness (mfr) | 400 nits |
Contrast (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
speaker | none |
video input | 1x DisplayPort 1.4 |
2x HDMI 2.0 | |
audio | none |
USB3.0 | none |
power consumption | 19.5w, brightness @ 200 nits |
overall dimensions | Panel: 21.5 x 13 inches (546 x 330mm) |
Clamp footprint: 4 x 4.5 inches (102 x 114mm) | |
panel thickness | 2.4 inches (61mm) |
bezel width | Top/Side: 0.3″ (7mm) |
Bottom: 0.8 inch (20mm) | |
weight | 17.1 lbs (7.8kg) |
guarantee | 3 years |
At $449 for the 25″ and $499 for the 27″, the choice comes down to speed, and 240 Hz is much smoother than 165 Hz in my experience. Some may blame the Armada 25’s FHD resolution for him, but blurriness becomes a problem when photos are moving fast. With a reliable 240 Hz refresh rate and one of the best overdrives we’ve seen, he’s got super smooth motion handling with no ghosting. And if you prefer backlit strobe over Adaptive-Sync, HyperX has his 5-step option to balance brightness and clarity. I haven’t noticed any fading issues, so no real drawbacks.
Armada 25 is certified by Nvidia for G-Sync operation between 48-240 Hz. We also verified AMD FreeSync compatibility in our tests.
There’s no HDR or enhanced color, but HyperX didn’t sacrifice image quality. My measured contrast is around 1,200:1, which is higher than most IPS panels. Color accuracy is also excellent. You can enjoy the Armada 25 without calibration and its color gamut covers almost 110% of sRGB according to my measurements.
What makes it different from other gaming monitors is that it includes a monitor arm instead of a stand. This surprised me at first, but once set up, the Armada 25 is a very sturdy and solid display. Arms are the best example I have experienced. It can be fixed to the edge of your desk or you can use the included adapter if it has holes. Additional arms are available from HP if you want to mount a second screen on a single post.
HP is no stranger to the game, having already seen success with the Omen series. On the surface, the new HyperX Armada 25 looks like a home run, but we’ll never know for sure until we dive deeper.
HyperX Armada 25 assembly and accessories
HyperX ships the Armada 25 in recyclable packaging. Apart from a smooth envelope that protects the parts from scratches, there are no flimsy foam or plastic pieces. The arm can be easily fixed to a table or desk with a thickness of 15-50 mm (0.6-2 inches). It’s very substantial and the assembly is rated to hold up to 20 pounds per arm. His second arm on the prop can be slid if needed. A movable ring sets the fulcrum height and includes hooks for cable management. The power supply is internal and comes with long HDMI and DisplayPort cables. The DP cable is red and a nice touch.
Product 360: HyperX Armada 25
The panels are barely decorated with simple, functional styling. Only the HyperX logos on the front and back are branded. The G-Sync label on the bottom right proves his Nvidia certification of the Armada 25. A few polished bits form a large X on the back and a large logo on top. Controls consist of a single power toggle key and a joystick for all other functions.
The arm allows for a wide range of motion and positioning. Each joint is firm and smooth with no backlash. The arm slides over the post and is held by a quick release ring that can be raised and lowered. The panel’s fulcrum can tilt from -20 degrees to +60 degrees, rotate 90 degrees in portrait mode, and rotate left and right 90 degrees. The arm can also rotate 180 degrees. The lift range is 12.5 inches and the arm fits in his 10 inch window on the column. Each arm can hold up to 20 pounds and accommodates his VESA bolt patterns of both 100mm and 75mm. For edge mounting, the desk should be 0.6 to 2 inches thick. Hole mount should be 0.6 to 2.4 inches. The stanchion and single arm weighs just over 10 pounds. Solidly built and very flexible. Panels can be placed almost anywhere.
The panel pops off with the push of a button for easy access to your inputs. The Armada 25 only offers video access, two HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. No audio output jacks, speakers, or USB. Cables run through clips on the arm to keep everything neat and tidy.
HyperX Armada 25 OSD Features
The Armada 25’s OSD is clearly HP’s, but it sticks to the branding of the HyperX logo. Divided into 8 submenus, they appear when he clicks the joystick twice. A quick menu provides access to brightness, picture mode and input selection. At the bottom you can see that the input resolution and refresh rate are always displayed.
The HyperX Armada 25 is one of the best overdrives I’ve seen. Works best in evel 3 with no real motion blur or ghosting. If you use backlight strobe, turn off Adaptive-Sync and turn on MPRT. There are 5 levels with varying levels of brightness. Level 2 is only about 5% dimming, making motion much smoother with no phase artifacts. HyperX offers excellent overall video processing.
Crosshairs can be created from four available shapes and come in eight different colors that can be placed anywhere on the screen. You can also turn on the frame rate indicator.
There are 8 image modes, Standard is the default. Accurate enough to use without calibration, but more accuracy can be achieved with custom RGB using the RGB sliders to adjust the color temperature. I missed the gamma setting as the luminance curve included is a bit bright. But this is a minor issue on my part. The only color gamut is sRGB, and thanks to a little bonus blue, it’s saturated enough for all types of content.
HyperX Armada 25 Calibration Settings
Armada 25 ships in standard image mode. This is close enough to the specification that no calibration is required. However, tweaking the custom RGB sliders showed a visible improvement. The high resolution makes precise adjustment very easy. The gamma is a little brighter, averaging around 2.11 after calibration. Given the panel’s excellent contrast, I’d like to see a darker option, but this is a minor point. I used it for all my tests and games.
picture mode | custom RGB |
Brightness 200 nits | 53 |
Brightness 120 nits | 27 |
Brightness 100 nits | twenty one |
Brightness 80 nits | 15 |
Brightness 50 nits | 6 (minimum 33 nits) |
contrast | 100 |
RGB slider | Red 253, Green 255, Blue 240 |
Gaming and hands-on with HyperX Armada 25
Gaming on a 240 Hz monitor is a lot of fun, regardless of resolution. Response and smooth motion are enhancements to the point where resolution becomes a secondary consideration. 4K monitors are sharper, but FHD displays running at higher frame rates are more consistent. There is absolutely no visible blurring, and all control inputs respond instantly to action. My frame rate was around 240 fps and I could switch freely between G-Sync and MPRT (backlit strobe) with little difference in motion quality. Adaptive-Sync was just over 200 fps, and the Armada 25’s excellent overdrive kept it clean no matter how fast I moved the mouse.
Images were softer than on QHD and 4K screens, but had plenty of contrast and color, with depth and dimension. Textures pop off the screen and accurate colors ensure a natural look. The Armada 25 is slightly better than most IPS monitors due to better contrast. 200:1 doesn’t look like a big upgrade, but visually it’s significant. Only VA panels are better than this.
The arm system was also easy to use. With virtually no desktop footprint, objects can be placed under the panel without getting in the way. Also, if you want to change your position for each game, you can easily do that. The Armada 25 arm is his one of the best I have experienced. It’s extremely sturdy, solid in motion, and built to last.
You can easily complete your weekday tasks. The pixel density of 90ppi isn’t that high, but it’s enough to read small text and render fine details in photos and videos. Armada 25’s excellent contrast helps make things look sharper than expected. Accurate color is a bonus too. For any use, work or entertainment, this monitor gets the job done.
more: best gaming monitor
more: How to test your PC monitor
more: How to Buy a PC Monitor: The 2022 Guide
more: How to choose the best HDR monitor