HP – U27 27″ IPS LED 4K UHD FreeSync Monitor (DisplayPort, HDMI, USB) – Natural Silver

Not just a 27-inch 4K IPS technology screen, but with Wi-Fi direct wireless, this HP U27 sets up effortlessly, looks amazing, with great-sounding down-firing speakers. $500 today at Best Buy.
** WHAT’S IN THE BOX **
• Monitor • Power cord • Stand base, height-adjustable, rotating, vertical mount
• VESA standard mounting plate for wall or arm attachment • Quick Setup guide, Warranty
• Power cord and adapter • HDMI cable
** MANUFACTURER’S FEATURES DETAIL FROM HP **
Model – (HP) 9TQ11AA#ABA
UHD (Ultra High Definition) 4K
Experience cinematic quality with the incredible definition of 4K. Visuals this impressive are simply unforgettable.
Step up to the best
IPS technology brings you clear views from almost any angle. Every seat is the best seat in the house.
Virtually Edge to Edge Panel
Expansive is the only way to describe the maximized screen area you get with the beautiful edge-to-edge glass panel.
Compact, sleek design
Get everything you need in one elegant package. Just one connection to the wall eliminates cable clutter. Slim design gives you more room for an enhanced computing experience.
Micro-edge display
With virtually no bezel encircling the display, an ultra-wide viewing experience provides for seamless multi-monitor set-ups.
AMD® FreeSync™ technology
See and feel the difference of fluid, responsive gameplay. By synchronizing the refresh rate with your GPU, AMD® FreeSync™ makes display stutter, input lag, and screen tears ancient history.
Seamless visuals
Videos and games come to life with less stutter or blur for more realistic play with smooth 5-millisecond gray-to-gray response time.
Extreme detail
Amazing clarity is delivered by 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for deeper blacks, brighter whites, and crisper colors.
Share the panoramic view
Vibrant detail from practically any position with consistent color and image clarity maintained across ultra-wide 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles.
Highly accurate color
With more than 99% sRGB color space, this HP display provides ideal color reproduction with minimal effort. Perfect for photos, videos—all your creative projects.
Anti-glare panel
Enjoy the sun and your favorite content with this anti-glare panel. Non-reflective and low-gloss, you’ll get less glare while you’re outside.
Low blue light
Using the Low Blue Light mode subtly shifts your display’s colors to a warmer spectrum, while making whites more natural and putting less strain on your eyes.
** SETUP BASICS **
Out of the box, after plugging in the power cord and adapter, and with a compatible Windows laptop nearby, setup took about one minute to press the Windows+K keys, bringing up the wireless setting where I selected HP U27 4K W097D. THIS monitor selected, an on-screen code was displayed, which was entered in the box asking for it. “Connecting” was displayed on the screen. Then, “Connected.” Success! Now this sharp 4K display mirrors the laptop screen. Just that simple. 4K on the fly, wirelessly. Native 4K UHD resolution of (3840 x 2160).
With adjustable height and tilt, fine-tuning the positioning on its sturdy stand was intuitive and effortless.
NOTE – This monitor does not have either touchscreen technology or a built-in camera.
** SETUP EXTRAS **
Digging deeper into Windows sound settings, users can select to direct sound through the down-firing speakers in this monitor or through the PC’s original built-in speakers. If the HP monitor’s speakers are selected, volume control is seamlessly adjusted from the PCs keyboard volume buttons.
Choose the second wireless screen to be a duplicate of the main display, extended from the main as a dual monitor or as a second screen only, defeating the main display while this one is in use. I find it particularly useful to have the dual monitor setup in place while working with a 24-inch desktop all-in-one PC. Because it is so easy to switch to other modes, I rely on the 27-inch size of this 4K monitor to enjoy an immersive experience when gaming and when watching movies.
Five hard buttons on the bottom at the right of the display provide main power plus menu selection and navigation within the menu, a hard brightness menu select button, a hard volume menu button and other adjustments.
** PLUG-IN CONNECTIONS **
While there isn’t a wireless operation path with Macs, there are wired options for Mac connectivity. Connect with built-in HDMI or Display Port for seamless use with a compatible Mac, such as the new Macs with M1 silicon that support 4K displays. Mac connectivity does not provide computer-controlled volume if the HP display’s speakers are selected in System Preferences Sound Output. In this instance, volume is manually adjusted only from the display’s hard buttons.
Regardless of the host computer, 4K-capable content looks great!
Wired connectivity ports on the back of the display include HDMI, Display Port, USB-A to act as a USB-2.0 hub, three USB ports, headphone and audio in jacks.
** EFFORTLESS **
Effortless is a good descriptor of most testing and use parameters. SEAMLESS is another.
** WHY WIRELESS? **
With the ability to be untethered from the host PC, placement options are expanded, and with a generous 27-inch 4K display, moving it several feet away without being tethered to the computer offers an uncluttered, esthetically pleasing appearance and experience. Whether for gaming, work, video streaming or anything else imaginable, wireless 4K at a distance has its advantages. As this has a wireless connection between host computer and display, success was demonstrated at a line-of-sight distance of 20 feet. This distance is beyond that which will offer an optimal experience, yet it was a successful proof of concept.
In general, wireless video connectivity might invite delays between built-in display and this wireless display. Tested on both a 2020 model Intel- and AMD-powered PC, I experienced no such issues. Windows wireless testbeds included an ASUS laptop with 8 GB of RAM memory and AMD Ryzen 7 processor with GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, while a Dell desktop is equipped with 32 GB of RAM memory and 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor with onboard Intel UHD Graphics 620.
** PUTTING IT TO THE TEST **
With the aforementioned ease of setup, viewing this 4K display has been nothing short of joyful whether for gaming or streaming or all manner of everyday use. With 4K streaming content from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Curiosity Stream and others, viewing in such high quality adds a level of satisfaction above and beyond smaller standard HD displays. One easily becomes spoiled after just a little seat time in front of this bright and sharp IPS (In Plane Switching) display. Fine tuning the display with the hard buttons under Viewing Modes and choosing Movie, Gaming, Low Blue Light, Reading, HP Enhance +…, Photo or Custom provides added viewing choices and enhancements to explore. Options, options, options!
With so many viewing options available there is a setting to please even the most discerning user.
Height, swivel and tilt adjustability make this monitor a pleasure to use and view in virtually any setup scenario.
Using this monitor as a wired second screen on a new MacBook Air M1 proved equally satisfying. The new MacBook Air easily drives this big monitor to its full visual potential, though the on-board speakers are inconvenient to use because of the necessity to adjust volume through the monitor’s hard buttons.
** BENEFITS OF IPS MONITOR TECHNOLOGY **
While still an LCD technology (Liquid Crystal Display), IPS (In Plane Switching) panels offer extreme wide-angle viewing at up to 178º, brighter displays and better color rendering. Though not observable to this reviewer, IPS panels do not have a high refresh rate, ideally 120Hz or faster. THIS monitor has a 60Hz refresh rate. Signal lag and image blur were not detected.
** WARRANTY **
This HP U27 4K Wireless UHD FreeSync monitor is covered by the manufacturer’s standard one-year warranty.

HP – U27 is an excellent UHD 4K Monitor which is brilliant, beautiful and packed with so many features. This monitor will be great for office or personal space. If you are looking for a monitor that has plethora of features like wireless (wifi direct connect), IPS, 4K, UHD, Slim bezel, easy height adjustable stand, then simply ignore the other monitors and go for this one.
The monitor was well packed. It comes with an AC Adapter, Power cable, HDMI cable – 5.9 ft (for people who still want to use an HDMI cable), Stand and a 100 mm VESA mount bracket. It takes only a minute to assemble this monitor. It was so easy. We dont need any tools or screwdriver to assemble this monitor.
Features:
1. Wifi direct connect – This is one of the features that I love as it helps avoid any clutters. It was very easy to connect my laptop to this monitor wirelessly using Windows and K button. Even though the HP website refers to Intel i5 and above…. My laptop was a AMD Ryzen 7 and i was able to connect to this monitor wirelessly without any issues. If you want to connect this monitor using wifi please make sure you have very good wifi reception. Having said that, if you want to enjoy the true 4K quality without display stutter or lag I would suggest using the HDMI cable as the AMD FreeSync technology works only with wired connection and not wireless.
2. Height Adjustable stand – It is very easy to adjust the Monitor height up or down. I thought it will be little hard to adjust but i was wrong. Also it possible to move the screen left to right or up and down (-5 to 16 degrees tilt as per HP). It makes it very easy to view the monitor for different people. It is easy as adjusting the laptop screen.
3. IPS display – This monitor has a brilliant 4K IPS panel with LED backlight display which makes viewing an absolute pleasure. My laptop also has the IPS display but i can no way compare my laptop display with this monitor as this is pure brilliance. It doesnt cause any strain to the eyes (anti-glare). 60 Hz refresh rate is very good to watch sports or movies with less distortion. Maximum resolution is 3840 X 2160. Also the thin bezel on the 3 sides makes viewing really great. Best buy has the screen mentioned as touch screen. This is not a touch screen. Hope they correct it in the future.
4. Downfiring speakers – Downfiring speakers are really great though not exceptional. The speakers are better than the speakers on the laptop. One does not have to buy additional speakers.
5. Connectivity/Ports – This monitor has 1 HDMI, 1 Displayport 1.2 version for display. There are 3 USB ports and ports for Audio input and Headphone jack.
This monitor is certainly one of the best monitors i have ever had and I love it.

HP – U27 27″ IPS LED 4K Wireless UHD FreeSync Monitor
Summary:
A great looking and feature-packed display for 4K newcomers.
Pros:
* At 27″ diagonal size, it’s on the lower end of offerings. This can free up space on your desk and still give you a large enough viewing experience to get work done. Larger displays might be nicer (geek wise), but they are also impractical monitors if used at 4K for non-gaming uses.
* Svelt. The near bezel-less design looks pretty sleek. The natural silver metallic frame gives the unit enough pop without being extra.
* Thin and light! This unit is surprising (or not-so-surprisingly?) thin and light. This makes mounting using an arm (as I have) a lot easier.
* Functional stand. Though I am using an arm to hold my display, the stand it comes with is substantial and sturdy enough for the motions it promises. I’ve owned many displays and all too often, they try to save space by doing weird footprints that end up being more inconvenient than a simple flat rectangle.
* Features. I made the mistake on my last monitor (I blame getting confused on the various models I shopped) of selecting one with the features I missed or didn’t think about using until later. Among them are: BOTH HDMI and DisplayPort (v1.2), Speaker-In/ Out, 3 USB-A ports, Wireless Display capable, Kensington Lock compatibility, AMD FreeSync capable, a standard and acceptable refresh rate of 5ms.
Cons:
* Wireless Display is wonky and annoying to set up. I had some difficulty setting this up. Since I couldn’t imagine a need for wireless broadcasting to this display, I gave up.
* Proprietary Power Brick. It, like many displays, uses a proprietary power brick. I’m okay with it, all my displays have been this way for years. But it is a bummer to worry about having to replace it if something happens.
* Refresh rate of 60Hz. I am not an FPS gamer. I might become one. But I’m not so this refresh rate is adequate for my use. If you’re not sure what this means, but you have someone telling you what to do…. try reading about refresh rates, interfaces (HDMI vs DP) and their specifications, your graphic card’s capabilities, and also what the naked human eye is capable of processing. Make up your own mind. Hint: This is probably fine for you, too.
* HDR support. There is none.
* Downward Speakers. These aren’t a detractor, but they are advertised as a feature. It’s not a feature. The speakers are just average and for that reason, I’ve listed them as a CON. But the pass-through capabilities via HDMI or In/Out is nice.
* Price. Given the competition, the capabilities, and screen size, this unit is definitely on the high side (during the holiday season when the competition is offering aggressive pricing). Otherwise, the price point is more or less in-line with expectations.
Use:
I use this display primarily for work. I also play a few games, some of which are 4K capable. My previous display was an LG 34WK500 Ultra-Wide display. It is great. But I found myself scanning left and right often not just while working (and Zooming), but also while gaming. I’ve been curious about 4K displays for a while so when I had the opportunity to get one, I did. My expectations were that I’d be able to fit more on a screen size that works for my field of view. i.e. No more panning.
Work-wise, this seems counter-intuitive because you’d expect to have multiple documents and windows open on a wider display to be more convenient. It is! However, I’m shifting my work style to focus on fewer tasks at a time so that I can get in quality time and effort. Though this 27″ display is physically smaller than my wide 34″ display it really isn’t a problem. Due to the resolution, I can quite easily fit more windows on my screen if I needed to (at the cost of going blind). Since I’m trying to focus on fewer things at once, this isn’t a requirement. So instead I will fit fewer larger windows on my screen to stay focused without having to turn my head one extreme or another.
Gaming wise this change has the largest impact. I am still evaluating feelings vs real physical issues of this change. In games like World of Warcraft or Elder Scrolls Online, it is most definitely amazing to have a view spread out on a wide display. A wide display really does immerse you in the world. However, the reality is our field of vision doesn’t cover such an expanse and so seems wasted (unless you have a curved display as the theory and opinions go). I’ve had some games that flat out won’t support wide displays (older ones, true!). Officially, it is because “they provide an unfair advantage in Player-vs-Player” scenarios. I’ve had to avoid those games (things like StarCraft, etc).
Having said all that about wide displays, 4K displays are really another beast. First, your graphics card must be able to drive such a display. It also needs to do it at a refresh rate that is acceptable to the user (see above). Second, there is the resolution itself and what it does for games that offer support for 4K experiences. It is night and day. Unfortunately, if your machine performed 1080p at 60Hz just okay, it is unlikely to give you the performance you expect for 4K. Of course, this depends on the game and the genre. FPS offers the biggest change in terms of detail and beauty but also suffers the worst wrt to performance with frame rates dropping by half or more on an existing typical setup that is a few years old. Playing Doom Eternal at 20 FPS? No thanks!
And so the problem is simply what do you want to do? The games I typically play so-far look amazing with the 4K support, but the reality is that 4K is still emerging and until I feel I know when support will become the de-facto standard, I will probably hold out on a PC (or video card) upgrade – even if I could get my hands on the ones that should have been available this holiday season (2020). This means that games like Doom Eternal, Call of Duty, and Destiny won’t give me the experience I need frame-rate wise. Then again, you could argue neither could this display. But 60Hz is my minimum. Other games like World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, and Elder Scrolls might look much more improved while suffering less of a drop in frame rate. For me, my work requirements and casual gaming habit are sufficient to justify this display. It is still weird seeing so much more of my desk and what is behind it (a view of my neighborhood from my home’s third floor). Only time will tell!
Note:
The features of this product are numerous compared to some other displays I’ve owned. It competes well in its segment were it not for competitor holiday pricing. If you’re not a heavy (FPS) gamer or aren’t hung up on refresh rates, this display is something to consider.

Out of the box, this monitor feels solid! Unbox to discover very little components which is great. Base is heavy to be expected, needs to weigh down massive monitor. Turns onto stand with ease without the need for tools. Tighten 2 screws down and you’re good. Stand snaps into the back plastic clip of monitor in 2 seconds. Monitor adjusts up and down with the slightest touch. Rotates in circular motion smoothly. Product specs list a tilt adjustment of 5 degrees forward and 16 degrees backward, with a 178 degree viewing angle. This seems like a very accurate statement. Only complaint while I was testing was from my son. He said he likes options on monitors that enable the monitor to be able to spin up, basically working in portrait mode instead of landscape mode. Downward facing speakers.
Setup done, now let’s test this bad boy!!
Used my son’s pc to really give the monitor the beans! He has a gaming PC with a wireless card installed.
Monitor syncs up with ease. I would suggest better instructions on the operation of the adjustment buttons on the bottom of the monitor.
Picture with HDMI cable installed is excellent. This thing really shines with the use of the DP cable!! The UHD 4K POPS and it’s nice and vividly bright! 60 Hz refresh rate is fast enough for most, gamers out there are better suited to stick to their 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitors.
Sound is GREAT ! Downward facing speakers create a sound that fills the room nicely!
The Good: solid built, SUPER easy assembly, size of screen, input options, quality super crisp speakers
The Pretty: wired up, the UHD 4K display on this thing is a beast, bright and colors pop.
I went out of order on purpose, because for me, wireless option was a great sell point, however, alas, we have come to. . . (drum roll)
The Bad:
The wireless is bad, very laggy. I’m strictly talking YouTube, and mouse movement here, I hadn’t even got to the games yet.
Reminded me of my old dial-up modem computer from the 90s. I mean, it syncs quick, and functions, but the performance is unbearable.
Overall, if you keep a DP or HDMI cord in this guy, it will make your eyes happy as they can possibly be in 2020. Very nice! 5 stars if not for the wireless.