HyperX is a brand that is synonymous with gaming. Since the early 2000s, the company has been hard at work developing everything from gaming peripherals like mice and keyboards to PC parts, all the while offering their own unique design and take on products. I recently had the opportunity to test out their new DuoCast USB Microphone and was impressed with the design and flexibility the mic offered for gamers.
Recently HyperX announced that they are branching out and entering the realm of gaming monitors with their new Armada lineup. Currently, this includes the Armada 25 FHD Gaming Monitor, a 24-inch, 240Hz monitor and the larger Armada 27 QHD Gaming Monitor, 27-inch, model. Packed with features and aiming to take on the most competitive corners of the market the Armada monitors are ready for a fight. I’ve spent the last week running the Armada 25 through its paces and have been impressed with the results. Can it really take on other high-end gaming monitors in its class though? Grab that coffee, kick back and find out in our review of the HyperX Armada 25 FHD Gaming monitor, graciously provided to us by the good folks over at HyperX.
Specifications
- Current Price: $449.99 (Amazon)
- Panel Size: 24.5inch
- Panel Type: IPS (In-Plane Switching)
- Viewing Angle: 178°
- Surface Coating: Matte
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD)
- Brightness: 400 nits
- Max Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Variable Refresh Rate Technology: NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible
- Variable Refresh Rate Range: 48-240Hz
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Max Response Time: 1ms
- Inputs: 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.0
- Dimensions: 21.94 x 2.41 x 13.00 inches
- Weight: 6.29Lbs
- Accessories: 1x DisplayPort Cable, 1x HDMI cable, 1x Power cable
- Mount Specs
- Hinge Tilt Range: -25° ~ +60°
- Hinge Rotate Range: ±90°
- Hinge Swivel Range: ±90°
- Arm Swivel Range: ±180°
- Compatible VESA Patterns: 75x75mm, 100x100mm
- Compatible Display Size: up to 32-inch Display
Quality By Design
The HyperX Armada 25 FHD Gaming Monitor is an all-in-one monitor solution for gaming. What I mean by this is that this 24-inch monitor comes packaged with everything you need to create a stunning visual experience while also offering a space-saving solution for your desk. The monitor offers an exceptionally clean aesthetic. The tiniest of bezels wraps the top and two sides of the Armada while a slightly thicker bottom bezel completes the sleek design. The HyperX branding is placed squarely in the aforementioned bottom bezel. The backside of the monitor houses a single power button and a directional pad for menu navigation. It's a minimalist design that allows for easy integration of multiple monitors without a lot of distracting dead space between displays.
The monitor feels sturdy to handle and is thinner than any of the other monitors I have here in the office. As with the whole Armada line, there is no stand included with the monitor. In fact, as of the time of writing, you cannot even purchase a traditional monitor stand for the Armada series monitors. Instead, you’ll find the aforementioned Desk mount included in the packaging.
This desk mount is also an impressive piece of hardware. Equipped with multiple mounting plates (to accommodate different setups), the mount also comes with a secondary mount attachment that allows you to attach a second monitor. In fact, according to the HyperX site, you can purchase an additional arm that will allow for at least three monitors to suspend for a single mount.
The mount itself is solid and sturdy once installed. The included monitor arm offers a host of adjustable movement and angle support allowing you to really get creative with where and how the monitor is placed. Instead of the traditional mounting bracket system that requires screws, the arm includes a click-in bracket that allows you to literally clip the monitor into place. It works well and takes no time at all to set up. It should be noted that there is an additional mounting plate included that is templated for both 75mm and 100mm mounting screws if needed.
The design of the mount takes into consideration cable management and offers a cable clip-in system that allows for easy cable management with minimal effort. In fact, after running the cables for the new monitor I ended up redoing all of my cable management just so it was as clean and tidy as the monitor setup.
Both the monitor and the desk mount look great, feel sturdy, and are easy to use and set up. Even while weighing in at over 6lbs, the monitor feels secure and solid attached to the desk mount. HyperX really didn’t hold anything back with the design.
Built for Gamers
The Armada 25 really does offer a lot for competitive gamers. Packed with a host of features, HyperX really isn’t messing around. A 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time translate to some seriously crisp, clean images. This increased refresh rate also means you’ll have a reduced blur effect with fast-moving objects which ensures you’ll see everything as accurately as possible. Supporting FHD (Full High Definition), this 1920x1080 display looks amazing on the 24.5-inch display.
The IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panel also means you’ll have a much more color-accurate and consistent viewing experience. While this is great for gamers it's also a special note for video and photo editors. IPS displays are known for their true color presentation when compared to other LCD panel types. Additionally IPS panels offer the largest viewing angle available. In fact, the Armada 25 boasts a whopping 178°viewing angle while still maintaining its color and visual fidelity.
While historically competitive gamers have leaned into TN (twisted nematic) panels for their monitors due to their response time (.5ms response), these gamers also give up all of the visual quality offered by an IPS display. HyperX attempts to bridge the gap with its new monitor line. Supported by NVIDIA G-SYNC 4, the Armada 25 leverages the refresh synchronization tech of G-SYNC, pushing the visual quality, refresh rate and gameplay to the max while bringing screen tearing and input lag down to a minimum. This results in a stunning gameplay experience that looks, feels and plays exceptionally well.
Brightness is another area where the Armada really shines. Measuring 400 nits, the Armada 25 looks great even in daylight settings. Color comes through clean and accurate and, with the adjustable brightness options located in the onboard menu or through the software, you’ll be able to easily adjust it to your needs.
Speaking of software, the Armada 25 also benefits from HyperX’s own NGENUITY software. While it doesn’t really change the overall experience or offer additional features, it does allow you to control all of the features and functions of the Armada 25 without having to use the Dpad on the back of the display. This alone is a reason to celebrate for anyone who has ever tried to make an adjustment on a monitor…ever. Though on that note I should point out that navigating the onboard menus with the Dpad is actually some of the smartest and simplest I’ve ever used. It's one more way HyperX raised the bar on their monitor design.
The only thing I was a little saddened to see lacking on the Armada 25 was a lack of support for HDR (High Dynamic range). While it is available with the Armada 27 it simply isn’t supported with the Armada 25. While HDR seems to be a bit of a subjective feature, with a monitor so focused on the overall quality I was surprised that it wasn’t included. Regardless the Armada 25 still boasts a huge list of features.
Rubber, Meet Road
While it can be exciting to read about impressive specs and look at pretty pictures online the devil is in the details. This is HyperX’s first kick at the can when it comes to monitor design and their target audience (competitive gamers) knows what they want. So how well does the Armada 25 hold up in testing? I’m happy to report that I was more than impressed. I was blown away.
I mentioned the target audience specifically because competitive gamers want the fastest possible refresh rates and response times imaginable. Traditionally, that has been accomplished with TN panel monitors. However, the trade-off, as mentioned above, is the lack of color accuracy and consistency, smaller viewing angles, and honestly, just an inferior viewing experience.
HyperX attempts to break the trend and set a new standard in what to expect from a competitive monitor. I was a bit concerned when reading the spec sheet, based on the target audience, that HyperX opted for an IPS over a TN panel. However, After running the Armada through a gauntlet of Shooters over this last week, I’m glad to say that my concerns weren’t warranted.
The Armada 25 is buttery smooth and exceptionally responsive to use. While there has been some criticism of IPS panels over the years in regards to a blurring effect with a quick movement, the Armada 25 displayed no such issues in testing. With a combination of the aforementioned 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and G-Sync support, every game I threw at it ran smooth, at high frame rates, and with no notable input lag.
This means that the Armada 25 benefits from all that comes with using an IPS panel display without the drawbacks. Games look sharper, brighter, and absolutely gorgeous while being played. It also makes the Armada 25 much more adaptable for those that game and work on their PC. Editors specifically would benefit here as the color accuracy is some of the best you can get out of an LCD panel display.
While not directly a performance-related note, I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight how great the mount arm works as well. I say this as someone that supports a four-monitor setup. The ergonomic arm really does allow for easy position adjustment of the monitor. This allowed it to easily fit into my existing setup without a lot of rework. Considering that the monitor the Armada 25 replaced was balanced on a couple of paint sticks resting on another desk stand, this is a huge upgrade.
Final Thoughts
The HyperX Armada 25 is a seriously impressive monitor. It packs a lot of punch and is impressive in its own right. More impressive though is that the Armada monitor series is a first for HyperX. Every aspect of this monitor has been thought through and implemented well. Though lacking HDR, the Armada 25 still offers everything a competitive gamer would need, namely lightening fast response times, while also offering everything a typical gamer wants, pretty visuals and buttery smooth performance. All of this in one monitor with a high-quality desk mount stand thrown in makes this a hard package to beat and one that I would whole heartily recommend. Priced at $449.99 USD, the Armada 25 from HyperX is a monitor worth considering.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Products purchased through our links will result in a small commission to help support the site. Authors are not compensated based on links, sales, or clicks.
