HP Omen 16: A Powerful Gaming Laptop That Doubles as a Work Machine
Shopping for laptops can be a daunting task, especially when you have so many questions about what you need. Are you looking for the best laptop on the market or something more suited for everyday work? Maybe you’re a gamer and need a laptop specifically for gaming. If you’re struggling to find the right laptop, look no further than the HP Omen 16.
The HP Omen 16 is a slim and lightweight laptop that can easily fit into any bag. It’s so portable that you won’t even notice it’s there. I used it as my primary computer for work for a few weeks and was impressed by its performance. The keyboard provides a pleasant typing experience with its springy keys and deep travel distance. The touchpad is smooth and responsive, making it perfect for productivity.
My review unit came with an AMD Ryzen 7-7840HS processor and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. Despite being equipped with a low-end model from the GeForce 40 series, the performance of the Omen 16 was exceptional. The matte Shadow Black color of the laptop is visually striking, especially when combined with the RGB lights and the stunning Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
However, there is one issue with the screen that I find perplexing. The bottom of the screen has a large, 1.5-inch bezel that takes up a significant amount of space. With a 16-inch display, the bezel cuts in too much for my liking. Additionally, the colors on the screen appear muted, and I’m uncertain why. It could be due to the anti-coating on the glass or a limitation in the Omen 16’s color gamut. While you can adjust the brightness and saturation through the Omen app, it only provides a limited solution.
Despite these complaints, I believe the HP Omen 16 deserves a place on our list of the best gaming laptops. It incorporates the best features from other entries and excels as a hybrid work/gaming laptop. If you’re looking for an all-around performer, this might be the best laptop for you.
However, there are design choices that might deter certain individuals. Personally, I enjoyed using the Omen 16, but there are certain aspects that frustrated me.
In terms of price and availability, the HP Omen 16 starts at $1,269.99 and is currently available on Dell’s website and Best Buy. It offers great value for a gaming laptop, especially if you intend to use it for other demanding tasks such as video editing or rendering projects. The laptop can handle intense visual workloads without breaking a sweat. However, if color accuracy is crucial for your work, this might not be the best choice. As mentioned earlier, the colors on the screen can appear dull.
The low-end models come with a GeForce RTX 4050, while the high-end configurations feature the more powerful GeForce RTX 4070. Considering the price point, I find this to be a reasonable tradeoff.
Here are the specifications for the HP Omen 16:
– Base Model: AMD Ryzen 5-7640HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB DDR5 Memory, and 512GB SSD.
– Mid-range Model: AMD Ryzen 7-7840HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5 Memory, and 512GB SSD.
– Review Unit: AMD Ryzen 9-7940HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB DDR5 Memory, and 512GB SSD.
– Top Configuration: AMD Ryzen 9-7940HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB DDR5 Memory, and 2TB SSD.
The laptop features a 16.1-inch 1920×1080 display with high refresh rates ranging from 144Hz to 240Hz. It comes with a variety of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an RJ-45 ethernet input.
The design of the HP Omen 16 is a mixed bag. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, but lacks the tactile feel of a traditional gaming keyboard. The laptop has a robust cooling system with heat sinks located on the sides, rear, and bottom, ensuring efficient heat dissipation. However, the storage space is limited, with only 512GB available, which may not be sufficient for gamers with large game libraries.
When it comes to performance, the HP Omen 16 excels. It achieved impressive scores in our benchmark tests, outperforming similarly sized gaming laptops like the Alienware M16. Thanks to its powerful internals, including the Ryzen 9 processor, GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, the Omen 16 delivers excellent gaming performance.
In conclusion, the HP Omen 16 is a versatile gaming laptop that can also handle demanding workloads. It offers great value for its price and provides a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. While it has some design quirks and limitations, it remains a strong contender in the gaming laptop market.
