HP OMEN 16 Review: A Gaming Powerhouse with a Stealthy Design
The HP OMEN 16 is an impressive gaming laptop that delivers excellent performance for gamers looking to play the latest AAA titles at 1080p or 2K resolution. Having used the laptop for nearly two weeks, I can confidently say that while it may not have the flashiest display or the lightest design, it excels where it matters most: performance. If you’re considering purchasing this laptop, you’ll likely be convinced by the end of this review.
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Design and Display HP OMEN 16
The HP OMEN 16 deviates from the typical gaming laptop aesthetic. Its all-black finish lacks the edgy decals or logos commonly associated with gaming rigs. The elegant OMEN branding on the lid adds a touch of sophistication, making the laptop look more refined and less cartoonish. There’s no RGB lighting, and it doesn’t appear bulky, so you can take it to a cafe or coworking space without drawing unnecessary attention.
For those who prefer a more aggressive or pronounced design, the OMEN 16 might seem too subtle. However, if you want a stealthy gaming notebook, this laptop is ideal. The build quality is impressive, with a sturdy construction that combines metal and plastic. The keyboard deck is firm, and the laptop’s hinges provide excellent resistance, ensuring the display remains stable.
The 16-inch Full HD display, with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 7ms response time, is suitable for gaming, although it tops out at 300 nits, which isn’t very bright. The panel covers 100 percent of the sRGB color space and features an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections. Thanks to the powerful hardware, many games can comfortably hit 144FPS or more, providing a competitive edge in titles like Hades, Apex Legends, Valorant, and XDefiant. The higher refresh rate also enhances the experience when browsing lengthy PDFs or documents. The display offers wide viewing angles and vivid colors, making it suitable for watching movies.
Ports and Webcam
The HP OMEN 16 is well-equipped with connectors, including two USB Type-A 5Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 connectors, and an HDMI 2.1 slot. It also has an RJ45 port for networking and supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. One additional Type-A port would have been useful, as I found myself needing a dock to connect all my USB Type-A devices.
The placement of the ports is thoughtful, with some positioned towards the back between the heat vents, making it easier to manage cables and reduce desk clutter. The laptop also features a 1080p webcam with a dedicated privacy shutter. While the picture quality is decent, it doesn’t support Windows Hello recognition or Windows Studio effects. Additionally, the laptop lacks a fingerprint sensor, requiring a password or PIN for unlocking.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The HP OMEN 16’s full-size keyboard includes a dedicated Numpad, which some might find unnecessary. I would have preferred larger, more spaced-out keys without the Numpad, as the current layout feels cramped. This was particularly frustrating when I frequently hit the wrong keys during intense gaming sessions.
On the positive side, the keyboard supports four-zone RGB backlighting and 26-Key Rollover, allowing multiple key presses without missed inputs. The trackpad is smooth and functional, adequate for use when a mouse isn’t available.
Performance and Battery Life
The HP OMEN 16’s performance is where it truly shines. My review unit, equipped with Intel’s Core i7-14700HX processor (eight performance and twelve efficient cores) and an RTX 4060 GPU with a TGP of 140W, handled everything I threw at it. With 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, the laptop offered superb gaming performance.
I played various games, from demanding AAA titles to eSports and casual games. Most taxing games ran smoothly at 1080p, and less demanding titles played well at 2K resolution. For example, Apex Legends ran comfortably at 2K resolution with a consistent 144FPS, while Valorant exceeded 200FPS at 2K with high graphics presets. XDefiant also performed admirably, achieving around 90-100FPS at 2K. Lowering the resolution to 1080p can maximize the display’s 165Hz refresh rate, yielding around 140FPS in XDefiant.
HP OMEN 16 Even graphically intensive games like God of War and Deathloop were playable at 2K, with God of War averaging around 50FPS. Less demanding games like Hades ran at an impressive 600FPS at 2K. Some AAA games, such as Witcher 3, needed to be played at 1080p for optimal performance, achieving around 65FPS at ultra settings. Cyberpunk 2077, with ray tracing enabled, ran at about 30FPS at full HD but could reach 60FPS without ray tracing.
The battery life is moderate, with nearly 10 hours of streaming and 7-8 hours of optimized gaming. The laptop holds its charge well on standby, making it ideal for light use over several days. It supports 30W fast charging, reaching full charge in about three hours.
Verdict
The HP OMEN 16 is an exceptional gaming laptop that offers excellent performance, a sophisticated design, and a reasonable price. While it may lack some of the flashy features of its competitors, its solid build quality, impressive hardware, and thoughtful design make it a top choice for gamers and professionals alike. If you’re in the market for a reliable and powerful gaming laptop, the HP OMEN 16 should be at the top of your list.
