HP Omen 16 Gaming Laptop Review | BlizzardWares

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HP Omen 16 Gaming Laptop

HP has introduced its new gaming laptop called Omen 16. This laptop is essentially a revamp of the Omen 15. But this laptop has several more power boosts int he best models. Firstly, it received an 11th-generation Intel processor and an RTX 3070 graphics card. The HP Omen 16 received two screen variations: both have a diagonal of 16.1 inches, but one version has a refresh rate of 165 Hz, and the other has a 144 Hz refresh rate. In the first case, the response time is 3 ms, and in the second – 7 ms.

The display also features a maximum brightness of 300 nits and 100% sRGB color coverage. Omen 16 Gaming Laptop is equipped with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and 1 TB of PCIe Gen 4 × 4 SSD memory. An 83 Wh battery is responsible for the keeping the laptop going while it is unplugged. It provides up to 9 hours of work on a single charge. In this review, we will be showing the pros, cons, and features of this product and how well it sizes up to its competitors.

Specifications Table

Screen	16.1″ (1920×1080) IPS, 144Hz
CPU	Intel Core i7 11800H (8×2.30 GHz)
Memory	RAM 16 GB (3200 MHz), SSD 1 TB
Video card	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB
Operating system	Windows 11 Home
Battery	83 Wh
Camera	720p HD
Wireless Protocols	Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) MU-MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0.
Interfaces	3 × USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (Display Port 1.4, charging, data transfer), 1 x Mini Display Port, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm combo jack, SD card reader , RJ-45, power.
Price	$1,649

Pros	Cons
High-quality screen in 1440p (165 Hz) Solid 1080p gaming performance Great connectivity and features High performance for your money Decent sound system	No DLSS scaling Mediocre build quality No numeric keypad Mediocre battery life compared to its competitors

Design and build quality

Like the Lenovo Legion 5, the Omen 16 is a gaming laptop aimed more at adults than youth. Everything about this laptop is extremely sober, black, and grown-up, though some interpret the design as something boring and drab (personally, I like the black chassis). Aside from the 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard (you shouldn’t expect every key to be backlit for the money), the Omen 16 can pass as a regular laptop, which is a plus if you need a laptop for work as well as gaming.

The Omen is largely a plastic laptop that feels solid enough, though the aluminum keyboard gives the process an aura of some quality. The design is classic, and the lid flexes a little, but even though the structure is plastic, fingerprints do not remain on it.

There are two plastic supports on each side of the keyboard, parallel to the third row of keys, designed to prevent the screen from flexing towards the keyboard, although it still feels vulnerable because the stops aren’t thick enough.

HP has been generous enough in terms of connectors, offering three USB Type-A at 5 Gb/s, one Type-C at speeds up to 10 Gb/s, a Mini DisplayPort 1.4, and HDMI 2.1 video port, along with a Gigabit LAN RJ- 45 with a folding head. There’s also an SD card reader and, of course, a 3.5mm audio jack. It’s a decent choice. Wireless communication is implemented using a Realtek card that supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Processor

Powerful performance comes from the i7-11800h processor with Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics cards. The processor already has 8 cores and is more stable in terms of frequencies. It also does not have a wild frequency spread at a minimum load. It has a good effect on the working time, but I want to warn you right away – its maximum TDP in load is 109 W. In laptop mode, the “balanced” maximum TDP is 45-55 W. In “productive” mode – 80 W. The processor is heated less than that AMD version. But the AMD version will run longer by 10-15%.

The cooling system has been slightly modified. Changed the fan blades. And, attention, I added a setting for the RPM curve, which is, in my opinion, a killer feature. You can sit, and not lose attention without headphones. In the office use mode, the processor temperature is 42 degrees. Fan noise is background noise, and you hardly notice it. In games, the temperature is individual. If you do not adjust the fan speed curve – the laptop will be quite cold but loud. HP Gives you the option to choose between heat and your hearing.

Keyboard, touchpad, and webcam of the HP Omen 16

The chiclet keyboard looks and feels very similar to the Victus keyboard. The keyboard is solid, quiet, and responsive, but the travel depth is acceptable. However, there is a significant difference: Victus has a numeric keypad, while Omen 16 does not.

In favor of the Omen 16, the four arrow keys are much larger than on the Victus. And better separated from the rest of the keyboard in the bottom right corner.

One-piece touch panel measuring 125 x 80 mm has a plastic coating. The click is a little superficial, in my opinion, but that’s the only problem.

Above the screen bezel is a mid-range 720p webcam that looks grainy and dull no matter the quality or intensity of the lighting. You will need to use a PIN code for quick authorization in the system.

Screen and sound of the HP Omen 16

For a budget gaming system, Omen offers a decent IPS panel. Competitors usually limit themselves to 15.6-inch 1080p panels at up to 144Hz, so the 16.1-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution with a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz is a welcome bonus. At 311 cd/m2 we don’t have the brightest panel on the market, but it’s a colorful screen covering 100.9% of the sRGB color space. Its color reproduction is quite acceptable given its Delta E of 1.74, with a contrast ratio of 1184:1.

The combination of these numbers can practically guarantee an immersive, crisp, colorful, and smooth gaming experience. If you plan on spending a lot of time watching movies on your laptop, then the Omen 16’s color reproduction easily reinforces your recommendation. The only limitation is the maximum brightness, which means it’s not the best laptop for outdoor use.

On the other hand, the proprietary Bang and Olufsen sound system will not let you down. It forms a clear and sharp soundscape with a volume margin – an average of 75 dB at a distance of 1 m; bass, by the way, is not bad.

Conclusion

The new affordable HP Omen gaming laptop has a bigger screen, great sound, and even AMD graphics performance, all at a reasonable price. An AMD graphics card is a real bonus if your favorite games support AMD FSR, allowing you to unleash the full power of the 1440p panel. On the other hand, having to play demanding games with only DLSS at 1080p is unlikely to be a sacrifice for a laptop that costs so little. This laptop gave me back the feeling that a portable device could be truly portable, convenient, quiet, and powerful. The HP Omen 16 has corrected almost all the shortcomings, and now it is a device that is comfortable for work and gaming.