OMEN by HP is expanding its presence in esports through new hardware investments and sponsorships across Europe. The company currently sponsors 17 European teams alongside major organizations such as Cloud9, Immortals, and the Overwatch League.
"We will continue to invest," an OMEN by HP representative said. "Esports is a growing field and we think it invites people to play, so it will expand the gaming market."
Brand tiers and mobile streaming
HP divides its gaming products into three distinct brands to target different players. Pavilion machines are described as "PCs you can game on" for casual users, while standard Omen systems target core gamers. The top tier Omen X brand features "overspecced, overperformance" machines for esports professionals and streamers, including a 17-inch laptop at a higher price point.
The company is also expanding into mobile gaming using its Game Stream technology. The upcoming Omen Stream app for Android devices will allow users to play games from their home PC on a mobile phone later this year.
Mobile streaming performance depends on connection speed, but HP is planning for future network developments. Europe will see 5G networks built starting next year, which the company believes will be 30 times faster than 4G. Hands-on testing at Gamescom in the private HP booth showed only minimal latency while playing Forza over local Wi-Fi.
Headsets, DIY desktops, and displays
For traditional desktop gamers, HP offers the Omen Mindframe headset, which features cooling technology inside the headphones for extended play sessions. The company is also entering the custom PC market with the Omen Obelisk desktop.
"We wanted to create something which has full scalability up to 2080, has industry standard components, easy access components, no screws," an HP representative said. "A more aggressive price point so we can compete with other brands on the DIY market."
HP supplies the official PCs and monitors used in the Overwatch League, where match technical faults remain rare. A hands-on demo of the new TV-sized HP Omen display at Gamescom featured Battlefield on a 4K, 120Hz, HDR screen at a high price point.
Testing the OMEN by HP 15 laptop
The latest OMEN by HP 15 laptop is 15 to 20 percent smaller than last year's version while delivering more power. The unit remains fairly large, creating a snug fit inside a 15.6-inch laptop bag, and feels heavy on the shoulder after extended carrying.
Hands-on testing over two weeks demonstrated strong performance across major esports titles, including League of Legends, Overwatch, and CS:GO. The laptop also ran PUBG surprisingly well despite the game's reputation for poor performance on high-end hardware.
The machine includes a 1920x1080 IPS display, a backlit keyboard for gaming and typing, and a standard trackpad. However, the unit gets hot above the keyboard despite large air vents, and the power pack becomes painful to touch after prolonged use.
With aggressive air vents, a large cross and logo on the lid, and a black and red color scheme, the laptop clearly signals its gaming focus. For players prioritizing raw performance at its price point, the device represents a strong option.
