Review | HP Omen 16: a sober gaming beast

The market of laptop to players, although niche, is exceptionally important for a PC manufacturer. Bad or bad, these devices are the perfect excuse to build the most powerful machine possible and in every way, since that is precisely what a demanding gamer demands: raw and limitless power.

Therefore, any experimental effort that tries to go further in the calculation (processors, graphics cards, coolers, battery, screen, etc.) is reflected in these devices, where nothing seems excessive and all that is added is the welcome. For the same reason, they are usually at the top of the price list.

It is interesting to note that, lately, almost all major computer manufacturers in the world have their specific sub-brands for this audience. These usually have great traction among users, as if they were sports teams, including specific fan communities and discussion forums about models and yearly improvements. It’s a whole market that goes well beyond the final sale.

In the case of HP one of the largest computer manufacturers on the planet, its sub-brand player it is Presage. It was created in May 2016, and little by little the division has grown to become a fundamental part of HP’s businesses. To confirm this, in 2021 they acquired HyperX, the accessories division player from memory maker Kingston, further reinforcing the commitment to the world of gaming.

The HP Omen 16 This is the brand’s latest model. Balanced, sober, powerful and functional, it is a very good machine for the game, depending on the configuration. Structurally, the team remains the same as its predecessors; The main novelties lie in the updating of its components.

• Cut : 369.32mm x 247.90 x 22.61mm
• Mass : 2.32kg
• Screen : 16.1″ (40.9 cm) IPS LED Full HD (1920 x 1080), 300 nits
• refresh rate : 144hz
• Processor : Intel Core i7-12700H
• Graphic card : Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 (6 GB GDDR6)
• Memory : 16 GB DDR5-4800 RAM
• Storage : 512GB / 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Drums : 83 Wh (up to 8 hours)
• connectivity : Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
• Ports: 1 HDMI 2.1 / 3 USB-A / 1 USB-C / 1 MicroSD / 1 3.5 mm jack audio input / 1 Ethernet
• Operating system : Windows 11 Pro (home edition)

The packaging, compared to the competition, does not stand out too much. It is white, with the brand logo on the sides and a plastic handle to carry it. Once the box is opened, we have the computer (packed in a cloth with the brand), the obligatory paper guides – among others comes the year of warranty – and a side box with the respective components, cables and accessories. Nothing special, although we recognize a great and good detail: it includes a mouse.

In general, the look of the computer is not far from other similar ones. The most interesting thing, in this sense, are some small differences or innovations, such as color accents on the edges or a special key on the keyboard, and which make the very essence of the brand reflected in the product.

Of course, the striking elements that stand out are not appreciated: there are no light effects or inscriptions, but it is also a point of sobriety that many users, surely the older ones, will appreciate without no doubt. The Omen 16 is sleek, classic in its design, mature even. And it has its own weight when you lift it: more than two kilos.

You might even say it doesn’t stand out much: made of aluminum and rigid recycled plastic in black, the only thing that stands out is the reflection of a diamond in the center, next to the branding inscription.

The key to its design, in fact, lies in the dissipation of air. When you open it up and take a closer look at its sides, you can clearly see the intention to circulate the air as much and better as possible between its internal parts. There is also a discreet “16” marked on the bottom of the keyboard, on the palm rest. It’s a nice detail, adding style and personality, again without drawing too much attention.

Logically, the mechanical keyboard has its own light and RGB system, for those who want to customize it with more color. But it doesn’t come by default, except for the directional keys, a far cry from QWERTY; good to maintain this essence of austerity. Other than that, the typing experience was very pleasant, with good spacing and smooth keystrokes. The trackpad, for its part, is remarkably large, even by the standards of this category. Very comfortable.

On the left side we find a USB-A input and the input for an Ethernet network port. In the middle, we notice three staggered air inlets and outlets, while at the bottom we find a 3.5 mm audio jack input (the traditional one) and a microSD card slot.

On the right side we have two more USB-A ports and the respective ventilation windows, as well as a versatile Thunderbolt/USB-C input, an HDMI 2.1 port (ideal for video games) and the power outlet. I liked that: a very good variety of ports for accessories and properly distributed.

In summary: in a world where the most colorful computer is generally the one that stands out the most, the Omen 16 comes to tell the competition that sobriety has imposed itself on the game.

Let’s go to the screen. We’re looking at a very nice 16.1-inch screen, which has a fairly thick bezel all around for my taste. It’s not OLED, which was already the industry standard, but it’s Full HD LED, and it achieves good levels of brightness and contrast. The truth is that in this aspect HP could have played with a somewhat more attractive screen.

During the weeks that we were able to use the device, the user experience was quite good, mainly from a functional point of view. There were no software or overheating issues. Logically, with a 12th generation Intel Core i7 chip, plus the graphics card (a powerful and more than sufficient GeForce GTX 3060) and 16 GB of RAM, everything went smoothly.

Of course, the experience with video games has been very good, reaching very high levels and even maximums in a large part of the titles with which it has been tested, especially in the PC version of the game. Spider Manoriginal from the PlayStation 5. The game ran smoothly, with acceptable framerates: its generous 144Hz refresh rate is noticeable.

The laptop also comes with Omen Play Center , a program that is very good when it comes to customizing or tuning the gaming experience in a more specific way. Here you can generate a library of games —to access each title directly—, meet friends and contacts to play online and, above all, optimize your computer so that it works in the best possible way.

Sound is delivered through dual Bang & Olufsen system stereo speakers, which are loud and clear enough to clearly hear the game’s protagonist as well as background sounds, such as gunshots, explosions, weather sound effects or incidental music.

unlike many laptop Showcasing lights and whistles, the Omen 16 is a solid, understated alternative for those looking for power – there’s even room for upgrades – and a good design, with plenty of connectivity ports, but not too much. draw attention.

Cons are its front camera – it’s HD only, with 720p resolution – and its screen – which isn’t OLED. But other than that, it’s a great machine. And if that’s not enough, it’s a good starting point to expand the house player.

In addition, the detail that its design is rather simple, not to say adult, and a price that does not skyrocket —considering all that it brings inside—, the Omen 16 is an excellent alternative for those who want to venture outside, without performance or power problems, into the world of portable games. And with discretion.

Note: ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

*Prices for products in this article are updated as of January 10, 2023. Values ​​and their availability may change.