HP OMEN 16 review
The HP HP OMEN 16 ranks as the #362 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 74. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #72-ranked connectivity among 399 laptops. Consider the HP OMEN 15 or HP EliteBook 840 G9, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The HP Omen 16 is a solid gaming laptop with great performance, especially in single-core and multi-core tasks. The design is clean and classy, but the display is a major letdown, with an abysmal 65% sRGB color gamut. While battery life is good, the speakers are mediocre. Despite its issues, this laptop is worth considering if you're on a budget, as it offers great value for its price point. However, if you can afford to spend more, there are better options available with HX processors and improved displays. Overall, it's a decent choice, but not without its compromises.
Build
The HP Omen 16's build is a mixed bag. The laptop's black chassis has a sleek, matte finish that gives it a clean look. However, the plastic construction doesn't feel as premium as other gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 15. The laptop is also quite thick and weighs around 5.2 pounds, which may be cumbersome for some users. Despite this, the design is effective and simple, with a good amount of I/O options on the sides. The screen's hinge has been improved to reduce wobbliness, but the display itself is subpar. A better alternative might be HP ZBook Create G7, featuring a next-level build.
Display
The HP Omen 16's display is a major disappointment. It's a matte panel with an SRGB rating of just 65, making it unideal for designers and content viewers. The lackluster color accuracy and low brightness make it difficult to enjoy visual content. Unfortunately, this subpar display is paired with an otherwise excellent laptop, which makes its presence all the more frustrating. It's a shame, as the Omen 16 has many redeeming qualities, but this display issue may deter potential buyers from considering this model. You may find HP ZBook Firefly 15 G7 a better fit, thanks to its superior display.
Performance
The HP Omen 16's performance is impressive, particularly with its 13th gen Intel processor and RTX 4060 GPU. It excels in single-core and multi-core tasks, outperforming the Zephyrus G16 in most applications. However, when it comes to specific games, the Omen 16 occasionally lags behind due to power throttling. Despite this, its heat management is remarkable, keeping CPU temps under 80°C even during intense use. The laptop's performance longevity may be compromised by this feature, but overall, the HP Omen 16 delivers solid gaming and productivity capabilities. Its performance shines through in everyday tasks. If you’re after a better performance, HP ProBook 450 G9 could be the ideal option.
Battery and Charging
The HP Omen 16 boasts a 83 watt hour battery that provides surprisingly good battery life, a notable advantage in the gaming laptop market. This is partly due to the weaker i7 processor used in this model compared to other versions. As a result, you can expect around [insert time frame] hours of use on a single charge, making it a suitable option for those who need a balance between performance and portability. Charging is quick, with a 230W power adapter that gets the job done efficiently.
Connectivity
The HP OMEN 16 boasts an impressive array of ports, including an RJ45 port for Gigabit Ethernet, three USB-A ports, HDMI, and a USB-C port (albeit not Thunderbolt 4). The laptop's design is sleek and clean, but the lack of ports to keep cables organized is a minor drawback. The presence of a swappable Wi-Fi 6E card adds flexibility, making this a solid choice for gamers and content creators. For an improved connectivity, HP ProBook 450 G9 is worth considering.
Features
The HP Omen 16 features a chunky design, weighing 5.2 pounds, with a matte finish and no ports on the back. It boasts a 16-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate, but falls short in terms of color accuracy (sRGB 65). The keyboard deck is spacious and comfortable to use, while the touchpad is plastic but accurate. A Core i7-1362H CPU and RTX 4060 GPU provide strong performance, albeit with some throttling issues. You might want to check out HP ZBook Firefly 15 G7, featuring an upgraded features for a superior experience.
Support and Maintenance
The HP OMEN 16's performance is fantastic with great battery life, however its display is abysmal, making it a poor choice for design work or content consumption. The laptop's flexibility and matte finish are positives, but the single drive slot and mediocre speakers detract from overall experience.
Pros
1. I like the design, I think it looks really clean, it looks classy
2. The keyboard deck is very good looking, the keys felt great to use when gaming
3. You have a fairly good size touch pad at the bottom
4. Performance was fantastic with some of the best temps I've seen on a gaming laptop in the last few months
5. Battery life is really good, got really good battery life with this guy
6. The RGB lighting looks really cool and it's a great feature if that's your thing
Cons
1. This display is absolutely horrible, they gotta stop sticking displays like this on laptops
2. Not the most premium feeling laptop on the market
3. Heat management is very interesting comparing it to other gaming laptops, CPU temps are always up at 88-89 degrees Celsius
4. You lose out in a little bit of performance when things get crazy on the omen 16 it just power throttles right away
5. Speakers nothing special, they're on the bottom of the laptop, they're a bit flat and there's no high end or mids are completely drowned out
6. Only one drive slot, usually with 16 inch notebooks especially gaming laptops you get at least two
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