HP Omen 16 (2023) review

The design language of gaming laptops continues to steer away from space-age model chassis with burgeoning thickness, with producers working exhausting to supply a extra refined aesthetic, as is the case right here with the HP Omen 16 (2023). Beneath its trendy hood, although, lies sufficient substance to make for a stable midrange moveable PC.

The configuration I’ve in for this assessment packs an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor, in addition to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, making this a succesful mid-range laptop computer on paper. Add to this a 1TB SSD, 16GB of 5,600MHz DDR5 RAM, and a 16-inch 165Hz 1080p show, and it appears all of the extra like this may very well be an honest choice for these trying to find a gaming laptop for round $1,500.

HP Omen 16 (2023) design

There’s a fantastic line between nondescript and understated with regards to the aesthetics of a gaming laptop computer, and the Omen 16 (2023) treads it fastidiously. In comparison with many different opponents with sharper corners and extra daring appears, HP’s midranger opts for an all-black chassis that’s solely damaged up by a triangular speaker grille above the keyboard and the small Omen logos scattered on high and backside casing.

Mixed with this, the Omen 16 (2023) additionally provides a modern chassis, with a complete thickness of 23.9mm, though its 2.36kg weight feels cumbersome in comparison with different laptops I’ve examined. It’s fairly heavy, however is within the ballpark for a laptop computer of comparable specs.

Regardless of its fairly slender thickness, the Omen 16 (2023) provides a wonderful port choice and connectivity. On the left-hand facet, you’ll discover an Ethernet port, alongside a 5Gbps USB Kind-A, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.

The suitable-hand facet is residence to a 5Gbps USB Kind-C, in addition to two extra Kind-As, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DC-in for energy. This provides a few of the greatest connectivity I’ve seen on a gaming laptop computer at this value, and supplies you with loads of choices for connecting all the things from extra shows to a gaming mouse.

With that heavier weight, it’s maybe little shock to be taught that the Omen 16 (2023) additionally supplies some stable construct high quality, too. The plastics utilized in its building really feel stable, though its high casing can act as fairly the magnet for grease and fingerprints. That is simply one thing you’ll should be cautious of for those who’re intending on carrying the Omen 16 (2023) with no sleeve or bag.

In comparison with a few of the odder squished-up layouts which are accessible on similar-sized laptop computer keyboards, the Omen 16 (2023)’s extra typical TKL format feels refreshing to make use of. Even when it foregoes a quantity pad, it’s good to have correct spacing between keys. The keys themselves provide affordable tactility, though really feel a tad smooth and spongy in comparison with the likes of the Razer Blade 16 (2023).

By comparability, the trackpad right here provides affordable actual property on your fingers, though its monitoring can really feel a little bit skittish and the buttons themselves aren’t essentially the most tactile. For essentially the most half, it’s fantastic, however not so good as different trackpads on the market.

HP Omen 16 (2023) options

In addition to providing fairly a nondescript design, the identical might be stated concerning the Omen 16 (2023)’s function set. The show on provide here’s a 16-inch 1920×1080 display, full with an uprated 165Hz refresh fee for smoother movement. That is an improve in comparison with the bottom mannequin’s 144Hz choice, intriguingly. Pairing this with the laptop computer’s 8GB RTX 4060 GPU additionally reveals it to be a great combo for 1080p gaming.

It might not be essentially the most thrilling mixture on this planet, however the Full HD decision paired with an RTX 4060 contained in the Omen 16 (2023) provides the advantage of trendy fixtures and fixings mixed with a responsive expertise.

What’s extra, its 165Hz refresh fee additionally supplies some first rate movement, too. The actual fact that is an IPS display additionally aids colours in wanting correct and viewing angles to be stable. That is additionally backed up its quoted 100% of the sRGB shade house, which means it supplies wonderful shade accuracy in video games and on a regular basis use.

Inside, the Omen 16 (2023) options some first rate energy as well, full with one of many newest processors, the Ryzen 7 7840HS. This supplies 8 cores and 16 threads, alongside a lift clock of 5.10GHz. It’s a quick processor for the FHD gaming workloads you’ll be throwing at it, in addition to for extra on a regular basis duties, too. The HS suffix additionally places it within the mid-range of AMD’s laptop computer processors, being designed for increased energy laptops, however slicing down on the ability consumption in comparison with extra highly effective chips.

As a chip from the Ryzen 7000 lineup, it additionally helps the newest technology of RAM, with 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, offering you with particularly speedy RAM in an inexpensive capability. You additionally get a 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD which provides the advantage of each an honest capability and superb speeds, to retailer your video games on. Every thing feels particularly snappy, it should be stated.

Briefly returning to the purpose of connectivity, the Omen 16 (2023) additionally options Wi-Fi 6E for snappy community efficiency, in addition to help for Bluetooth 5.3 out the field.

HP Omen 16 (2023) efficiency

In fact, crucial a part of a gaming laptop computer is how effectively it performs in a wide range of video games. I’ve put the Omen 16 (2023) by its paces in a collection of titles, in addition to by some artificial benchmarking suites, and I’m happy to report it’s a stable performer for the worth.

The mixture of the RTX 4060 and the Ryzen 7 7840HS present some good body charges in a wide range of titles which are greater than playable. The likes of Cyberpunk 2077 make for an particularly demanding title, and even with out the enjoyable of DLSS, it posted a decent common body fee.

As for its thermal efficiency, the Omen 16 (2023) can get fairly toasty and noisy underneath load when its followers spin up. This grew to become evident in nearly all of the benchmark assessments I ran, and when taking part in video games for enjoyable. For extra common duties, it’s as quiet as a mouse, and is comfy to make use of. With this in thoughts although, for the perfect outcomes, I’d follow utilizing the Omen 16 (2023) on a desk, versus in your lap, merely because of the warmth it might probably emit.

Its battery life, although, is fairly stable. The Omen 16 (2023) comes with an 83Whr battery, which HP says will final for 8 hours on a cost. In operating the PC Mark 10 Fashionable Workplace Benchmark, it largely lived as much as HP’s claims, with a run time of seven hours and 16 minutes. Nevertheless, its gaming efficiency on battery energy is a little bit disappointing, with the Omen 16 (2023) posting a results of simply over two hours. This implies‌ it’s only appropriate to be used when plugged into the mains for its meant function.

HP Omen 16 (2023) verdict

HP’s new Omen 16 (2023) is maybe a little bit of an odd buyer. There’s little doubt it supplies a stable gaming expertise for the worth, and that its inner core of its Ryzen 7 7840HS and RTX 4060 make it a helpful performer for anybody wanting good outcomes at 1080p.

Alongside this, it provides an honest keyboard and wonderful port choice, in addition to a great show and battery life for workplace duties. A part of me, nonetheless, longs for one thing with a contact extra efficiency and aptitude.