HP HyperX Omen 15 Evaluation: RTX 5070 Gaming Meets Beautiful OLED

	HP HyperX Omen 15: Starting at $1,029, as tested $2,099 HP’s latest-generation Omen gaming laptop computer will get HyperX branding and a barely smaller kind issue, making it downright nice to pack and go.
	Comfortable Form Factor Attractive External Styling Excellent CPU & GPU Thermals Solid 1440p Gaming Performance Intelligent External I/O Placement Expandable Storage And Memory	8KHz Keyboard Causes Polling Issues Included SSD Is Sluggish Slighty Noisy While Gaming

Many PC elements, particularly reminiscence and stable state storage, have gotten exponentially costlier during the last 12 months or so. While worth will increase have impacted the desktop and DIY PC markets considerably, there are nonetheless various gaming laptops out there at way more approachable costs. Case in level, the HyperX OMEN 15 gaming laptop computer from HP we’ll be displaying you right here, which provides trendy appears to be like, a top-tier show, and stable efficiency, with just some minor blemishes stopping it from being a close to good cellular gaming machine.

If you are confused concerning the branding, allow us to assist you to out. HP acquired the HyperX model again in 2021 and continued to promote gaming peripherals below that identify, however the firm has since gone and mashed up its two hottest gaming manufacturers, HyperX and Omen. Thus this machine is the “HP HyperX OMEN 15 Gaming Laptop PC”. Fundamentally it is not a lot completely different from the earlier Omen 16 laptop computer, a “Max” variant of which we reviewed final 12 months.

The greatest distinction is the smaller measurement. The HyperX Omen 15 is an uncommon kind issue for a gaming laptop computer. Most “15-inch class” laptops have 15.6-inch screens, which is, in truth, the most typical mainstream laptop computer measurement. This machine is only a bit smaller than that at 15″ diagonal, and yet with the 16:10 screen, it seems even smaller because it’s really just 13″ broad. It’s additionally comparatively svelte for a gaming laptop computer, at not even a full inch thick at its widest level.

I’ll speak extra about its bodily dimensions in a bit, although. First, let’s go over the total specs so I can level out a number of locations that HP did effectively and some the place HP was seemingly pressured to make some trade-offs, because of the present market circumstances.

HP HyperX Omen 15 Laptop Full Specifications

Notably, that is our first laptop computer to check that makes use of a Panther Lake processor with out relying totally on that chip’s highly effective built-in graphics. This is the 4-Xe model of Panther Lake, the place the built-in graphics are comparatively modest in comparison with the 12-Xe model we have reviewed a number of instances earlier than. This explicit half retains the total Panther Lake CPU configuration: 4 Cougar Cove P-cores, eight Darkmont E-cores, and 4 Darkmont LP E-cores; nevertheless, it does take a 200 MHz hit to the height increase clocks of each P- and E-cores versus the Core Ultra X9 388H, the top-end 12-Xe configuration.

This is not our first time testing a cellular GeForce RTX 5070, though this particular mannequin helps a considerably increased TDP than the Dell Premium we reviewed earlier than. That comes via within the outcomes, as you will see. This laptop computer additionally would not have a {hardware} MUX, that means that every one video rendered by the GeForce RTX 5070 must be copied to the video reminiscence of the Intel graphics earlier than being displayed. This is not a severe concern; the efficiency loss from that is normally on the order of some proportion factors, however it’s one thing to concentrate on as a result of it implies that it’s essential to use the Intel software program to configure the display, not the NVIDIA App.

Other key specs price discussing embody the implausible built-in display, the questionable-but-also-laudable alternative of DDR5 SODIMM reminiscence, and the precise alternative of SSD, however we’ll speak about all of these in due time as we do our bodily walk-around and our benchmarks. So with out additional ado, let’s dive in…

HP HyperX Omen 15 Laptop Exterior Design

Much just like the Omen Max 16 we reviewed final 12 months, the HyperX Omen 15 makes a powerful impression out of the field. The black aluminum chassis could be very enticing, though it is also a fingerprint magnet, as you will see in some later pictures. Wash your arms earlier than dealing with this laptop computer. It is not too heavy at below 5 kilos, however it’s not precisely light-weight, both. Combined with the comparatively small measurement, it makes the system really feel dense. Whether that is a very good factor is an train left as much as the reader, however I prefer it.

Before we speak about the rest, we’ve got to debate the display on this particular laptop computer. Now, not each HyperX Omen 15 system comes with this stunning OLED; the usual choices embody a wide range of lower-resolution LCDs. This display is included within the present $2,099 asking worth although, and it is a heck of a deal. It’s not world-beating in any explicit spec; it is “only” 5 megapixels (vs. 8.3 of 4K UHD), it is “only” 120-Hz, and so forth. However, so long as you are not in search of the best possible display out there, it ticks all the correct bins: excessive DPI, excessive refresh fee, true 1000-nits HDR, wonderful shade, and critically, variable refresh fee assist, which is remarkably unusual on laptop computer screens of this high quality.

You can inform HP had actual avid gamers design this laptop computer, as a result of it features a full keyboard (kind of) regardless of the svelte measurement of the system. This is essential for avid gamers as a result of it retains the additional keys for key bindings in video games, however it does have some penalties; the keys are a very good bit smaller than these on one thing just like the Dell 16 Premium, and typing requires bunching your arms collectively towards the left facet of the keyboard a bit. Yet, the expertise of typing is fairly nice when you get used to the size. The keys have a crisp really feel, no less than when the keyboard is model new; this isn’t a mechanical keyboard, in spite of everything, which is a good trade-off contemplating the value class.

Another trade-off that is not stunning for the value class is that this isn’t a per-key RGB LED keyboard. While it does have shiny and enticing RGB LED accents, there are solely 4 RGB lighting zones. This does make ‘wave’ and different movement results look fairly awkward. We’d merely set the keyboard to paint biking or single-color modes for finest impact, however your mileage might range.

While the keyboard would not use precise mechanical switches, HP does promote an 8KHz report fee for keyboard inputs for minimal enter latency. Ultra-high report charges, whereas marginally lowering enter lag, can truly trigger issues in some video games. Both Durante, creator of the DSfix mod for Dark Souls, in addition to Kaldaien, the creator of the Special Okay multi-game mod, particularly suggest in opposition to utilizing utilizing polling charges over 1 OkayHz. Unfortunately, so far as I can discover, HP doesn’t present any means to regulate the report fee on the keyboard. I truly bumped into efficiency points in two video games that I’m pretty sure are tied to the 8KHz report fee of the keyboard, however I’ll speak about that within the gaming expertise part forward.

Around the again of the machine, you see two ports: one USB Type-C, and one HDMI. That’s as a result of the overwhelming majority of the again of the system is devoted to exhaust for the laptop computer’s cooling {hardware}. No complaints right here; not solely are these two ports well-placed, however there’s extra I/O than simply these two gadgets. That HDMI port helps HDMI 2.1 FRL, and it goes on to the GeForce RTX 5070, so should you’re looking for absolutely the minimal latency from this machine, that is the way to get it. The USB-C port is just not USB4 or Thunderbolt; in truth, this laptop computer has neither. However, it does assist DisplayPort alternate mode and you may even cost the laptop computer this manner, albeit slowly.

On the left facet of the laptop computer we’ve got the DC barrel jack that it makes use of for energy, a USB Type-A port supporting 10-Gbps switch charges, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. Very pleased to see a USB Type-A port on this facet of the machine, as that is vanishingly uncommon today. The audio jack helps each headphones and headsets, and the ability port has a tiny LED subsequent to it to point charging standing. HP bundles a 200-watt charger with the machine, which is comparatively low in comparison with different gaming laptops we have reviewed, however it’s sufficient to maintain the system from draining its battery even below intense gaming with loud audio and 100% display brightness.

Over on the correct facet we get a second USB Type-A port, as soon as once more supporting a 10-Gbps switch fee, after which an RJ-45 jack for wired networking. These are additionally considerate selections clearly made by a gamer. The Ethernet jack is a necessity for low-latency on-line gaming, whereas the second Type-A port permits avid gamers to attach a mouse whereas additionally utilizing a standard USB flash drive, USB microphone, or no matter different gadget. Heck, we will even laud HP for making this technique ambidextrous; should you choose to make use of your mouse on the left, no drawback! I would love to have seen an SD card reader and/or a USB4 port, however I’d frankly somewhat have the configuration we obtained if getting USB4, Thunderbolt, or a card reader would have meant sacrificing any of the ports out there on the system.

Flipping the laptop computer over, we will see the massive grille that occupies practically half of the underside of the machine regardless of that there are solely two small cutouts for the fan intakes. It appears to be like trendy, anyway. The QR code within the center goes to a assist web page particularly for this laptop computer, which is a pleasant contact. You can discover the serial quantity and product identifiers printed down towards the entrance of the laptop computer should you choose kicking it old-school.

We did not attempt to tear into the machine ourselves, however this picture from HP’s wonderful teardown guide is kind of illustrative. As far as user-serviceable elements, there’s principally the RAM, the SSD, and the Wi-Fi card, though the design of the machine makes it comparatively simple to get on the battery and even to take away the cooling equipment should you’re so inclined. The reminiscence, should you’re questioning, is below that enormous silver piece of EMI shielding paper within the center. On the left is the primary SSD slot; on the correct, the second slot, which comes empty. It helps PCI Express 4.0 x4 SSDs of 80mm size solely. Actually entering into the chassis is not that dangerous, by the best way; unscrew a number of screws after which pop clips round 3.5 of 4 sides.

All proper, sufficient leering at this petite little beast; let’s take a look at the software program briefly after which take a look at how the HyperX Omen 15 handles our benchmark suite.