HP's latest entry in the gaming laptop market combines cutting-edge hardware with some practical compromises. The Omen Max 16 represents HP's attempt to deliver desktop-class gaming performance in a 16-inch form factor, featuring the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics. While it delivers impressive gaming performance, potential buyers should consider whether the trade-offs in portability are worth the power.
Design and Build Quality
The HP Omen Max 16 features a premium black aluminum chassis that gives it a high-end look and feel. The laptop sports subtle 016 branding on both the deck and lid, reminiscent of Alienware's aesthetic. RGB lighting adorns the pudding-style keycaps and a light bar along the front lip, providing the gaming flair many enthusiasts expect. However, at 6.1 pounds (2.68 kg) and 0.98 inches thick, this is a substantial machine to carry around, especially when factoring in the additional 2-pound power brick. Competitors like the Razer Blade 16 manage to pack similar performance into a significantly lighter 4.7-pound frame.
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| Sleek design and vibrant RGB lighting of the HP Omen Max 16 gaming laptop's keyboard, showcasing its premium build quality |
Display Performance
The Omen Max 16 is available with either IPS or OLED display options, both offering a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate in a 16:10 aspect ratio. The OLED variant tested delivers exceptional visual quality with vibrant colors covering 141.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and reaching 362.8 nits of brightness in SDR mode. The panel provides excellent viewing angles with minimal color shift even at extreme angles. Whether playing demanding games or watching videos, the display offers sharp details and rich colors that enhance the visual experience significantly.
Gaming Performance
Equipped with options up to an RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, the Omen Max 16 delivers strong gaming performance across the board. In Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled at native resolution, the system managed between 65-70 FPS in real-world testing, jumping to 95-105 FPS with ray tracing disabled. DLSS 4's multi-frame generation provides significant boosts, increasing frame rates from 38 FPS to 116 FPS at native resolution in certain scenarios. The laptop performed admirably in other benchmark tests, though interestingly, some competitors with the slightly less powerful RTX 5080 occasionally matched or exceeded its performance while costing considerably less.
Thermal Management and Noise
The powerful components packed into the Omen Max 16 generate substantial heat, with CPU temperatures reaching up to 105°C during intensive tasks—well into thermal throttling territory. HP has implemented an AI fan control system with an Unleashed mode that can ramp fans up to 5,000 RPM to manage thermals. While effective, this makes the laptop quite loud during gaming sessions. The more balanced fan mode keeps noise levels reasonable but reduces performance by nearly 25% in some benchmarks. Heat is primarily directed through downward-facing vents, which can make the laptop uncomfortable to use on your lap during gaming sessions.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard on the Omen Max 16 includes a full numeric keypad, which is impressive for a 16-inch laptop, but the implementation has some drawbacks. The keys feel somewhat mushy and lack the tactile feedback that many users prefer for typing. The arrow key layout is particularly problematic, with smaller up and down arrows squeezed between the standard-sized left and right keys rather than using the preferred inverted-T arrangement. The 4.95 x 3.1-inch touchpad offers smooth and accurate navigation with good support for multi-touch gestures, though some users reported issues with click-and-drag operations that may be fixable through driver updates.
Audio Quality
The built-in speakers deliver surprisingly rich and layered sound without the tininess often found in laptop audio systems. The spatial audio implementation is particularly impressive during gaming, with distinct directional sound that enhances immersion. While not the loudest laptop speakers available, they provide enough volume to fill a medium-sized room and offer clear separation between different audio elements, making them suitable for both gaming and media consumption without requiring external speakers or headphones.
Connectivity and Ports
HP has been generous with the port selection, offering two USB Type-A 10 Gbps ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1 output, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection. This comprehensive selection exceeds what many gaming laptops provide, giving users flexibility for external displays, high-speed storage, and wired networking without requiring additional dongles or adapters. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 is particularly noteworthy, as many gaming laptops opt for standard USB-C ports instead.
Battery Life and Portability
Battery life is a significant weakness for the Omen Max 16. In productivity testing, it lasted just 3 hours and 20 minutes—less than half the runtime of the similarly equipped Razer Blade 16. Gaming on battery power reduces this further to about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Combined with its substantial weight, these limitations make the Omen Max 16 more of a desktop replacement than a truly portable gaming solution. Users should expect to keep the power brick handy and primarily use this laptop on desks or tables rather than on the go.
Upgradeability
The Omen Max 16 offers good upgradeability options with relatively easy access to key components. Removing the bottom panel reveals clearly marked locations for the GPU, CPU, RAM, and SSDs. The two DDR5 DIMM slots are accessible after removing a protective panel, and there are two M.2 2280 SSD slots, though accessing the boot drive requires working around the cooling system. This level of upgradeability is welcome in a high-performance laptop, allowing users to extend its useful life through memory and storage upgrades.
Price and Value
With configurations ranging from USD $2,499 for the base model (Core Ultra 7, RTX 5070 Ti, 16GB RAM) to USD $4,339 for the top-end version (Core Ultra 9, RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, OLED display), the Omen Max 16 represents a significant investment. While it delivers strong performance, competing models like the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 with an RTX 5080 can be found for approximately USD $1,200 less while occasionally delivering better frame rates. The value proposition depends largely on how much users prioritize the OLED display option and comprehensive port selection versus absolute performance per dollar.
Conclusion
The HP Omen Max 16 delivers impressive gaming performance and excellent visual quality, particularly with the OLED display option. Its comprehensive port selection and upgradeability make it a versatile option for gamers who want a powerful desktop replacement. However, its substantial weight, short battery life, and occasionally inconsistent performance relative to its price point mean it's not the ideal choice for everyone. Those who prioritize portability should look elsewhere, but gamers seeking a feature-rich system that can stay primarily on a desk will find much to appreciate in the Omen Max 16, especially if they can find it at a competitive price point.