HP Omen Max 16 review: "one hell of a show"
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20 Jun 2025 07:02:24 am.
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Verdict
It's not the cheapest, but it's far from the most expensive and considering the price you're paying the HP Omen Max 16 puts on one hell of a show. Powerful but streamlined, exciting but understated - the Max has plenty going for it, just don't hammer those keys too hard or unplug the power cable.
Pros
- +Excellent performance
- +Streamlined design
- +Crisp white chassis
- +Vibrant RGB
- +Smart port placements
Cons
- -Low battery life
The HP Omen Max 16 is everything I wanted it to be. I'm a disillusioned fan of this range, having landed with a GTX 1050 Omen as my first ever gaming laptop before falling out of love with its fairly janky releases in the years following. It's had some wins in the last few years, even if the more recent HP Omen 17 was fairly uninspired, but 2025's release changes everything.
This is a powerful machine, but it's wrapped up in a slick, streamlined chassis that keeps things slim while still hiding enough space to let those components reach their full potential. With a price tag that holds its own against the rest of the market and a wealth of additional features packed in, this is one of thebest gaming laptopI've tested in 2025 so far.
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Key Specs
Price | $3,299.99 / £2,999 | $2,299.99 - $3,599.99 / £2,399 - £3,999 |
Display | 16-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS at 240Hz | 16-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS at 165Hz | 16-inch 2560 x 1600 OLED at 240Hz |
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | AMD Ryzen AI 7 H 350 | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 |
GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 | RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5090 |
RAM | 32GB DDR5-5600MT/s | 16GB | 64GB |
Storage | 1TB PCle Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD | 512GB | 2TB |
Connectivity | WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | - |
Ports | 2x USB Type-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C (Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 | 2x USB Type-A, 2x USB Type-C (Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1), 1x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, 1x RJ-45 |
Dimensions | 14.04 x 10.59 x 0.98 inch | - |
Weight | 6.1lbs | 5.5lbs |
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Configurations
HP has gone wide with its configuration options for the Omen Max 16, spanning the mid to high range in its GPU offerings and splitting devices across both Intel and AMD. We kick off at an RTX 5070 with Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX processor for a $2,299.99 / £2,399.99 base price, soaring up to the full-whack RTX 5090 and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX / AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, high-end models costing around $3,600 / £4,000.
The model I'm testing packs an RTX 5080 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD into a $3,299.99 / £2,999 price tag. That's not cheap, but it's certainly not as expensive as some.
An RTX 5080 configuration of the2025 Razer Blade 16comes with a slightly weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and equal RAM / storage amounts for $3,499.99 (though with an upgrade to an OLED display). TheAlienware16 Area-51 that's patiently waiting its turn on my testing bench goes for $3,349.99 with the same specs as well.
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TheAsus ROG Strix G16lowers the price tag to $2,899.99, while theAsusROG Strix Scar 16 halves your RAM (but doubles your storage) for the same $3,299.99 MSRP.
That means the HP Omen Max 16 sits squarely in the middle for an RTX 5080 rig, though with the additional benefits of cheaper configurations that others may drop.
There's one difference between this rig and others in its price league that makes the HP Omen Max 16 stand just a little taller. It's on sale far more regularly. Even as I'm writing this review, the configuration I'm testing has dropped from $3,299.99 to $2,599.99 and it's far from the first time I've seen savings here.
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Design
I unbox a lot of gaming laptops, but every now and then I unsleeve a machine that makes me audibly coo. The HP Omen Max's crisp white chassis and soft-touch coating was love at first sight.
That white has stayed resistant to stains and scuffs in the time I've been carting it around and the lighter tone means fingerprints aren't an issue either. The main chassis' clean lines and tapered lip design makes a statement without being too bold - that's where the RGB comes in.
HP has outfitted the Omen Max 16 with a strikingly vibrant set of LEDs under the main keyboard, as well as a light strip that casts a clean glow on the surface below. It's not quite as strong as that of theAsus ROG Strix Scar 18or the Asus ROG Strix G16, but it still creates a slick floating effect.
This smart form factor means the Omen offers the best of both worlds. It's easy enough to throw into a backpack and doesn't overwhelm a desk setup like chunkier models, but there's still enough space to let those components breathe. Rather than the boxy, square designs of thebest Razer laptopsor theAsus ROG Zephyrus G16, the Max 16 maintains a 'gaming laptop' shape but with a slimmer profile overall.
The back panel is also free from larger RGB panels or garish stamps, with a classy Omen logo stamped into the lid and covered with a sophisticated glossy effect. Inside, we do have a little iconography going on, but it's restricted to a light gray '016' in the lower right corner and a 'Max' stamp on the opposite side. Those dotted grills running along the top look very HP as well, keeping space for a speaker without overwhelming the internal design.
Display
I'll say it now,Razerand thebest Asus gaming laptopshave an edge on their displays. The HP Omen Max 16 is configurable with an OLED panel (though there are fewer of those options on the shelves at the moment) but I've been testing the standard IPS. There's a drop in vibrancy and contrast compared to more premium display options out there, but this is still a pretty face.
It doesn't quite pack the same punch as the IPS featured on the Asus ROG Strix G16, which does a particularly good job of keeping its color contrast up without an OLED screen, but there's still a nice amount of energy here. Color reproduction is well balanced with more naturally vivid scenes benefitting from a satisfying injection of power.
HP still maintains its upper hand against the competition, as OLED options are available, and the IPS screen I tested was still impressive. It's just not quite the jewel in the Max's crown.
Ports
The HP Omen Max 16 is one of the few slimline 16-inch gaming laptops I've seen throwing its more permanent ports on the rear of the device. This is a big win in my books. I hate having cables sprawled out across the desk, especially when they start interfering with my mouse hand.
The Max 16 positions its power, RJ45, HDMI 2.1, and a USB-A port on the back, keeping the sides free for more ad-hoc accessories. The second USB-A port is the only connection on the right flank, with two Thunderbolt 4s (and the 3.5mm audio jack) sitting neatly on the left. If you're regularly swapping out USB-A devices, that rear placement might grow a little tiresome, but having a more accessible port on the side keeps things a little more versatile.
You do drop a Type-A connection from the Asus ROG Strix G16 and Razer Blade 16, which both offer three traditional ports, though the Omen Max doubles the number of Thunderbolt options compared to Asus's devices. Razer builds off an AMD base, so these are swapped for USB-4.
If you're looking to wire in your internet, it's also worth noting that both the Razer Blade 16 and Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 sacrifice the RJ45 present on the HP Omen Max 16, but trade in an SD card reader in its place.
Keyboard and trackpad
HP's keyboard looks oh so inviting with its pudding style keycaps and soft finish, but actually going hands on with the deck reveals one issue. There's a noticeable amount of flex in this deck, even when typing more casually. Thankfully, that bending doesn't equate to a spongy feel overall - in fact, there's a good amount of spring and tension in these keys. It is still a little disappointing in a more premium build, though.
You're not getting the snap of Razer's scissor switches, but it's still a satisfying feel. With plenty of action under each press, there's a good amount of space for fast repeated inputs and an actuation pressure that still feels comfortable during longer typing periods.
Functionality is a top priority here, though. The HP Omen Max 16 is one of the few 16-inch gaming laptops I've tested with a full number pad. Yes, things are a little squished on that right hand side, with half-sized up/down arrows feeling like more of a sacrifice than anything else on the deck.
The trackpad feels fantastic, with just enough tension underneath to provide a light but tactile full click. Tap gestures are picked up immediately and with a speedy response from the system, while the surface area feels smooth under the fingertips as well. Overall, it's a much better pad than the somewhat hollow version on the Asus ROG Strix G16.
Battery
The HP Omen Max 16 may thrive when connected to power, but it flounders without that cable attached. I played Doom: The Dark Ages on battery and can normally still set a gaming laptop to performance mode without being plugged in. Despite disabling 'balanced' mode from Windows itself, however, it seems that the Omen Max 16 doesn't go full into its more powerful preset without that tether. That meant I could barely make it through a mission. The whole game feels slowed to a snail's pace, with an almost laughable amount of time between frames and a grainy visual profile overall.
This is how gaming on the go used to be, but I've been impressed by more recent gaming laptops' abilities to run titles smoothly without a power connection. It's simply not an option here.
At 50% screen and 25% RGB brightness, I drained the battery to zero in just over an hour - about average for a machine of the previous generation, but still below some scores across RTX 50-Series machines.
In Balanced Mode with 50% screen brightness and 25% RGB lighting, the HP Omen Max 16 fell short of the Asus ROG Strix G16's 6.5-hour lifespan, coming in at just under four hours.
Should you buy the HP Omen Max 16?
Yes, it's got some battery woes and there's a little flexing to the main keyboard but ultimately the HP Omen Max 16 is the most well-rounded gaming laptop I've tested so far. With a comfortable, sleek, portable design but performance metrics that push larger chassis out the way, the Max is a must-see machine. It's at a similar price to slimmer, more OLED-friendly devices, and its overall productivity experience isn't going to match that of the Razer Blade 16. It is, however, far more likely to drop that MSRP (and has been regularly over the last couple of months). That makes it my new go-to for anyone after a future-proofed rig for a value-packed price/performance ratio - as long as you keep it plugged in.<figure class="van-image-figure inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check="">
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