HP Omen Max 16 Review: A Good Omen for Gamers

The HP Omen Max 16 is HP’s latest foray into the upper echelon of gaming laptops, debuting with Intel’s Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA’s RTX 50‑series GPUs. With its striking OLED display, serious thermal engineering, and desktop‑level connectivity, it promises to deliver the performance and polish gamers crave. But does it hold its own against well‑known rivals like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or Asus ROG series? Here's the full story.

Specs that Matter

Most flagship configurations pack:

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24‑core Arrow Lake HX)

GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 (175 W TGP)

RAM: 32 GB DDR5‑5600 (upgradeable to 64 GB)

Storage: Up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD

Display: 16″ 2560×1600 240 Hz OLED with HDR & G‑Sync

Battery: 83 Wh

Weight: ~2.7 kg (6.0 lb) + ~0.9 kg (charger) 

Optional upgrades include Wi‑Fi 7, extra RAM, and expanded storage. This chassis is packed to the brim with high-end hardware.

Design & Build

HP delivers an all‑metal, aluminum body with a clean, “stealth” aesthetic reminiscent of Alienware, but without the gaudy accents. The build quality is solid—minimal flex in chassis and hinge, though fingerprints can be a nuisance. A customizable RGB lightbar and keyboard bring a bit of flair without overpowering the look.

Pros: Premium metal feel, reinforced hinges, understated design
Cons: Heavy and bulky—about 6 lb and nearly 1″ thick

Display & Audio

The 240 Hz QHD+ OLED panel is a visual showstopper. Reviewers consistently praised its:

Vivid colors and deep blacks—“drop‑dead gorgeous

Wide viewing angles and stellar HDR performance

Audio quality is layered and clear, though not earth-shaking—strong for gaming, but lacking bass for immersive media sessions

Performance

Gaming

The RTX 5080/5090 combo brushes shoulders with top-tier contenders:

3DMark Time Spy/Port Royal: Competitive scores vs. Lenovo Legion Pro and Asus ROG 

Cyberpunk 2077: ~143 FPS at 1080p (Ultra w/o upscaling); ~40 FPS with Overdrive + ray tracing

Metro Exodus: ~89 FPS at 1080p (Extreme), Metro repeated runs average ~121 FPS

However, some reviewers noted slightly weaker 1% low FPS, possibly due to driver maturity 

Productivity

With the Arrow Lake CPU and fast SSD:

Top spot in Geekbench 6 vs Razer Blade and Aorus Master 

HandBrake: Strong, though slightly behind top-tier rival machines 

SSD transfer speeds around 1.4 GB/s; solid but not class-leading

Thermals & Noise

Thanks to a redesigned vapor‑chamber and Cryo‑Compound cooling, thermals are well‑controlled. In sustained loads, clock stability remains high (~99.4% Time Spy retention).

On the flip side, those fans can be deafening during heavy workloads

Input Devices

Keyboard: Full‑size with numpad, customizable RGB. Feels serviceable but somewhat soft (“mushy”), and key spacing feels cramped .

Touchpad: Decently responsive but small—some critics mention click registration issues .

Webcam: 1080p with privacy shutter. Average performance with washed colors and contrast issues

Battery & Portability

Battery life is limited:

~5.5 hours local video playback

~3.3 hrs web browsing; ~1.5 hrs gaming 

Portability suffers too—~8 lb total carrying weight and chunky power brick make it better suited as a desk‑based machine 

Extras & Value

Two Thunderbolt 4 ports—rare in gaming laptops

Omen Gaming Hub: Offers overclocking, RGB control, HyperX wireless integration, and AI tuning for select titles 

HyperX adapter: Quick pairing with HyperX gear—nice for ecosystem users

Warranty: Standard one year with upgradable accident protection

Typical price range: $2,499 (base) to ~$4,300 (top config). RTX 5080 version offers best value, with 5090 giving diminishing returns for extra cost

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Comparison Snapshot

Feature	HP Omen Max 16	Lenovo Legion Pro 7i	Asus ROG Strix Scar 16	Razer Blade 16
Performance	Strong, on par	Slight edge	Competitive	Similar flipside
Display	240 Hz QHD+ OLED (top)	Excellent	High‑end IPS/OLED	Top‑tier OLED
Build & Design	Sturdy, heavy	Similar weight	Flashier, lighter-ish	Sleekest & lightest
Battery Life	~3–5 hrs	Similar	Mixed	Up to ~7 hrs
Price	~$2.5k—$4.3k	Premium tier	Premium	Premium-most

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Real‑User Feedback

Reddit users note:

Laptop is heavy but feels like extremely cheap plastic speaker volume extremely low keyboard feels like a cheap membrane keyboard

Another says build quality is good, hinge solid, but the device wobbles, is fingerprint-magnet: 

These match professional reviews praising build, but calling out keyboard, speakers, and weight issues.

Verdict: A Good Omen (for Some)

For gamers who want top-tier visuals and performance without breaking the bank, the Omen Max 16 offers serious value at around $2.5–3k, especially in RTX 5080 trim. Its spectacular OLED display, robust thermals, ample I/O, and gaming tuning software make it a strong contender.

But if you prioritize portability, battery life, or a refined typing/media experience, lighter machines like the Razer Blade 16 or more performance-optimized Lenovo and Asus models may be better fits.

The HP Omen Max 16 is a power‑packed, visually stunning gaming machine—a real omen of what desktop-level performance can look like in a laptop. It doesn’t lead any category outright, but it hits high on all fronts except portability and audio finesse.

Bottom line: For competitive gamers, content creators, or anyone who mainly uses it plugged in and wants a heavy-duty screen and hardware, the Omen Max 16 is a compelling choice. Just be ready to tolerate its heft, fan noise, and less‑than‑stellar keyboard.