My time with HP’s most powerful gaming laptop ever shows OMEN is ready to compete with the big dogs

HP OMEN has produced some impressive gaming laptops, yet many of them fall into the budget/mid-range category or prioritize portability over raw power.

2021 sees HP unleashing the OMEN MAX 16, their top-tier gaming laptop boasting the strongest and most efficient mobile gaming technology currently available.

Or simply:
This year, HP’s new OMEN MAX 16 is a formidable force in mobile gaming with the market’s best hardware.

Both versions aim to convey that the OMEN MAX 16 is a high-performance gaming laptop featuring cutting-edge technology from HP.

This laptop ranks among the top tier 16-inch gaming models currently available on the market, holding its ground against competitors like Lenovo Legion, Alienware, and other renowned brands. It offers impressive power and an array of features, all while maintaining a stylish and premium aesthetic.

The HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) boasts a few distinctive traits, such as self-cleaning fans and remarkably adaptable software that supports overclocking.

A prospective buyer should know that this laptop experiences significant drops in performance when it’s not plugged in, and its fans are particularly loud for a top-tier gaming laptop.

This review was facilitated through a complimentary product sent by HP. HP played no role in its creation or content, which were finalized before it was published.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A high-end 16-inch gaming laptop powered by the latest Intel and NVIDIA hardware.
• Who is it for? Those who want a premium, feature-packed gaming laptop with excellent performance.
• How much does it cost? The HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) starts from $2,499.99 at HP, but our recommended configuration is $3,339.99 at Best Buy.
• What did I like? The premium all-metal design, great performance and thermal management, and useful extra features.
• What did I not like? The performance throttling off the charger, the loud fans, and the average keyboard.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Pricing and specifications

Being the new king of the HP OMEN laptop lineup, this isn’t a cheap device.

The HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) model retails for $2,499.99 at HP, featuring an Intel Core i7-255HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD storage, and a 1200p IPS LCD screen as standard.

With HP, you’ve got a wide array of screen, processor, graphics, memory, and data storage customization choices at your disposal. Additionally, you can opt for either a black or white color scheme to suit your preferences.

I’m upgrading the settings on my review system to a Core Ultra 9 275HX with an RTX 5090 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, a massive 2TB SSD storage, a stunning 1600p OLED screen, and some additional enhancements, all for approximately $1,900.

I would advise against going for the top-tier RTX 5090, because it costs an additional $540 compared to the RTX 5080, yet it doesn’t offer significant improvements in gaming performance.

Inside the box, you’ll discover the HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025), our high-performance gaming laptop, along with a power adapter that ranges from 280 to 330 watts, based on your specific setup.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Design and build quality

The HP OMEN MAX 16 lives up to its “MAX” title, a striking combination of aluminum and glass that is hard to miss whether it’s on your desk or in your bag. It should be noted that this laptop exudes a more luxurious feel compared to the usual plastic-covered devices.

Compared to the streamlined Razer Blade 16 (Model 2025), the OMEN MAX, with its thickness ranging from 23-25mm and weight of approximately 6lbs, is noticeably larger. However, it shares a similar size and slightly enhanced elegance with the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10), another device I have reviewed.

This laptop boasts exceptional craftsmanship; it’s made entirely of sleek matte black (or silver) aluminum, making it feel robust and virtually free of flexing in any area. The 16-inch screen is encased in glass and framed by thin, continuous bezels, giving the OMEN MAX a contemporary aesthetic.

A high-end gaming laptop typically includes RGB lighting, and HP has met this expectation by incorporating an RGB light bar along the laptop’s front edge and a distinctive, though debatable, keyboard without lattice design.

The back of the HP OMEN MAX 16 features an extended panel that accommodates ventilation and several rear-placed ports, which HP thoughtfully selected. Hidden away for a more organized look, you’ll discover the charging slot, HDMI 2.1 output for displays, Ethernet connection, and a single USB Type-A port.

On one edge, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, each offering all Thunderbolt capabilities including Power Delivery for emergency charging situations. However, it would be convenient if one of these Thunderbolt ports were on the opposite side instead.

From another perspective, instead, there’s only an additional USB Type-A port available. While this isn’t the most extensive number of ports for a gaming laptop and having a third Type-A port would be advantageous, the presence of two Thunderbolt 4 ports offers considerable versatility.

The OMEN MAX boasts an additional hidden advantage – integrated wireless compatibility for up to three compatible HyperX devices, thus minimizing the burden on your precious USB ports.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Display quality

Any high-performance gaming laptop isn’t fully optimized without a swift and reactive screen, and the OMEN MAX 16 (2025) boasts one of the swiftest and most reactive screens you can find on any device.

At the premium level, you’ll encounter a 16-inch OLED screen boasting a sharp 1600p resolution, swift 240Hz refresh rate, and rapid 0.2ms response time. This high-end display also showcases rich colors, deep blacks, and exceptional color precision, thanks to its OLED technology.

The enormous and eye-catching display of the OMEN MAX 16 stands out visually, delivering an enjoyable user experience. It performs exceptionally well across various tasks such as content creation, web surfing, productivity, media consumption, and gaming, demonstrating balance and versatility.

Absolutely, the performance is outstanding, as it boasts NVIDIA G-SYNC and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus technology for seamless synchronization between your display, laptop, and gaming applications, ensuring everything runs smoothly together.

Should you thoroughly explore its functions, you’ll notice that it falls short compared to the display of my preferred gaming laptop screen at the moment, which is found in the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10) model.

Let me clarify: This panel is excellent overall, but it lacks some adjustability in terms of brightness and color consistency. Compared to Lenovo, HP offers fewer customization options for the display via their software.

The HDR performance of the Legion Pro 7i doesn’t stand out remarkably, reaching a maximum brightness of only 500 nits and lacking Dolby Vision certification. However, its higher price tag isn’t unwarranted.

One potential drawback we’ve noticed is that this device uses Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) for dimming. This can lead to a rapid flickering, although most people may not notice it. However, individuals with heightened sensitivity might find it bothersome, so it’s essential to acknowledge this aspect, particularly given the limited software customization options available.

Luckily, HP includes IPS LCD display alternatives for the OMEN MAX 16 (2025), something that isn’t always available on high-end contemporary laptops.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Performance and thermals

To earn the reputation as HP’s top gaming laptop, the OMEN MAX 16 requires cutting-edge hardware, and that’s exactly what Intel and NVIDIA provide with their latest Core Ultra (Series 2) processors and GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards.

In my assessment, I push the settings to their maximum with a 24-core Core Ultra 9 275HX and 24GB RTX 5090. Not surprisingly, the OMEN MAX effortlessly tackles any job or game, smoothly handling even the most challenging tasks without showing signs of strain.

As a tech-savvy individual, I’d be thrilled to push the boundaries with a PCIe Gen5 SSD and an impressive 64GB of RAM, but honestly, this laptop doesn’t seem to call for such high-end specifications.

The HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) shines in the area of heat management as well, boasting an improved vapor chamber cooling system by HP and a fresh application of Cryo Compound thermal paste for enhanced thermal efficiency.

I tested this computer using the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark 25 times, and it consistently delivered an exceptional 99.4% framerate stability, which is one of the best performances I’ve encountered. However, the downside is that its fans can get quite noisy, often overpowering other sounds with a broader, higher-pitched tone.

By carefully examining the benchmark scores of the HP OMEN MAX, you’ll notice three key points: this laptop is a true power-packed machine, however, it falls slightly short in terms of performance compared to the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, and upgrading for the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU might not be a worthwhile investment at this time.

Regarding the first two models, the OMEN MAX truly showcases remarkable performance; however, it’s not the most potent laptop available in the market. Given its slimmer profile and lower price point compared to the Legion Pro 7i, the slight power disparity is often overlooked.

Regarding the third item, there’s no real need to splurge on the RTX 5090 if you don’t have a specific requirement for maximum VRAM. Opting for the RTX 5080 instead can save you significantly and provide virtually identical gaming capabilities.

Speaking of gaming performance…

• Forza Horizon 5 — 168 FPS (Extreme preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution/Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency disabled) | 239 FPS (Max settings, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency enabled)
• Gears 5 — 156 FPS (Ultra preset, 1600p resolution, uncapped framerate, v-sync enabled)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 146 FPS (Extreme preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Performance, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled)
• Cyberpunk 2077 — 86 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution Transformer Model set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Ray Reconstruction disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled) | 177 FPS (Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Multi-Frame Generation set to 4x, NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction enabled)

As a dedicated fan, I found NVIDIA’s latest generation graphics cards truly impressive, with DLSS 4 being one of the standout features, particularly Multi-Frame Generation that employs AI to produce up to three additional frames for each rendered in-game frame. However, what made my gaming experience even more enjoyable was not relying on these advanced technologies to savor smooth and consistent framerates.

Ensure you always have an earphone or headset nearby, as the crowd noise can be quite loud and potentially overwhelm your game’s sound.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Software and AI experience

The high-performance HP OMEN MAX computer operates Windows 11 efficiently, as expected. However, I was not surprised, albeit consistently dismayed, to discover that HP continues to preinstall numerous unnecessary software and advertisements on their consumer devices, even including hidden links in your files that need to be tracked down and deleted manually.

HP’s applications, even their own, are scattered across no less than seven distinct platforms. If we include the OMEN Gaming Hub, HyperX’s application, as well as the software from Intel and NVIDIA, it results in a lengthy catalog of pre-installed programs on your system.

Essentially, the OMEN MAX 16 is classified as an AI computer, but it doesn’t possess all the AI capabilities of a Copilot+ PC. This is due to Intel opting for a less potent Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with only 13 TOPS in their top-tier chipsets. The leading AI laptops require at least 45 TOPS, which the OMEN MAX 16 falls short of.

While I’ve come to appreciate the power of NPU (Neuromorphic Processing Unit) technology, I still find myself relying on the remarkable capabilities of NVIDIA GPUs when it comes to my AI projects. These GPUs are truly indispensable for all my AI requirements.

HP also leverages certain benefits, particularly through its distinctive OMEN AI function. This innovative feature works to intelligently and adaptively fine-tune not only your laptop’s hardware and Windows operating system, but also your gaming experiences for optimal graphics and performance.

The OMEN Gaming Hub, which serves as the command center for your OMEN MAX 16, includes that specific feature and it’s beneficial to have it on hand, though you can effortlessly disregard it if it doesn’t suit your needs. This all-in-one application is somewhat cluttered, offering a launcher, game store, performance data, hardware settings, lighting customization, media management, and more – all in one place.

The system performs efficiently, offering a decent variety of tools to control your laptop, such as detailed performance analytics, keyboard reconfiguration, customizable RGB settings, and many additional features.

What stands out most is the “Unleashed” performance mode, offering intricate adjustments for overclocking, CPU tuning, power management, fan speeds, among other features. It’s truly remarkable to have such extensive control right from the start, making it an excellent asset for advanced users and tech enthusiasts alike.

On the OMEN Gaming Hub, you can find the fan cleaner – a distinctive feature exclusive to the OMEN MAX 16. Essentially, this laptop’s cooling system enables the fans to rotate in reverse, clearing out any dust or particles that may have accumulated. This is done with the aim of enhancing the longevity of your laptop and preventing gradual thermal deterioration over time.

While I can’t evaluate its performance over multiple years, I strongly believe that if this innovative feature proves beneficial, it would be fantastic to see it incorporated in an increasing number of laptops in the future.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Battery experience

The OMEN MAX 16 laptop from HP houses a 83Whr battery, which is relatively smaller compared to standard gaming laptops of its size. Generally speaking, these types of devices don’t boast impressive battery life, and unfortunately, the OMEN MAX 16 falls slightly behind its competition in this regard.

Playing an HD video continuously for an hour at a screen brightness of 200 nits and 50% volume led to a 38% battery drain on the Legion Pro 7i (Generation 10). Interestingly, this laptop model’s counterpart drained 35% under the same conditions.

As a tech enthusiast, I ran a Windows Battery Report on my OMEN MAX 16, and it showed approximately 3 hours of real-world usage. While stripping down every setting and feature could potentially extend the runtime, this powerhouse gaming laptop will never be a dependable all-day device in terms of battery life.

Observing its significant self-throttling upon charging, it’s quite disappointing. The OMEN MAX 16 exhibited a 32% decrease in CPU performance, but an astounding 80% decline in GPU performance. This is one of the steepest reductions I’ve witnessed, making this laptop virtually identical to the latest Intel and AMD integrated graphics for gaming on battery power.

The HP OMEN MAX 16 laptop strictly adheres to a battery-dependent performance mode and disregards any custom performance settings unless it is plugged in. While this setup may only provide an hour or two of battery life, some users greatly appreciate the flexibility to utilize the GPU in various locations. Unfortunately, the HP OMEN MAX 16 does not accommodate this preference.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Keyboard and touchpad

HP has maintained its unique yet contentious keyboard layout on the OMEN MAX 16 (2025). The transparent borders surrounding each key allow the RGB lighting to expand, making it more noticeable from afar.

For some, the lively hues of the OMEN MAX 16’s keyboard may be appealing, while others might favor the accurate illumination of other laptops. Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that the keyboard on the OMEN MAX 16 has a lattice-less design, making it feel more confined than desired for some users, and the typing experience is softer and less immediate compared to top-tier keyboards.

The design is robust, although it features a slightly smaller number pad on one side and reduced-size up and down arrows, but HP does make secondary functions of keys easily visible, and pressing the FN key highlights shortcut keys.

The touchpad performs quite well, offering a seamless experience due to Microsoft Precision drivers that ensure precise input and gesture recognition. However, it falls slightly short compared to top-tier laptop touchpads because it’s slightly smaller in size and didn’t provide quite the same level of accuracy.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Other hardware

As a tech enthusiast, I can confidently say that the OMEN MAX 16 stands out as an impressive high-end laptop option for many. It features a top-notch Full HD front-facing camera, and it’s equipped with Windows Hello facial recognition technology – a feature that even the pricier Legion Pro 7i lacks. To add to its appeal, there’s also a physical privacy shutter for added security.

As a researcher examining this device, I find that it employs a twin-speaker setup along with dual-array microphones. Interestingly enough, both components appear to be of comparable quality. Although these speakers may not boast the highest volume or deliver the broadest soundscape, they do ensure a clean and detailed audio output.

The OMEN MAX 16 supports wireless connectivity options that include up to Wi-Fi 7 2×2 and Bluetooth 5.4. In my experience, there have been no problems whatsoever with these features.

One distinctive advantage of this laptop is its capacity to link with as many as three wireless HyperX devices sans the need for a USB dongle, quite impressive – it’s something I hope Razer might adopt too.

OMEN MAX 16 review: Score card

OMEN MAX 16 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if …

• You want a premium, powerful 16-inch gaming laptop.
• You appreciate having a choice between OLED and IPS LCD displays.
• You use wireless HyperX gaming accessories.

❌You should not buy this if …

• You still need great performance when off the charger.
• You want a quieter laptop, even when gaming or working.

The high-end gaming laptop market is quite intense, but HP is entering the scene with their OMEN MAX 16. This is HP’s initial attempt at creating a truly premium and powerfully capable 16-inch device, and it’s more on the good side than the bad.

This laptop boasts an appealing design and robust construction, offering a variety of setup choices such as supporting multiple monitors. Its outstanding performance, though not leading edge, holds its own against the top performers in its class. Additionally, it features superior heat management capabilities.

This OMEN MAX 16 computer comes with distinctive features such as an automatic mechanism to clean fans from accumulated debris, a pre-installed port for connecting HyperX peripherals, and numerous performance adjustment options right at your disposal.

This laptop’s peripherals and additional hardware attributes tend to be standard, its speed significantly decreases when not plugged in, and its fans can be quite noisy, yet despite these drawbacks, it remains an exceptional choice for gamers willing to invest in it.

As an enthusiast, I’d highly suggest customizing your own HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) for $2,499.99 directly from HP. However, if you’re seeking a more powerful setup, consider the configuration that costs $3,339.99 at Best Buy instead.

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2025-05-25 18:12