HyperX - HP OMEN MAX 16" 2K OLED Gaming Laptop - Intel Core Ultra 9 (2026) - 32GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti - 1TB SSD - Shadow Black

I had bought this for my mechanical engineering classes as well as gaming and have found it suitable for both. I would not recommend buying it at full price, but at just under 3k when I bought it, I love it.

This 16” Omen MAX laptop is a powerhouse. Powered by an Intel Ultra 9 with 32GB RAM and a 5070 Ti GPU, I was happily able to go ultra graphics with ray tracing on some of my favorite games and it didn’t flinch. The anti-glare 240hz 2K OLED screen produces beautiful color with inky blacks and is a joy to look at. As a high end media and gaming machine it’s fantastic, but think of it more as a portable gaming/media machine than a carry everywhere daily laptop. It’s hefty at 6.5 pounds and at over 1” thick, it isn’t very compact by today’s standards. Sure, it’ll fit in most backpacks but I wouldn’t want to lug it to class everyday. The powerbrick is hefty too, but for a serious gaming machine, that generally means it’s high powered and that’s a great thing. Maybe not for your utility bill, but the performance is worth it. And while it’s top notch in most performance areas, I was really surprised by how average the speakers sound. Or maybe it’s a software issue? I’m not really sure anymore, but playing Forza Horizon 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, the speakers didn’t get nearly loud enough and the imaging was mediocre, if not muddy playing Forza. Even web browsing and streaming YouTube, they sounded lackluster. But then for some reason Diablo IV sounds great. Take that for what you will. That said, it’s still a powerhouse and works great with my headphones. I’ll emphasize again, as a portable gaming machine it’s incredible, but it leaves a few things to be desired as a daily laptop. And it’s really just personal preference here, but I find the keyboard a bit hard to type on. The keys feel too close together and the flat shape makes it hard for my fingers to discern what keys they’re on when typing. I’m sure I’ll adapt to it, but it's worth noting. On the bright side, there’s a full number pad and it has the most gorgeous RGB lighting I’ve seen on a keyboard. I also really like how the illumination shifts to the function keys when I press Function (love little details like this). Open the supplied OMEN app and you can customize the lighting, change performance levels, monitor temps, and even overlock the laptop. However, in Balance performance mode I was able to play Forza Horizon 6 on ultra + ray tracing graphics in 2K and still averaged 65 FPS without frame generation (87 FPS with frame gen at 2x). I didn’t feel the need to turn it up for Cyberpunk or Diablo IV either, which is a testament to how high of a performer this machine is. Should you get this powerful behemoth of a gaming laptop? If you want a serious gaming machine that you can nearly max out the graphics with and plan on keeping mostly stationary, then yes. The screen is beautiful and it’s a beast of a machine. You likely won’t need to upgrade in a long time and it’s fantastic to play games on. But it is the exact opposite of an ultra portable if light weight and long battery life are your priorities. If you can, get a cheap one of those and spring for this for the home. Your back and eyes will thank you. And maybe some of your family too. PROS - Powerhouse gaming and media laptop - Responsive and snappy - Beautiful 2k OLED anti-glare screen - Forza Horizon 6 in 2k @240hz with Ultra+RT graphics at 65 FPS (no frame gen) - Cyberpunk 2077 in 2k @240hz with Ray Tracing: Medium graphics @ 71 FPS (no frame gen) - NVIDIA RTX5070 Ti is a beast - Intel Ultra 9 CPU handles it all - 32GB DDR5 RAM - Huge power supply - Full keyboard with number pad - Factory overclockable - The power of a desktop in the body of a laptop - Customizable RGB lighting looks great - Easy to switch performance modes - Ethernet port CONS - Heavy - Sound volume is low and lacks oomph (except in Diablo IV) - Portable in the way that heavy, thick gaming laptops are portable (not ideal for class or the park) - Battery only lasts a few hours at most - Keyboard spacing is compact - No camera lens cover - Not many ports

I was incredibly excited to check out this Omen HyperX system. It has insane specs from top to bottom. This is a machine that's truly set up for gaming and HP didn't hold back on what they've included. If you want a portable gaming system (or an overly competent general laptop), you would be doing yourself a favor by considering this amazing machine. Where to begin... Let's start with the display. This is a 2K OLED display with a gloss finish that makes colors just absolutely beautiful. The depth of color is really unbelievable. The contrast levels are ridiculous with blacks being absolute and shadows letting you still see what's waiting in them. It's also capable of up to a 240Hz refresh rate that makes first person shooters like DOOM The Dark Ages play as smooth as butter. I don't think I've played on a more amazing display. I know some people prefer a more matte finish on a display to keep the reflections down, but I've always been a huge fan of the gloss displays. The colors just pop so much more, and I tend to play in a dimmed room anyway, so reflections aren't a problem for me. Resident Evil Requiem looks nothing short of phenomenal. All the shadow effects combined with the flashlight beam is really amazing. The shadows and lighting effects give this game a truly creepy feel. Of course a lot of this is also due to the Geforce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. This is a card that can handle all the video and display options on high! Seriously, I went into the DOOM display settings, and whatever wasn't already maxed out, I maxed out. The game still played fast and smooth. I noticed no tearing or glitching or studdering at all. This card comes with 12GB of onboard RAM and had no trouble at all living up to my expectations for the video quality of this machine. This is an air cooled system and the fans made me think I was going to see guy start hovering off the desk. The fans spin up to ridiculous speeds. At that point, the HyperX is not at all quiet, but if it was I'd be suspicious. The air flow through this case is powerful. You'll feel it blowing out the back and both sides. I really like that the case is quite raised up to allow for adequate air flow. I think a lot of other machines fail in that respect. But the HyperX has a significant amount of space underneath it, which is where the fans draw from. The Intel Core Ultra 9 processor is about as good as it gets. I don't think anyone will have any issues running any game with this beast. This machine is fast! What helps out in the speed department is the 32GB of DDR5 memory. So many machines come with a standard 16GB these days, it was really refreshing to see the HyperX came with 32. I'm not sure if it's possible to upgrade the amount of memory even higher. There doesn't seem to be any provision for a user to be able to do that. No access door underneath, but I can only imagine a scenario or two where you may want more. Heavy video editing maybe or building code. But this is a a gaming machine first and foremost and what it comes with is plenty for even the most demanding games. If I was forced to pick something that could be improved on, I guess I would have to say that it would have been nice to include a 2 or even a 4TB drive. But now I'm getting into the wish list category. The included 1TB drive is sufficient. As far as the deck is concerned, I like the keyboard, the keys are short throw and responsive. The track pad is large but the left and right buttons suffer from the same mushiness as most track pads do. It's not a big deal and if you like to play games with a mouse (as I do), it really isn't a concern. Each key is has a really nice translucent border that shows it's outline without the annoying inconsistent light bleed that most keyboards suffer from when you look at them from different angles. Each key can be individually color controlled so you can setup different key highlights for different games and save the setup in different profiles. You also have control of the light strip under the front edge of the machine which is a cool look. You can monkey around with fan settings and overclocking right from the Omen Gaming Hub as well. As far as the connectivity is concerned, you have the dedicated power entry on the back, along with an HDMI 2.1 jack and an Ethernet (RJ-45) jack. There are two 10Gbs USB-A jacks. One on the right and one on the left. There's two Thunderbolt type 4 jacks on the left side (with 40Gbps rate and USB PD 3.1 capability). And last but not least, a combo audio jack. You also get a 1080p front facing camera and decent sound system (although I've never really raved about the sound quality on any laptop I've used), but these are adequate. All in all, this guy is an absolute beast and a joy to game on. With machines like this, you pretty much get what you pay for and the price tag on this machine will not be for the faint of heart, but quality specs come at a price. And if you're considering a machine of this caliber, the price won't shock you. And make no mistake, this is guy will not show up in the “bargain” section. It's built for serious gamers who can justify spending money for a quality build. A beautiful machine, no question about it.

The HP HyperX is a total beast that can handle basically anything you throw at it, from heavy gaming to running complex AI models. HP is now using the HyperX name for all their gaming gear, which helps separate these high-end machines from their basic office laptops. It’s definitely a top-tier gaming rig, but with the full number pad on the keyboard, it could also work as a main computer for anyone, really. Just keep in mind that all that power comes with a few trade-offs. The i9 processor is fast, the 5070 Ti GPU is impressively fast, come with 32GB of RAM, and only a 1tb ssd. You can certainly add/change the ram and storage,but thanks to the AI mania, components are expensive right now. I’m impressed with the new cooling system—it keeps the laptop from overheating, and the fans stay surprisingly quiet even during full-tilt gaming. You can play for hours without any lag, though you’ll want to make sure you don’t block the air vents on the bottom if it’s sitting directly on your lap. The 16-inch OLED screen looks incredible, and the 240Hz refresh rate ensures that gaming feels fluid and smooth. It’s bright and colorful, but the screen is very glossy and reflects a lot of light, which makes it tough to use if you’re near a window or outside. As for the battery, it’s exactly what you’d expect from a gaming laptop: you can get a few hours of web browsing, but if you start gaming without the charger plugged in, the battery dies pretty fast. Since this is a serious gaming machine, it’s quite heavy, and of course, the power brick is huge. I like the design details, like the backlit keyboard and LED bar on the front. There's an HDMI port and power plug on the back, though I wish it had a DisplayPort too. You also get an ethernet port and some USB ports, but it feels a bit light on connectivity if you’re planning to use this to replace a desktop. The keyboard and mouse situation is a bit hit-or-miss. The keys feel great to type on, and the lighting is bright and easy to customize. However, because they squeezed in a number pad, the main part of the keyboard is off-center. This isn't a surprise for a gaming machine, but for super-fast typing, you will probably make more mistakes than you are used to until you adjust to the crowded array of keys. The speakers are probably the worst part of the laptop—they sound thin and quiet, so you’ll definitely want to use headphones (yes it has a headphone jack still). The trackpad is also a letdown. It’s made of plastic and feels a bit cheap compared to the glass ones on other laptops, and it’s impossible to click if your finger is near the top of the pad. A haptic trackpad would be very much appreciated on a machine of this caliber and price. In the end, even with the mediocre speakers and trackpad, I’d still recommend it if you need raw power. It’s a nice machine that does exactly what it promises, even if the price is a bit high for the specs right now (June 2026). I would easily recommend it and plan on keeping it for many years to come!

* It is critical to know that this review was done when RAM and SSD prices were ludicrously overpriced. Where when I compared my Desktop PC’s RAM and that same ram now it was increased by 468%. As for the SSD I bought it is increased by 308%. How that is legal, I’m not sure. But that’s another discussion. * With the above said, its hard to not feel like I’ve been robbed. As, a machine at this price point, and their “halo tier” product should be coming with probably a top-of-the-line 2 – 4 TB Gen 4x4 SSD (7,000 Write and 6,000 Read with DRAM cache). Instead, you get a middle of the road Gen 4x4 SSD (4,900 Read, 4,000 write WITHOUT DRAM cache). It should come with 64 GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600. Instead you get 32 GB. Last, a 5080 or 5090 laptop variant graphics card. Instead you get a 5070 TI laptop varaint. Which previously would cost about $1,200 – $2,000. But that is the cost of doing business right now. Now with that said, this is still an awesome machine that, that offers extremely good performance for the specs, and also comes with a lot of really nice things that help “justify” the inflated cost. And if this comes down to a more reasonable price in the future is an easy yes. The rest of the review I’ll try and avoid these two asterisks and just judge it based on current specs for the most part ignoring the price. At a normal price I’d give this an easy 5/5. But with the current price and hit you’re taking due to the market I think 4/5 is more reasonable. SCREEN 10/10: Is awesome. It’s pretty hard for me to use those words these days. But this is by far the best OLED screen I’ve seen on a laptop. It is colorful, bright, with punchy colors. The text is very crisp and easy to read. I kept brightness around 30 – 70%. Usually I have to have it at 70 – 100% (usually 100) with my other OLED screens. HDR content had great highlights and very accurate colors. It looks like I’m looking through a window instead of a screen (all the time). Seriously, its like I can reach out and touch it with a 3D effect. Usually due to the pixel layout OLED screens aren’t as sharp for reading text. But this is phenomenal. Super sharp with excellent contrast. Also, gaming with this is a real treat. As you have very low input lag and latency. If you haven’t tried OLED for gaming, it’s a game changer. Especially, at 240 Hz. Which is variable if you want. TRACKPAD 5/10: Not a fan. It’s a diving board style, not glass or haptic. My finger sticks to the material, making fine adjustments difficult. It’s also rather small, though that might be to avoid palm touches while gaming. Gestures and clicks work fine, but it lacks a premium feel. KEYBOARD 9.5/10: I actually love this keyboard. I think it is the best one I’ve tried on a laptop period. As it feels like a mechanical keyboard with low profile keycaps. Which I think it actually might be. As this has a unique feature where it supports 1,000 Hz (where most other laptop keyboards are 250 Hz). Which makes it a lot more responsive for gaming (which I noticed when playing on it). Spacing is good, each key is full size (or nearly). The arrow keys are almost full size. Shortcut keys are well thought out. Has FN lock. Also, when you press FN it highlights those keys with secondary actions which I like a lot. Even if the lighting is turned off. Each key is RGB. Which is accurate, bright, uniform. But not the “best” I’ve seen. It comes in bright, dim, off mode. Num Lock, Power, Caps, FN all have a dedicated light to notify you they are on (which stay on even if keyboard lights are off. It also feels like PBT doubleshot plastic. With good grip and I haven’t noticed any grease or anything on the keycaps themselves. Making me think they should wear well. It also has a numpad attached. This paired with the OLED screen makes for writing essays, doing research, and doing actual work very pleasurable. Along with elevating gaming. If only they nailed the trackpad!!!! Speakers 10/10: This actually shocked me. These speakers are surprisingly good. Like almost on par with my MacBook Pro 14”. Where it trades blows. Which is a massive compliment. It is easy to understand people talking, music sounds pretty good (that’s probably where it struggles the most), and gets plenty loud. Can hear them over the fans. GAMING/PERFORMANCE 10/10: Put simply. This thing is a beast that performed really really well. The Intel Core I9 290 HX Plus is a monster. Essentially a desktop CPU in a laptop. Which also means it runs kind of hot. As it is meant to essentially go up to it’s thermal limit (105C). I was averaging about 90 – 100C in most “demanding” tasks. That was with the fans going hard (which is loud, about 53 – 70 dB. Which turn on semi-often regardless of what you’re doing. If just doing light work web browsing, emails, writing, watching videos they are usually off). The 5070 TI is actually a great sweet spot. Where it still gives you a lot of performance, but at less power and heat. It actually outperformed my older gaming laptop with a 4080 laptop variant in it and 13900HX CPU across the board. The 5070 TI laptop variant was usually like 60 – 80 C. The overall combo (CPU, GPU, RAM, OLED screen, cooling) all allow for essentially maximum performance of anything you’ll throw at it. Gaming at High to Ultra settings (with DLSS) at 1600p (which is the laptops resolution) at greater than 60 fps for pretty much every single game out there. Probably closer to 100 fps. Along with most games at 4K at greater than 60 fps as well. And when I was doing normal work and floating between things everything was very responsive and quick. I didn’t notice any hang ups at all or where it felt like it was lagging. Which I typically do as I use keyboard shortcuts for things all the time. * All games tested at max settings, DLSS OFF, Ray Tracing OFF unless specified. Format: FPS (CPU Temp / GPU Temp) Laptop Display 2560x1600: Escape From Tarkov: 92 fps (87/61) Halo Infinite MP: 155 fps (83/73) Halo Infinite SP: 155 fps (92/71) Stalker 2: 89 fps (81/73) Witcher 3: 83 fps (88/78) Resident Evil Requiem: 90 fps (83/79) Cyberpunk 2077: 124 fps (91/76). Full Path Tracing: 39 fps (83/80). External Monitor 3840x2160 (Note: External monitors boost frames): Escape From Tarkov: 73 fps (95/69) Halo Infinite MP: 116 fps (79/70) Halo Infinite SP: 121 fps (97/70) Stalker 2: 146 fps (95/68) Stellar Blade: 54 fps (100/70). DLSS: 76 fps (85/70). DLSS Perf: 100 fps. Apex Legends: 116 fps (86/68) GTA V Enhanced: 161 fps (78/68) Cinebench 2026 (10 min Performance Mode): GPU: 75,372 | CPU Multi: 8,454 | CPU Single: 555 Network Testing (WiFi 7 network/router, 2500 Mbps plan): Ethernet: 2369 Down / 2363 Up WiFi 5G: 1459 Down / 1678 Up WiFi 6G: 1989 Down / 1989 Up BATTERY LIFE/WEIGHT/PORTABILITY 3/10: This is a laptop you buy to always be plugged in. As this thing is HEAVY. At like 6.5 lb. It’s also thick. And it vents on the bottom to uptake air that it pushes out the side and back. It’s not meant to be used on your lap or be highly portable. But with that said I got about 3.2 hours with “balanced” profile. And with me trying to save as much battery life as possible (screen 30%, speakers 30%, low profile mode, 5070 TI off) doing web work, emails, writing. I got about 4.8 hours. Which actually is pretty terrific considering the power of this machine and it not being built for that. For reference, during my while plugged in GPU was pulling 140 watts and CPU up to 100 watts. The MacBook Pro pulls between 5 – 25 watts for most tasks on battery. Which means there will be a decrease in performance while on battery or else you would have like 30 minutes of battery life. It also decreases your SSD speed. STORAGE 5/10: As mentioned, this comes with a middle of the road Gen 4x4 SSD that clocks in at 4,900 MB/s Read and 4,000 MB/s Write and comes without a DRAM cache. Which is disappointing. However, it comes with 2 upgradable SSD slots that support Gen 5x5 (due to the intel processor). I did upgrade both my primary slot and my secondary slot. And I would rate difficulty at 10/10. As you need to remove the back cover (easy). Then you need to remove the shield (moderate, just simply because there are a ton of screws and being afraid you’re removing something important). Then you need to remove the entire fan and cooling of the PC to get to the primary SSD slot. Which means you also need to reinstall thermal compound to the GPU and CPU (hard). Like what?! Thankfully, I was able to kind of slide it out without taking the cooler off. Just kind of moved the fan a bit. The second SSD slot is very easy to get to (just under the shroud). So is easy to upgrade. But I’m not sure what they were thinking with the first slot being UNDER the cooling. RAM 7.5/10: As mentioned, this comes with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM at 5600 MT/s. Which is the highest speeds that are stable for RAM. As astonishingly this is removable (which limits speeds), which means, it is upgradable (2 user-upgradeable SODIMM slots). Which means while I was complaining about not getting 64 GB due to pricing, in the future when RAM is back to being a reasonable price, you can upgrade this machine. I do think that 32 GB is the sweet spot. As 16 GB for a premium gaming/editing machine is too low. While 64 GB would rarely be used except for niche cases (editing, photo editing, 4K gaming while doing other things, AI workloads, etc.). In all my testing (mainly gaming) I was constantly >16 GB of RAM and got up to about 28 GB. CONCLUSION: This is an awesome laptop. I like it a lot. I really look forward to getting on it and just doing things on it. As it is a very pleasurable experience as holistically, they nailed this device. Great performance, great screen, great keyboard, great sound, great appearance. And while the current pricing due to the market is egregious. Once I’m using the machine, I tend to forget about that.