Review: HP Omen

Introduction and design

Late last year, HP turned plenty of heads announcing a gaming laptop when the company was better known for its affordable, consumer mobile computing systems. The introduction of the original Omen not only came as a surprise, but a genuinely pleasing one at that, as a gaming laptop sporting with more than decent parts and a unique design.

Now with a new line of Maxwell graphics cards out in the wild, the HP Omen has seen one of the industry's quickest refreshes – less than half a year. On top of packing a new Nvidia GTX 960M GPU, the HP Omen's processor has been given a slight bump up to Intel's Core i7-4720HQ chip.

All together, these small upgrades freshen up the already excellent HP Omen and help it keep up with the latest crop of gaming notebooks, like the Asus ROG G501 and Gigabyte P35K v3.

Design

The HP Omen has a unique look unto its own, thanks to an eye catching and bold design. Rather than following the traditional rectangular shape of most other laptops, the HP has a decidedly more dramatic, trapezoidal profile with some steeply beveled sides. The tapered sides and small footprint give this laptop a sharp and unique look, which also helps to make it feel thinner than it actually is.

However, going with such a bold design also has its drawbacks. Because the sides of the laptop are angled so steeply, there's isn't room for any ports save for an SD card slot on the right-hand side. The rest of the ports (including four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, mini DisplayPort, and a headphone/microphone combo jack) have all been moved to the rear.

This placement makes sense to hide away cables, if you have your machine plugged into a monitor and other peripherals. But it's also an annoyance when plugging in something as simple as a pair of headphones.

Aside from the wedged-shaped box design, the Omen also has some neat surface details. The top lid, for example, is adorned with a pattern of alternating triangles etched into the machine's aluminum exterior. It's an attractive touch that makes the Omen look all the more futuristic.

This design cue extends to the underside of the laptop, where you'll find larger cutouts for the ventilation. There's also a grated finish on the bottom of the notebook closer to the front edge, which helps add an extra bit of texture to grip on to as you carry it around.

Here you'll also notice the laptop sits on top of a rubber ring that basically loops around the entire perimeter of the machine. Usually rubber feet help to prevent the underside of the notebook from scratching against any table tops while keeping it firmly in place. But, because of the arrangement of this rubber ring, it also acts like a giant gasket, sealing off ventilation from the sides while leaving only two gaps at the front and back of the laptop.

Luckily, gaming proved to be no issue despite the choked intakes on the bottom of the laptop. In the future, though, a more segmented rubber ring would help to keep the laptop cool and potentially pave the way for more powerful GPUs should heat issues arise.

Flipping open the screen reveals an attractive, glass-fronted display accented with a Hewlett Packard logo in simple and sharp typography. Along the sides of the machine, you'll find a pair of speaker grills that practically span the entire keyboard deck before transitioning into a pair of red lighting strips.

Lighting zones that need more light

Speaking of illumination, the keyboard is also a fully backlit affair, which users can fully customize with the accompanying HP Omen application. Like some multi-colored keyboards I've seen on Alienware and Origin machines, the whole grouping of keys separates into four distinct lighting zones that you can customize with a full rainbow of different colors. You can even set a distinctive hue for the WASD keys.

The lighting zone's even extend to the laptop's rear exhaust ports, which seem to only activate when you have the machine plugged in. Towards the back of the machine, you might also notice the hinge is tinted blue at the far edges. It's an interesting, albeit completely unnecessary, design touch that's made to resemble a hotrod's titanium tailpipes and evokes the fantasy of flames shooting out of the rear vents.

Meanwhile, the lighting bars beneath the speakers have an extra feature: they react to the tune of your music, flashing whenever the octaves reach a certain threshold. It's a nice feature on paper, but in actuality, I find that I have to really pump up the sound before these speaker-bound lighting strips start pulsing to the beat.

Another annoyance I have with the Omen's lighting zones is the LEDs are simply not bright enough. In a well lit room, the backlit keys look like they've been only slightly tinted with color even though I've set the backlight to 100%. As a result, you'll pretty much have to use the 15.6-inch gaming rig in total darkness to appreciate your multi-colored setup.

Specifications and value

For a 15.6-inch laptop, the HP Omen is a bit wider and squatter than normal, with its 15.07 x 9.67 x 0.78 inches or 382 x 245 x 19mm (W x D x H) dimensions. That said, this mobile gaming rig is also a fair bit lighter, weighing in at only 4.68 pounds (2.12kg).

By comparison, the Gigabyte P35K v3 is a fair bit heavier at 5.07 pounds (2.29kg) and larger with dimensions of 15.1 x 10.6 x 0.8 inches (383 x 269 x 20mm). The Asus ROG G501, meanwhile, is a bit lighter at 4.54 pounds (2.05kg), but once again the HP Omen is thinner than this 15.08 x 10.04 x 0.81-inch (383 x 255 x 20mm) machine.

Here is the HP Omen configuration sent to TechRadar for this review:

Spec Sheet

• CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-4720HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.6GHz with Turbo Boost)
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M (4GB GDDR5 RAM), Intel HD Graphics 4600
• RAM: 16GB DDR3L (1,600MHz)
• Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 Full HD WLED-backlit IPS touchscreen
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Ports: 4 x USB 3.0 ports, mini DisplayPort, HDMI, headphone/microphone combo jack
• Connectivity: Intel 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth
• Camera: HP TrueVision Full HD WVA Webcam with Dual Digital Microphone
• Weight: 4.68 pounds
• Size: 15.07 x 9.67 x 0.78 inches (W x D x H)

The configuration as seen above is quite a step up from your standard HP Omen. Priced at $2,219 (about £1,442, AU$2,885), this setup includes a number of upgrades including 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive. For now the updated Omen is only available in the United States, so those in the United Kingdom and Australia will have to sit on their hands with the old Nvidia 860M-powered unit for now.

The entry level Omen runs a significantly smaller sum of $1,699 (about £1,104, AU$2,209), and thankfully it doesn't come with any significant processor or graphics downgrades. Instead, interested buyers will have to settle for 8GB of memory coupled with 256GB of flash storage space.

Asus offers up an equally, if not more, compelling machine with the ROG G501 priced at $1,699 (about £1,104, AU$2,209). For the money, this 4K mobile gaming rig comes equipped with the same processor and GPU as the HP Omen. What's more, the Asus 15.6-inch laptop comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD by default, plus a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution display.

The Gigabyte P35K v3 is also a very good machine available for as little as $1,399 (about £909, AU$1,819) on Amazon. Once again the P35K v3 has an Intel Core i7-4720HQ on tap, paired with a slightly higher-end Nvidia GTX 965M GPU onboard. As for memory and storage, the Gigabyte P35K v3 is equipped with 8GB of RAM, plus a 128GB SSD and 1TB hard drive.

Performance and features

Just because HP Omen isn't running a serious GPU, like the Nvidia GTX 970M, does not mean this machine can't play the newest games. I had no trouble running both Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Wolfenstein: The Old Blood at a very playable 30 fps with a more modest Nvidia GTX 960M graphics chip onboard.

You'll have a hard time running some more demanding games, like Skylines: Cities, but – for the most part – the HP Omen has no trouble on medium to high settings in most games. Just don't expect to bump up any graphical settings beyond high, much less get 60 frames per second (fps) on any title without turning off most of the graphical flourishes.

Here's how the HP Omen fared in our benchmark tests:

Benchmarks

• 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 16,952; Sky Diver: 12,616; Fire Strike: 3,965
• Cinebench CPU: 670 points; Graphics: 94 fps
• PCMark 8 (Home Test): 3,242 points
• PCMark 8 Battery Life: 2 hours and 6 minutes
• Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor (1080p, Ultra): 31 fps; (1080p, Low): 67 fps
• Metro: Last Light (1080p, Ultra): 33 fps; (1080p, Low): 76 fps

The HP Omen might not be packing the most rip-roaring set up for a gaming machine, but it still performed admirably in our suite of benchmark tests. I'm mainly proud of its 3DMark Fire Strike score of 3,965 points, which just barely buzzes over the Asus ROG G501's 3,927 point performance. However, the Omen falls well short of the 4,823 points put up by the Gigabyte P35K v3.

Despite the fact that all three of these machines are powered by the same processor, the Omen edges out the competition with a PCMark 8 score of 3,242 points. By comparison, the Gigabyte P35K v3 scored 3,042 points while the Asus gaming rig lags behind by a significant margin with 2,563 points – no doubt thanks to driving quadruple the number of pixels with its 3,840 x 2,160 UHD display.

It becomes truly evident that the Asus ROG G501 struggles to keep up with the demands of its QHD screen when you look at its lackluster gaming performance with only 15 fps in Metro: Last Light and 28 fps in Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. The HP Omen might not be able to render games to the same fidelity with its FHD screen, but it can play titles at a higher and smoother frame rate such as 33 fps in Metro: Last Light and 31 in Shadow of Mordor.

As expected, the Gigabyte P35K v3 takes the lead in again in this heat. While running the same Shadow of Mordor benchmark loop with maxed out settings, the Gigabyte laptop kept up with an average frame rate of 37 fps.

Sublime screen

One of the biggest joys on the HP Omen is its incredibly vibrant screen. Colors pop off the glossy screen with life-like vibrancy and accuracy. What's more, you can easily distinguish every shade of grey in a scene, thanks to its equally excellent contrast. While glossy finishes are usually shunned, especially on gaming machines, I have almost no problems with glare and reflections.

I just wish HP went with a brighter panel for the Omen, as direct sunlight easily overpowers the display. I also find myself almost always pushing screen brightness to its limit even in a well lit room, which can become problematic for conserving battery life.

Explosive speakers

The speakers offer up an equally pleasing experience when gaming. Explosions splash off the screen and echo into your room with all the ferocity and oomph you'd expect. That said, it seems the audio experience on the HP Omen is better tuned to the beat of high-octane games and movies over easy listening music. I found the speakers to lack the fidelity and fullness of a dedicated sound system.

Still, these tweeters can put out some impressive and room-filling tones without running into any distortion issues when you really pump up the volume.

Lackluster battery life

In my own testing, I was able to squeeze out a maximum run time of 3 hours and 40 minutes while streaming two back-to-back episodes of Game of Thrones with some significant buffering issues through a VPN client while abroad in Malaysia. This test was also done with the screen set to a medium brightness and the speakers set to 30%.

I estimate that you can expect to use this machine away from the power plug for four hours max. All in all, this isn't too bad. However, the HP Omen tends to lean closer to a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minute, as it did whilst running the PCMark 8 battery test.

The Gigabyte P35K v3 managed to eke out the same 3 hours and 40 minutes of battery life with regular use. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG G501 clocked out with a maximum battery life of 3 hours and 36 minutes.

These mediocre battery life figures might not sound very long compared to the extended use you can get out of a Chromebook or budget 15-inch notebook. However, consider that machines such as the Omen have to contend with the extra power draw of a high-end Intel Core processor and discrete GPU.

Bundled software

The HP Omen comes stock with a sprinkling of preloaded applications, but for the most part they are useful. This machine even comes with a full-year license of McAfee LiveSafe, rather than the usual 30 day trial, though, it will be up to you if you want to keep it at all. Here's the shortlist of apps you might want to keep on your machine.

• HP Omen Central Ops – A central hub full of shortcuts to the following applications and utilities.
• HP Omen Control – The most useful preloaded application, HP Omen Control lets you set up everything from your macro keys to the customizable lighting zones.
• HP Performance Advisor – View your system performance at a glance with memory graph and workstation monitor.
• HP Support Assistant – A handy assistant app, which you'll find most useful for downloading updates such as new Intel graphics drivers.
• HP Recovery Manager – This app helps get your laptop back up and running in case it stops working correctly.
• Heaven Benchmark – In case you don't own benchmarking software like 3DMark and PCMark, HP has included a copy of this DX11 tool for your testing pleasure.

Verdict

More than a few months ago, the HP Omen came out as a pleasant surprise for gamers late in the year, and so this quick refresh makes this machine all the sweeter. In case you were on the fence about buying a Nvidia GTX 860M-powered machine last December, I can verifiably say that the Nvidia GTX 960M update on this machine only makes it even better.

We liked

If you want a machine that doesn't follow the crowd with glowing alien heads and flaming decals, then look no farther than the HP Omen. This machine has a style unto its own, with its steeply tapered edges and thin profile. Don't think this machine is lacking in the flair department, though. HP has supplied the Omen with plenty of lights and little details to make this one of the industry's most sophisticated and attractive gaming laptops.

Beyond the skin deep beauty, the HP Omen packs enough processing brains to handle anything from everyday task to hardcore PC gaming. As a mid-range system, it straddles the line of excellent power efficiency while still offering enough performance to handle the latest games.

One of the biggest highlights of using the HP Omen for the last two weeks was being able to play Witcher 3 on an international flight to China. Whereas most hardcore gaming laptops would be too big and power hungry, the HP Omen was a perfect fit in both size and power consumption for the plane ride.

We disliked

There aren't any large problematic issues with the HP Omen. Sure, the laptop has its handful of minor flaws, like a display that's just not bright enough, speakers that lack definition for music and a slightly disappointing battery life. Otherwise, though, this is a perfectly suitable and solid machine.

Final verdict

The only thing to really mull over is the price. Starting at $1,699 (about £1,104, AU$2,209), the HP Omen is a bit pricey compared to its contemporaries. For several hundred fewer smackers, the Gigabyte P35K v3 offers far stronger gaming performance with the only big trade off being a significantly less interesting chassis.

Similarly, the Asus ROG G501 comes much better equipped with a 4K screen and plenty of memory, not to mention storage space to boot. However, I'd strongly recommend straying away from the Asus option, as the ROG G501's high-resolution screen has proved to be a huge detractor from the machine's ability to play games.

Of course, picking the HP Omen has its own appeal. It's a light, compact 15-inch machine that is by far the best looking gaming laptop to come out in a long time. Though this machine comes outfitted with a modest set of parts, this rig hardly looks or feels like an entry level machine. And frankly, the excellent build quality and unique design found in the HP Omen makes it well worth the premium.

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