HyperX Omen 15 Review: A Subtle, Yet Potent 1080p Gaming Laptop

 Mark Knapp/CNET 

 HyperX Omen 15 

 7.4  $2,799 at HP 

 Pros & Cons 

•  Gorgeous display 

•  Great battery life for a gaming laptop 

•  Solid 1080p performance 

•  Quiet and stable under load 

•  USB-C charging 

•  Speakers are so-so 

•  Gaming at native resolution is a challenge 

•  No USB4 or Thunderbolt ports 

HP is now using the HyperX gaming brand name for its Omen line of gaming laptops and desktops. What's different now that there's a HyperX logo on the system? Not much beyond badging. The design language hasn't changed considerably, so it's still more Omen-branded than anything HP or HyperX. 

In this case, the branding is on a midrange gaming laptop, the HyperX Omen 15, that doesn't try to go thin like the Legion 7i 16 Gen 10 or all-out on performance like the Alienware 16X Aurora (2026). By taking the middle ground with an efficient CPU and the still-capable RTX 5070, the Omen 15 proves to be a potent 1080p gamer and a decent mobile workstation while also offering good value. It will probably only be worthwhile if that balance is what you're after, though. You can get more performance for your money with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI or even the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 , thanks to their higher-wattage graphics. 

HyperX Omen 15 Specs

The HyperX Omen 15 comes in a broad range of configurations, including models running on older 14th-gen Intel Core and Ryzen 8000 series CPUs to newer Ryzen AI and Core Ultra 300 series processors. Since a lot can change when jumping between generations and platforms, it'd be hard to consider them all the same system.

Our test unit is one of the newer Intel Core Ultra 300 series models, the Omen 15-ga0100, and even then, it comes with some configuration range . This model starts at $1,999 for an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H, 8GB RTX 5050, 16GB of memory, 512GB of PCIe 4.0×4 storage, a 15.3-inch 1,200p IPS LCD with a 165Hz refresh rate and Wi-Fi 6E. HP also offers an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H or Ultra 9 386H paired with an RTX 5060, up to 32GB of memory, up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 5 storage, plus a sharper 2,560×1,600 IPS display. There are also Realtek Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 networking options as well. 

My test configuration is a preconfigured model with the specs in the chart above, sitting near the top of the stack. Two upgrades in our review laptop, not in the custom configurator, are the RTX 5070 and the 2,880×1,800-pixel 120Hz OLED display. It comes out to $2,799, though it had a $700 discount available partway through testing, bringing it down to $2,099. 

Striking a balance of performance and efficiency

The HyperX Omen 15 is a decent performer. It has plenty of muscle for 1080p gaming, and that's a sweet spot for it to challenge even higher-spec'd and more expensive machines that can get caught in the CPU-bound trap. The Omen 15 readily served up triple-digit frame-rate averages across our primary game benchmarks. It lagged slightly behind heavier hitters like the Alienware 16X Aurora, but due to the aforementioned CPU binding, it could nearly keep up in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, where the Omen 15 was just 4% behind despite costing almost 17% less. 

The reliable CPU and RTX 5070 graphics even proved up to the task of heavier-weight gaming, like Assassin's Creed Shadows. The Omen 15 mustered a satisfactory 66-frames-per-second average, and there's headroom to get even more out of the system with different tiers of DLSS. 

For some games, 1,440p is within reach, too. The Omen 15 managed over 100fps averages in Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Guardians of the Galaxy. The display's native 2,880×1,800-pixel resolution, however, might be pushing it for anything other than some esports games. I was able to play through several hours of 007 First Light with most settings High or maxed out, but I had to leverage DLSS and frame-gen to keep the experience smooth. 

The Omen 15 ensures you get solid performance, too, automatically switching over to a Performance mode when a game launches. Even when pumping out frames, the system remained stable and avoided getting extremely loud. I wasn't bothered by the fans while gaming, and the system maintained 99.4% stability in 3DMark's Steel Nomad Stress Test. 

Naturally, all that performance can keep up with office workflows as well. The system put up a very respectable 8,609 score in PCMark 10, and it might have gone higher still if it had shifted to its Performance mode for the test. 

Perhaps the most striking thing about the Omen 15's performance, though, is the efficiency. HP's choice of an H-series processor instead of a higher-power HX-series may hold it back a little in gaming, but it's a big win for battery life. The Omen 15 has a 70-watt-hour battery, which isn't very large for a gaming laptop, yet it managed 10 hours, 25 minutes in our online video playback test. That pretty much blows its gaming laptop competitors out of the water. 

All of this makes the Omen 15 hit a sweet spot for performance and price, without costing too much and without resorting to low-tier components that might struggle with modern gaming titles and demanding graphics settings. That said, packing a new-generation of CPU while still wielding a midrange GPU that's been around for years doesn't quite help it get ahead of some older hardware that has a more competitive GPU, like the $2,099 Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI .

A subtle but thick gaming PC with a great display and paltry ports

The HyperX Omen 15's design is fairly tame for a gaming laptop. It's not overly large, though a little thick, nor is it terribly garish. Its biggest tells are the considerable exhaust vents on the back and the HyperX logo on the display lids. Otherwise, it could pass for a mobile workstation. It's well-constructed, with a sturdy feel and an aluminum-magnesium alloy lid, though the bottom and keyboard deck are plastic.

Despite all the ventilation in the back, the Omen 15 surprisingly lacks any side exhaust. It has a huge grate on the bottom but only two small inlets actually pulling air in, yet it doesn't struggle with heat or noise.  

It's a small shame that HP did so little with the space not dedicated to venting. The system has a really poor selection of ports. The left and right sides each have a 5Gbps USB-A port. The left gets a 3.5mm jack and the dedicated power input. The right gets an Ethernet port. Meanwhile, the rear has just one USB-C port and an HDMI 2.1 port. That USB-C port is especially disappointing, topping out at just 10Gbps and thereby leaving the system with no fast wired connections. It does support power delivery, though, which can come in clutch if you leave the house without the 200-watt charging brick. 

I don't know where HP is getting its measurements for the Omen 15. I measured the system at 13.5 by 10 by 1.3 inches (including its feet, 1.1 inches excluding them). HP's review materials and the specifications listed online don't match those or each other and, being generous and ignoring the rubber feet, my measurements come out to roughly 25% larger. Regardless, the system isn't obnoxiously large. It's definitely thick, but its other dimensions allowed me to fit it into my modest backpack. At 5 pounds, it's not absurdly heavy either. 

The Omen 15 has a gorgeous optional display. Its 15.3-inch, 2,880×1,800 panel is quite crisp, and its 120Hz refresh with a variable refresh rate works great across casual and competitive games. OLED works wonderfully here, with low pixel response times for sharp detail in fast action. It's certainly not dim, either. I measured 486.3 nits in SDR and 695 nits in HDR for a full white screen. Highlights go even brighter, with a 10% HDR window hitting 1,253 nits. Combine that with inky blacks, and you've got stunning visuals. The 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and a nearly immaculate color accuracy delta E 1976 maximum of just 1.52 makes this a compelling choice for creative work, too. The display is glossy, though, so it can struggle with glare and strong reflected lights. 

The speakers sound a bit boxy. They put out decent volume, but they don't sound very good when fully cranked up. They at least play well over the fans, but you'll be better off with headphones (as is the case with many laptops). 

The keyboard lacks a distinct feel, as the keys are dull to depress and have a rather flat surface. That said, they are decently stabilized and easy to tap with speed. I managed a very satisfactory 115 words per minute typing speed with 98% accuracy on Monkeytype, which is about as good as I get without using a truly excellent keyboard.

The layout could be better, however. HP included nearly full-size arrow keys, but they're jammed in with the rest of the keys rather than offset as Lenovo does, thereby sacrificing some of the right Shift key and the 0 on the number pad. The number pad is useful to have, but that intrusion of the arrow key could cause problems. 

That said, the keyboard does have a special advantage for gamers: An 8,000Hz polling rate that should ensure inputs are registered quickly. Its four-zone RGB lighting is less exciting, however. While it can look decent as a whole, zones can look clunky. Having a specific WASD zone isn't all that useful, even with a few extra keys added, since you can't actually pick which keys to illuminate for help remembering in-game keybinds. 

The trackpad is modestly sized and fairly smooth, but also not memorable. It has a short, snappy click with faint tactility. 

Above the display, HP included a decent 1080p webcam. It captures well-exposed, though a bit noisy, footage. The mics did a good job isolating my voice even with a fan running nearby. There are IR sensors for easy Windows Hello sign-ins. 

The bottom of the system can come off with just five Phillips screws, providing access to upgrade the memory and add a second SSD. That's great news considering the rising costs of memory and storage.  

Is the HyperX Omen 15 worth it?

If you don't mind the weight and thickness, the HyperX Omen 15 could be a good option if you're looking for a machine that tackles gaming at home, but can still hold up on the move. Its performance is solid and sustains well without intolerable fan noise. It even has the efficiency to run for a good stretch if you're away from a power outlet. The OLED display is lovely, and the keyboard is acceptable enough. It's a decent package for the price. If you're just after performance, though, you can get more for your money elsewhere. 

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