HP Omen Max 16 Review: A Gaming Laptop That Truly Impresses

The HP Omen Max 16 is a laptop that completely blew me away from the start. Powered by the Intel Core Ultra 275HX processor and equipped with an RTX 5090 graphics card, this machine delivers some of the best gaming performance I’ve ever seen on a laptop. As the name suggests, the Max 16 is the absolute top-tier gaming laptop in HP’s Omen lineup, and it lives up to that reputation in every way.

At first glance, the design is surprisingly understated for a gaming laptop. While it’s a bit on the heavier side, weighing close to six pounds, it’s not overly thick given the powerful components inside. The clean, minimalist look is a nice touch, and it offers plenty of ports: a USB-A on the right side, power, Ethernet, HDMI, and another USB-A on the back, plus two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack on the left.

If you saw someone walking around with this laptop without knowing what it was, you might not immediately guess it’s a gaming laptop. The subtle exterior contrasts with what you’ll find once you open it up. Inside, you’ll notice a stylish RGB strip at the bottom—a personal favorite feature of mine—along with per-key RGB lighting that lets you customize each key’s color through HP’s software. The keys themselves have a unique design that allows the RGB lighting to stand out even more. The trackpad is a good size, and the speakers are located right above the keyboard. On top of the screen, there’s a webcam with a physical privacy shutter for added security.

This model was first showcased at CES earlier this year, and even then, it was clear that the specs would be impressive. The Intel Core Ultra 9275HX processor delivers excellent performance, making this laptop suitable not just for gaming but also as a powerful workstation. These new Core Ultra chips also bring improved AI features and better power efficiency—great for a gaming machine that needs to balance performance with battery life.

The laptop can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM; mine comes with 32GB. Storage options go up to 2TB, and the battery is an 83Wh unit. But perhaps the most impressive feature is the 16-inch WQHD OLED display, boasting a 240Hz refresh rate and an ultra-fast 0.2ms response time. The colors are vibrant and sharp, thanks to the OLED technology, making it a perfect match for the powerful RTX 5090 GPU inside.

When I tested it with games like Apex Legends, I ran everything on max settings and consistently saw frame rates well above 200 FPS. This laptop even has an “unleashed mode,” which overclocks the system and runs the fans at full speed to maximize performance. The fans can get loud, but wearing a headset helps. For those interested in numbers, the unleashed mode can push up to 250 total power points (TPP), which is truly impressive.

HP has introduced some clever cooling technology in the Omen 16 to keep this beast running efficiently. It includes upgraded vapor chambers, heat pipes, and a new “Omen cryo compound” designed to help maintain CPU longevity. A standout feature is the self-cleaning fan system, developed in collaboration with Intel. When the laptop is idle or running low-demand tasks, the fans spin in reverse to shake off dust, reducing maintenance and helping keep performance steady over time.

Gaming on the Omen Max 16 has been a fantastic experience because it delivers top-tier graphics without sacrificing performance. Even outside of unleashed mode, performance and frame rates remain excellent in balanced and performance modes.

One of the coolest upgrades is the integration of AI to optimize game settings automatically. The Omen AI feature adjusts graphics settings to maximize frame rates without the user needing to tweak anything manually. Currently, support is limited to certain games like Apex Legends, but the feature works well, adjusting settings based on the performance mode you choose, such as eco or performance mode. For example, in eco mode, I saw the frame rate drop to about 112 FPS, while switching to performance mode bumped it up to 179 FPS with the settings adjusted automatically.

This AI-driven optimization is a huge quality-of-life improvement. It saves gamers from spending time fiddling with game settings to find the best balance between visuals and performance. As more games get support, this feature could become a real game changer, especially for casual gamers who want the best experience without hassle.

In terms of battery life, while most gaming will happen plugged in, the laptop supports quick charging, going from zero to 50% in about 30 minutes. This is handy for non-gaming use when you need to get back to work or play quickly.

Overall, as my first laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor paired with an RTX 5090, I’m extremely impressed. The HP Omen Max 16 delivers on performance, design, and smart features like AI optimization and innovative cooling. I’m looking forward to seeing how the Omen AI continues to evolve and support more games in the future.