HP Omen Max 16 Review (2025): A Powerhouse Gaming Laptop with Style

The new generation of 2025 gaming laptops has arrived, and the HP Omen Max 16 is ready to make its mark. As HP’s top-tier gaming laptop, the Omen Max 16 brings fresh design, premium hardware, and excellent performance, aiming to compete with other heavyweights like the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16.

Refined Design with a Gamer’s Touch

The Omen Max 16 features a redesigned look, particularly noticeable on the keyboard. The per-key RGB lighting is framed with large key bevels to better showcase the vibrant illumination. Whether you like this bold styling is up to you, but the overall design leans into a sleek, matte black aluminum chassis with rounded corners—a premium feel that draws comparisons to devices like the Razer Blade series.

Importantly, the design avoids the oversized rear grills that often scream “gamer,” opting instead for a more subdued look. An RGB light bar on the front edge adds flair, but it can be turned off for a low-key appearance. The keyboard backlight can also be set to a solid white or other non-gaming colors, offering versatility depending on the environment.

Performance-Oriented Hardware

The Omen Max 16 isn’t aimed at thin-and-light categories like the Zephyrus G16. Instead, it targets the performance segment, bringing full-wattage CPUs and GPUs. Weighing 6.1 lbs (2.76 kg) and paired with a hefty 330-watt charger, this laptop delivers power in a sleek yet substantial form factor.

It’s powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 and 9 second-generation HX CPUs. Though branded as second-generation, this is effectively the first HX series in Intel’s new lineup, marking a big leap from the previous 1400 series. Intel has finally brought wattage and thermals under control, resulting in cooler chassis temperatures across 2025 gaming laptops. Notably, the Omen Max 16 maintains cool chassis temperatures, even during intense gaming sessions, avoiding the “burning lap” issues of older generations.

Cooling advancements help here too, with a vapor chamber and HP’s hybrid liquid metal. The liquid metal includes a thickened viscosity, addressing concerns about spillage or seepage when the laptop is hot and moved around. This system works well, though the CPU on this particular review unit ran slightly hotter than expected compared to competitors, sometimes hitting a thermal max of 105°C during demanding QHD+ gaming. Still, it often hovered at a more acceptable 85°C, likely making this an isolated case.

Display Options for Every Gamer

There are three display options available:

1. Base Model – Full HD+ IPS, 165Hz

2. Top Model – OLED, 240Hz, 400 nits (claims up to 500 nits in HDR mode)

3. Mid Option – QHD+ IPS, matte finish, 2560×1600 resolution

The OLED display offers stunning visuals but comes with a glossy surface that can reflect light heavily, making it challenging in bright environments like offices or classrooms. For users sensitive to glare, the matte IPS QHD+ display might be the better choice, offering a solid balance between quality and practicality.

Keyboard, Software, and Customization

The keyboard offers full RGB customization through the Omen Gaming Hub. It also supports up to three HyperX peripherals (since HP acquired HyperX from Kingston) without needing extra software.

The Omen Gaming Hub interface is playful, featuring themed messages like “completing side quests,” adding a bit of charm. Despite the often-mixed reception to bundled gaming software, the Omen Gaming Hub is polished and functional. However, it lacks in-app display settings for features like HDR or wide color gamut adjustments—you’ll need to enable Windows HDR manually to fully access HDR capabilities.

Advanced Optimus is supported, allowing seamless switching between integrated and discrete GPUs. While testing showed that Nvidia’s drivers (especially in dGPU-only mode) were initially unstable, the April 2025 hotfix driver (version 576.15) improved performance significantly, though some driver refinement is still needed.

Graphics, Performance, and Frame Generation

GPU options include the RTX 5080 (16GB) and RTX 5070 Ti (12GB), delivering much-needed VRAM increases for handling high-resolution textures and games. The laptop delivers a full 175 watts for the GPU and 75 watts for the CPU, totaling 250 watts—power it fully utilizes.

Performance aligns closely with competitors using the same hardware. While some rivals feature faster 6400MHz RAM compared to the Omen’s 5600MHz, the difference is negligible for most games, which are GPU-bound. Cyberpunk 2077 was the only title where the Omen lagged behind slightly, averaging 80 FPS at QHD+ with ray tracing on medium and no frame generation.

Nvidia’s frame generation feature shines on the RTX 5000 series, making a strong case for its use. When enabled, frame generation significantly boosts smoothness at high resolutions. While occasional visual artifacts (such as around pine tree edges) may appear, they’re largely unnoticeable, making the technology worthwhile for most gamers.

Final Thoughts

The HP Omen Max 16 is a compelling gaming laptop for 2025, delivering sleek design, powerful internals, multiple display options, and thoughtful software. Whether opting for the eye-popping OLED display or the practical matte IPS, gamers get an adaptable and performance-packed machine.

While some CPU thermals and Nvidia driver issues need attention, the Omen Max 16 competes confidently in its category, making it an excellent choice for gamers seeking both style and substance.