HP Omen 15 Proves It In 2019: 5 Top Features HP Omen Has For Gamers
Finally, a gaming laptop capable of meeting your high performance expectations.
The HP Omen 15 is a powerhouse gaming laptop that embraces the Max-Q design approach.
HP takes the ultimate in GeForce gaming and houses it in a sleek design. The high-tech look and feel identify it as a gaming device without looking like a "try hard."
The Omen 15 does not just feature a stylish look. HP strives to offer the best gaming performance at a reasonable price.
Each new model has only improved on the original concept.
So why is the HP Omen 15 the ultimate laptop for gamers? Below we have listed five reasons why you need this system in your life.
Customisable, Capable, Upgradeable
The HP Omen 15 stands out from the rest with its ease of both customising and upgrading.
Designed with an easy single-panel access, the PC makes everything upgradable, from the RAM and SSD, to the graphics and WiFi cards. It allows you to buy the base model and any accessories that best suit your budget. Then, as you decide to add on more features and devices, the Omen capably accommodates them.
Display and Graphics
The HP Omen 15’s 15.6”, 1920 x 1080p display currently features a 144hz refresh rate. This already beats the industry standard and mainstream gaming laptop average of 34-fps. The Omen 15 also surpasses the display performance of the Stealth Thin, Zephyrus S and Alienware M15 – all of which feature the RTX Max-Q GPU.
Even better, HP announced at CES 2019 that the Omen 15 will be the first 15.6-inch gaming laptop in the world to feature a 1080p 240hz IPS display, as well as a new NVIDIA GPU and WiFi 6 (802.11a) controller. What this means for gamers is that, while the set-up currently keeps up with most first-person shooters, the new launch will stay ahead of even the quickest draw on the net. All the digital Doc Hollidays out there can rest assured.
It transcodes a 4K video to 1080p in just over ten minutes, a significant improvement over the 11 plus minute norm in the gaming laptop category. Also, the HP Omen 15 competes in display and graphics performance with all of the highly popular gaming laptops available today.
Performance
The top tier Omen 15 features an Intel Core i7-9750H and has an impressive 16GB of RAM.
In human terms, this indicates that the HP Omen 15 can accommodate as many as 50 open browser windows, the play of a benchmark game such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Hitman or Grand Theft Auto V, and still run high definition videos with ease.
While the SSD on the mid-tier model performs slightly sluggishly, its hybrid storage capability is a huge plus for many gamers. Now they can store all of their screenshots, live-action video captures and numerous games, even with multiple saves.
Also, they need not rely on external hard drives; easily forgettable for a gamer on the go.
Another feature the newer models will incorporate is an updated fan and cooling system. HP designed this system especially to keep all this high-performance hardware running smoothly without overheating during even the most intense gaming sessions.
Audio
Gamers know that the HP Omen 15 offers superior sound quality.
Delivered via dual Bang & Olufsen speakers, they are loud enough and clear enough to be used as a music player in a mid-size room.
Whilst some users complain of a buzzing and slightly tinny sound at higher volumes, the vast majority of gamers do not keep their volumes turned to the highest levels during play.
Even those who love games with ear splitting decibels have a solution from HP. The Omen Gaming headset with built in cooling provides great sound quality in a powerful set of headphones.
Multiple Ports and Anti-Ghosting Keys
The one thing that every gamer knows is absolutely essential on a gaming laptop is whether it has enough ports to support all the essential accessories. These include a gaming mouse, gaming headphones, Ethernet connections and slots for removable storage.
As always, the HP Omen 15 exceeds industry standards and gamer expectations.
On the left, you will find a USB 3.0 port, a slot for an SD card, and separate inputs for headphones and microphones. On the right-hand side, you will find the power jack. And as the battery performance is somewhat typical of gaming laptops – not so great in other words, this is important! You’ll also find another USB 3.0 port here.
On the back, you’ll find the Ethernet port, another USB 3.0 port with always-on charging, an HDMI 2.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort, a security lock slot and finally a Thunderbolt 3 port. On newer models, the majority of ports have been moved to the back of the machine, allowing for a little more space to move your mouse around while you’re playing your game.
And then there are the anti-ghosting keys. Missing a stroke in the middle of a battle, or a shoot-out with another player could be extremely costly to the most avid of gamers. And the faster you are with those keyboard actions, the more likely this is to happen. HPs anti-ghosting tech and RGB backlit keys make it easy to hit every key you mean to every time – without missing a stroke.
Oh, and the keyboard features a full number pad too - another feature that is often sacrificed in the more compact 15.6-inch laptop models.
Conclusion
While there are some things that could have been a touch better – such as battery life and a slightly dim display, the HP Omen 15 delivers on most levels. It’s an affordable gaming option but by no means an entry-level one.
Thankfully even the most basic and beginner option available allows for easy upgrading when required.
