HP HyperX Omen 15: A Budget Gaming Staple Gets Pricier
With a starting price of $1,200, the new HP HyperX Omen 15 abandons the sub-$800 affordability that defined its predecessor, the Victus 15. While it introduces modern hardware to the entry-level tier, the jump in cost marks a significant shift for gamers looking for value-focused machines.
The Omen 15 arrives with an RTX 5050 GPU and an Intel Core 5 210H processor, offering sufficient power for contemporary 1080p gaming at lower settings. Upgrades over the outgoing Victus include a 16:10 display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1080p webcam, making the device more versatile for daily productivity. Despite these improvements, the laptop feels like a compromise; the keyboard, trackpad, and speakers deliver lackluster performance, and the limited port selection lacks Thunderbolt support.
Market volatility and rising component costs have pushed this model into a higher price bracket, leaving those who once relied on the $800 price point with fewer options. For the $1,199 test unit sold at Walmart, users gain a machine that is fully upgradeable, featuring two slots each for DDR5 RAM and NVMe SSDs. It remains a functional, if not inspiring, workhorse for those who prioritize current-generation internals over premium build quality or peripheral excellence.
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