HP Omen Max 16 (2025) review: This heavyweight pushes everything to the max

HP Omen Max 16 (2025) review: This heavyweight pushes everything to the max

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This powerhouse maker actions up and enhances on its 2023 predecessor in basically every method– however the power comes at a cost.

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Pros

  • +

    Really effective

  • +

    Developed with video gaming in mind

  • +

    Quick, reactive screen

Cons

  • Incredibly loud when striving

  • Extremely pricey

  • Poor battery life

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Requirements

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 (12 cores)

RAM: 32 GB DDR5 SDRAM

GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080

Storage: 1 TB SSD

Show: 16-inch IPS HDR

Weight: 5.38 pounds (2.44 kg)

Measurements (in): 14.07 x 10.59 x 1

Measurements (mm): 357.5 x 269 x 25.4)

The HP Omen Max 16 is in 2015’s follow-up to 2023’s Omenpackaging in more effective parts to turn this maker into a real heavyweight. It truly is heavy, tipping the pre-fight scales at 5.4 pounds (2.4 kgs), while the rate has likewise climbed up a couple of bands, now can be found in at around $2,500 thanks to the addition of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series GPU. Do these modifications load a huge adequate punch to knock out its rivals?

While it has some peculiarities, the Omen Max total deals superior efficiency and masters jobs that offer its high-end elements an exercise. In specific, the maker is developed for video gaming and can deal with the most recent AAA titles with ease– with its lightning-fast screen assisting competitive gamers acquire an edge. That implies it’s likewise primed to manage image and video modifying, and might possibly be a helpful component on your desk in your home.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025 ): Design

(Image credit: Future/ James Price)

The HP Omen Max 16 leans into a common “gamer” visual, with RGB lighting beneath and the keyboard radiant vibrantly in a series of colors. The software application lets you tailor colors, patterns and shifts, which is a cool touch– though it’s most likely anticipated at this rate point. The device’s appearances are most likely to be dissentious, nevertheless, and it’s absolutely not a “professional” device– however if lights and colors are your thing, the general style is cool if plain.

The design and looks have actually been fine-tuned given that the 2023 design, broadening the keyboard to consist of a number pad and including more lighting. The secrets are all backlit and look exceptional in poorly lit spaces, although the touchpad isn’t lit and is located somewhat left-of-center, which can make reaching for it a bit uncomfortable at.

The matte black includes an elegant, downplayed surface to the chassis, and the Omen logo design on the outdoors and[ “016” composed on the within are subtle sufficient to not interfere with the look. The screen has some flex, which is a bit disturbing and contributes to a somewhat less-than-premium feel to the Omen Max 16. It is likewise simple to leave finger prints and marks around the case, due to the color and product– however these are simple to clean away.

We discovered the lights and general visual struck a great balance in between enjoyable and downplayed, with the RGB lighting stylish and not too over the top. They can, nevertheless, be shut off if you discover them more garish than appealing.

HP Omen Max 16(2025): Display

( Image credit: Future/ James Price )
The screen is typically great on the Omen Max 16, partially thanks to its 400-nit brightness that we validated in screening with a screen calibrator. This is not market-leading however is still brighter than typical, making it clear even in well-lit spaces. The 97.4 % protection of the sRGB range is likewise completely appropriate for the majority of utilize cases. Extra screening rendered 71.8 % and 76.7 % protection of the Adobe and DCI P3 spectra, respectively; the outcomes aren’t bad, and simply shy of what you require for expert use– however these

days, you tend to discover numerous laptop computers with display screens that can strike above 90 %.

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For a non-OLED screen, and to a casual eye, the colors typically load a punch, other than for a somewhat washed-out black level, which scored an underwhelming 0.5 nits in our tests. This likewise feeds into a contrast ratio of 797:1:1, which is reasonably frustrating.

Where this screen truly stands out is its lightning-fast refresh rate of 250 Hz– using it a satisfaction.

Motion throughout the screen is fluid and smooth, while it is likewise fast to react to inputs. The maker is first-and-foremost created with players in mind, so this is seemingly what HP has actually put its efforts into when it pertains to the screen– and in this location, it does not dissatisfy.

HP Omen Max 16(2025): Keyboard and touchpad

(Image credit: Future/ James Price )
The keyboard design is excellent in general, although the little Enter crucial and the slim up and down arrows take a little bit of getting utilized to. In a departure from the 2023 design, the style is gapless, although the secrets have adequate area in between them for comfy touch typing. Each keystroke is springy with a pleasing level of crucial travel and haptic feedback, while not needing excessive effort to lower, striking an ideal balance.

The backlighting on the secrets is adjustable, with numerous enjoyable presets varying from a pulsing radiance to a causal sequence from each keystroke, like a stone dropped in a swimming pool of water. A number pad includes more performance over the previous Omen Max.

We do, nevertheless, concern how resilient this keyboard is. Throughout screening, a feline chose to attempt the secrets and handled to prise numerous out– something she has actually not had the ability to make with other keyboards, especially the remarkably difficult MacBook Air 2022. The secrets, which are slim and a little lightweight, rapidly click back into location(a minimum of on this event), however it raises doubts over just how much sportswear and tear it can stand.

The touchpad is big, smooth and responsive. It’s located awkwardly and we typically trigger the right-click by mishap; any left clicks need an annoying quantity of leaning over to trigger. This is something regular usage will repair, as you get used to

the maker, however it at first feels abnormal.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025): Performance and Battery

HP Omen Max 16 on a wooden desk
(Image credit: Future/ James Price)
Let’s begin with the excellent– efficiency is exceptional. The HP Omen Max 16 is developed with power in mind, specifically when it concerns video gaming, and it carried out wonderfully, managing the most recent AAA titles, such as Black Ops 7, with ease on Ultra settings. Our evaluation system boasted an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU coupled with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375(12 cores)CPU, 32 GB DDR5 SDRAM, and a 1TB SSD. And these mainly top-tier parts appropriately stand and provide.

Some video games argued, nevertheless, with the frames per second(FPS) on “Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II” dropping into the 40s and sometimes even the 30s on optimum settings (although the video game looks extraordinary).

A tendency to deal with high-end video gaming suggested we were delighted for what it suggested for users aiming to deal with graphics-based jobs. The maker stood out when carrying out other video and picture modifying, with its remarkable efficiency likewise playing out throughout benchmark tests– with the GPU signing up an eye-watering rating of 181,959 in our OpenCL test with Geekbench 6. This blows anything else we’ve evaluated entirely out of the environment.

The CPU was likewise outstanding in benchmarking. It signed up a great 2,967 for single-core and 15,420 for multi-core efficiency, putting it far ahead of the 2023 design and a lot of other current Windows makers.

One disadvantage of this power is how loud the fans remain in order to keep the device cool. When pressing the Omen Max to its limitations, they run so loudly to blast out hot air in numerous instructions that you’ll most likely require to use earphones to hear any noise. It’s sufficient to irritate anyone regrettable adequate to be near you, not to mention yourself.

As we all understand by now, with terrific power generally comes horrible battery life, and the Omen Max 16 is no exception. In our basic looped video playback battery test, the Omen Max 16 lasted for simply 7 hours and 31 minutes. The only thing we’ve ever evaluated that carried out even worse was the 2023 HP Omen 16, which made it through for a pitiful 4 hours and 53 minutes. While the 2025 design reveals an enhancement, it’s still not excellent when you think about that plenty of high-end and exceptional Windows makers can last well above 10 hours. Bad battery efficiency is common for video gaming makers like this.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025 ): Ports and Features

(Image credit: Future/ James Price)

The HP Omen Max 16 is rather chunky– standing 1 inch (25.4 millimeters)high– however chunkiness indicates space for a lot of ports. The device for that reason has area to suit 2 USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an earphone jack, an Ethernet port and 2 USB-C ports. They are set out rationally and are simple to reach.

Feature-wise, it includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 cordless connection, and a 1080p web cam that catches you all right. The device likewise includes HP’s Omen Gaming Hub software application, which lets you much better screen and handle video gaming efficiency.

HP Omen Max 16 (2025 ): Should I purchase it?The HP Omen Max 16 is truly rather exceptional at dealing with graphics-heavy work, such as video modifying or video gaming. Its screen isn’t rather precise enough for many professional photographers and videographers, and its sound and weight are likewise offputting for those jobs if you require to be utilizing it out and about– not to discuss the drab battery life. Eventually, this device is developed for players and video gaming, which is who it ought to mostly interest.

James is Live Science’s production editor and is based near London in the U.K. Before signing up with Live Science, he dealt with a variety of publications, consisting of How It Works, History of War and Digital Photographer. He likewise formerly operated in Madrid, Spain, assisting to develop history and science books and discovering resources for schools. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Coventry University.

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