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HP’s HyperX Omen 15 isn’t quite the budget-friendly gaming laptop its predecessor was
The Verge has reviewed HP's HyperX Omen 15, a budget gaming laptop that replaces the popular HP Victus 15. While the new model brings modest upgrades, its starting price of $1,200 is significantly higher than the Victus 15's $800, reflecting broader increases in laptop prices attributed to rising component costs, dubbed "RAMageddon" in the piece. Despite the price hike, the reviewer notes it remains one of the more affordable options for current-generation gaming hardware.
The test unit, priced at $1,199 and sold through Walmart, features an eight-core Intel Core 5 210H processor, an RTX 5050 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD. Improvements over its predecessor include a brighter 16:10 display with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1080p webcam, plus upgradeable RAM and storage. However, the review flags weaker points including a lack of face or fingerprint unlocking, only one USB-C port, and mediocre keyboard, trackpad and speakers, resulting in an overall score of 6 out of 10. Performance-wise, it handles older titles like Control and Cyberpunk 2077 well with DLSS enabled, but newer games such as Battlefield 6 require lower graphics settings to maintain playable frame rates.
In short
- HP's Omen 15 replaces the Victus 15 but costs $1,200 vs $800
- Rising component prices are pushing up gaming laptop costs broadly
- Verge gave it 6/10, citing weak keyboard, trackpad and speakers
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The laptop represents reasonable value within genuine market realities. Component costs have risen industry-wide, and the $1,200 price reflects these production increases whilst still positioning the device as one of the more affordable current-generation gaming options available. The upgrades—brighter display, 165Hz refresh rate, upgradeable RAM and storage—provide meaningful improvements over the predecessor, and the device delivers acceptable gaming capability for popular titles with DLSS enabled. Within this market context, the price increase becomes justifiable.
The case against
The 50 per cent price increase for only modest upgrades represents poor value for consumers, particularly given the 6/10 review score highlighting significant compromises. For $1,200, buyers encounter subpar build quality—mediocre keyboard and trackpad, weak speakers—and missing features like biometric security that competitors at this price point typically include. Performance limitations on newer games requiring lower graphics settings further undermine the gaming machine value proposition, making it reasonable to question whether one's money is better spent elsewhere.
Explained simply
Gaming laptops combine a computer’s processor and graphics chip to run games, while often costing more than ordinary laptops. HP’s Victus 15 was a relatively low-priced option; the Omen range is HP’s other gaming-laptop line, and the HyperX name is associated with gaming products.
The key parts in a gaming laptop include its graphics chip, memory and screen, which affect how well it runs games and how clearly and smoothly they appear. Prices can also shift when components such as memory become more expensive, making it harder to find newer gaming hardware at lower prices.
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