The HP Omen 16 stands out in the gaming laptop market thanks to its sleek design, vibrant 16-inch display, powerful components, and advanced RGB lighting. But despite the high praise it receives, several common complaints about the HP Omen 16 have emerged that are worth considering before you buy.
Understanding the shortcomings of this popular model can help set proper expectations and determine if alternatives may be a better fit depending on your needs and priorities. This expert guide will dive into the 7 most reported complaints and assess the extent to which each should factor into your purchasing decision.
Complaint 1: Lack of Portability Due to Heavy Weight
For a 16-inch gaming laptop, the HP Omen 16 hits a reasonable weight of around 5.5 pounds. However, compared to more portable alternatives in the "thin and light" category, lugging around the Omen does require more effort. Combined with its 0.9 inch thickness when closed, it can feel bulky in a backpack and awkward balancing on your lap.
If you plan to frequently travel with your gaming rig or use it in tight spaces where the large footprint gets in the way, the lack of portability could become frustrating over time. Consider more lightweight 14 and 15-inch options if that level of mobility is important to your use case. The marginally smaller screen real estate is worth it for some.
Complaint 2: Battery Life Around Just 4 Hours During Average Use
Gaming laptops are notorious for poor battery life compared to their ultrabook counterparts due to the power-hungry components. But at just 4 hours of run time while web browsing and completing general productivity tasks, the HP Omen 16 falls short of even average expectations. Competing rigs often achieve 6+ hours thanks to larger batteries.
The demanding processor and dedicated RTX graphics card sap more juice than integrated graphics would. So gamers and creative professionals should mainly operate the Omen 16 while plugged in. For all-day work on the go, consider alternatives with longer lasting batteries, or be prepared to carry the AC adapter around.
Complaint 3: Obtrusively Loud Fans While Gaming
The high-end internals packed into the HP Omen 16 produce substantial heat when gaming or running intensive programs. To prevent thermal throttling, the built-in fans ramp up speeds to extreme levels some users describe as "jet engine loud." The noise can be immersion breaking during gameplay or distracting in quiet environments.
Using a quality pair of over-ear headphones helps mask fan noise, as does activating the performance/turbo mode. Some units may suffer from poorly applied thermal paste on the CPU/GPU, so replacing it could potentially improve temperatures and reduce fan speeds as well. But in general, loud fans come with the territory for compact yet powerful rigs.
Complaint 4: Display Not Bright Enough in Well-Lit Rooms
With a peak brightness rating of 300 nits, the Omen 16‘s 16-inch QHD screen should have enough luminance for comfortable use in most lighting scenarios. However, some users report the display still appearing washed out or hard to discern when brighter light is present in the room.
Using the Omen outdoors is not recommended – hardly any laptop screens fare well in direct sunlight. But even moderately-lit indoor environments seem to be problematic based on complaints. It‘s possible Quality Control issues are leading to panels not achieving the rated 300 nit brightness on some units. Consider professional color calibration if adjusting settings doesn‘t resolve things.
Complaint 5: Difficult Process for Upgrading RAM and Storage
One advantage of gaming laptops over consoles is upgradability – being able to enhance performance years down the road by installing more RAM or a larger solid state drive. But user complaints indicate the HP Omen 16 makes the process quite difficult compared to competing rigs.
Rather than quick-access panels held in place by a few standard Phillips head screws, getting inside the Omen 16 to access components requires prying plastic clips loose with a credit card. Few novice users feel comfortable digging in to that extent, so upgrade costs stack up paying for professional installation. For easy future upgrades, other brands rate more favorably.
Complaint 6: Muffled Sound from Bottom-Firing Speakers
Locating stereo speakers on the bottom of laptops rather than nearer the keyboard is commonplace these days, but the implementation on the HP Omen 16 leaves much to be desired. Reviews frequently cite muffled and distorted audio, especially when the laptop rests on soft surfaces like beds or couches that obstruct airflow.
Placing the Omen 16 on flat, hard surfaces helps sound resonate and travel freely through the chassis. But even then, the absence of upward-firing speakers or dedicated subwoofers leaves the audio experience feeling flat and lifeless. External solutions like headsets, sound bars, or Bluetooth speakers provide a vastly improved experience for both music and games.
Complaint 7: Too Few Ports for a Gaming Rig
Between external gaming peripherals, VR headsets, external monitors, and other accessories, PC gamers need ample ports for connecting gear. So the limited selection on the HP Omen 16 ranks as a top complaint for usability. You only get 3x USB Type-A ports, 1x USB-C, an HDMI, a Mini DisplayPort, and an SD card reader.
That selection leaves little room to plug everything in without investing in hubs/docking stations. And unfortunately, the USB-C port lacks cutting-edge Thunderbolt 4 support. For proper futureproofing, competing rigs from Razer and ASUS offer more plentiful options for both legacy gear and new accessories.
Should You Buy the HP Omen 16 Despite Complaints?
When considering these commonly reported complaints, determining whether or not the HP Omen 16 is a good fit depends entirely on your needs and usage. For mobile gamers who desire max portability or need 8+ hours of battery for work on the go, alternatives like the
Razer Blade 14 or ASUS Zephyrus G14 tend to satisfy on those fronts.
But within a given budget, competing Windows laptops achieve similar battery runtimes given the power-hungry components, and have comparably loud fans as well. Plus many Thunderbolt-equipped alternatives only offer slightly more ports.
Assuming your usage aligns with a mostly stationary setup the majority of the time, the HP Omen 16 remains an excellent value. The AMD-powered configurations in particular outperform competitors thanks to excellent thermals from the vapor chamber cooling system. Factor in the premium metal chassis build and per-key RGB backlighting, and few alternatives match what Omen delivers at each price point.
Just go in expecting mediocre battery life reserved for productivity, louder-than-average fans under load, and the need to adapt to a relatively port-limited I/O selection. For the actual gaming or content creation experience though – no major complaints there! Both the QHD 165 Hz and FHD 360 Hz displays earning acclaim for gorgeous visuals and buttery smooth frame rates.
Top HP Omen 16 Gaming Laptop Alternatives
If the downsides of the standard Omen 16 model outweigh the benefits for your particular situation, several alternatives from other top gaming PC brands improve upon some of the key complaints:
More Portable: Razer Blade 14
The Razer Blade 14 sets the benchmark for compact gaming machines thanks to innovative vapor chamber cooling paired with the latest Ryzen processors and RTX laptop GPUs. At just over 4 pounds and 0.66 inches thick, it‘s far easier to travel with than the Omen 16.
The 14-inch form factor does mean a slightly smaller screen, but still at a sharp QHD resolution with zippy 165Hz refresh rate. You also get reliable 6+ hours of battery for productivity on the go. Build quality is second to none as well with a premium unibody aluminum chassis.
Brighter Display: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
With sustained brightness over 400 nits, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15‘s 15.6-inch QHD panel shines bright enough to combat glare and use comfortably even in bright indoor lighting. The vibrant colors and buttery smooth 165Hz refresh rate provide incredible immersion for both games and videos.
Plus you benefit from the latest Ryzen processors and RTX graphics for elite frame rates at high settings in the most demanding AAA games. Improved battery efficiency also pushes run times close to the 6 hour mark for lighter use. Overall the best blend of power and portability before getting into pricier enthusiast territory.
Easy Upgrades: Alienware x15 R2
Competing gaming brands like Razer and ASUS also make component upgrades challenging compared to desktop towers. But Alienware‘s x15 R2 makes swapping the SSD, RAM, and even Wi-Fi card straightforward thanks to easily removable panels secured by just a few screws.
Processor options scale up to an Intel Core i9-12900HK and graphics up to an RTX 3080 Ti – hardly anything you‘ll feel the need to upgrade from for years. But if you do, the toolless access makes doing so a breeze compared to partially disassembling the device.
Key Takeaways: Biggest HP Omen Complaints
- Battery life capped around just 4 hours limits productivity time off the charger
- Obtrusively loud fans activate during intense gaming sessions
- Display not vibrant enough for well-lit indoor use
- Difficult process to upgrade components yourself down the road
- Audio from bottom-firing speakers sounds muffled on soft surfaces
- Port selection relatively limited necessitating dongles/hubs
Factoring around $2,000 for a well equipped configuration, the HP Omen 16 still delivers outstanding value and performance for the price. Competing options better suit specific priorities like mobility or certain use cases. But in terms of striking an ideal balance of gaming prowess, build quality, and features, few notebooks stack up better than the Omen at various budgets.
