After the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series graphics chips were finally revealed, a number of gaming laptops have been announced on CES 2025 taking advantage of technology. That included an updated flagship from HP's gaming brand, the Omen Max 16. The 16-inch laptop starts at $1,700 and is just over an inch thick, but packs high-performance components and a choice of three displays, making it suitable for creators and gamers.
- Up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 or Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs
- Up to 64GB DDR5-5600
- Up to 2TB Gen4 NVMe or 1TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
- OLED with a resolution of up to 2.5K with a variable refresh rate of 48-240 Hz
- Four-zone or per-key RGB keyboard lighting
The thickest laptop is only about 1.1 inches.
To keep performance as fast as possible, HP used a hybrid thermal paste called Cryo Compound, a mixture of liquid metal and metal grease. Combined with the company's airflow-enhancing Tempest Cooling system, you can expect better gaming and less thermal fumes. Also, since dirty fans are the enemy of efficient cooling, HP has implemented a simple solution to help keep dust collection at bay: the laptop will occasionally run the fans backwards a bit to prevent dust build-up.
Of course, what would a laptop announcement be these days if it didn't include a mention of artificial intelligence. Not only can the laptop be powerful enough to help with the development and use of artificial intelligence, HP has added some of its own to help you customize your gaming experience: Omen AI. With one click, it can scan your PC and recommend system, operating system and game settings to get the fastest frame rates and optimize performance. And it learns over time, so it keeps getting you the best personalized settings. It's currently in beta and only supports Counter-Strike 2, but HP says it will add more titles.
The laptop also looks fantastic. It still has a gaming laptop vibe, especially with the RGB keyboard lighting and optional front light bar. But its clean lines and discreet venting keep things fairly tame, so it won't look too out of place in the office. It will be available in gray and black, but the ceramic white I saw leaves a strong impression.
Look for the Omen Max 16 in the coming months.