The new HP Omen 16 Slim isn't actually that skinny, but it is a surprisingly good budget gaming laptop - if you can get it at the right price

Date:
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 09:16:44 +0000

Description:
The HP Omen 16 Slim does a surprisingly good job of the currently almost impossible task of serving up decent laptop gaming at an affordable price.

FULL STORY ======================================================================HP Omen 16 Slim: Two-minute review In these strange times where PC memory prices seemingly double by the day , an affordable gaming laptop is a tantalising prospect. But is it actually realistic? Enter the HP Omen 16 Slim, HP's
latest mainstream gaming portable.

There are two core variants of the Omen 16, a standard-sized model and this so-called "Slim". Long story short, this Slim model is a little skinnier but still isn't exactly super compact for a 16-inch laptop, thanks to not only a fairly hefty lower screen bezel, but also a chassis that sticks out beyond
the base of the display. At least the slightly tanky proportions translate into a tanky chassis with a solid feeling keyboard bed. Anyway, it's the
value proposition that matters and that means getting into the specs. CPU-wise, we're talking Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which is a pretty modern 16-core chip from Intel's Arrow Lake generation. Here it's configured with 24GB of DDR5 in dual 12GB SoDIMMs. But various configs are available, including 16GB and 24GB. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

There's also 1TB Gen 4 SSD, but with any gaming laptop surely the most important single component is the GPU and it's no surprise to find an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 8GB doing the pixel pumping duties. (Image credit: Future) It's one up from the bottom of Nvidia's RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs, but it
gets the full feature set, including all the latest DLSS upscaling bells and whistles. It outputs to a 165Hz 16-inch LCD display with a native resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 pixels, making it a 16:10 aspect panel rather than the
usual 16:9 ratio.

The battery is a pretty generous 70Wh item, meanwhile, and networking
includes WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 and Ethernet. Slightly less impressive is the physical connectivity. Not only are you limited to just one USB-C port (plus three USB-A), it can only do a measly 10Gbps. So, the only video out is the single HDMI 2.1 port.

Of course, gaming performance is the key metric here, and the results are pretty good, albeit with one major caveat. This skinnier Omen 16 Slim makes
do with 110W of Total Platform Power (TPP) and 80W maximum for the GPU, where the full-sized Omen 16 cranks that up significantly to 170W TPP. Given
premium gaming laptops can supply as much as 175W and more just for the GPU, you can see how 110W for everything, including CPU, RAM and storage, can be a limiting factor. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

That said, the RTX 5060 GPU is pretty efficient and well matched with the 1200p (near-enough 1080p) 165Hz display. You'll need to use DLSS upscaling to get slick frame rates in the most demanding games. But, broadly, you'll get fairly smooth results at very high detail settings. What's more, the chassis doesn't get too hot and the fan noise is moderate.

All of which means HP has done a nice job with the HP Omen 16 Slim. It's well built, mostly well specified and delivers a pretty sweet gaming experience. Whether it makes sense as a buy comes down to pricing. As configured here
with 24GB of RAM, it's a little spendy. But there's an otherwise identical 16GB model that we just spotted for a whisker under $1,200. Right here in 2026, that's a very decent deal. HP Omen 16 Slim review: Price & availability (Image credit: Future) Available for 1,499 in the UK with 24GB of DDR5 The closest US config rocks 16GB of DDR5 for $1,599 Looks out for deals on sites like Newegg In this precise configuration with 24GB of DDR5 RAM, the HP Omen 16 Slim weighs in at 1,399 in the UK . That's actually very good given
current memory prices, right now. Indeed, you could argue it would make sense to knock that back to 16GB, keep everything else the same, and save some money.

Indeed, in the US, just that configuration is available, while the 24GB
option is not. With 16GB, you're currently looking at $1,599 , which is a
fair bit less appealing. Currently, an otherwise identical version but with
an RTX 5050 instead of the RTX 5060 can be had for $1,198 on Newegg , which implies you might be able to bag one with the 5060 and 16GB for around $1,400 at some point if you hang around and wait for a deal. At that price point,
the HP Omen 16 Slim would start making a lot of sense. HP Omen 16 Slim
review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0

Base spec

Review config

Price

$1,189 / 1,100 (estimated UK price)

1,399 / $1,799 (estimated US price)

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

Graphics

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

RAM

16GB DDR5

24GB DDR5

Display

16-inch 1200p (1,920 x 1,200), 144Hz, IPS, 300 nits

16-inch 1200p (1,920 x 1,200), 165Hz, IPS, 400 nits

Storage

1TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4

1TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4

Ports and Connectivity

1x USB Type-C 10Gbps (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 3x USB Type-A 5Gbps, 1x ethernet, 1x headphone/mic combo jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 76E Bluetooth 5.4

1x USB Type-C 10Gbps (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB Type-A 5Gbps, 1x ethernet, 1x headphone/mic combo jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 76E Bluetooth 5.4

Battery

70Whr

70Whr

Weight

5.35lbs/ 2.425kg)

5.35lbs/ 2.425kg

Dimensions

14.1 x 10.6 x 0.9 inches / 35.75 x 26.9 x 2.27 cm

14.1 x 10.6 x 0.9 inches / 35.75 x 26.9 x 2.27 cm HP Omen 16 Slim review: Design (Image credit: Future) Not actually that "Slim" Solid, well-built chassis Connectivity is only OK Cooling is well executed The HP Omen 16 Slim is mostly plastic, just the bottom cover is metal. But it still feels very solid and durable. The Keyboard is nice and stable, with only a touch of flex when pushed hard. The keyboard, while we're on the subject, has four configurable RGB lighting zones, but at this price point, you're not going to get per-key lighting.

HP has done a nice job with the cooling, too. The twin fans draw air from the bottom cover and push it out the back and do so without making too much
noise. However, despite the "Slim" branding, this is not a super compact laptop. (Image credit: Future) Coming in at 1.99cm to 2.27cm thick, where the standard Omen 16 measures between 2.39cm and 2.54cm, the 16 Slim is thinner than its sibling. But it's still not that compact.

Thanks to a rather large chine bezel and the way the rear of the chassis sticks out beyond the screen hinge, the Omen 16 Slim actually has a larger footprint than many laptops that trade on pure performance rather than portability and also tips the scales at 2.42kg. So, it's no featherweight.

In that context, the somewhat limited connectivity is a touch disappointing. You get three USB-A ports, but just one USB-C and even the latter is limited to 10Gbps, though it does at least support video out and charging the laptop itself. HP Omen 16 Slim review: Performance (Image credit: Future) Decent frame rates at 1200p with DLSS Seriously quick SSD Fan noise is reasonable HP Omen 16 Slim benchmarks 3DMark: Night Raid: 57,311; Fire Strike: 25,198 ;
Time Spy: 10,454; Port Royal : 6,372 Geekbench 6: Multicore: 14,468; Single-core: 3,114 Cinebench R24: Single Core: 134; Multi Core: 2,713 Crossmark: Overall: 1,992; Productivity: 1,888; Creativity: 2,182; Responsiveness: 1,783 Passmark Overall: 10,817; CPU: 38,631; 2D Graphics:
819; 3D Graphics: 17,174; Memory: 3,094; Disk: 36,232 CrystalDiskMark: Read: 7,025MB/s; Write: 5,895MB/s Shadow of the Tomb Raider: (1200p, High): 132fps; (1200p, High, DLSS Quality): 139fps Total War: Warhammer III: (1200p, Ultra): 83fps; (1200p, Low): 205fps Cyberpunk 2077: (1200p, Ultra, no RT): 70fps; (1200p, RT Ultra, DLSS Balanced): 51fps Doom: Dark Ages: (1200p, Ultra): 57fps; (1200p, Ultra, DLSS Quality): 83fps Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 12 hours and 32 minutes Intel's Core Ultra 7 255H is very much a known quantity, what with its eight Performance and eight Efficient CPU cores. It's all you need for gaming in CPU terms, so the HP Omen 16 Slim's critical
gaming component compared with the competition among the best gaming laptops is that Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU and how well it's been implemented.

This thinner HP Omen 16 Slim model does suffer slightly in the wattage department, with the Total Platform Power shared across the GPU, CPU, memory and more capped at 110W. But that doesn't absolutely hobble gaming performance.

For instance, running at the 16-inch display's native 1,920 by 1,200 resolution, you can crank Cyberpunk 2077 right up, with Ultra RT settings and Quality DLSS scaling and still get 44fps average frame rate. (Image credit: Future) OK, that's not spectacular. But it is acceptable for a single-player title. Switch off the ray tracing and you'll be looking at frame rates nearer 100. Moreover, in less demanding games, let's say something a little older like Shadow of the Tomb Raider , you can hit over 130fps even without DLSS upscaling and really make the most of the 165Hz refresh rate of the 16-inch display.

Speaking of the screen, the 16:10 aspect is a little odd and adds a little
GPU load versus a vanilla 1080p panel. But it's reasonably vibrant, with nice-ish colours and contrast and decent 3ms response times. It's nothing special, but probably what you'd expect at this price point.

Just note the panel reviewed here is the upgrade 400 nit option. The base display is only 300 nits, runs at 144Hz and has much less colour fidelity. Avoid that if at all possible. (Image credit: Future) The 16 Slim's thermal performance is pretty impressive, too. It doesn't get too hot under load and the fan noise is reasonable. Well, it is unless you enable "Unleashed Mode"
in the Omen Gaming Hub app. That cranks up the fans, but doesn't do much for frame rates.

Elsewhere, the SSD is particularly nippy, clocking over 7GB/s for reads and nearly 6GB/s for writes. For what is pitched as a value-orientated system, that's impressive. As for other elements, the sound quality from the speakers is tolerable at this price point, but the volume could be a little higher,
and the webcam quality is OK.

In terms of physical performance, the chassis feels robust, even though only the bottom cover is made of metal, and the keyboard base is nice and solid with minimal flex. As for the trackpad, it's mechanical and doesn't have niceties like a glass cover. But it's large and works well enough. It's also worth noting that the memory, storage and Wi-Fi cards are all upgradeable, which is welcome in an age where too many laptops have everything soldered
on. HP Omen 16 Slim review: Battery life (Image credit: Future) Surprisingly good for a budget gaming laptop USB-C charging is supported Not actually all that portable Undoubtedly one of the HP Omen 16 Slim's more impressive
aspects is battery life. OK, you're not going to get more than a couple of hours of light gaming off the mains, but for watching video, this laptop has some real legs.

Our local video playback test netted over 12 and a half hours with the screen at half brightness. That's a realistic setting for use on, say, a plane, albeit you might want to wind the screen up a little in bright daylight.

Whatever, that's a very impressive result for a gaming laptop and makes this portable much more plausible as an all-round computing device to take with
you on trips and outings. The caveat to that is that the fairly large proportions and relatively hefty 2.4kg kerb weight mean this isn't a laptop you're going to sling into a small shoulder bag and forget about. Should I
buy the HP Omen 16 Slim? HP Omen 16 Slim: Scorecard Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Prices are pretty variable depending on spec and location. But certain Omen
16 Slim configurations do look appealing. You may need to keep your scanners peeled for a good deal, however.

4 / 5

Design

The "Slim" branding suggests something very compact, but this is actually a fairly beefy 16-inch laptop. That said, it is solidly built with a decent keyboard. It's just a pity the connectivity isn't a touch more comprehensive.

4 / 5

Performance

This is a value-orientated gaming laptop, so expectations should be kept in check. But the RTX 5060 GPU matches well with the 16-inch display and you can run pretty much any title at high detail settings with the aid of DLSS upscaling.

3.5 / 5

Battery life

If there's one metric where the HP Omen 16 Slim delivers beyond expectations, it's battery life. You can expect over 12 hours of video playback, which is well beyond what most affordable gaming laptops can manage.

5 / 5

Total Score

Much depends on the price you can bag on the HP Omen 16 Slim. But if you can find a good deal, you'll get good performance, solid build and a nice all-round package.

4 / 5 Buy the HP Omen 16 Slim if

You want decent value in today's weird market Nothing's cheap when it comes to gaming PCs, these days. But the HP Omen 16 Slim is definitely decent value in the current context of spiralling memory prices.

You want good battery life Most gaming laptops struggle away from the mains. But the HP Omen 16 Slim will do 12 hours-plus of video playback on the battery. Don't buy it if

You're looking for great portability Despite the "Slim" branding, this is
not a particularly compact or light 16-inch laptop. But it is solid and feels built to last.

You need cutting-edge performance The HP Omen 16 Slim puts out decent frame rates for a mainstream laptop. But its RTX 5060 GPU is limited to 80W and
this is not a high-end machine. HP Omen 16 Slim review: Also consider

Asus V16 If you're looking for something even cheaper, try the Asus V16. It uses older Nvidia RTX 30 and 40 Series GPUs to achieve a few savings. But
it's surprisingly well built and very portable for a gaming laptop. Read our full Asus V16 review .

Medion Erazer Major 16 X1 If you want more performance without breaking the bank, try the Medion Erazer Major 16 X1 and its RTX 5070 Ti GPU. It's heavy, feels and bit cheap and the battery life is poor. But it'll kick out some
very impressive frame rates. Read our full Medion Erazer Major 16 X1 review . How I tested the HP Omen 16 Slim HX (Image credit: Future) Used as my daily rig for two weeks Threw my Steam library at Got forensic with the screen and build quality I've been round the block when it comes to gaming laptops. My first portable ran a GeForce 2 Go, if you can remember back that far. My current lappie runs an RTX 4080, and there have been plenty more in between. ANd those are just my personal machines. I've long since lost count of how many gaming laptops I've reviewed. There are always a few knocking around.

Over the years, I've learned a lot about what makes a good gaming laptop and
I applied that to the HP Omen 16 Slim over a couple of weeks. That means throwing everything in my Steam Library at it, from classic strategy titles like Total War to graphics fests including Cyberpunk 2077. All round performance, including the SSD, is also important, as is battery life for
what is, ultimately, meant to be a portable machine.

I'm also very picky when it comes to screen quality and keyboard feel and
have something of a forensic obsession with laptop build quality. You have to be realistic at this price point, but build quality is particularly important to gaming laptop longevity. Bendy chassis usually end up in flakey performance, eventually. First reviewed: July 2026 Read more about how we test



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/gaming-laptops/hp-omen-16-slim


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