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HP’s HyperX Omen 15 isn’t quite the budget-friendly gaming laptop its predecessor was
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The entry-level gaming laptop segment has shifted significantly, with the cheapest current-gen option now costing 50% more than its predecessor. Engineers shopping for budget gaming or light content creation laptops now face a $1,200 floor for new GPU hardware, with build quality compromises in the trackpad, keyboard, and port selection that reflect where costs were cut to hit even that price.
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The Omen 15 starts at $1,200 compared to the Victus 15's $800, a price increase the reviewer attributes to 'RAMageddon' affecting the broader laptop market.
The RTX 5050 with 8GB VRAM runs last-gen games at 60-80fps on High with DLSS, but newer titles like Battlefield 6 and Halo: Campaign Evolved require Medium to Low settings for playable framerates.
Cost-cutting is evident in the single non-Thunderbolt USB-C port, a flex-prone plastic chassis that triggers accidental trackpad clicks, and C-to-D component ratings across keyboard, trackpad, and speakers.
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