### HP Omen 17: A Streamlined Gaming Laptop That Provides Reliable Performance
The **HP Omen 17** is designed for gamers who appreciate simplicity, featuring a sleek and minimalist aesthetic combined with sufficient customization to maintain engagement. In contrast to many gaming laptops that flaunt vibrant RGB lighting and striking designs, the Omen 17 embraces a more subtle appearance. Frankly, it’s a welcome departure.
While the plastic exterior may not convey the premium feel of aluminum, it effectively reduces weight and enhances thermal performance. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds, it is already on the heavier side, and an aluminum chassis would add to that. The compromise? A robust machine that easily manages AAA gaming.
Is it the top contender for gaming laptops? Probably not. However, with its **RTX 4070 GPU**, impressive thermal engineering, and reliable performance, it certainly stands out as a formidable option. Let’s explore the specifics.
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### HP Omen 17: Pricing and Specifications
The model I examined is priced at **$1,799** (currently available with a $300 discount at B&H). For this mid-tier investment, here’s what you receive:
– **AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU**
– **Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB VRAM**
– **32GB RAM**
– **1TB SSD storage**
– **17.3-inch, 2560 x 1440-pixel display with a 240Hz refresh rate**
If you’re in search of a more economical choice, a version with an **RTX 4050 GPU (6GB VRAM)** can be found for **$1,599** on Amazon. All other specifications remain unchanged.
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### Design: Stylish Yet Plastic
Upon first inspection, the HP Omen 17 captivates with its sleek, all-black finish and discreetly etched “Omen” logo on the lid. However, a closer examination shows that the entire casing is crafted from plastic, giving it a somewhat budget feel. Nevertheless, the plastic build offers benefits, particularly in terms of heat regulation.
Despite its plastic nature, the laptop feels solid, featuring resilient hinges and a thoughtfully engineered thermal setup. The understated aesthetic appeals to those in need of a gaming laptop that can also serve as a professional device. The single-zone RGB keyboard and internal speaker layout subtly indicate its gaming nature.
Another advantage: accessing the internals is straightforward. Removing the base panel uncovers swappable RAM modules, a changeable WLAN card, and an additional M.2 SSD slot for extra storage or dual-booting with Linux.
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### Display: Sharp Yet Dim
The **17.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1440)** IPS display boasts a **240Hz refresh rate** and **3ms response time**, making it ideal for gaming sessions. Watching the *Beetlejuice* trailer on YouTube revealed clear details like fine facial features and stray hairs. However, the colors appeared somewhat flat, and the brightness could be better.
Although the display performs adequately for gaming, an OLED or mini-LED option—or even elevated brightness—would elevate the experience. For the moment, it’s functional but lacks excitement.
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### Ports: Ample Connectivity Options
The HP Omen 17 is equipped with a generous selection of ports, located on both sides and the rear:
– **Left:** Headset jack, Gigabit Ethernet port
– **Right:** USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5 Gbps)
– **Back:** Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4a), HDMI 2.1, DC-in power port
The DC-in port is strategically positioned at the back for convenient cable management. With three USB-A ports available, there’s ample space for wired accessories.
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### Audio: Below Expectations
Laptop speakers often disappoint, and the HP Omen 17 is no exception. The audio is thin, with weak bass and low volume. Tracks like “dancing in the kitchen” by LANY and “Real” by Unprocessed lacked richness and clarity. If high-quality sound is crucial for you, investing in a solid gaming headset is advisable.
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### Keyboard and Trackpad: Practical but Imperfect
The keyboard is a weaker aspect of the Omen 17. The keys lack the desired clickiness typically found in gaming laptops, and the arrow keys are inconveniently small. While the RGB backlighting is a nice feature, it is restricted to single-zone lighting, and all modifications must be managed via the Omen Light Hub.
For casual activities such as sending emails or conducting research, the keyboard suffices. However, for gaming, you may want to consider a mechanical keyboard.