HP’s HyperX Omen 15 isn’t quite the budget-friendly gaming laptop its predecessor was

<figure> <img alt="A HyperX Omen 15 gaming laptop on a wood table, in front of a splash of cyan colored light." data-caption="Tough sell. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/268675_HP_HyperX_Omen_15_gaming_laptop_ADiBenedetto_0012.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Tough sell. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">The HP HyperX Omen 15, which I <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/851812/hp-hyperx-omen-name-gaming-laptop-branding-ces-2026">first saw at CES</a>, replaces the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23438982/hp-victus-15-gaming-laptop-review-specs-price">HP Victus 15</a>, a longtime bestselling budget gaming laptop. The Victus cost just $800, or less when on sale, and was a good entry point to decent laptop gaming.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Omen 15 has nice little upgrades over the Victus. Its RTX 5050 Laptop GPU can play 2026's latest games, albeit on low-ish settings. But it's also got a brighter 16:10 aspect ratio display with higher refresh rate, and a 1080p webcam to make it a little better for non-gaming stuff. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">I'd call it a working-class gaming laptop, but thanks to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/839353/pc-ram-shortage-pricing-spike-news">RAMageddon</a>, the Omen 15 starts at $1,200 - a far cry from the $800 that made its …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/974155/hp-hyperx-omen-15-gaming-laptop-rtx-5050-review">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>