Once you have a look at one of the best laptops in comparison with one of the best gaming laptops, there’s typically a transparent seen distinction, and I am not simply speaking about obnoxious RGB lighting. Gaming laptops are usually a lot greater and heavier. It is sensible, these are performance-oriented machines that are not precisely going to be taken to work each day. However then we have now the HP Omen 16 Transcend…
It is not fairly a MacBook-level of skinniness however that is the sleekest gaming laptop computer I’ve ever seen and the thinnest and lightest that HP has ever made. I used to be impressed with the common HP Omen 16 once I reviewed it beforehand, however even simply by way of the attention check the Omen 16 Transcend makes its mark. Let’s have a look at the way it fares in our HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment.
HP Omen 16 Transcend: Value & availability
The mannequin of this laptop computer I acquired is unsurprisingly very comparable in worth to the usual HP Omen 16 I reviewed earlier than: it is very a lot within the mid-range of the market at £1799/$1699. Each are within the purchasing widget above for comparability.
For that worth, you get a thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7 Processor and an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 GPU, so not absolutely the prime specs however at half the value of the likes of the MSI Raider GE78 HX, that is fairly good going.
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Design
(Picture credit score: Future)
As you might have heard me write already, that is one svelte laptop computer. However that is not all it has going for it. Just like the common HP Omen 16, the Transcend is not precisely a machine that screams ‘gamer’, and matched with the light-weight design you might positively get away with utilizing this as an everyday laptop computer in public.
The end does smudge a little bit simply, however the black metallic shell may be very simple on the attention and in my eyes resembles a stealth bomber. The magnesium-aluminium cowl and keyboard body is far nicer to the contact than plastic options.
At simply 2.16 kg, I had completely no qualms about placing this machine in my bag to hold round all day. The charger, so typically a lifeless weight on gaming laptops, is barely greater than that of a normal machine’s equal, too, which is far appreciated.
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Show
With the remainder of the laptop computer trying so good, it is a disgrace that the show would not fairly hit the identical heights.
Do not get me improper, the 16-inch widescreen (1920 x 1200 decision) panel is okay, but it surely’s not fairly what I would like for the value. I want that the QHD display screen of the common Omen 16 might make a reappearance, however this effort is nice sufficient.
No less than with a 165Hz refresh charge, video games must be lots clean, but it surely does imply that operating something over 165fps is a waste of sources.
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future)
Whereas it isn’t on the top-end of the market in worth phrases, the Omen 16 Transcend continues to be a number of occasions costlier than a console. However are you able to count on efficiency past the likes of the PS5 and Xbox Collection X?
The reply isn’t actually. Enjoying Deathloop (a stunningly stunning recreation) on extremely settings and with efficiency boosted to the max, I might get a body charge persistently between 50-60fps. Nonetheless, the machine was operating fairly loud and heat on the again particularly. Unplugged, it was a unique story, with round 15-20fps in busier moments on display screen.
Bethesda’s Starfield was one other check for this laptop computer. Whereas I might obtain a playable 40fps on extremely settings when related to the mains, that dropped to round 15-20fps as soon as disconnected from the facility supply, which is bordering on unplayable. In fact by cutting down the settings, you may get a lot smoother efficiency.
In the event you’re not after a laptop computer/console hybrid, the value is a giant hurdle to recover from, whereas those that are on the hunt ought to take into consideration what they’re utilizing it for and think about the less expensive Acer Nitro 5 too. It is probably not as trendy however your pockets will thanks and it has comparable efficiency ranges.
By way of benchmarking, it is best to count on an affordable degree of efficiency from the Transcend: its single core CPU rating was 2608, whereas multi-core delivered 138,85 and the GPU scored 97,291.
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Options
(Picture credit score: Future)
In fact whereas its gaming efficiency is probably not fairly extraordinary, there’s greater than sufficient laptop computer right here to do just about something you might need by way of on a regular basis duties.
Certainly, that is the place the smooth dimension actually pays off – as it’s primarily a strong Home windows machine, that additionally runs video games. The keyboard is a pleasure to make use of and I discovered the keys to be properly spaced out, avoiding any misinputs. If I am being choosy, I’d have preferred an Intel Core i9 processor at this worth although.
Sound from the twin audio system is cheap, however nothing to put in writing house about, particularly when the machine itself can run loud. If doable, I’d pair it with among the best gaming headsets as an alternative.
Whereas the bigger Omen 16 did not have any Thunderbolt ports, I am happy to say that the Transcend has two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 choices in addition to two normal USB-A ports. The webcam is a powerful 1080p effort and comes with a privateness slider too. An enormous thumbs up from me.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Row 0 – Cell 1 |
| Weight: | 2.16kg |
| CPU: | thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7-13700HX |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 |
| RAM: | 16GB DDR5 RAM |
| Show: | 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 165 Hz |
| Storage: | 1TB SSD |
| Webcam: | Full HD 1080p |
| Ports: | 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 2x USB-A, 2x 1x HDMI port,1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Battery life
Battery life is all the time a shortcoming for gaming laptops, but it surely’s notably noticeable with the Omen 16 Transcend. A 70Wh battery is completely tremendous when utilizing it as a standard laptop computer, with round 7 hours of life, however when gaming you may battle to play graphically intense video games for longer than round 45 minutes.
No less than the 230W charger is sufficiently light-weight so it is not an actual inconvenience to hold round in your bag. Some gaming laptops include gigantic brick-like plugs which might be a trouble, however that is not the case right here.
HP Omen 16 Transcend assessment: Verdict
(Picture credit score: Future)
The HP Omen 16 Transcend brings a stunning design that has real attraction in comparison with the large brutes that dominate the gaming laptop computer market, whereas nonetheless providing a powerful degree of efficiency.
Having stated that, the display screen and battery life depart a little bit extra to be desired at this worth level.
Total, if you would like a laptop computer that is additionally able to first rate gaming, then this can be a nice alternative. In any other case that trade-off for slenderness for sake of energy and cooling won’t match the invoice.
Additionally think about
In the event you just like the design of this laptop computer (however do not thoughts it being a bit chunkier) then the HP Omen 16 is at an identical worth with a a lot nicer QHD show.
The budget-conscious ought to think about the Acer Nitro 5, whereas if cash is totally no object the think about for the MSI Raider GE 78 HX.
