HP OMEN 2025, Core Ultra 7 255H, 16GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 5060, Shadow Black

The HP OMEN 16-am0073dx is a solid mid-range gaming laptop with a fast Core Ultra 7 processor and RTX 5060 that handles modern games well. The 144Hz display is smooth, the port selection is excellent, and the keyboard feels great. Just know the screen is dim, battery life is mediocre, and the price varies wildly, so shop carefully.

The Core Ultra 7 255H is a 16-core chip that sits in the 85th percentile for CPUs in our database. That's strong, one of the better mobile processors you can get without stepping up to a flagship i9 or Ryzen 9. In practice, it chews through everyday multitasking and keeps the RTX 5060 fed in games. The GPU lands in the 89th percentile, which means it's a standout for this price bracket. You'll get smooth frame rates at 1920x1200 on high settings in most titles, and the 144Hz panel actually lets you see those extra frames.

The 16GB of DDR5 is about average for this class, sitting in the 61st percentile. It's enough for gaming and general use, but if you're running heavy creative workloads or lots of browser tabs while gaming, you might feel the ceiling. The 1TB SSD is also middle of the pack at the 67th percentile. It's fast and roomy enough for a decent game library, and both RAM and storage are upgradable, which is a nice bonus HP kept intact.

One thing to note: this laptop runs hot under extended load. Multiple owners mention the fans get noisy at max setting, and the chassis can get toasty. That's not unusual for a gaming laptop with this much hardware inside, but it's worth knowing if you plan to game on your lap.

Against the Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US, the OMEN holds its own on raw specs but gives up some polish. The Legion typically has a brighter, more color-accurate display and better cooling, though the OMEN's port selection is actually better. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403WR is a different beast entirely: smaller, lighter, and more portable, but with a smaller screen and usually a higher price. If you want something you can actually carry around, the G14 wins. If you want a desktop replacement that stays on a desk, the OMEN makes more sense.

The MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 is a closer competitor in size and purpose. It tends to offer similar or better performance but often runs louder and hotter. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition isn't really a gaming machine, so it's only worth considering if you care more about battery life and build quality than frame rates. For pure gaming value, the OMEN at its lower price point beats most of these. At the higher price, it loses that edge quickly.

Here's where things get interesting. The HP OMEN 16-am0073dx is listed at two different prices right now: $1,025 and $1,998. That's a $973 spread for what appears to be the same laptop. The lower price, likely an open box or sale listing at Best Buy, makes this a genuinely good deal. At $1,025, you're getting an 89th percentile GPU and an 85th percentile CPU for less than many RTX 4060 laptops cost. At $1,998, you're overpaying significantly. For that money, you could look at an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or even a MacBook Pro M4 Pro if gaming isn't your only priority. If you can find this OMEN near the low end of that range, it's a strong value. If you can only find it near the top, walk away.

The HP OMEN 16-am0073dx is a mid-range 16-inch gaming laptop that pairs Intel's new Core Ultra 7 255H with an RTX 5060. It's aimed squarely at people who want solid 1080p and 1440p gaming performance without jumping into the truly expensive tier. The spec sheet looks good on paper: 16GB of DDR5, a 1TB SSD, and a 144Hz display. But the price is a bit of a moving target right now, ranging from $1,025 to $1,998 depending on where you look.

For everyday stuff like Excel, Word, and web browsing, owners report getting 5 to 6 hours of battery life, which is fine for a gaming laptop. The keyboard and touchpad get consistent praise, and the port selection is genuinely generous for this class. You get Thunderbolt, USB-C, three USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. That's more than most thin-and-light competitors offer.

Is the HP OMEN 16 good for gaming? Yes, for most people. The RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM handles modern titles well at the native 1920x1200 resolution. Just don't expect desktop-class frame rates at max settings in the heaviest games. And if you're a creator, the 78.7 out of 100 score in our database puts it in solid territory, though the display's color coverage is a weak point we'll get into below.

Skip the HP OMEN 16 if you need a laptop you can actually carry around. At 2.43kg, it's one of the least portable options in our database, landing in the 14th percentile for compactness. If you do photo or video work, the 62.5 percent color coverage will frustrate you, so look at a MacBook Pro M4 Pro or a Legion 5i with a better panel instead. And if you're often away from an outlet, the 4 to 5 hour battery life will drive you nuts. For portability and battery, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition are much better fits.

Should you buy the HP OMEN 16-am0073dx? If you can find it for around $1,025, yes. That's a lot of gaming performance for the money, and the port selection and upgradability sweeten the deal. The 144Hz display is smooth, the keyboard feels good, and the RTX 5060 will keep you gaming for years at 1080p and 1440p.

But if the only listing you can find is near $1,998, no. At that price, the dim 300-nit screen, mediocre battery life, and heavy chassis become much harder to forgive. You'd be better off with a Legion 5i or a Zephyrus G14. The OMEN 16 is a good laptop at the right price, not a great laptop at any price.