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Most Powerful HP Omen Gaming Laptop Ever Has Clever Ways to Stay Cool and Clean

Yes, the new Omen 16 Max is loaded with the latest from Nvidia, Intel and AMD, but what good is all that performance if you're throttled all the time?

Headshot of Joshua Goldman
Headshot of Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Joshua Goldman
2 min read
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Josh Goldman/CNET

With the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics chips finally revealed, a flurry of gaming laptops was announced at CES 2025 taking advantage of the tech. That included an updated flagship from HP's gaming brand, the Omen Max 16. The 16-inch laptop starts at $1,700 and is just over an inch thick but has high-performance components and a choice of three displays, making it fit for creators and gamers. 

Read more: The Official 2025 Best of CES Awards, Presented by CNET

  • Up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 or Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
  • GeForce RTX 50-series laptop GPUs
  • Up to 64GB DDR5-5600
  • Up to 2TB Gen4 NVMe or 1TB Gen5 NVMe SSD
  • Up to 2.5K-resolution OLED with 48-240 Hz variable refresh rate
  • Four-zone or per-key RGB keyboard lighting
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The laptop is only about 1.1 inches at its thickest. 

 Josh Goldman/CNET

To keep performance as fast as possible, HP used a hybrid thermal paste called Cryo Compound, a blend of liquid metal and metal grease. Combined with the company's Tempest Cooling system that increases airflow, you can expect better gaming and less thermal throttling. Also, since dirty fans are an enemy of efficient cooling, HP implemented a simple solution to help keep dust collection down: the laptop will occasionally run the fans in reverse for a bit to prevent dust buildup. 

Of course, what would a laptop announcement be these days if it didn't include some mention of AI. Not only can the laptop be powerful enough to help develop and use AI, HP added some of its own to help fine-tune your gaming experience: Omen AI. With a single click, it can scan your PC and recommend system, OS and game settings to get you the fastest frame rates and optimize performance. And it learns over time, so it will continue to get you the best-personalized settings. It's currently in beta and only supports Counter-Strike 2, but HP says it will add more titles. 

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Josh Goldman/CNET

The laptop also just looks fantastic. It has a gaming laptop vibe still, especially with its RGB keyboard lights and an optional light bar in front. But its clean lines and discreet venting keep things pretty tame, so it won't look too out of place in an office. It'll be available in gray-black, but the ceramic white I saw makes a strong impression. 

Look for the Omen Max 16 in the coming months. 

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