HP Omen 17 (2024) Review: A Desktop Replacement Powerhouse?
Gaming laptops have come a long way — and HP’s Omen 17 (2024) is proof that portability no longer means sacrificing performance. Designed for hardcore gamers, streamers, and creative professionals, this laptop promises desktop-grade power in a sleek, modern chassis.
But with so many high-performance machines on the market in 2024, does the new HP Omen 17 truly stand out as a desktop replacement powerhouse? Let’s find out in this in-depth review.
1. Design and Build: Modern, Bold, and Purposeful
The HP Omen 17 (2024) strikes a perfect balance between minimalist style and aggressive gaming aesthetics. HP has refined the Omen lineup over the years, toning down the flashy RGB-heavy designs for a more mature, professional look — while keeping the gamer DNA intact.
The black aluminum chassis feels sturdy and premium, with clean lines and a subtle Omen diamond logo on the lid. Despite being a 17-inch gaming laptop, the design isn’t overly bulky. At around 6.1 pounds (2.77 kg), it’s portable enough to carry between your desk and LAN events, though it’s not designed for casual travel.
The large rear vents and angled chassis allow for better airflow, keeping temperatures in check even under heavy gaming loads.
🔗 See HP’s official Omen 17 design details: HP Official Site
2. Display: Big, Bright, and Beautiful
The Omen 17 (2024) offers multiple display configurations, all designed for gaming immersion.
Display Options:
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17.3-inch QHD (2560x1440) 240Hz IPS panel
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17.3-inch 4K (3840x2160) 144Hz display
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G-Sync and HDR support
The QHD 240Hz option is a sweet spot for most gamers — offering fluid visuals, low latency, and excellent color reproduction. The display delivers around 100% DCI-P3 coverage, making it suitable for content creation as well as gaming.
Whether you’re playing AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Call of Duty: Warzone, the experience feels buttery smooth. The anti-glare coating also reduces reflections, which is especially helpful during marathon sessions.
🔗 Read detailed display testing: NotebookCheck Omen 17 Display Review and Tom’s Hardware
3. Performance: Powered by Intel and NVIDIA
Under the hood, the HP Omen 17 (2024) is a true performance beast. It comes equipped with Intel’s 14th Gen Core i9 processors paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 GPUs — the same graphics architecture found in high-end desktops.
Core Specs:
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CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX (24 cores)
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GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 / RTX 4090 (175W TGP)
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RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5-5600
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Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
With this configuration, the Omen 17 handles everything from 4K gaming to professional workloads like 3D rendering, AI-assisted video editing, and CAD applications with ease.
In benchmarks, it consistently delivers over 120 fps in QHD gaming and over 200 fps in 1080p, depending on the title and settings.
The Omen’s Tempest Cooling technology keeps thermals under control, using a combination of large vapor chambers and high-speed fans. Even under full load, performance remains stable without excessive throttling.
🔗 Benchmark comparisons available at: Laptop Mag and TechRadar
4. Storage and Memory: Fast and Expandable
One of the best things about the HP Omen 17 is its expandability — something many modern laptops lack.
You can easily upgrade the RAM (up to 64GB DDR5) and storage (dual M.2 slots), giving it true desktop-level flexibility. The included PCIe Gen 4 SSD provides lightning-fast boot times and game loading speeds.
Whether you’re a gamer managing a massive Steam library or a video editor dealing with large files, you won’t run into performance bottlenecks.
5. Keyboard, Trackpad, and Build Experience
The Omen 17’s keyboard is designed with gamers in mind. It features per-key RGB backlighting, customizable through the OMEN Gaming Hub, allowing users to tweak lighting zones, macros, and key sensitivity.
Key travel feels comfortable and responsive — perfect for both competitive shooters and long typing sessions.
The trackpad is large and smooth, though most gamers will likely pair the laptop with an external gaming mouse. HP wisely keeps the palm rest cool, even during extended play.
6. Audio and Webcam: Enhanced for Streamers
The Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers deliver impressive volume and clarity, with strong mids and balanced bass. While external headsets still offer superior positional audio, these speakers outperform most gaming laptops in this category.
For streamers and remote workers, the 1080p IR webcam is a significant upgrade. It supports Windows Hello facial recognition, and HP includes AI noise reduction for clearer voice input — ideal for video calls or streaming setups.
7. Ports and Connectivity: Everything You Need
HP understands that gamers need plenty of connectivity, and the Omen 17 (2024) doesn’t disappoint.
Ports Include:
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2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
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3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
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1x HDMI 2.1
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1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4
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1x RJ-45 Ethernet port
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1x SD card reader
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1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring low latency and high-speed connectivity for online gaming and streaming.
🔗 Check HP’s official connectivity specs: HP Omen 17 Product Page
8. Battery Life: Powerful but Limited
With great power comes… short battery life. The HP Omen 17 houses a 6-cell 97Wh battery, which can last around 4–5 hours during regular use and roughly 1–1.5 hours during heavy gaming.
This is expected for a laptop of this caliber — the performance-hungry components simply require a lot of power. For gamers, the laptop is best used plugged in for maximum performance.
The included 330W power adapter ensures rapid charging and stable power delivery during high-load sessions.
9. Software: Omen Gaming Hub
The Omen Gaming Hub software acts as your all-in-one control center. From here, users can:
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Adjust RGB lighting and fan speed
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Monitor CPU/GPU performance
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Switch between performance modes
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Activate network boosters for low-latency gaming
It’s intuitive, stable, and doesn’t add bloatware — something HP has improved significantly in recent years.
🔗 Learn more: HP Omen Gaming Hub Overview
10. Pricing and Availability
The HP Omen 17 (2024) starts at around $1,799 for the RTX 4070 model, while higher-end variants with the RTX 4080 or 4090 can reach $2,999–$3,299, depending on specs.
Given the performance level, display quality, and expandability, it offers excellent value compared to rivals like the Alienware m18, Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, and Razer Blade 16, which often cost more for similar configurations.
🔗 Compare current prices:
HP Omen 17 on Amazon
Best Buy Omen 17 listings
HP Official Store
11. Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
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Exceptional gaming and creative performance
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Stunning QHD/4K display with 240Hz refresh rate
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Upgradable RAM and storage
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Premium build quality
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Excellent cooling system
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Comprehensive port selection
❌ Cons
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Heavy and not very portable
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Limited battery life
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Can get loud under heavy load
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Expensive high-end configurations
12. Final Verdict: The True Desktop Replacement
The HP Omen 17 (2024) lives up to its promise — it’s a desktop replacement powerhouse that delivers blistering performance in gaming, content creation, and multitasking.
With its top-tier Intel and NVIDIA components, gorgeous high-refresh display, and excellent cooling, it’s built for serious gamers and professionals who demand the best.
While it’s not the lightest or longest-lasting machine, its performance-per-dollar ratio makes it one of the most compelling 17-inch gaming laptops of 2024.
If you want uncompromised power, upgrade flexibility, and premium build quality — the HP Omen 17 (2024) deserves a top spot on your shortlist.