If you are into gaming but have been finding it hard to come across a product that is available as a combination of performance, latest technology, and style, also at an affordable price range, then the new OMEN by HP 15 laptop could be where your search ends. The 15-dc0030nr of the HP OMEN gaming laptops range is a new introduction from the brand, designed to challenge other laptops from leading brands in terms of performance and graphics. The laptop belongs to the company’s mid-level gaming product, falling between their budget-friendly Pavilion Gaming laptops and high-end Omen X models available exclusively for hardcore gamers.
Designed to deliver desktop-class performance in a mobile unit, this HP Omen 15 model allows you to play almost all of your favorite latest games from anywhere, without having to sacrifice performance. The use of the latest processor, cutting-edge graphics, ample storage space, easy upgradability, and decent looks, this device looks like the right mix of specifications and gaming performance. Is it really that good a device? Only one way to find out.
In-Depth Review of OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr
Design
Let’s just put it directly out there: the HP Omen 15-dc0030nr is a stunner. The design of the laptop is gorgeous to look at; though this may not be the case for many regular laptop users, gamers will find the design extremely attractive and aggressive. The lid comes in a brushed aluminum finish in black, with an X shape divider in red, which divides the space into four quadrants. The Omen logo takes its usual position, and black and red, which happens to be the standard color scheme for all of HP’s gaming laptops, is followed here too.
When it comes to building quality, you can certainly expect a highly durable unit from HP. On the other hand, if you are looking for a gaming laptop that is thin and light in weight, the Omen 15-dc0030nr may not be the right choice for many. This is because the device weighs 5.5 pounds and is 1.02 inches in thickness; though the laptop is thinner and lighter than many other models, it cannot be considered an extremely portable and compact option available out there.
Display
The OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop that we got came with a 15.6-inch diagonal full HD IPS anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit display. The 1080p resolution of the display is able to deliver great visuals, bringing games to life. The screen’s viewing angles are wide enough, and along with the anti-glare feature, provides good visual output from every angle, and the IPS panel is one of the best in the segment, bringing out vibrant colors. The display comes with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which further enhances the quality and the output you get to experience.
What you also get are relatively narrow bezels, which basically reduce distraction and provide a great gaming experience. Furthermore, there are other variants of the OMEN by HP 15 series laptops that come with 4K display (for a higher price, of course), which can bring even the smallest details to life. Overall, the display is one area where the brand has managed to excel with their 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop.
Hardware Performance
Power for the HP Omen 15-dc0030nr is derived from the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H 6-core processor. These 6-core processors are known to produce highly enhanced performance than their predecessors, and the processor can be further tweaked to reach up to 4.1 GHz in clock speeds to attain a smoother gaming experience. This power is furthered by 16 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM. Additionally, you get a 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA HDD as the primary storage option and a 128 GB SSD as the backup storage. As you would be aware, these storage spaces are ample for gaming purposes, even if you intend to play graphics intensive games. And the fact that the system memory is upgradable makes the offering even more attractive for gamers.
With all the latest games involving intensified graphics and requiring powerful specifications, gaming laptops are likely to generate more heat than usual. To cope with this scenario, the Omen 15-dc0030nr comes with larger fan blades, fluid dynamic bearings, and a three-phase motor to enable the device to have consistent control over the fan speed in various configurations. Therefore, you can play your favorite high spec games without any heating concerns. And yes, the cooling system works amazingly well for regular tasks as well.
Gaming
For graphics, the OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop model includes discrete NVIDIA GPU GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of dedicated memory. This graphics option in itself offers an immersive gaming experience in any game you choose. In addition, you can boost your gaming experience further by opting to configure your laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chip with a Max-Q design, which can deliver more splendid performance, in addition to great energy-efficiency.
Not to forget, the GPU is also VR ready, which means you can expect to experience breakthrough gaming outputs, being able to feel and hear every moment of your games. On the whole, you get amazing graphics options with this HP Omen 15 laptop.
Connectivity
When it comes to ports and slots, you get a lot of connectivity options with the device. To start with, on the left you get a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, a media reader, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and a microphone-in port. On the right, you get a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port. The rear part of the laptop comes with ports such as Thunderbolt 3, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, and RJ-45. As you can see, you have immense number of ports to use for your varied requirements. For wireless connections, you can use the 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2 is on offer as well.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop packs a 4-zone backlit keyboard. While the full-size keyboard in itself is a wonderful addition, the use of 4 different backlights, providing increased lighting customization. The keyboard is easy to click and feels nice and crisp to the click. The WASD keys are also highlighted, making it possible for you to precisely command your every keystroke. You wouldn’t really have any big issue using it for gaming purposes or otherwise. However, you will need the backlight active in order to be able to read the lettering.
The touchpad, on the other hand, is not as fluid as you would see in premium laptops. Though responsive, there is still some amount of drag you will feel when using the touchpad. It does offer a good response to gesture commands, and the presence of physical right- and left- buttons is also a good addition.
Audio
For any laptop to provide a solid multimedia experience for its user, especially when gaming, good quality audio is extremely essential, in addition to stunning visuals. Audio by Bang & Olufsen along with HP Audio Boost in the OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop provides a completely captivating experience in terms of audio. Whether you are playing graphics intensive games or watching movies, you will experience loud and clear audio. However, similar to many other gaming laptop models, this one too lacks some punch in terms of bass, which can be evident when you play or watch action games or movies.
Battery Life
The OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr gaming laptop carries a 4-cell battery. When it comes to battery life, the company’s claims are up to 6 hours and 15 minutes with mixed usage, up to 4 hours with videos, and up to 3 hours and 15 minutes with wireless streaming. It is a given that laptops don’t always match the claims made by their manufacturers, but so manage to come quite close.
However, with this gaming laptop model, you cannot expect a decent run time. In fact, the device has one of the worst run times of all the laptops we have reviewed so far, even with reduced brightness and other energy consuming settings. And if you choose to go with the device with 4K resolution, expect the charge to drop much faster. The same applies to have a more powerful graphics card as well. Therefore, with the HP Omen 15-dc0030nr, keeping your charger nearby is the only solution to enjoy uninterrupted gaming.
Conclusion
The OMEN by HP 15-dc0030nr is a completely versatile gaming laptop model that has more positives to its name than negatives. The device ticks almost all necessary boxes for a gaming device, from the great display, ample storage options, and cutting-edge graphics to amazing audio output, comfortable keyboard, and good connectivity options. All of these features and configurations together make this one amazing gaming rig, overshadowing the minimal negatives. And available at a mid-level price range, this laptop will make many buyers happy.
Pros
- Attractive design and strong construction.
- Full HD display with great viewing angles.
- Amazing hardware performance.
- Upgradable system memory.
- Wide range of connectivity options.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Excellent audio output.
Cons
- Very poor battery life.
- Less responsive touchpad.
