For those (like me) who get a little knot in their stomach every time they see how much the best gaming laptops of any given year cost, the HP Victus series, a budget line that has become one of the most popular Best Buy in the two years since its premiere — is a welcome breath of fresh air.
HP made a bunch of flashy announcements at its Amplify Partner Conference today, but within them is one that I really think could make a difference for a lot of buyers: Victus 16 is updated for 2023 and it’s gone a bit wild.
Specifically, the Victus 16 is now available with an RTX 4070 graphics card. The 2021 Victus 16 just went up to an RTX 3050 Ti (a model currently listed at $949). Even if you include the older Victus 15, which has a wider range of chip options, the best option I see currently available is an RTX 3060. Needless to say, we can expect significantly better performance from that 4070 system than we would expect. of RTX 3050 Ti or RTX 3060 Models.
In terms of processors, the new Victus tops out at either an Intel Core i7-13700HX or an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS. These are high-end chips, the kind you’d expect to see in a very expensive laptop. And while I obviously can’t say for sure as of this writing, I wouldn’t be surprised if Victus is one of the most affordable ways to get any of these three chips in 2023.
I tested a Core i5/GTX 1650 model of the Victus 15 last year, which was listed at $799. It didn’t offer the same performance that you’d get from an RTX 4070 machine, but it was a decent platform with several attractive features.
Of course, I would expect a Victus 4070 to be more expensive than that GTX model. But the former could still be a compelling option for price-conscious buyers who don’t need a fancy chassis or fancy RGB lights, but do want powerful performance in demanding games.
On the more expensive front, HP has also announced a new Omen Transcend 16 device with a 16:10 Mini LED display (claiming 1180 nits of peak brightness), a 4.6-pound (2.1 kg) magnesium frame and a new square vent design. . It’s HP’s thinnest and lightest gaming laptop to date. This is more of a multipurpose laptop that could be used on the go for things like work and study. HP claims it’s built for “play, work, and everything in between.”
The Transcend 16 goes up to a Core i9-13900HX and RTX 4070. (It appears to be Intel only, unlike the Victus.)
HP also updated its regular Omen 16 laptop with 13th Gen Intel (up to a Core i9-13900HX) and Ryzen 7000 (up to a Ryzen 9 7940HS) options. This will go up to an RTX 4080 and offer a 240Hz QHD display.
Victus 16, Omen Transcend 16 and Omen 16 are expected “early this spring.” They will start at $1,049.99, $1,299.99, and $1,699.99, respectively.
