HP’s HyperX Omen 15 isn’t quite the budget-friendly gaming laptop its predecessor was

HP’s HyperX Omen 15 succeeds the popular Victus 15, adding an RTX 5050 Laptop GPU, brighter 16:10 display, higher refresh rate, and 1080p webcam. But its $1,200 starting price makes it far less budget-friendly than the $800 Victus it replaces, partly due to RAMageddon component pricing pressures.

The laptop highlights how entry-level gaming PCs are being squeezed as manufacturers add modest upgrades while costs rise. If component inflation persists, the budget gaming category may shift upward in price, leaving fewer strong options for first-time or price-sensitive buyers.