HP Victus 16: An Honest Review

HP saw the desire for a mid-range gaming laptop in India, and it performed well on paper. Does the new HP Victus 16 gaming laptop fulfil the dreams of lakhs of Indian gamers, or does it have more cons than pros? All will be revealed in this HP Victus 16 performance review.

HP Victus 16 Specs

PROS:

• CPU performance that may be relied upon
• Long-lasting batteries
• Expedient Gen 4 PCIe SSD

CONS:

• The implementation of the hinge is subpar.
• Pointy corners
• Display effectiveness: about average

Design

HP uses the same chassis as last year, thus few modifications. The Intel model has a tinge of blue called “Performance blue”, whereas the Mica Silver model is dark grey. It appears like a 15-inch notebook for a 16-inch notebook, but at 2.48kgs, it’s bulky and not portable. The lid has a slick embossed ‘V’ logo and branding at the hinge, but no flashy lights or colours. I like the sleek, non-flashy design, but the build quality is lacking. The laptop is wrapped in matte plastic that feels wonderful to touch. While that may make you feel good about sustainability, the build quality isn’t premium. Sharp edges and corners and a poorly constructed hinge mechanism cause the screen to shake excessively.

Display

The Victus 16 has a 16.1-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) display with 144Hz refresh rate. It’s a standard-looking 250-nit display that’s not dull. HP specifies 45 per cent NTSC coverage, but because it’s the same panel as last year, expect 65 per cent sRGB and 50 per cent Adobe RGB. It’s not lively, but it’s not horrible. Therefore, this display is not ideal for creative jobs like picture or video editing that require colour accuracy. While playing fast-paced games, response times are delayed, and ghosting occurs. It compares well to other gaming laptops in this class. Not the best, but not the worst display I’ve tested.

A keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard has a number pad and fits perfectly across the deck. Similar to last year, the layout has five rows of regular-sized keys and a slender row of function keys on top. The keys have white backlighting and sharp characters, but I wish the brightness could be adjusted. It’s just on or off. The keys are quiet, and the typing distance is good. You strain your wrists due to the laptop’s sharp edges. However, it depends on your hand positioning. The trackpad is large and responsive. Left and right clicks are average, and the finish isn’t premium.

The software and performance

The laptop comes with Windows 11 and lots of bloatware. The laptop included HP tools, McAfee antivirus, Bang and Olufsen audio control, and ExpressVPN for some reason. Apart from those, the laptop has the OMEN Gaming hub, which enables you to adjust performance modes and monitor key components. It also offers a centre for your games, prizes, a junk file cleaner, and other useless features. Additionally, the software feels like HP’s branding, which I didn’t enjoy. The rest of the gear is decent. The Ryzen 7 6800H’s capabilities are evident.

In Cinebench R23, the CPU scored 9875 multi-core and 1307 single-core. This performs similarly to last year’s Intel model with the Core i7-11800H, but it costs roughly Rs 20,000 more. I also recommend 16GB of RAM or upgrading in the future for more consistent multitasking, especially if you use many Chrome tabs. I found the laptop fast for daily tasks. Windows starts swiftly, loads apps and software rapidly, and can handle simple computing tasks.

Battery

The new Victus 16 has a 70Whr battery like last year’s. Due to its efficient AMD CPU, it had better battery life than the Intel variant we examined. I got 5-6 hours of battery life when browsing the web on Chrome, writing articles, editing photographs in Photoshop, and listening to music at 50% brightness. Gaming laptops last two hours before recharging.

Cost and availability

As an entry-level gaming laptop, the HP Victus 15 costs $549.99, while the Intel model costs $799.9. Mica Silver, Ceramic White, and Performance Blue are available now. HP Victus 15, announced earlier this year, is now available. As usual, Intel’s processors cost more, but AMD Ryzen 5000 and Intel 12th-gen are available. The AMD Ryzen model costs $549.99, and the Intel model $799.99. These base models have a Ryzen 5 5600H or Core i5-12450H and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. High-end models have RTX 3050 Ti or Radeon RX 6500M graphics. The hues include Mica Silver, Ceramic White, and Performance Blue. For the most part, HP.com has all colours.

Performance

Most laptops sent for testing include a Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. This time, HP supplied a base model with a Core i5-12450H, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD. First, who can game with 8GB RAM? Actually works. I started Forza Horizon 5 and played the gorgeous new Hot Wheels extra pack.

The default graphics level, medium, worked perfectly. For instance, the Pavilion Plus’s OLED display and CPU scores make it a superior photo editing laptop, but its graphics capability is lower. Therefore, its 3DMark result is much lower. The Acer Swift X has better overall results, but AMD Ryzen processors’ single-core CPU scores are inferior. My HP Victus 15 performed well and was above my expectations. I believed Core i5 and 8GB RAM would be bottlenecks.

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the HP Victus 16?

This information can usually be found on the official HP website, in the product manual, or on the product packaging.

What is the price of the HP Victus 16?

Pricing may vary depending on the model, configuration, and any ongoing promotions or discounts. Check the HP website or authorized retailers for the most current pricing.

What are the available configurations for the HP Victus 16?

HP typically offers different configurations with varying processors, graphics cards, RAM, and storage options. You can find this information on their website.

Is the HP Victus 16 suitable for gaming?

Gaming laptops like the HP Victus 16 are designed for gaming. The suitability for gaming depends on the specific model and its hardware components. Higher-end configurations with powerful CPUs and GPUs are typically better for gaming.

What is the display quality and refresh rate of the HP Victus 16?

The display quality and refresh rate can vary depending on the model. Check the product details to see if it offers a high refresh rate display, which is preferred for gaming.

Does the HP Victus 16 support upgradability?

Some gaming laptops allow you to upgrade certain components like RAM and storage. Check the product specifications to see if this is possible with the HP Victus 16.

What is the battery life of the HP Victus 16?

Battery life can vary depending on usage and configuration. Check the official specifications for the estimated battery life.

Does the HP Victus 16 come with pre-installed gaming software or bloatware?

Check whether there’s pre-installed software and if it’s possible to remove or customize it.

What kind of warranty does HP offer for the HP Victus 16?

It’s essential to understand the warranty terms, coverage, and duration for your laptop.

Where can I get technical support for my HP Victus 16?

Contact HP customer support or visit their support website for assistance with technical issues.