In June, HP unveiled three new gaming-focused laptops in India: the Omen Transcend 16, Omen 16, and Victus 16. The Victus 16-R0075TX model is the most affordable among the three, featuring the 13th-generation Intel processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics, and a 165Hz refresh rate display as some of its key features. Here is a review of the Victus 16 (2023) to inform potential buyers about what they can expect from this affordable gaming notebook.
Design, Display, Speakers, and Keyboard
The HP Victus 16 (2023) boasts a polycarbonate construction that feels sturdy but is on the heavier side, weighing 2.31 kg. The weight is primarily due to its large 16-inch display and capacious battery. The Performance Blue-colored device features a “V” logo on the lid, and its left and rear sides house the ports and air vents. The laptop’s hinge is solid, ensuring a stable screen without any noticeable wobbling.
The Victus 16 features a 16.1-inch IPS LCD panel that delivers a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color gamut, and wide 178-degree viewing angles. While the peak brightness reaches 300 nits, which might be considered moderate, it proves sufficient for indoor use. Positioned on either side of the device, the B&O dual-speaker system produces a satisfactory sound output without any noticeable distortion. While the built-in speakers are adequate, they fall short of the immersive experience that a connected gaming headset or PC speaker can offer.
The laptop features a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad, and in this version, includes backlighting, though it doesn’t feature RGB lighting. The keys are well-spaced, providing a comfortable typing experience with ample palm-resting space. However, I don’t like the position of the power button, which is right next to the Delete key. Quite a few times, I ended up hitting the power key when I wanted to access the Del key. There are dedicated buttons for accessing the Omen app and the calculator. Despite my preference for a mouse, the trackpad is generously sized, can disregard accidental swipes, and is user-friendly.
Performance and Battery Life
Being a 2023 edition variant, the HP Victus 16 features the 13th generation Intel Core i5-13500HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 with 6 GB GDDR6 VRAM, an impressive combination for this device. I played games like GTA V, Forza Horizon 4, and F1 22, and the gaming experience was exceptionally smooth, with vibrant graphics and responsive gameplay that showcased the hardware’s power and capabilities. It supports games with ray tracing support, enhancing lighting, shadows, reflections, and textures. The laptop’s battery life tends to drain a bit faster during intensive gaming than during regular use.
The Victus 16 has two RAM slots, both occupied by a pair of 8 GB DDR5-4800Hz RAM modules. In terms of storage, the device comes with 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 SSD storage and is preloaded with Windows 11 Home. Under general use, the laptop’s dual-fan cooling system operates silently. The fan noise increases during intensive gaming, but it remains unobtrusive. The Omen Gaming Hub app can be used for various kinds of customization, such as keyboard lighting, monitor performance, and game optimizations including overclocking, power profiles, fan speed, network booster, and more.
In addition to its exceptional gaming capabilities, I extensively used the HP Victus 16 for daily productivity tasks, contributing content across various platforms. This involves managing multiple tabs on Chrome, with YouTube running in the background, as well as running two instances of Chrome, one of Microsoft Edge, and engaging in image editing. The laptop seamlessly handled these demanding workloads, showcasing its efficiency and reliability for productivity. Remarkably, it sustained this level of performance throughout my entire work session on a single charge, demonstrating a commendable balance between gaming prowess and productivity efficiency.
The notebook is equipped with a 230W charger, requiring approximately two hours to fully charge its 6-cell 83Whr battery. Following a full charge and engaging in approximately one hour of gaming along with some content writing, the device offers a commendable battery backup lasting around five hours.
Connectivity, Ports, and Other Features
On the left side of the Victus 16 (2023), it offers a USB-A port with charging support, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. On the right side, there’s a USB-C port with USB-PD charging and DisplayPort 1.4 support, two USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio/microphone jack, and a power adapter connector. Additionally, the device supports fast Wi-Fi 6e and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.
Despite being a gaming laptop, HP has commendably included a decent 2-megapixel Full HD webcam equipped with a privacy shutter and dual array microphones. The webcam is adequate for video conferencing and calls. The device lacks the following features: a microSD card slot, a fingerprint sensor, and a Kensington lock slot.
Price
As mentioned earlier, the HP Victus 16 (2023) is available in two configurations. The variant that includes an RGB-lit keyboard and Intel UHD graphics costs Rs 1,29,990, while the one with a backlit keyboard and GeForce RTX 4050 graphics is priced at Rs 1,24,990.
HP Victus 16 (2023) review: Verdict
The HP Victus 16 (2023) stands out as a formidable gaming laptop, offering an impressive blend of performance and value. It tackles demanding games with ease thanks to its 13th-generation Intel Core i5-13500HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics. A decent battery life lasting about five hours on a single charge and the inclusion of a high-refresh-rate 165Hz display guarantee fluid and responsive gameplay.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that the device leans towards the costlier side and carries a bit of bulk, justified by its expansive display size and robust battery. The absence of an SD card slot, present in its predecessor, and a quad HD resolution may be considered downsides given the device’s price point. Nevertheless, for gamers prioritizing both performance and extended battery life, coupled with a comfortable keyboard for productivity, the HP Victus 16 (2023) stands out as a compelling and versatile option.
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