HP Omen 15 (2021 Intel) review

HP Omen 15 (2021, Intel)

The Intel twin of the 2021 Omen 15 keeps the same $590 ticket but swaps in a Core i5 10300H and an RTX 3060 with 6GB of VRAM, still with 64GB of RAM. Two machines, one price, one badge — and meaningfully different sheets.

Where it holds up

The headline number is photo design at 96, top-tier and matched only by the HyperX Omen Max 16 at the very top of this batch — a remarkable reading for a five-year-old gaming chassis. Light office work at 91.91 is top-tier, gaming at 71 and overall performance at 76.24 sit high, and value at 71.05 holds the high band. The 64GB memory ceiling meets the gaming-class median outright. Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V and Rainbow Six Siege clear their recommended bars.

Where it falls short

Reliability at 45 is the weakest reading in this batch — a 15% shortfall against the gaming-class median of 53, and the one place the sheet openly disagrees with the 96 photo score. Mobility at 22 and portability at 26.2 both sit in the low band, the standard 2021 Omen build. Modeling and engineering CAD at 59 are mid-tier, and the 13.44% annual depreciation matches the AMD twin.

Price and depreciation

At $590 with 13.44% annual decay, the two-year projection lands near $440. The flat curve is the payoff for arriving late to a mature platform.

Alternatives to consider

The AMD twin in this batch trades the 3060 for a 1660 Ti and answers with a better value score, 80.15 versus 71.05, and a healthier reliability delta. If the 96 photo reading is the draw, nothing at $590 in this field comes close to it.

Bottom line

Fairly priced for the class. The strongest photo sheet in the batch outside the $1,800 flagship, a top-tier office score and 64GB for $590 — balanced against the batch's weakest reliability reading, which is the number to weigh before buying.