HP Victus 16 review: an affordable gaming laptop with efficient performance

The HP Victus 16 laptop has a better design than the Pavilion models, powerful components and Windows 11 OS. Given its relatively low price, this laptop could be one of the most popular.

HP Victus 16 review

Gaming laptops are now at the peak of popularity, so it is not surprising that HP decided to create a new line of such devices. It is called Victus and is intended to replace the budget gaming systems Pavilion, although the company’s main products in this segment remain Omen.

What is the new Victus 16 capable of and is it worth buying? Find the answers in my review.

HP Victus 16 Features

Laptop class	Gaming
Processor	Intel Core i7-11800H
Processor Core Speed	2,3 GHz
RAM (verified)	16 GB
Drive type	SSD
Mass storage capacity (verified)	512 GB
Screen Size	16,1 inch
Display resolution	1920×1080 pixels
Touch screen	No
Panel Technology	IPS
Screen Update Rate	144 Hz
Graphics Processor	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Graphics memory	6 GB
Wireless network	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
Operating system	Windows 11 Home
Battery life (hours:minutes)	7:06
Dimensions and weight	370×260×24 mm, 2,48 kg

Configurations and versions

There are several versions of the HP Victus 16 to choose from with different components.

The base model uses an Intel Core i5-11400H processor, GTX 1650 graphics card and 8GB of RAM. The SSD capacity is 256 GB, the display has Full HD resolution with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Given the outdated graphics card and 60 Hz, it is unlikely that you can fully enjoy all modern games on this device.

There is a variant with Core i5 and RTX 3050 Ti, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Most importantly, the display refresh rate is 144 Hz, and the price, compared to the previous version, is not much higher.

HP Victus 16 models.

The configuration with a Core i7-11800H processor has an RTX 3060 graphics card, 16 GB of RAM with a 512 GB SSD. The screen resolution is Full HD and refresh rate is 144Hz. That’s what I tested.

There are also AMD Ryzen 5/7 variants with different discrete graphics. The most expensive versions of the Victus 16 also have increased RAM and storage, as well as a 165Hz QHD (2560×1440 pixels) display.

Design and construction.

If you’re familiar with the HP Omen line, the design of the HP Victus 16 laptop will seem familiar to you.

On the back cover – there is a V-shaped logo, similar in style to the Omen rhombus. The logo is also on the bezel below the display, on the fans above the keyboard, and even above the fans on the bottom surface of the device. HP has made sure you remember the new brand.

The rest of the design is minimalist, by the standards of gaming laptops. The case coloring is silver, blue or white.

The frame under the display is wide, the rest is narrow – the screen to chassis ratio is 84%. although there is a 16-inch display, the size of the Victus 16 is close to the 15-inch devices. The thickness of the body is 2.4 cm, weight – 2.48 kg, the model can be considered quite compact compared to some competitors.

The only aspect in which the Victus 16 disappoints is the build quality. The case is made entirely of plastic, so the back cover and keyboard sag a lot when pressed. The display can be opened with one hand, but it wobbles a lot during games. In terms of assembly, the Victus inherits the features of the budget Pavilion, this needs to be fixed.

Display and sound

The HP Victus 16’s screen boasts a wide dynamic range, high contrast, and refresh rate.

The test model’s IPS screen is 16.1 inches with Full HD resolution, a 144-Hz refresh rate and a slightly old-fashioned 16:9 aspect ratio. In terms of quality, the panel is as good as its counterparts in today’s premium ultrabooks.

Brightness reaches 375 nits and contrast ratio is 1200:1, both of which are above average in the price segment. AdobeRGB color space coverage is 79% and sRGB is 100%. Tone accuracy is also pleasing, with an average deltaE of just 1.85.

The downward pointing speakers of the Victus 16 are not so impressive – they are quiet even at maximum volume, although there is no sound distortion. The middle and upper frequencies are clear, but the bass is lacking. If you want to play or watch movies, it is better to use headphones.

Connectors and ports

There are enough connectors on the HP Victus 16 so that you will be able to connect all the peripherals you need.

HP Victus 16 ports

On the left side is an Ethernet port, full-size HDMI, USB-A 3.2, USB-C 3.2, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an SD card reader. The right side has two more USB-A 3.2 connectors. The only disappointment is the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 are responsible for wireless connectivity.

Keyboard and touchpad

One of the few aspects that the HP Victus 16 didn’t inherit from the Omen lineup is the RGB backlighting with customization of each key.

HP Victus 16 Keyboard.

The backlighting is white for the entire keyboard, very bright and looks great. The keys have a deep stroke and nice feedback when pressed. Although this is not a mechanical keyboard, gamers should love it.

 

The Victus 16’s touchpad is larger than on the Pavilion Gaming 16, taking up almost all the available space in the palm area. It’s comfortable to use, but the key strokes are too long. But it supports all Microsoft Precision gestures.

HP Victus 16 touchpad

Component performance

The HP Victus 16 laptop under test is equipped with an eight-core Intel Core i7-11800H processor, one of the best in the segment.

HP Victus 16 cooling system

The chipset is great for work tasks, even though this is a gaming laptop. In the GeekBench 5 test, the processor scores an impressive 1594/9428 in single-core and multi-core modes. However, the Victus 16’s strongest point is performance in games, although the graphics card here is weaker than some competitors.

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 1080p resolution on max settings, the HP Victus 16 gives 59 fps, and Battlefield V gives 72 fps.

HP Victus 16 test

In the program Omen Gaming Hub you can choose from three modes: Quiet, Performance and Normal. True, the difference in speed in them is small. In gaming mode, the notebook blows a large amount of air through itself, so that the noise of the fans is audible. It is not loud enough to make you wear headphones, but sometimes distracting.

HP Victus 16 software.

The temperature in the area to the right of the keyboard reaches 38 °C and 46 °C on the bottom surface. During normal tasks the device behaves quietly and almost does not heat up.

Autonomy of the HP Victus 16

As the Victus 16 is a gaming laptop with a small battery capacity of 70Wh, you should not count on a long battery life.

When performing simple tasks, the power lasts only 4.5 hours – which is a weak result compared to the competitors. When watching 1080p video, you can count on 6.5 hours.

The device is not intended for constant use outside the home, so the results obtained are reasonable and justified.

Bottom line

The HP Victus 16 is an excellent model in the mid-range gaming laptop segment. It has high performance and an excellent display suitable for movies and games. But, the build quality could be better, as could the battery life.

HP Victus 16 gaming laptop review with good price and performance – TehnObzor Reviews and Specifications
Is it worth buying?
The new HP Victus line is designed to replace the budget-friendly Pavilion devices. If you need maximum performance in games, you should choose the HP Omen laptop, although the Victus 16 also does a good job.