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HP Victus Gaming Laptops: A Complete Review
Linsey Knerl
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February 2, 2023
In 2020 alone, video game software spending reached $16.32 per consumer unit in the US, and gaming hardware and accessories reached $40.29 per person. This was a significant growth over the prior year, showing that even in uncertain times, people value video games.
But what if you want to invest in your favorite hobby without breaking your budget? An HP Victus gaming laptop hits the sweet spot for value and performance. In our HP Victus review, we’ll explore what makes this line of gaming laptops really stand out.
What is HP Victus?
HP Victus is a line of budget-friendly gaming laptops with a variety of specifications for the full spectrum of performance needs. Laptops range in size from 15.6-inch to 16.1-inch screen size and feature processors from the Intel® or AMD families.
HP Victus features
The HP Victus line stands out with its balance of affordability and customization. With so many specific components to choose from, it’s possible to pick just the right specs for your personal playing style, tech needs, and wallet.
Beauty in sound and appearance
The HP Victus looks like a gaming machine, with a full-sized keyboard, geographic detailing, and a case in one of three cutting-edge colors: Mica Silver, Performance Blue, and Ceramic White. The Quad High Definition (QHD) display has a maximum 165 Hz refresh rate so you can see every shot, drift, and jump in the most brilliant detail.
It doesn’t stop there. Before you dismiss the audio of a laptop, consider the fine design of the Bang & Olufsen speakers, a Danish-built feature that makes a headset purely optional. Even with all this beauty, there’s some practicality to admire, too. For example, the keycaps are made with post-consumer recycled plastic, so you can do your part in creating less waste for the planet.
Laptop ports for every situation
There are few things more frustrating than not having enough ports on a laptop. HP® knows gamers love their accessories, which is why the HP Victus line offers many ports needed for gaming accessories:
- 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C® (DisplayPort/Sleep and Charge)
- 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-A (Sleep and Charge)
- 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A
- 1 headphone/microphone combo jack
- 1 microSD media card reader
HP OMEN gaming software
The hardware is only part of the experience, which is why HP® brought the OMEN gaming hub to the Victus line. Use the hub to gamify your setup, control lighting, and chat with friends via the OASIS community hub. You can even brag about your best moments with the low-latency 720p 30 frames per second screen-sharing tool.
Plus, you can check your PC's temp, adjust its performance to match your gaming style, and boost network performance by prioritizing your device and gaming applications.
Cooler than ever
You want assurance that your new investment can handle the games you put it through, and the HP Victus’s upgraded cooling system keeps temps low when the action gets hot. While it can be challenging to maintain a proper temperature in a laptop’s slimmer build, this additional feature will provide you with the confidence that your device won’t overheat.
Long battery life
Gaming takes power. That's why holding a battery charge isn't just ideal; it's essential. HP Victus batteries keep you playing longer – for the entire tournament, if you’ve got the skills.
They also feature Fast Charge technology, so you can connect your laptop to an outlet and get to a 50% charge in just around 30 minutes. This is an awesome feature that helps you stay in the game with minimal downtime.
Best HP Victus gaming laptops
There are more than a few HP Victus laptops to choose from, but these 3 models highlight the best budget gaming laptops from the brand. Which is right for you?
1. HP Victus laptop 16.1"
The HP Victus 16 laptop comes in Micah Silver with a dark chrome logo, so everyone will know you came to play. It has a 16-inch screen with a 144 Hz refresh rate, anti-glare coating, and 1080p Full High Definition (FHD) resolution. It also comes with Windows 11, giving you the best in security and software management.
Key features:
- AMD Ryzen™ 7 processor
- NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Ti Laptop GPU (4GB GDDR6 dedicated)
- 16GB of RAM
- 512GB SSD storage
- WiFi 6 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.2 combo
- Battery life of 8 hours and 45 minutes (11 hours and 30 minutes for video playback)
- Battery fast charge goes to 50% charge in 30 minutes
2. HP Victus laptop 16z-e100
The HP Victus 16z is another standout affordable gaming laptop, with a slightly lower initial price point and the option to upgrade for a bit more. This PC includes Windows 11 with a chance to upgrade to Windows 11 Pro, as well as a souped-up AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor featuring up to 4.5 GHz, 16MB L3 cache, 6 cores, and 12 threads. Pair it with the included NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU or upgrade to the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H for even better performance.
You can add an optical drive, boost your security software, or get a better screen finish, too. You have endless possibilities with this customizable PC.
Key features:
- AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor (up to AMD Ryzen 7 6800H)
- GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU (up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU)
- 8GB DDR5-4800 SDRAM (up to 32GB)
- 256GB PCIe® NVMe™ TLC M.2 SSD storage (up to 1TB)
- Dual speakers by B&O
- Battery fast charge goes to 50% charge in 30 minutes
3. HP Victus 15t laptop
With a slightly smaller screen and Intel processor, the 15-inch HP Victus mixes things up a bit. It also starts with an attractive entry price and lets you add on more features if your budget allows it. But the base model has what it takes to perform, with the 12th Generation Intel Core™ i5-12500H processor with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU.
This HP Victus boasts an HD camera with Temporal Noise Reduction, so you can show off your best work on Twitch and other streaming channels. It runs on Windows 11 Home with the added perks of OMEN gaming support. You can play, create, and stream with confidence that it will keep up with you every step of the way.
You can level-up the battery, too. The standard option is the 3-cell, 52.5 Wh Lithium-ion prismatic battery, but you can upgrade to a 4-cell, 70 Wh Li-ion polymer battery for better performance and longer playtime.
Key features:
- 12th Generation Intel Core i5-12500H processor (up to Intel Core i7-12700H)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU (up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU)
- 8GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (up to 16GB)
- 256GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD storage (up to 1TB)
- Audio by B&O
- MediaTek WiFi 6 MT7921 and Bluetooth 5.2 combo (upgradable to Intel WiFi 6E AX211)
How to customize your HP Victus
All HP Victus laptops are made for gaming, so they’re ready to go right out of the box. However, if you want to tweak your PC build for maximum personalization, you can do that, too.
You can customize most of the HP Victus laptops at checkout, allowing you to add more RAM, a more powerful processor, Windows 11 Pro, an optical drive, or an extended coverage plan just in case.
If you need some assistance figuring out what specifications work well together, you can choose from several pre-packaged customization options. Prevent PC bottlenecking by picking from “Casual Gamer,” “Campaign Hero,” or “eSports Pro” settings. This takes the guesswork out of pairing processors, graphics, and RAM with every other component in your new rig.
Are the HP Victus budget gaming laptops right for you?
While gaming desktops once defined the industry, gamers play on-the-go and at different locations today more than ever. Whether you need a gaming laptop you can also use for school or you need to bring your rig to your eSports meetup, there's no better time to consider a truly portable gaming solution that leaves nothing behind performance-wise.
HP Victus gaming laptops are also built for you to pick and choose the features you like best. By buying a customizable model, you ensure that you get exactly what you want – and nothing less. If you need a gaming laptop with great value and the best hardware, look no further than the HP Victus line.
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author and public speaker. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
