HP is making a bold move at CES 2026, shifting its gaming hardware branding entirely to HyperX. The star of the show? The HyperX Omen Max 16, which HP is calling the world's most powerful 16-inch gaming laptop with fully internal cooling. It's a claim that raises eyebrows, but with cutting-edge specs, this machine is definitely turning heads.
The rebrand is the biggest aesthetic update to HP's gaming line, reports The Verge. Gone is the HP logo; in its place, you'll find HyperX emblazoned on the lid and screen bezel. While some may find the new branding "low-rent," as The Verge puts it, the company is hoping the focus on HyperX will resonate with gamers.
Inside the Beast: Specs and Cooling
According to Engadget, the Omen Max 16 boasts a total platform power of 300 watts, supporting the latest processors from Intel and AMD, along with up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU. To keep things cool under pressure, HyperX has implemented a third cooling fan and its Fan Cleaner tech, which reverses fan direction to prevent dust buildup. As a former Apple Genius, I know firsthand how crucial effective cooling is for maintaining peak performance and longevity.
Engadget's Sam Rutherford noted the Max 16's surprisingly compact power brick, a welcome change from the dual-cable setups often required for laptops with this level of power. While weighing in at over six pounds, it's still positioned as a desktop replacement for gamers who don't want to move up to larger 18-inch models.
Visuals and Keyboards: A Gamer's Delight
The Max 16 features a 2.5K OLED display with a glossy coating, aiming for super-saturated colors. Rutherford pointed out that while this enhances color vibrancy, it can also lead to more glare, especially in brightly lit environments. HyperX hasn't skimped on the keyboard either, including a per-key RGB backlit keyboard with a 1,000Hz polling rate for minimal ghosting during intense gaming sessions.
HyperX also unveiled its new Origins 2 gaming keyboards at CES 2026, reports The Verge. The focus is on customization with hot-swappable switches for both the Origins 2 and Origins 2 Pro models.
Pricing and Availability
Unfortunately, HP hasn't released pricing or availability information for the HyperX Omen Max 16 just yet. Engadget reports that more details are expected sometime this spring. For those seeking smaller or more affordable options, updated Omen 15 and 16 models with the new HyperX branding are also on the way.
HP's decision to put HyperX front and center signifies a major shift in its gaming strategy. Whether the rebrand will resonate with consumers remains to be seen. However, with the Omen Max 16 leading the charge with its impressive specs and features, HyperX is making a bold statement in the competitive gaming laptop market. As someone who's seen countless devices come and go, I'm eager to see how this plays out in the hands of gamers.