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| HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition looks great, but the dark surfaces attract fingerprints like no tomorrow |
Gaming laptops with "special edition" skins or wraps can often look gaudy or overdesigned. Let's be honest—most of them scream "try-hard" with overly aggressive angles, neon accents that belong in a rave, and branding that's about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
However, the recent HP HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition is an uncommon exception to the rule where the special skin is arguably better than the base design—even for those who don't play the popular shooter. As noted in our review of the system, the minimalist iconography and superficial marks represent the game well while being easy on the eyes. It's the kind of design that actually looks better in person than in product photos, which is rare for special edition gaming laptops.
The Fingerprint Problem Nobody Warned You About
Unfortunately, the smooth dark gray surfaces suffer from a noticeable flaw shared with most other dark colored laptops: fingerprints. The issue is even more egregious on the Omen 16 Valorant Edition as fingerprints build up extremely quickly and become visible almost instantly on the outer lid, palm rests, keyboard keycaps, and more.
We're talking within minutes of normal use. Open the lid? Fingerprint. Type a paragraph? Oil marks on the palm rest. Adjust the display angle? Smudge city. The unsightly accumulation is tougher to forgive on special edition gaming laptops that tend to sell on aesthetics. When you're paying a premium for that Valorant styling, you don't expect to spend half your time wiping down the chassis with a microfiber cloth.
The White Option That Should Have Been
It's worth mentioning that HP offers a white color option for its Omen 16 series which circumvents the fingerprint issue almost entirely. White surfaces naturally hide smudges and oils much better than dark finishes, making them far more practical for daily use.
The problem, however, is that the color is only available for select configurations which unfortunately happens to exclude the Valorant Edition SKU. A white option would have potentially looked just as good or even better than the existing black SKU, especially considering how well white complements the Valorant color palette. It feels like a missed opportunity that would have made this special edition truly special.
How It Stacks Up Against The Competition
If you're considering this laptop, you're probably also looking at alternatives in the same price bracket. The gaming laptop market is crowded, and the HP HyperX Omen 16 faces stiff competition from other brands offering similar specs and features. For a detailed comparison between this model and one of its main rivals, check out our full breakdown: HP HyperX Omen 16 vs MSI Crosshair A16
The Bottom Line
Despite the fingerprint frustration, the HP HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition remains a solid choice if you can look past the smudges. The performance is impressive, the design is genuinely tasteful for a gaming laptop, and the Valorant theming is restrained enough to work in professional settings.
Just keep a cleaning cloth handy, and maybe avoid eating greasy snacks while using it.
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We recommend checking out our review on the HyperX Omen 16 Valorant Edition for performance benchmarks beyond our skin deep complaints about the system.
