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Head-to-head · Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500

HP Omen 16 vs Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (3.6 vs 3.9). The gap is mostly about portable gamers seeking balanced performance — read the strengths below before deciding.

HP Omen 16
Ranked #4 in Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500
HP Omen 16
3 sources1 derived$1,449as of Aug 1

CNET's review found the HP Omen 16 delivering solid 1080p gaming at a midrange price, with good build quality and effective cooling. PCMag's Matthew Buzzi liked the battery life and the overall design but stressed how limited the upgradeability is. Performance and aesthetics won reviewers over; the weight and the narrow upgrade path are what power users chasing maximum customization will hold against it.

Strengths
  • — Solid 1080p gaming performance in a midrange price point
  • — Good build quality and aesthetic design for a gaming laptop
  • — Decent battery life for a gaming machine
Watch-outs
  • — Limited upgradeability in key components
  • — Slightly heavy for a laptop in this category
$1,449 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9
3 sources

The Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 balances performance and portability for gamers and professionals alike. PCMag editors praised the 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 15.6-inch Full HD display, and found the cooling effective enough to sustain long gaming sessions. The keyboard is responsive and the build quality holds up, though reviewers flagged the 4.3-pound weight and a limited port selection. Buyers who want a powerful laptop that still travels are the fit; anyone who needs extensive connectivity should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Solid performance with 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
  • — Good display quality with 15.6-inch Full HD screen
  • — Effective cooling system for sustained gaming performance
Watch-outs
  • — Slightly heavy at 4.3 pounds
  • — Limited port selection on the right side
Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

HP Omen 16

The HP Omen 16 offers solid 1080p gaming performance and decent battery life, but its limited upgradeability and weight make it less appealing than the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9, which provides better portability and cooling. Unlike the Dell G16 7630, it lacks the powerful i9 processor and Cherry MX keyboard, though it does offer a more affordable price point.

Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9

The Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 stands out with its 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and effective cooling system, making it a strong contender against the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 FA507, which has a mushy keyboard and wobbly hinge. Unlike the ASUS ROG Strix G16, it offers a more balanced performance profile without the high internal temperatures and lacks the premium port selection and upgradeability of the ROG Strix G16.

Specs side-by-side

SpecHP Omen 16Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9
ProcessorIntel Core i7-12700H12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H
Display Size16-inch15.6-inch Full HD
ResolutionWQXGA (2560 x 1600)2560 x 1600
Refresh Rate60-240 Hz165Hz
GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
RAM16GB DDR416GB DDR4
Storage512GB NVMe SSD512GB NVMe SSD
Weight5.27 lb4.3 lb
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