HP just dropped $1,000 off my favorite gaming laptop, but this flash sale comes with a caveat and a countdown

HP is running a 72 hour flash sale this week, and we're coming up to the tail end of the event. That's not stopping the HP Omen Max 16, the best gaming laptop I've tested so far, from dropping a whole $1,000 down the price scale though. There's just one hitch. You'll have to be happy sacrificing an OLED display.

The RTX 5080 gaming laptop has sailed down from $3,099.99 to $2,099.99 at HP this week, a fantastic rate for this GPU and even better considering this rig sits at the top of my recommendation list. Instead of the OLED panel normally on the shelves, though, you're getting the same QHD+ 240Hz IPS screen I had on my test bench.

HP Omen Max 16 RTX 5080 gaming laptop | $3,099.99 $2,099.99 at HP
Save $1,000 - It's easy to get blinded by the sheer size of that four-figure discount, but gaming laptop deals like this still need to justify their sales price. I only ever see RTX 5080 machines like this dropping under $2,000 over Black Friday - and even last year there was only one offer in that price range. Sitting just a little over that threshold, this HP Omen Max 16 offer represents fantastic value considering we're outside of major sales events.

Specs: AMD Ryzen AI 9 | RTX 5080 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 240Hz QHD+ IPS display

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RTX 5080 gaming laptops don't get this close to $2,000 all too often, especially at this time of year. The closest you'll get to this kind of pricing at Best Buy is $2,399 on an MSI Vector 16 AI, and Newegg's cheapest RTX 5080 rigs are all open-box or refurbished - even then you're looking at $1,799.99 at the lowest end of the spectrum. If you're looking brand new, Newegg's cheapest offer matches HP's above - on the exact same configuration, of the exact same gaming laptop.

This is the cheapest RTX 5080 gaming laptop I've seen on the market this week, then, and it just so happens to be the rig I've recommended the most over the last year.

Should you buy the HP Omen Max 16?

Ok, so that OLED sacrifice might be a big one if you're upgrading your rig with the intention of improving overall image quality. The jump to OLED is a big one, and it's a leap I've greatly appreciated from my own Razer Blade 14. In a dark room, you'll benefit from far greater contrast for a particularly immersive, impactful experience.

At the same time, I had this same IPS screen when I first completed my HP Omen Max 16 review and was still impressed. With a good amount of energy behind ever frame and a surprising amount of power behind particularly vibrant scenes those coming from an IPS screen are still going to have a good time here. The Omen Max 16 also doesn't suffer from the same glossy glare that holds many rigs (like the Lenovo Legion 5) running OLED panels back. That means it's just as potent in a well-lit environment as it is a dark bedroom.

It's still a downgrade, but with the OLED option setting you back $2,979.99 at Best Buy this week, it's a sacrifice I'd urge you to consider.

For nearly a grand less, you're getting the same RTX 5080 graphics grunt while dropping a little in your CPU power. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 sits marginally behind the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX available in that Best Buy offer, and in the configuration I tested. Considering I use an even weaker AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor whenever I'm not testing a new gaming laptop, and still get along with both work and gameplay just fine, it's not going to be the end of the world.

For reference, the RTX 5080 HP Omen Max 16 I had on the bench posted some fantastic benchmark results. It's beaten the RTX 5080 Alienware 16 Area-51, Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, and even the RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 in 3D Mark Fire Strike, while trading places throughout other tests.

Put simply, this is a machine that can handle the most demanding games at its top resolution in the highest graphical settings. There's not much more you can ask for than that.

If performance is at the top of your priority list, but you still want to keep that svelte, work-friendly, 16-inch form factor this is a no-brainer. The Omen Max 16 is among the more powerful gaming laptops I've had on my test bench and it's far from the most expensive.

However, if you're either coming from an OLED gaming laptop or expressly looking to upgrade your visuals it's worth holding out for a $2,500 sales price on the more premium model.

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I'm also rounding up all the best Asus gaming laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market. For something a little more slimline, check out the best Razer laptops I've tested so far.