"Powerful but streamlined," I've found my favorite gaming laptop in HP's massive March sale, but Best Buy has a better price this week

It's always a little embarrassing when a retailer beats a brand on its own prices. That's exactly what's happening this week, though, and on the best gaming laptop I've tested so far, no less.

The HP Omen Max 16 is down to $2,449.99 at Best Buy this week, a $400 discount on the $2,849.99 MSRP for the RTX 5080 configuration. The only problem for HP is that its own web store currently has a $2,799.99 sales price on the exact same spec. Over there, the brand is touting a $1,000 saving pretty proudly - but it's far from the best deal on the web.

Save $400

HP Omen Max 16 (RTX 5080): was $2,849.99 now $2,449.99 at Best Buy

The HP Omen Max 16 is down to $2,449.99 at Best Buy this week, an additional discount of $350 compared to HP's own price. That's a solid going rate for a machine with this GPU right now, just note that you're not getting the OLED model here, though.

Specs: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | RTX 5080 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD | 240Hz QHD+ display

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Best Buy is obviously the way to go if you're in the market for a high-end gaming laptop this week. Is the HP Omen Max 16 right for you though?

I tested this exact spec on review, and it easily took out the competition, even putting the (admittedly slimmer) RTX 5090 Razer Blade 16 on blast. That GPU gets revved up with 175W TDP, giving it plenty of space to handle more demanding games without breaking a sweat. It's a dark horse in this race, with a relatively slimline chassis, fantastic display (even at this IPS level), and a gorgeous design all propping up that excellent performance.

You'll be running Cyberpunk 2077 in top settings at full resolution without even nearing that 60fps threshold. I was at a solid 70fps in my testing under these conditions, with lighter games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider nearing 200fps.

The HP Omen Max 16 has been at the top of my gaming laptop recommendation list since it launched, and so far, very few gaming laptops have come close to knocking it off the top spot. If you're looking to sink some cash into a future-proofed system that can run all of today's games no problem, this is absolutely where I'd be looking first.

• See all gaming laptop deals at Best Buy

Checking out the competition? I'm also reviewing all the best Alienware laptops and best Asus gaming laptops. Or, for more slimline options check out the best Razer laptops on the market.