We are only a couple of days away from CES 2026 and rumours about what to expect from the event are in full swing. The event, which focuses on where consumer technology is headed, will kick start on January 6, 2026. Recently, we got to hear about Lenovo’s plans of showcasing a new rollable gaming laptop and now, HP is making headlines for its reported 2026 lineup. The brand is reportedly planning a major refresh of its OMEN gaming laptop lineup. According to a Windows Latest report, HP is preparing three new models for next year. These include the high-end OMEN MAX 16, a refreshed OMEN 16, and the return of the OMEN 15, a model that quietly disappeared from HP’s lineup a few years ago. While the overall design language does not seem to be undergoing a dramatic overhaul, the internal upgrades might bring a clear shift in focus. Here’s what we know so far.
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The biggest story across the upcoming OMEN lineup is the platform change. All three laptops are expected to ship with next-generation Intel Core Ultra series processors based on the upcoming Panther Lake architecture, alongside AMD options on select models. The OMEN 15 is said to top out at either an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H or an AMD Ryzen AI 7 450, while the OMEN 16 stretches further with up to a Ryzen 9 9955HX or a next-gen Intel Core Ultra chip. Sitting at the top, the OMEN MAX 16 sticks to Intel-only silicon, paired with flagship-class hardware.
In terms of graphics, the OMEN 15 and OMEN 16 are expected to cap out at the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, while the OMEN MAX 16 continues as HP’s no-compromise machine with up to an RTX 5090 GPU. Displays are where things might get more interesting. HP appears to be moving entirely to OLED panels this time, all rated at a rapid 0.2ms response time. The OMEN 15 will reportedly be equipped with a 3K 120Hz OLED panel, the OMEN 16 might step up to a 2.5K 165Hz OLED, and the OMEN MAX 16 could push further with a 2.5K 240Hz OLED. This shift alone will be a noticeable upgrade from the IPS panels used in previous generations.
Beyond processors and displays, HP seems to be refining the finer details that matter to gamers. Memory capacities are expected to be pushed higher across the range, with the OMEN 16 and OMEN MAX 16 supporting up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM. The MAX 16 could also get faster DDR5-6400 memory, paired with up to a 2TB PCIe Gen5 SSD. Storage on the OMEN 15 is also expected to get a boost, moving to PCIe Gen5, while the OMEN 16 could stick with Gen4 drives. Keyboard technology is another area that might get attention. Both the OMEN 15 and OMEN 16 are expected to feature HP’s HyperAction keyboard with an 8000Hz polling rate, aimed at reducing input latency. The OMEN MAX 16’s keyboard specs remain unclear, although early visuals suggest more elaborate RGB lighting.
AI is set to play a bigger role too. HP is expected to continue expanding its OMEN AI software, which has been in beta since last year. The company claims the tool can deliver up to a 42 percent increase in FPS in supported games and configurations, though real-world gains will naturally vary. Features like self-cleaning fans are also expected to return.
With that being said, do remember that none of these specifications have been confirmed by HP and the brand might have other variants of its laptops that will be unveiled at CES 2026. So for now, it is wise to take this information with a pinch of salt.
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