HP’s new gaming laptop has 2 screens

HP’s newest gaming laptop embeds a mini LED touch screen above the keyboard so you can view other applications while you play your favorite games.

The Omen X 2S is the world’s first dual-screen gaming laptop, according to HP. The device’s main screen comes in at 15 inches, but in the event you’d like to chat over Twitch or access Spotify while you game, you can easily do so with the help of the 6-inch screen below.

HP designed the product to appeal to gamers, particularly in China, who often use their smartphones to chat with friends, listen to music, or watch videos while they game over a PC.

The second screen—which has a 1080p resolution—can also be used to enhance your existing gaming experience. According to HP, you’ll be able to mirror any portion of the laptop’s main screen on to the smaller panel below. For example, you can make it display the in-game map to a strategy title or a first-person shooter. The touch screen can also let you view the Omen Command Center app, so you can view how well a game performs on the laptop and adjust its hardware settings accordingly.

Of course, the second screen will eat into the laptop’s battery life, but it can be configured to dim after a period of idle time to help save on energy.

The Omen X 2S will arrive next month starting at $2,099. As a high-end gaming laptop, it’ll come equipped with a Max-Q version of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card. You can also configure it with a ninth-generation Intel Core H-series CPU running six or eight cores.

Other configurable specs include the 1080p display, which can support 144Hz, 240Hz, or you can swap it out for a higher resolution 4K HDR 400 60Hz panel.

HP isn’t the first to unveil a laptop with more than one screen. In 2017, Razer unveiled a notebook with three screens, but the whole idea appears to have remained a concept. Before that, Acer came out with the Iconia 6120, a laptop that replaced the keyboard with a touch screen. However, the device received largely negative reviews.

So we’re interested to see if the Omen X 2S’s second screen is worth the high price. Stay tuned for our full review.

More Omen Laptops Coming Next Month

The company has also refreshed the standard Omen line with new Nvidia RTX cards and ninth-gen Intel Core processors. The cooling vents on the Omen 15 and Omen 17 are larger for better airflow, but the redesigned laptops are still 18 and 20 percent thinner than their predecessors, respectively.

The Omen 15 can be configured with a 1080p 240Hz display; a 240Hz option for the Omen 17 is expected to be available in October. The Omen 17 can be configured to support up to 3TB of storage and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 card, minus the Max-Q design.

Both products will arrive next month. The Omen 15 will start at $1,049 while the Omen 17 will go for $1,099.

If you’re looking for a new monitor, HP also has two new 1080p displays—the Omen X 25 and Omen X 25f—which both have a 240Hz refresh rate.

The 24.5-inch displays come with an adjustable stand, which you can use to raise, lower, and tilt the screen. The Omen X 25, which supports Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, will go on sale in North America in early September for a starting price of $549. The Omen X 25f, which offers adaptive sync, will arrive in late June for $449.

For Gamers Less Inclined to Spend

HP is also refreshing the Pavilion gaming laptop line, which is more affordable and designed for casual gamers.

Both the 15- and 17-inch Pavilion gaming laptops will be able to support up to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q design graphics card. Buyers can also configure them with ninth-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. In terms of the display, choose from a 144Hz 1080p display or upgrade to a 4K panel.

Like the Omen series, HP redesigned the Pavilion laptops for better airflow. Both laptops will drop next month with the 15-inch model starting at $799, while the 17-inch model will go for $849.

This article originally published at PCMag
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