HP Omen Vs Alienware Laptops (Which One Is Better?)

Overview Of HP Omen Gaming Laptops 

HP Omen laptops are a range of gaming laptops produced by Hewlett-Packard. They’re packed with powerful components and are made for high-end gamers.

Every HP Omen laptop is made to take your gaming experience to the next level and to keep up with the demands of cutting-edge games.  

What makes them unique is that they rely on Omen Tempest Cooling, including the Omen Gaming Hub, to help you finetune the settings and feature displays with high refresh rates and resolutions. 

HP Omen originally started as VoodooPC in 1991. HP acquired it in 2006 and reformed it into the Omen brand we know it as today back in 2013.

HP is one of the world’s most well-known and respected computer brands, so this gives the Omen laptops a lot of prestige. 

The most popular HP Omen models are: 

Pros & Cons Of HP Omen Laptops 

Overview Of Alienware Gaming Laptops 

Dell Alienware is a rival to HP Omen, and that's why you'll often find Omen vs Alienware comparisons like in this article.

Alienware is a subsidiary of Dell, bought by it in 2006, and specializes in high-end gaming. The company was initially launched in 1996, and Dell was considering buying it for several years.  

Gamers like the Alienware laptops because of their otherworldly branding and their solid performance.

For those who want to pay extra for faster and higher-quality components than rival brands, Alienware is the ideal brand, and that’s what makes them special when you compare Alienware to brands like MSI.

The most popular Alienware models are:  

Pros & Cons Of Alienware Laptops 

HP Omen Vs Alienware: Which Is Better And Why? 

Build Quality & Upgradeability 

When comparing HP Omen vs Alienware, one of the most immediate differences is the build quality and upgradeability.

The HP Omen laptops are generally of lower quality, especially the battery, screen, and keyboard.

You can access the memory and the SSD to upgrade these, but as with many laptops, further upgrades are challenging.  

HP Omen vs Dell Alienware build quality and upgradeability shows that the Alienware laptops fare better in terms of both areas.

Alienware uses more high-quality parts, and although that pushes up the price, it makes it more durable than the HP Omen.

Unfortunately, upgrades to Alienware laptops are limited. However, the A51m model allows you to make some changes to the GPU and CPU.  

Winner = Alienware  

Related: Alienware Vs Razer Laptop Comparison

Processors  

Any Omen vs Alienware laptop comparison that looks at processors depends on the model you purchase.

HP Omen laptops have up to Intel Core i7 CPUs or AMD equivalents in all of their models.

These processors are powerful, but the Intel Core i9 featured in the Alienware X15 is more powerful. 

With the HP Omen, you may experience some CPU bottleneck if you are playing high-end games.

The Alienware X15 has an Intel Core i9 11900H processor, making it superior to all HP Omen models.

However, the X15 costs more than $3000, so that extra processing power comes with a hefty price tag. That means it’s only worth getting if you need maximum processing power.  

Winner = Alienware  

Graphics  

When looking at Dell Alienware vs HP Omen in terms of graphics, the HP Omen laptops rely on NVIDIA GeForce RTX cards.

These are either the 3070, 3060, or 2060 cards, depending on the Omen model. Even one of the high-end HP Omen 17 models has a 2060 card.

The 3000 series are among the most powerful NVIDIA graphics cards on the market, but the 2060 is significantly less powerful.  

Alienware laptops also rely on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 series, but several high-end models, like the m15 R4, contain the 3080 cards.

Even Alienware’s cheapest laptops contain the 3050 cards, making them similar in graphics performance to the high-end models.  

Winner = Alienware  

Storage  

Dell Alienware vs HP Omen storage capabilities are very similar, and we’ll outline them here.

HP Omen laptops have a selection of Solid State Drives in their models, varying in size between 256GB and 512GB.

These are suitable sizes for SSDs, which are a relatively newer technology superior to Hard Disk Drives. They also provide plenty of space for gaming. 

Alienware laptops also rely on SSDs, similar to the HP Omen laptops, but the higher-end Alienware X15 laptop features a 1TB SSD drive.

It’s rare for SSDs to be found at such high capacities, and that’s why you have to pay more for the privilege of having one.

Besides this extra size, the SSDs used are the same - PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD drives.  

Winner = Tied 

RAM  

When playing video games, enough memory must be available to contain characters, items, and whatever is viewed on the game screen.

HP Omen laptops typically have 16GB of DDR4 memory, which has been the standard for gaming for the last decade.

It’s a good amount of memory that will serve you well and comes as two sticks of 8GB.  

However, high-end Alienware laptops go above and beyond requirements by providing 32GB of DDR4 memory.

If you play visually intensive games on the highest settings, you’ll need the extra memory, and HP Omen laptops simply don’t provide it.

However, you do have the option to upgrade the memory in HP Omen laptops if you choose. 

Winner = Alienware  

Keyboard Functions & Usability 

When comparing an Alienware vs Omen laptop, it's essential to consider the keyboard as it's one of the most heavily used components of a gaming laptop.

The HP Omen keyboards have a good range of features, but the HP Omen 15 keyboard suffers from a flimsy feel and the absence of a number pad.

However, higher-end HP Omen models do have a number pad.  

Alienware keyboards are some of the best on the market, with the Alienware m15 R4 and m17 R4 laptops now having Cherry MX mechanical keyboards.

That means they’re a cut above standard membrane-style keyboards because the mechanical keys provide better feedback and send signals quicker. 

Winner = Alienware 

Displays & Screens 

HP Omen vs Alienware laptop displays seem pretty similar at first glance, as they're both Full HD and 15.6" or larger, but there are some key differences to be aware of.

HP Omen laptops typically have a quicker response time and support higher resolutions beyond Full HD.

That gives them some minor advantages, although models like the Alienware X17 beat them.  

Alienware screens typically have a much higher refresh rate, which is vital for gaming because it affects how quickly you see changes on the game screen.

The Alienware X17 screen also has a 1 ms response time, which is currently among the fastest possible response times.  

Winner = Alienware  

Ports  

Various types of computer ports are what help keep you connected to the rest of your tech gear. HP Omen vs Alienware laptop ports make for an interesting comparison, as both have similarities and differences.

HP Omen ports typically include a Thunderbolt port, USB Type-A port, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, AC smart pin, headphone/microphone combo port, and a standalone microphone port. 

Alienware laptops also have a Thunderbolt port, along with several additional USB ports, an HDMI port, a headphone/microphone port, Mini DisplayPort, an external graphics port, an RJ-45 port for networking, and the power connector.

The HP Omen laptops generally have integrated networking components, so they lack the RJ-45 port.

That means there is a slight advantage in favor of Alienware, but not enough to give it a clear win. 

Winner = Tied 

For High-End Games

If you want to play the best PC games, our laptop comparison yields a clear result.

HP Omen laptops are cutting-edge and advanced, but based on our conclusions from the previous sections, they don’t quite have the same power as Alienware laptops.

They will enable you to play plenty of games, but not the most recent games on the highest settings.  

On the other hand, Alienware laptops at the higher end of their range, like the Alienware X17, are more than capable of playing the best games on the most intensive settings.

Plus, they have some degree of future-proofing, given the added SSD space, RAM, and CPU speed.  

Winner = Alienware  

For Business Use

If gaming isn't your priority, and you'd rather compare an Alienware laptop vs an HP Omen laptop based on business performance, then you'll find our judgment here is the exception to the rule.

HP Omen laptops are undoubtedly the better choice because the extra features of the Alienware laptops are unnecessary for business.  

HP Omen laptops will underperform compared to Alienware laptops, but this won’t be a concern when used for business purposes.

However, if your business activities involve demanding tasks like 3-D simulation, video editing, or live streaming, then you may want to consider Alienware. 

Winner = HP Omen  

Cost/Warranty  

When comparing HP Omen and Alienware laptops based on cost, it depends on the models that you are comparing.

HP Omen models range from $1300-1600, whereas Alienware laptops range from $1300-3100.

That means if you’re looking for models with less powerful specifications, then you’ll find that both HP Omen and Alienware laptops are competitive in terms of price. 

However, if you want the most powerful Alienware laptops, you’ll be paying significantly more than you would for the most powerful HP Omen laptop.

But the higher-end Alienware models outperform HP Omen models. 

In terms of warranties, HP provides a 1-year limited hardware warranty for their laptops, while Alienware warranties vary depending on the model that you buy.  

Winner = Tied 

Popular Models From Each Brand Compared

HP Omen 15 Vs Alienware M15 

The HP Omen 15 vs Alienware M15 comparison is an interesting one, as the HP Omen 15 is the cheapest model from the HP Omen range, while the Alienware M15 is a mid-range model from their range.

However, the specifications of both laptops are quite similar, so teasing out the differences is not the most straightforward task.  

However, the style is different between the two, and the graphics on the Alienware model are slightly superior.

Finally, there are 4GB of additional RAM in the Alienware M15 vs Omen 15. That gives the Alienware model a slight edge over the HP Omen model, but you’ll be paying around $500 more. 

HP Omen 17 Vs Alienware 17 

The HP Omen 17 is one of the most powerful HP Omen laptops, and the Alienware 17 is another mid-range laptop from their range.

When comparing the HP Omen 17 vs Alienware 17, you'll notice they share a large screen size and have similar prices, but the Alienware laptop has the edge over the HP Omen in several key areas.

These include graphics, storage, and RAM. The advantages are not significant but are enough to make a difference if you intend to play the latest PC games. 

In many ways, these two models are similar to the 15.6” models that we just compared and show that the Alienware models are consistently superior to the HP Omen laptops.  

HP Omen X Vs Alienware Area 51 

The HP Omen X vs Alienware Area 51 is is another worthwhile laptop comparison. The HP Omen X is an extremely powerful HP Omen laptop and sits easily at the top of their range.

However, the Alienware Area 51M laptop is also one of the best Alienware models and outperforms the Omen X in numerous ways.

The CPU on the Alienware is slightly more powerful, and the graphics are considerably better.  

That means if you’re looking for a high-end gaming laptop, then you’ll want to opt for the Alienware model.

Alienware laptops have more resources to handle elite gaming, which compensates for their increased cost.  

Common Omen Vs Alienware Questions

How long does an HP Omen last? 

Generally, you can expect an HP Omen gaming laptop to last around 10 years before any components need replacing. The battery life on HP laptops will wear out much faster though. 

However, it will become outdated sooner than that due to the advance in technology. It also depends on how intensively you use it and for what purposes besides gaming. 

How long do Alienware laptops last from Dell? 

For high-end Alienware laptops, you can expect them to last around 10 years. But that’s only concerning the components themselves. The battery on Alienware laptops will not last this long of course.

Regarding how long they’ll last without being outdated, you’ll get 4-6 years from high-end models and 3-4 years from mid-range models.  

How does Omen & Alienware compare with Predator gaming laptops? 

Alienware vs Omen vs Predator laptops reveal that Alienware is a better brand than HP Omen, so you should pick them over HP for gaming purposes unless you're on a budget.

Predator laptops are similar to Alienware but tend to be a little less powerful. That makes Alienware the best choice of the three brands. 

Is Alienware worth the money? 

Alienware laptops are definitely worth the money because their components are high-quality, and they perform exceptionally well compared to other gaming laptops.

They are undoubtedly expensive, but that price is worth paying for the benefits you’ll receive.  

Conclusion

Dell Alienware and HP Omen are two key players in the gaming laptop industry, and both claim to have the best laptops on the market for gaming.

Still, as our comparison has revealed, Alienware has the most credibility in making that claim. Therefore, Dell Alienware is a better brand than HP Omen.