HP Victus 16 review – Portable performance package

When you think HP, we bet you don’t conjure up visions of RGB-clad gaming laptops. It’s a safe bet that you envision people in suits slaving away at rows of desks in a monotone office. Well. the brand is out to change impressions with its Victus range of gaming laptops.

Sort of. The HP Victus 16 doesn’t necessarily ascribe to the traditional gaming laptop aesthetic. Its muted design supplies a more business-casual feel while promising gaming chops at a mid-range price point.

Don’t let the understated exterior fool you, however — this laptop packs a punch where it matters.

Day/night

The Victus 16 may feature a muted exterior but it’s still a good-looking piece of tech. With a sturdy grey plastic chassis and a slightly lighter grey finish on the keyboard, the only noticeable design embellishment is a large chrome ‘V’ on the lid. You aren’t bombarded with the typical RGB decor this time and it’s kind of refreshing.

The 16.1-in 1080p display is not the best we’ve seen on a laptop in this price range, but you’re getting a 144Hz refresh rate as a consolation. It can get fairly bright, however, and the anti-reflective coating effectively minimises glare.

One of the standout features (for us writing types) is the keyboard. It’s a comfortable scissor switch model, reminiscent of Apple’s MacBook keyboards, with a full number pad thanks to its 16-in format. The touchpad, while responsive, isn’t the best we’ve tested, but it’ll do the job if you’re not attaching an external mouse.

Distance runner

Our review Victus 16 came equipped with a Core i7-13700H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and a 144Hz 1080p display.

However, the confusing array of configurations, pricing, and store-specific SKUs make pinpointing the right laptop a bit of a challenge. We did find the Victus 16 on sale at Evetech, as it currently is, for R27,000, down from R32,000. This pricing does make it a good contender in the price range with the included GPU.

When it comes to real-world gaming, the Victus 16 flexes with impressive results. Playing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p and high-quality settings, the laptop maintains a solid average of around 90 fps. In gaming benchmarks, it competes admirably with similar laptops in its class, offering a commendable balance of performance and price.

One standout is its battery life. It lasts for seven hours and three minutes under web browsing, light graphics work, and video streaming. It may not sound like much, but it’s commendable for a gaming laptop.

Port ahoy

To round out this muted gaming laptop, you get a few key features that we don’t want to miss in this review.

Firstly, ports. On the right side, you are greeted with a duo of USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a power port. Turning to the left side, a third USB 3.1 Gen 1 port shares space with a retractable Gigabit Ethernet jack – a mechanism that opens up to accept a full-sized Ethernet cable. While a welcome inclusion, it does raise concerns about long-term durability.

Equipped with B&O-tuned speakers strategically placed at the palm rest’s corners, the Victus offers a decent enough audio experience. Despite budget laptop limitations on bass impact, the audio quality remains distortion-free, even at maximum volume. But this is a gaming setup, so while the built-in speakers suffice for everyday use, audiophiles and gamers should consider external peripherals for obvious reasons.

We just need to mention the placement of stickers on the keyboard deck. Like many Windows laptops, HP adheres to OEM advertising agreements, decorating their devices with Intel Core and Nvidia GeForce RTX badges. Would it hurt to at least place these stickers on straight? It’s such a small thing, but anyone who appreciates aesthetics won’t leave them on this sleek chassis for more than a day.

HP Victus 16 verdict

The HP Victus 16 is a compelling budget gaming laptop with an excellent performance, design, and endurance balance. Priced at R27,000 in its reviewed configuration, it faces tough competition from alternatives like the Asus TUF range and the Lenovo LOQ range of gaming laptops. However, the Victus prioritises budget-friendly 1080p gaming with great battery life while offering a well-rounded gaming experience.