Bad news first: from a quality standpoint, the new chassis is more of a step backward than forward. Although the build quality of the 2.2 kg unit is still decent, it can't quite compete with the previous version. Responsible on one hand are the materials: the 15-inch notebook is made from plastic, which doesn't feel as upscale as metal. Thanks to the pretty mesh-texture design on the lid and the keyboard area, the Omen at least looks the part. The chassis does emit creaking sounds in some locations, however, which just doesn't fit with the upscale image.

Let's look at the positive aspects: all things considered, we do like the new chassis quite a bit. HP addressed a few issues we uncovered during our last review and either improved them or eliminated them altogether. First up is the new display lid, which is now much less "cutting edge" than the previous version, which had very sharp edges. We also like the optimized port distribution. While the first version had ports on the rear, which made them difficult to reach, they are not located on the left and right edges. We applaud the return of the RJ45 LAN port, although the notebook now has one less video out.

The lack of macro keys might displease some users - despite the fact that there is a dedicated number block. We think this is a good design choice though, as it is easier to familiarize oneself with the keyboard without having to spend time to learn the layout. Most other changes are visual ones, which don't affect the quality directly. Separated hinges here, speakers in a different location there: it really doesn't matter much as far as day-to-day use is concerned. Same is also true for the red accents on the keyboard and the display lid.

Much more important is the fact that HP decided to forgo the touch display, which isn't really useful for gaming anyways - especially since the glossy panel was prone to reflections. On disadvantage: the display bezel is a bit too wide. As far as the sturdiness is concerned, the chassis rates about average. The base unit is pretty resilient, but the display lid could be stiffer still. One comment regarding the hinges, which are pretty stiff: even though the base unit rotates up a little, it's still possible to open the display one-handed. The display doesn't bounce much even when the notebook is jostled around.