HP is sticking with last-gen chips for a new compact gaming desktop. The upcoming OMEN 16L model for next year will reportedly use an Intel Core i7 14650HX, a mobile processor from the older 14th-gen line, paired with newer RTX 5060 or 5060 Ti graphics. This contrasts with HP's larger 35L desktops that already feature current Arrow Lake CPUs.
The choice means a step down in core count compared to the existing model with a Core i7 14700F, moving from twenty cores to sixteen. Gaming performance with the new GPUs should remain similar overall, however. The desktop's design appears unchanged from prior versions. Final RAM and storage specs are still unknown, with potential for a base configuration of 16 GB memory and a 1 TB SSD given high component costs, possibly making it pricier than better-equipped current units. More details will likely emerge as CES 2026 approaches.
The choice means a step down in core count compared to the existing model with a Core i7 14700F, moving from twenty cores to sixteen. Gaming performance with the new GPUs should remain similar overall, however. The desktop's design appears unchanged from prior versions. Final RAM and storage specs are still unknown, with potential for a base configuration of 16 GB memory and a 1 TB SSD given high component costs, possibly making it pricier than better-equipped current units. More details will likely emerge as CES 2026 approaches.
