HP Omen Outpost review: A pricey yet smart mousepad for gaming

HP Omen Outpost Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

HP non only wanted to compete confronting competitors with the HP Photon wireless gaming mouse, but also wanted a slice of the mousepad pie. While information technology's possible to pick up a standard mousepad, one that has RGB lighting and wireless Qi charging is more enticing, and that's exactly what HP was going for with the Omen Outpost.

But is it worth the high request price?

Pricey Surface

HP Omen Outpost

$100 at HP

Lesser line: HP decided to add RGB lighting and Qi wireless charging to a solid mousepad.

Pros

High-quality build
RGB lighting
Splendid mouse surfaces
Qi charging
USB passthrough

Cons

Expensive
Fiddly Qi charging
Hurting to remove surface

Yous'll love how smart the HP Omen Outpost is

HP Omen Outpost Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Fundamental

HP already has a few mousepads available at more affordable prices, merely the Omen Outpost is a whole dissimilar beast. It'due south clear to come across HP designed this mousepad in conjunction with the new Omen Photon wireless mouse with the like blueprint and Qi wireless charging pad.

It's a relatively large surface, coming in at # ten # mm, more than enough for almost gamers who don't want their keyboard to rest on the same surface as the mouse. Backside the main surface area is a slab of black plastic that houses the illuminated Omen logo and USB passthrough port on the rear.

This is HP's best mousepad, but it could accept been more.

Equally touched on already, this mousepad supports Qi wireless charging with the pad located up tiptop to the left side of the Omen logo. It'south marked by a small foursquare, and once you've managed to establish a connexion, a pocket-size LED will come up on beneath the Omen logo to signify charge.

What makes this charging pad handy is the ability to place downward your smartphone while using the PC for a little charge, just to so replace information technology with a wireless mouse like the HP Omen Photon to ensure information technology's topped upward for the next gaming session. It'due south a little fiddly to position the mouse just right, simply works well once centered.

HP Omen Outpost Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal

The USB passthrough is a prissy touch, especially given the HP Omen Photon requires the use of a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. This mousepad tin be connected using a single USB Type-C cablevision or the optional USB Blazon-C to dual Type-A adapter if no available USB-C ports are available — the single USB-C connection is able to power everything.

The RGB lighting is pretty smart, too, wrapped effectually the side of the main surface surface area. Speaking of which, the mouse surface is dual-sided, one being harder and the other a softer finish. Both experience not bad to utilise, depending on personal preference. The safe underlay is strong plenty to go on the Outpost in the same position, even while during tense moments in-game.

The RGB lighting tin can be controlled using HP's Omen Control software suite and can be synchronized with the HP Omen Photon mouse, so both devices output the same RGB lighting issue.

Pricing is where the HP Omen Outpost falls short

HP Omen Outpost Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

The main consequence I have with the HP Omen Outpost is the price. At a whopping $100, it'due south about the aforementioned cost as the Omen Photon wireless mouse. At present don't become me incorrect, the build quality and design are excellent, but I feel as though this would put many gamers off who won't feel comfortable parting with so much greenbacks for a mouse mat.

There'south also the Qi wireless charging, which is a neat addition to the Outpost, which falls a niggling short in that it almost becomes a pain to utilise at times. Half the attempts to employ the Qi wireless pad saw either the Huawei Mate 20 Pro or HP Omen Photon institute a connection without requiring me to accommodate the device accordingly.

A larger contact pad would have helped me out. The same goes for the actual mouse surface, which is too irritating to remove. In that location's no handy pull tab that makes the procedure easy, requiring y'all to use a tool to pry up the surface pad if you lot want to bandy it over.

Should yous buy HP Omen Outpost?

Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

Whether or non yous should purchase the HP Omen Outpost depends on a few factors. Do y'all listen forking out $100 for a mousepad? If so, then this is a solid surface for your gaming pointer. An added bonus is the Qi wireless charging pad and RGB lighting with support for HP's Omen Command software.

If yous're considering the HP Omen Photon and exercise non already own a Qi charging pad of some sort, this mousepad is recommended by HP to exist the perfect companion to the mouse. While I'd agree with that later using both accessories together, one tin't help but wonder if a more affordable Qi wireless pad and separate mousepad would be a better buy.

In that location's no denying that the HP Omen Outpost is a solid, good-looking mousepad with some handy smart features, merely it's incredibly expensive and tin can be a little fiddly to apply. If HP sorts these minor complaints out, the Outpost would be a highly recommended addition to most gaming rigs.

Qi Mousepad

HP Omen Outpost

Smart mousepad with RGB and Qi charging

The Omen Outpost is a smart mousepad, letting you charge your smartphone or Qi-compatible mouse, but the price volition be a little too high for virtually.

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