HP's Omen X 2S is a crazy, powerful gaming laptop with two screens

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

Double the screens, double the fun.

What you need to know

  • Omen X 2S is the "world's first dual-screen gaming laptop."
  • The six-inch second screen can be used to watch videos, chat, or just monitor the PC's performance.
  • Powerful internals, including 9th Gen Intel processors and GeForce RTX 2080 graphics, mean serious power.
  • Launching later in May starting at $2,100 (opens in new tab).

HP's spring refresh for its gaming lineup is here, and the company is kicking things off with a bang: the dual-screen Omen X 2S laptop. Yeah, you read that right. There are two screens on this thing.

An evolution of HP's Omen X laptop (opens in new tab), the 2S complements its main 15-inch display with a second, six-inch 1080p screen just above the keyboard. And while that's a little too small to game on, HP is positioning the smaller of the screens as a way to better multitask while you're gaming on the main display. Essentially, it's like taking your dual-monitor setup from home on the go.

The second screen can be used for everything from monitoring the laptop's performance in real time to watching YouTube and Twitch streams or instant messaging. You can open apps like Microsoft Edge separately on the second screen, or use it as a virtual number pad. Perhaps the coolest feature of all, the screen can mirror a portion of your main screen when playing a game, allowing you to keep a close eye on UI elements like maps and the like.

On the inside, HP has backed up the multi-screen goodness with plenty of power as well. You can equip the Omen X 2S with up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. For graphics, you can slot in up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 graphics chip with 8GB of VRAM.

For refresh rate fanatics, 1080p displays with 144Hz and 240Hz options are available, as well as a 60Hz 4K panel. NVIDIA G-Sync is also on board with every model so your framerates will remain smooth without any screen tearing.

All of that is packaged in a frame that feels aggressive without being over-the-top. There's full per-key RGB lighting here, along with a mousepad that's offset to the right of the keyboard. HP is also talking up the laptop's thermal performance, which sees a slight boost thanks to three-sided venting and the application of special Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut thermal paste on the processor.

Availability and price

If all of that sounds like an expensive endeavor, well, it is. The Omen X 2S will start at $2,100 when it debuts at the end of May, HP says.

Double the Fun
HP Omen X 2S


It's an expensive investment, but the Omen X 2S does everything right and then some. The second screen is a dream for multi-taskers, and powerful internals ensure it will handle plenty of demanding games on the go when it goes on sale in late May.

Cheap PC accessories we love

Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.

Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub (opens in new tab) ($10 at Amazon)

Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.

Ikea Fixa Cable Management System (opens in new tab) ($11 at Amazon)

This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.

NZXT Puck (opens in new tab) ($20 at Amazon)

This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

6 Comments
  • Since it doesn't say, does that mean that neither screen can support touch?
  • Oh, I see other outlets are reporting that at least the mini-screen is touch. I can't find anything that reports if the main display is available with touch support, so... probably not (really not sure)? I'll never buy another laptop without a full touchscreen (and preferably active stylus/pen support too), but I really like the built-in mini-display. If I could get it with the 60Hz 4K display with touch, this could be my new favorite, but no touch on the main screen, no deal.
  • I'm not sure I see the point in this.
  • Seems pretty gimmicky to me.
  • For those who care, the mini screen is in fact touch enabled, and I'm very excited about this because it's still very small and light weight for a 15 inch. For those who say this is "gimmicky", you think too small. If you are a streamer, this is an excellent way to monitor your twitch or mixer streams, while having your game on your main screen, in one device, without the use of a monitor. You could set up a video call, or watch a movie, or do something collaborative on the second screen. There's also a tool, that allows to you clip a piece of the main screen, and show in on the bottom screen, like a map for example, or radar, or something on the HUD, which is incredibly useful
  • I was at first thinking it would useful in games, like for the HUD or minimal, but it would seem like you have to take your eyes off the screen. So it defeats the purpose. Also, watching a movie on a mini screen? Really? That sounds about as much as watching stuff on a phone screen. I can see the first point about streaming or something that doesn't really require much monitoring where that would be helpful.