In this revealing interview, Vickram Bedi, Senior Director – Personal Systems, HP India sheds light on the brand’s ambition to go beyond mere hardware production, aiming to become a cornerstone in the gaming ecosystem. At the core of this strategy is HP’s OMEN Tempest Cooling technology, a sophisticated thermal management system designed for the intense demands of gaming. This innovation is part of a broader vision that includes immersive audio experiences through HP’s HyperX headphones, underscoring the company’s commitment to enhancing every aspect of gaming.
Also Read: HP Pavilion Plus 16 Review: An Awesome Windows Creator Laptop on A Budget
The discussion also touches on the significant shift from mobile to PC gaming in India, highlighted by the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023. Bedi emphasizes HP’s focus on user-centric innovation, catering to the rising demand for superior performance, display, and graphics in gaming PCs. This interview offers a glimpse into how HP is not just responding to current trends but actively shaping the future of gaming technology in India.
With the Indian gaming industry projected to reach significant growth in the coming years and the increasing demand for gaming PCs, how does HP plan to innovate and stay competitive in this rapidly evolving market?
As the leading Gaming PC brand in India, we consistently listen to the gaming community, enabling us to constantly enhance our range of products. Our focus resides in providing solutions to the evolving preferences of gamers. We also understand that gamers come from diverse backgrounds, whether they are transitioning from mobile gaming to PC, passionate enthusiasts, or professional players. That’s why we offer a diverse selection of gaming devices to cater to all types of gamers. This approach has proven to be highly successful for us, as we continue to meet the needs and preferences of our valued customers.
Additionally, we are determined to stand out in the gaming hardware industry, not just as another company, but as a complete gaming solution company for our consumers. Gaming has become more mainstream than ever, and we wanted to be the ones leading the charge in serving this larger audience.
Imagine you’re deep into an intense gaming session, and every second counts. That’s where our new OMEN Tempest Cooling technology comes into play. it’s one of the best state-of-the-art air conditioning systems in a laptop in 2023. Our design is all about keeping things cool under pressure. We’ve got vents and exhausts strategically placed, to optimise for fan noise, heat management, and everything else that matters to gamers.
And it’s not just about airflow. We have carefully laid down heat pipes – think of them as highways for heat. They move the heat from your CPU and GPU, to places where it won’t cause any trouble. Plus, with our latest software, including the Omen Gaming Hub, the control of everything is in the gamer’s hands. It’s not just cool air; it’s about keeping your whole gaming experience cool, figuratively and literally.
What’s really exciting is how this integrates with our HyperX headphones. Imagine being in your game, completely immersed, and not worrying about your system overheating or slowing down. That’s the kind of experience we’re delivering with the OMEN Tempest Cooling.
2. Considering the shift from mobile to PC gaming in India, can you elaborate on how HP is adapting its products and marketing to cater to this new user base?
A: The HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023 revealed that 67% of gamers prefer gaming on PCs over mobile phones. We learned from our Study findings that one of the key reasons for this inclination is the superior features offered by PCs, including enhanced FPS, display quality, and graphics, all of which collectively contribute to an elevated gaming experience. At HP, our approach is centered around insights-driven innovation. We design and develop technology based on the needs of our customers, and our commitment is unwavering in delivering products that align with evolving gaming preferences and requirements.
Based on feedback from gamers, we learned that a strong cooling system is a must-have when playing heavy AAA games. Cooling, storage, RAM, and battery life are all super crucial features for gaming devices. Moreover, a whopping 89% of gamers are willing to pay extra for these features. Additionally, our market research showed that many customers underestimate the importance of thermal management when buying a gaming machine.
Also Read: HP Pavilion Aero 13 Review: An almost perfect blend of portability and performance
That’s why we have focused on improving the thermal with Omen Tempest Cooling to our entire new gaming portfolio with Omen Transcend and Omen 16 being 34% and 29% better respectively, on thermals than their predecessors. We have redesigned our devices to make this happen. New airflow system, thinner blades, square venting design – all to make sure more air flows in and out smoothly. We also ensured that the top hinge trunk doesn’t block the rear venting.
Every device in our lineup comes equipped with OMEN Tempest Cooling, ensuring better cooling performance to keep your gaming sessions running smoothly. Our newly announced products are loaded with powerful features from the OMEN Gaming Hub. It’s all about optimizing and personalizing your PC experiences, whether you are a passionate gamer or a creative professional. With our latest PC lineup, we are confident we have created devices that go above and beyond to meet the expectations of gamers.
3. How significant are the Omen Playground stores in HP’s strategy for enhancing the PC gaming infrastructure and community engagement across India?
A: Gaming in India has become a lifestyle and emerging as a serious career option for gamers. Recognizing this, HP made a conscious decision to invest in the gaming industry and make gaming accessible to the younger generation. This led to the creation of the Omen Playground Stores. These stores serve as a hub where mobile and first-time gamers can discover the incredible world of PC gaming, while experienced gamers can indulge in the cutting-edge technology of HP devices and the Hyper X gaming ecosystem.
We currently have 13 Omen Playground stores up and running in prominent cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Trivandrum, and Hubli, among others. Our vision is to provide gamers across the country with a dedicated space where they can fully immerse themselves in the wonders of gaming and experience the power of HP’s innovative gaming devices.
4. With a growing demand for devices that balance gaming and professional needs, how is HP integrating features to support a hybrid work environment without compromising gaming performance?
A: We have been talking to our customers and especially gamers these days are not just looking for devices solely dedicated to gaming. The concept of a hybrid lifestyle aligns with the current trend of work and entertainment blending seamlessly. Consumers don’t want to switch between different devices for different tasks; instead, they want a laptop that can transition smoothly from gaming to productivity and beyond.
Our latest laptops are all built with a hybrid lifestyle in mind. We recently launched our thinnest & lightest Omen laptop – Omen Transcend 16, for the hybrid lifestyle. It weighs under 2.1kg to ensure portability in today’s fast-paced environment. Moreover, the new Omen and Victus laptops are designed with all the cutting-edge features consumers need for gaming and other everyday tasks.
They come with the latest Intel & AMD processors and strong NVIDIA graphics that can handle resource-intensive tasks smoothly, such as running complex software, handling multiple applications simultaneously, and ensuring overall system responsiveness.
Hybrid work and play is central to HP’s vision. Hence, by integrating high-end features from our Omen lineup into more affordable devices like the Victus laptops, HP is democratizing technology. This ensures that even those with budget constraints can access cutting-edge components and features, enhancing their gaming and regular experiences.
5. Can you share insights into any upcoming innovative technologies or products that HP is working on, especially those aimed at enhancing gaming experiences?
A: At HP, we are constantly working on providing the best technological support to our consumers. Gaming as an industry is evolving in India. We remain committed to catering to the diverse needs of young gamers in India with our innovation.