Analyst(s): Olivier Blanchard
Publication Date: February 27, 2025
HP has launched the Victus 15 gaming laptop in India, integrating AI-powered performance enhancements via AMD Ryzen 9 Hawkpoint 8945HS and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics. The laptop leverages AI-driven optimization for gaming, offering ray tracing, Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), and enhanced thermal efficiency. This marks another step in HP’s broader AI PC strategy, aligning with its product roadmap emphasizing AI in personal computing.
What is Covered in this Article:
- HP’s launch of the AI-powered Victus 15 gaming laptop in India, featuring AMD Ryzen AI 9 8945HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, and AI-driven performance enhancements.
- HP’s broader AI PC strategy, potential ASP growth from AI PCs, and its acquisition of Humane Inc.’s AI assets.
- Challenges and opportunities for HP, including cost pressures and delayed PC refresh cycles.
The News: HP has officially launched the Victus 15 gaming laptop in India, reinforcing its commitment to AI-enhanced personal computing. The laptop features an AMD Ryzen 9 Hawkpoint 8945HS processor with a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) designed to optimize gaming performance through AI-driven enhancements. It also includes NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, supporting advanced features such as ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) for smoother and more immersive visuals.
Equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD display boasting a 144Hz refresh rate and 300 nits brightness, the Victus 15 promises a fluid gaming experience. Additional hardware highlights include 16GB of DDR5 RAM (expandable), a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, and HP’s OMEN Tempest Cooling system to maintain optimal temperatures during intense gaming sessions.
To sweeten the deal, HP is bundling a three-month Xbox Game Pass subscription and a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription with the laptop. The Victus 15 is now available in Atmosphere Blue on Amazon India, priced at ₹1,12,990.
HP’s AI PC Push: How Victus 15 Fits into Its Bigger Strategy
Analyst Take: The launch of the Victus 15 isn’t just about introducing another gaming laptop—it’s part of HP’s larger AI-driven PC roadmap. AI integration is rapidly becoming a defining feature of next-generation computing, and HP is positioning itself as a leader in this transformation. During its Q4 FY 2024 earnings call, the company highlighted its focus on AI-powered enhancements beyond gaming, extending into both consumer and commercial computing.
HP has also strengthened its AI portfolio with the recent $116 million acquisition of Humane Inc.’s AI assets, signaling a broader push into AI-driven productivity and collaboration tools. This move suggests HP’s ambition to integrate AI features that go beyond gaming performance, emphasizing AI-assisted workflows, automation, and security.
AI PCs: A Competitive Landscape with Growing ASPs
AI-powered PCs are gaining traction, with HP reporting that AI PCs accounted for over 15% of its total shipments in Q4 FY 2024. The company expects this figure to grow to 25% in FY 2025 and reach 40%-60% within two years. This shift is expected to drive a 5%-10% increase in average selling prices (ASPs) as AI-equipped systems command a 55% premium over non-AI models by 2025.
HP’s investment in AI-powered premium devices positions it strongly against competitors such as Dell and Lenovo, and the acquisition of Humane’s AI expertise is expected to accelerate HP’s in-house AI development across key product lines such as PCs, printers, and other collaboration solutions (included but not limited to Poly).
Additionally, HP introduced the HP AI Companion at the HP Imagine event in September 2024. This AI-driven assistant enhances user experience by automating tasks, retrieving documents, and enabling real-time processing. With NPUs handling local processing, the AI Companion boosts efficiency, security, and responsiveness, catering to both business and personal users.
Challenges Ahead for HP’s AI PC Strategy
Despite HP’s aggressive push into AI PCs, several challenges could slow adoption: Windows 11 upgrade delays, higher ASP associated with AI PCs, the still mostly absent agentic AI user experiences promised by AI PCs, as well as broader economic uncertainties are among the most obvious. While HP expects AI PCs to account for 25% of its shipments in FY25, many businesses remain hesitant to upgrade until the agentic AI piece of the ROI equation materializes.
Microsoft extending Windows 10 security updates could also reduce the urgency for enterprises to refresh their PC fleets, but that remains a contentious issue. Support for Windows 10 is scheduled to end in October 2025, and Microsoft’s extended security updates (ESU) program may not be compelling enough of a hedge for most enterprise IT departments to wait before upgrading to Windows 11 systems.
Note that AI PC adoption is still in its early stages, and many AI-powered features currently offer incremental improvements rather than transformational changes. Enterprise buyers are looking for compelling software optimizations and clear ROI before making large-scale investments. As a result, the AI PC transition is likely to be gradual rather than a sudden industry-wide shift.
What to Watch:
- While HP expects AI PCs to reach 25% of its shipments in FY25, enterprise adoption remains gradual. Watch for enterprise demand signals and AI software advancements that could drive faster adoption.
- HP leads the Windows AI PC market, but rivals are aggressively expanding their AI portfolios. Expect intensified pricing battles and feature differentiation in gaming and commercial AI PCs.
- Rising component costs and competitive pricing in gaming laptops could weigh on margins in the near term.
- HP’s $116 million acquisition of Humane aims to enhance AI software and on-device capabilities across its portfolio. The success of this integration will determine whether it becomes a differentiator or just another AI investment.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other insights from The Futurum Group:
HP: Elevating Security with a Multi-Layered Approach for the Modern Era
HP’s Q4 FY24 Earnings: A Resilient Finish to a Challenging Year
HP Sets New Standard for Personalized Printing with HP Print AI – Six Five On The Road
Author Information
Research Director Olivier Blanchard covers edge semiconductors and intelligent AI-capable devices for Futurum. In addition to having co-authored several books about digital transformation and AI with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman, Blanchard brings considerable experience demystifying new and emerging technologies, advising clients on how best to future-proof their organizations, and helping maximize the positive impacts of technology disruption while mitigating their potentially negative effects. Follow his extended analysis on X and LinkedIn.
