ZDNET’s key takeaways
- HP OmniBook 5 16-inch with the Intel Core Extremely 7 255H is on sale now for $649.
- It is a dependable all-around laptop computer for college students and execs alike, with improbable battery life and a aggressive worth level.
- Go for an OLED show, because the 300-nit IPS show cannot compete with extra premium shows.
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The OmniBook 5 collection occupies the mid-range of HP’s shopper laptops for on a regular basis use and the workplace, punctuated by improbable battery life. The OmniBook 5 16-inch suits that description completely, with a roomy keyboard, a various vary of configurations, and a really enticing $649 beginning worth.
I examined the OmniBook 5 16-inch with the Intel Core Extremely 7 255H processor, and located it to be a dependable, sensible laptop computer with a really environment friendly battery, notably for a 16-inch.
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Nevertheless, whereas it succeeds in its mission general, I’ve some critiques about its construct, each of which appear to shine finest after they’re not pushed to the boundaries. Let’s have a look.
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Construct and {hardware}
The OmniBook 5 collection is notable for its versatile configurations, together with all three processor sorts: a Snapdragon X, Intel Core Extremely 7 200 collection, or AMD Ryzen 5 8540U. I examined the Intel variant and located it snappy and dependable for on a regular basis duties. This is not a powerhouse configuration, nevertheless it’s well-suited to college students, multitasking, and typical productiveness software program.
Bodily, the 16-inch OmniBook 5 is an HP laptop computer by and thru, with a non-descript silver clamshell with rounded edges and full-sized, spacious keyboard. For anybody who likes a roomy set of keys with a practical quantity pad, it is an excellent laptop computer to work on, with good key journey and a practical, appropriately-sized trackpad.
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I’ll be aware that HP tried one thing totally different right here by placing nearly all of the ports on the best aspect, together with each 10Gbps USB-C ports, the HDMI port, and one USB-A port. This is not a dealbreaker, however actually, I discover it extra inconvenient, as I am used to left-aligned connections.
The OmniBook 5 I examined is at present on sale for $649, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This can be a aggressive worth for this laptop computer, however the fee is just obvious when trying carefully on the trade-offs, particularly the matte, 2K IPS show, which is serviceable, however caps out at 300 nits of brightness. Choosing OLED will ship a extra premium person expertise, however it would elevate the value by a couple of hundred bucks.
Options and every day use
As a enterprise laptop computer, the OmniBook 5 handles video conferencing surprisingly nicely with crisp audio and good video: HP’s True Imaginative and prescient 1080p FHD webcam. That is additional enhanced by the battery’s effectivity, permitting a number of calls in a single workday with out worrying about energy.
Additionally: I attempted the ‘infinitely modular’ keyboard, and it might rewire productiveness for good
Battery life is a standout characteristic. Intel’s Core Extremely 7 255H-series processor balances energy with efficiency right here, designed for mid- to high-tier machines with a hybrid core design that may scale right down to a trickle of energy when idle, or as much as 5.2 GHz with Intel’s Turbo Enhance.
HP cites 32 hours of battery life in its video playback take a look at, however in real-world use, you possibly can anticipate nicely over a full day on a single cost. After taking this laptop computer to the workplace, I used to be untethered from the charger on most days that consisted of typical workflows. For college students with lengthy days on campus, it is an excellent choice for that reason alone.
Even underneath a heavy load, the OmniBook 5 is general cool and quiet, although the followers will kick on when you’re actually pushing it. This is not a laptop computer you’d purchase for gaming, however you possibly can actually run informal video games simply effective, due to the processing energy of the Arrow Lake CPU on board. I’ll be aware, nevertheless, that working extra demanding graphical purposes takes its toll on battery life.
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Equally, it is truly fairly a great for media playback, because the DTS:X Extremely twin audio system sound higher than you’d anticipate, with HP’s Audio Enhance offering very clear vocal audio and a commendable quantity of bass.
Lastly, at 3.92 kilos, it is nonetheless fairly light-weight for a 16-inch laptop computer, measuring simply 0.73 inches at its thickest level, the place the ports are. I commuted with the OmniBook 5 16 for over per week and located it to be simply effective to hold round, simply slipping into my backpack.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The HP OmniBook 5 16-inch is a stable midrange laptop computer that punches nicely above its $649 sale worth. It is geared towards on a regular basis customers with numerous workflows, and delivers wonderful battery life for these use circumstances, as pushing it outdoors its consolation zone taxes battery life.
Additionally: This haptic trackpad is among the most enjoyable computing equipment I noticed at CES
I might suggest this laptop computer to college students of all colleges, in addition to professionals who want a succesful work laptop computer and worth a snug, full-sized keyboard. Its show is not notably premium, particularly in comparison with all the brand new OLED laptops which are popping out this yr, however that is one of many trade-offs for its worth level.
In the event you like HP laptops and desire a extra cutting-edge, premium choice, I might counsel the brand new HP EliteBook X G2i, with Intel’s newest Sequence 3 “Panther Lake” processor.
