After years as (virtually) the one recreation on the town, Intel is immediately simply one in every of a number of advantageous selections on your subsequent laptop computer’s silicon, with the chip big’s new Core Extremely Collection 2 processors challenged by different AI-ready CPUs together with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X and AMD’s Ryzen AI. And in contrast to previous years, the Intel alternate options are extensively accessible in flagship contenders like HP’s OmniBook Extremely 14 (begins at $1,349.99; $1,679.99 as examined). The OmniBook’s Ryzen AI chip would not disappoint, delivering each robust efficiency and spectacular battery life, however the HP total is not fairly as refined as some 14-inch opponents.
Design: Bland However Effectively-Executed
AMD configurations of the OmniBook Extremely 14 begin at $1,349.99 with a Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU with AMD Radeon 880M built-in graphics, 16GB of reminiscence, and a 512GB solid-state drive. Our loaded assessment unit rose to $1,679.99 direct from HP with a Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor, AMD Radeon 890M built-in graphics, 32GB of onboard RAM, and 2TB of storage. All fashions have a 14-inch IPS contact display screen with 2,240-by-1,400-pixel decision.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
HP’s design would not make a lot of an impression straight out of the field. The Extremely 14 is enticing, however its grey metallic exterior would not instantly stand out from aggressive slimlines from Acer, Asus, and Lenovo. The laptop computer’s solely distinctive trait is a Spectre-like 45-degree cutout at every rear nook. That apart, I doubt most individuals would know the OmniBook was an HP laptop computer if not for the badge on the lid.
Whereas the OmniBook is not a lot to have a look at, HP delivers on the basics. The laptop computer may be opened with a single finger, the outside supplies have an opulent metallic luster, and the chassis appears slate-like when dealt with. Even the show lid, a weak spot for a lot of laptops, doesn’t warp or flex because the show is opened or closed. The Dell XPS 14 is equally strong, however the Asus Zenbook S 14 and Acer Swift X 14 don’t really feel as premium.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The laptop computer’s rigidity makes it straightforward to overlook it is near our three-pound ultraportable cutoff (3.47 kilos) and measures simply 0.65 inch thick. It is not the thinnest or lightest laptop computer round, as opponents just like the LG Gram SuperSlim provide a wafer-thin chassis, however the OmniBook’s dimension and weight are corresponding to different 14-inch frequent fliers together with the abovementioned Asus and Dell and the Lenovo Yoga 9i.
Connectivity: That is It?
HP took a hatchet to the OmniBook Extremely 14’s bodily connectivity, although what it does have is not dangerous. You will discover two USB4 Thunderbolt 4 ports on its proper flank. Each assist 40Gbps knowledge charges and energy supply, that means they can be utilized to cost the laptop computer, and DisplayPort dongle compatibility for connecting an exterior monitor. They’re advantageous, versatile ports, although I want there have been one on either side as a substitute of inserting each on the correct.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
In any other case, the OmniBook has only one USB Sort-A port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. There is not any devoted video output (i.e., HDMI), and a wired Ethernet port is absent. The inclusion of only one USB-A method many customers might want to purchase a hub or dock to develop USB-A connectivity.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
Whereas the HP’s bodily connectivity is missing, its wi-fi connectivity is superb. The laptop computer helps Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the newest variations of every wi-fi commonplace. Most individuals do not but personal a Wi-Fi 7 router or Bluetooth 5.4 units, however assist for these specs helps future-proof the pocket book.
Utilizing the OmniBook Extremely 14: The Keyboard Wants Work
The Extremely 14 has a spacious keyboard that instantly felt acquainted underneath my fingertips, however that is the place my reward ends. It is a skinny, moveable laptop computer, and meaning area is at a premium. In consequence, the OmniBook settles for short-travel keys that activate with a fast, obscure motion. The keyboard is usable, however not as nice because the extra exact, tactile models discovered on Lenovo’s Slim laptops or the newest iterations of Apple’s MacBook Professional and Air.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
I haven’t got a lot love for the touchpad, both. It measures a tad underneath 5 inches large and about 3 inches deep. That is corresponding to alternate options just like the Acer Swift X 14 and Asus Zenbook S 14, however smaller than the Dell XPS 14 or Apple MacBook Professional 14. The pad’s floor is responsive, however I believed it had an disagreeable, plasticky texture.
Audio efficiency, then again, is a power. The OmniBook’s keyboard is flanked by a pair of upward-firing audio system that ship crisp, clear, and pleasurable audio. Their most quantity is a bit low, however the audio system are nonetheless properly above common and advantageous for watching YouTube, listening to podcasts, or taking part in music at low quantity whereas working.
Testing the HP OmniBook Extremely 14: A Sturdy Performer With Nice Battery Life
As talked about, the OmniBook Extremely 14 I examined was essentially the most highly effective configuration accessible. Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor has a complete of 12 cores (4 Zen 5 cores and eight much less performant Zen 5c cores) with a most clock frequency of 5.1GHz, in addition to AMD’s at present quickest accessible built-in graphics, the Radeon 890M platform. The AMD silicon was paired with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB solid-state drive.
I in contrast the HP’s efficiency to that of a number of related 14-inch lightweights reviewed by PCMag previously yr. The Asus Zenbook S 14 has Intel’s new Core Extremely 7 258V, a direct competitor to AMD’s Ryzen AI chip. Different comparability methods embody the Dell XPS 14, the Acer Swift X 14, and the Framework Laptop computer 13, all of which had prior generations of Intel {hardware}. The Dell and Acer additionally ditched built-in graphics for Nvidia’s entry-level GeForce RTX 4050 discrete GPU.
Productiveness and Content material Creation Checks
PCMag’s productiveness testing begins with UL’s PCMark 10, a radical benchmark that simulates real-world duties like doc modifying, managing massive spreadsheets, and videoconferencing. This take a look at evaluates a number of elements of a laptop computer’s efficiency together with the CPU, GPU, and reminiscence and in addition features a storage benchmark.
Subsequent, we conduct three important CPU benchmarks. Maxon’s Cinebench challenges the processor by rendering a posh scene utilizing the Cinema 4D engine. Geekbench 6.3 Professional, developed by Primate Labs, measures efficiency throughout a wide range of on a regular basis duties together with PDF rendering and speech recognition. We additionally put a stopwatch on methods whereas utilizing HandBrake 1.8, an open-source video transcoder, to compress a 4K video to 1080p decision.
For a ultimate, demanding take a look at we flip to Puget Methods’ PugetBench for Photoshop. This Adobe extension automates duties like picture resizing, masking, and making use of filters within the standard picture editor.
The HP was a transparent winner in these assessments, taking the lead in six of seven assessments (and touchdown in the midst of the pack in storage efficiency). The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 takes many of the credit score, posting large wins in multicore benchmarks like Cinebench and HandBrake. General, the OmniBook leaves most 14-inch laptops consuming its mud and might even hold tempo with some 16-inch desktop replacements, just like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 16 and Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 Gen 9.
Graphics Checks
Our graphics assessments depend on UL’s 3DMark take a look at suite, particularly the Wild Life (commonplace and Excessive), Metal Nomad (commonplace and Gentle), and Photo voltaic Bay benchmarks. Run at various resolutions, these assessments present sense of how a laptop computer will carry out with a wide range of 3D content material, from much less demanding indie titles to the fanciest AAA video games.
The OmniBook’s AMD built-in graphics predictably trailed the entry-level Nvidia devoted GPUs of the Acer and Dell, however the efficiency hole between the Radeon 890M silicon and the GeForce RTX 4050 wasn’t at all times as dramatic as you would possibly anticipate. Within the Wild Life take a look at, the Nvidia duo was solely about 30% faster as a substitute of doubling the HP’s efficiency (and within the Dell’s case, choosing discrete graphics provides $400 to the value). Although not meant for high-end gaming, the OmniBook can attain a body price of 30fps in lots of video games when you persist with 1080p decision and low to medium element settings.
Battery and Show Checks
PCMag assessments laptops’ battery life by constantly looping a domestically saved 720p video (the quick movie Tears of Metal) in full-screen mode, with display screen brightness set to 50% and audio quantity at 100%. Earlier than beginning, the laptop computer is totally charged, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and keyboard backlighting are turned off.
We use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and software program to check the show. This colorimeter measures the display screen’s colour gamut throughout the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 palettes, with outcomes expressed as percentages. It additionally measures brightness in nits (candelas per sq. meter) at each 50% and 100% brightness ranges.
The OmniBook Extremely 14 lasted virtually 21 and a half hours in our video rundown, far longer than most laptops we have examined. The Dell XPS 14 wasn’t far behind, however others trailed by six to 9 hours.
Show high quality, then again, is a weak spot. The HP’s contact display screen has a crisp decision of two,240 by 1,400 pixels, which works out to a density of roughly 188 pixels per inch, which is best than a 27-inch 4K monitor. Nevertheless, its in-plane switching (IPS) panel cannot compete with extra vivid OLED alternate options. The OmniBook’s show appears to be like advantageous by itself, however appears uninteresting and flat when in comparison with the extra sensible colour and much superior distinction of the likes of the Zenbook and Swift X.
Verdict: A Powerhouse, However Not Good
HP’s OmniBook Extremely 14 proves that AMD’s newest Ryzen AI processors can meet and beat their Intel rivals, giving the 0.65-inch-thin laptop computer CPU efficiency extra akin to that of 16-inch laptops. The HP additionally defeated Asus’ Zenbook S 14, which had Intel’s new Core Extremely 7 258V “Lunar Lake” chip. Battery life is excellent as properly, and AMD’s newest built-in graphics silicon is close to the highest of its class, if no match for the discrete GPUs of gaming laptops.
Nevertheless, the OmniBook’s efficiency is tempered by an unimpressive keyboard, restricted bodily connectivity, and a lackluster IPS contact panel. None of those is a deal-breaker by itself, however customers who do not want the Ryzen AI’s horsepower for demanding apps could tilt towards like-size alternate options just like the Asus Zenbook S 14 and the Dell XPS 14.
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The Backside Line
Due to AMD’s new Ryzen AI chips, HP’s OmniBook Extremely 14 delivers robust efficiency and nice battery life in a compact package deal. Nevertheless, it falls behind opponents in connectivity, show high quality, and the typing expertise.
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