HP's OmniBook lineup includes a wide range of laptops targeting a wide range of users, and the OmniBook 3 16" is one of the most affordable of the bunch.

Assuming you aren't maxing it out with RAM and storage, you can get a Snapdragon X chip and a large 16-inch screen for around $500, often less with the right discount. Unfortunately, with higher-spec'd models, the display, build quality, and features don't quite measure up to other PCs competing in the same price range.

I've been using HP's OmniBook 3 for a couple of weeks to get to know it inside and out; here's what you need to know before buying.

HP had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

How much does the HP OmniBook 3 cost?

HP's OmniBook 3 16" starts as low as $699.99 without any discounts; however, HP basically designed this PC to be on sale almost all the time, and you can usually get this baseline model for a lot less.

At the time of writing this review, a model with Snapdragon X (X1-26) System-on-Chip (SoC), 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, and 2K IPS display costs $399 at Walmart.

The model I'm reviewing represents a significant upgrade in a couple of key areas. It has a 2K OLED display, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD. For some reason, HP omits the OLED display as an option in its configurator, so I can only give a price for this same setup with an IPS touch display. It's regularly $1,729.99, but is down to $1,259.99 at the time of writing.

That's not exactly cheap, and as I found, this is sort of a tale of two tiers. On one hand, if you're buying the laptop for around $500, it's a great deal. On the other hand, if you're spending around $1,500, you could do better elsewhere.

Here's a look at the exact specs that are in my OmniBook 3 16" review unit.

Sleek design, but a bit creaky

The OmniBook 3 is a 16-inch laptop that's sized more like a 14-incher, and it's relatively thin at 0.58 inches (1.47cm). Thanks to a mix of aluminum and plastic, it weighs in at about 3.65 pounds (1.65kg), a respectable number for a device this size. Despite its large display, it's actually quite easy to tote around.

There's quite a bit of flex to the body, and when pressed, it creaks loudly. It's a shame, because it's really a sleek laptop. Thankfully, the lid seems to have a lot more rigidity, helping protect the OLED panel.

Port selection benefits multi-monitor setups

The thermal setup is ideal, with cool air pulling in through a large intake on the bottom and exhausting out the back edge, just behind the hinge. There's no hot air blowing on your hands, and because it's a Snapdragon chip inside, the system doesn't get particularly hot. More on that below.

On the left side of the PC is an HDMI 2.1 port for native video support, one USB-A (5Gbps), and dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) ports at 10Gbps each. Of course, I wish these ports were at least USB4 — Thunderbolt 4 is generally reserved for Intel systems — for faster transfers. Still, they support DP 1.4 video if you're looking to run multiple external displays.

The right side of the laptop is home to an additional USB-A (5Gbps) port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

So-so speakers, nice webcam

Dual speakers installed on the underside of the laptop, toward the front, fail to impress. They're not particularly loud or full, and other budget laptops do a way better job of audio.

The 1080p webcam, on the other hand, offers a clear picture that only gets better with Windows Studio Effects powered by the laptop's NPU. An IR sensor allows for facial biometric security via Windows Hello, upping security.

A full keyboard and large touchpad make for easy productivity

The OmniBook 3 has a keyboard that's above average for a laptop that starts at such a low price. Key travel is excellent, the backlight is bright, and the number pad makes for easy productivity.

And although the touchpad isn't haptic, a feature reserved for premium laptops, it has a satisfying click and tracks without issue.

The only thing I'll mention is that HP doesn't offer the backlit version of the keyboard as the default in all models. For some reason, you have to manually select it when configuring. It doesn't add any costs from what I can see, and I don't know why it's not just a default feature.

Colorful OLED display struggles with glare

My review unit features a 16-inch OLED non-touch display with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution. This is the screen I'd recommend everyone get, but unfortunately, it seems like touch and non-touch IPS panels at the same resolution are far more common.

The bezels are fairly thin, although they're of the raised plastic sort rather than a seamless glass covering.

Testing the OLED display with a SpyderX Pro colorimeter, I got back 100% sRGB, 92% AdobeRGB, and 99% DCI-P3 color reproduction, all excellent results, especially for a budget laptop. Color and contrast are indeed superb, and you'll be missing out on it if you're forced into the IPS options.

Brightness could be better, with the OLED screen topping out just higher than 300 nits. That seems to be the limit for the IPS panels as well. Despite an anti-glare finish, the display struggles in bright rooms.

Last-gen Snapdragon still delivers incredible battery life

There's no other way to say it; the OmniBook 3 16's battery life is incredible. Yes, my review unit has the slightly more power-efficient OLED display that seems very hard to find right now, and yes, the PC is using one of Qualcomm's most affordable chips.

Regardless, the larger chassis fits a sizable 68Wh battery, and because the Snapdragon X sips power, I was seeing full — and I mean full — days of mixed use without needing a charge.

For example, I began streaming a YouTube video at noon. That night, it was still going strong, and the battery hadn't yet dipped below 70%. I left it going, and it was still playing the next morning.

The official Windows battery report suggests about 38 hours of life from a charge, but of course, my streaming test skewed that result. I'd put it at around 25-30 hours, and that's being conservative.

Snapdragon X performance is also impressive

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chip is indeed efficient, but it's also now a generation behind the X2 hardware released earlier this year.

For most users, that shouldn't matter. The chip competes quite well with Intel's Core Ultra 7 256V CPU in Geekbench 6, both for single- and multi-core scores. Better yet, I saw almost no performance drop when switching from AC to battery power.

Cinebench also delivered surprising results, with the Snapdragon X again coming out ahead of the Core Ultra 7 256V and Ryzen 7 8840U.

A rather quick M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD rounds out the performance hardware, hitting 7,073MB/s read and 5,705MB/s write speeds in CrystalDiskMark.

The laptop runs cool and quiet no matter what, and I don't actually recall hearing the fans kick on until I was running benchmark software.

Should you buy the HP OmniBook 3?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You can find a great deal for somewhere around $500-$700 (or less).

✅ You need a 16-inch screen and a number pad to better handle multitasking and productivity.

✅ You want a laptop with outstanding battery life.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You're looking for a PC with a discrete graphics card.

❌ You don't often use a number pad and want a more compact PC that's easier to fit into a bag.

The OmniBook 3 16" is kind of an odd case, and it's not being helped by the ongoing RAM and storage crisis.

On one hand, you can sometimes find models with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage for as little as $399. Such is the case at Walmart at the time of writing this review. That's an outstanding deal, and at this price, it's an easy recommendation.

On the other hand, if there aren't any discounts available, you might be looking at spending $1,500+ if you spec up the RAM and storage. I know that component prices are high, but I don't think this PC has the build or feature quality to warrant that type of price. I'd suggest looking at alternatives before making a final decision.

The fact that most models now come with an inferior IPS display that's not as bright or colorful — I really hope OLED returns as a common option when configuring — doesn't help.

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Amazon Prime Day is taking place as we speak, and other online retails stores are jumping into on the fun with their own sales. HP's online store is one such place, and I've just found an incredible deal on a laptop I just reviewed last week. The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with Snapdragon is $650 off right now, down to just $1,249 while stocks last!

This is the best HP laptop I've tested in a long while. In fact, I think it's probably the prettiest Windows laptop you can buy right now, complete with a best-in-class display, premium build quality, and much more. For this price, you're getting a great device.

Why is the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 a good laptop?

I've not long published my review of the HP OmniBook Ultra, and I came away very impressed, giving it 5 stars and calling it one of the best Snapdragon laptops this year. Under the hood is Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 Plus SoC, which features 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage. It's a powerful and efficient chip, easily capable of most day to day productivity tasks, data crunching, and even light video and photo editing.

It features a best-in-class 1080p OLED touchscreen, which features inky deep color contrast and makes images and text pop . It also has an incredible keyboard, and new haptic trackpad that feels great to use.

The device is also super premium. I think it might be the best looking and feeling Windows laptop on the market currently. It's just 2.83lbs in weight, and features a brushed metal finish around the edges that looks simply incredible. The device is also designed in such a way that makes it look incredibly thin when on a desk, which is awesome.

It features three USB-C ports, along with a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has a Windows Hello equipped webcam that shoots good 1080p photo and video. Lastly, the laptop is a power champ, lasting all day on a single charge with ease. For $1,249, you're not getting a better laptop in 2026 than this.

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HP's back with an all new OmniBook Ultra, this time powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 Elite, and a new design to boot. I've always loved HP's flagship laptops, and the OmniBook Ultra might just be the best Windows laptop it's ever made.

Its new design is drop dead gorgeous, featuring razer thin edges, a new keyboard design that's amazing to type on, and a best-in-class 14-inch OLED display that makes text and images crisp and clear. It also has plenty of power under the hood, all while offering all day battery life, and then some.

I've been testing the HP OmniBook Ultra over the last few weeks, and this is my full review.

This review was made possible via a review unit supplied by HP. The company had no editorial input and did not view the contents of this review before publication.

Specs and Price

The HP OmniBook Ultra is available now from HP Online and third-party retailers with prices starting at $1,899 for the base model with a Snapdragon X Plus and 16GB RAM.

You can also upgrade to a Snapdragon X2 Elite and 32GB RAM, which will cost $2,399 from HP. The configuration used for this review is one with 64GB RAM and 2TB storage, but this model doesn't appear to be available for sale just yet.

What I love

Getting right down to business, I want to start with the overall design of this laptop. In a word, it's fantastic. In multiple words, it might be one of the prettiest Windows laptops I've ever had through the lab. It's a gorgeous piece of hardware, featuring diamond cut edges that look so sharp and satisfying.

When closed, it looks so sleek and modern. The side of the device where the display hinge is features a brushed metal design with "OMNIBOOK ULTRA" subtly etched into the metal. I'm obsessed with how it looks. I love looking at it, and I love touching it. Everything about this design is premium.

The underside if the device features a unique design that makes it appear thinner than it actually is. The device tapers towards the edges and around the ports so that the part you hold and can see is razer thin. It's only when you hold the laptop up and look underneath do you realize that it's actually thicker than it first appears.

This is accentuated by the color, "Stone Blue," which might be the prettiest blue to ever grace a computer. It looks super stylish, and doesn't overexert itself like some other laptop blues. It's much more muted than the blue on Surface Laptop 7, which I think is actually a good thing. It also does a very good job at hiding fingerprints, which can't be said for all laptops.

That color is carried into the inside of the device, which when opened looks fantastic. The display is flanked by super think bezels, and the keyboard is beautiful too. There's a large haptic trackpad below the keyboard which is also a delight to use, offering the usual haptic feedback options for adjusting how subtle the haptics are.

The only thing that really lets this design down is the usual sticker you find on Windows laptops. My Snapdragon X2 Elite model comes with a Snapdragon sticker, complete with an ugly Copilot+ PC logo. It's minor, but it really takes away from the overall elegant and clean design of the OmniBook Ultra.

Moving onto the display. It's a 14-inch 16:10 OLED panel with a high 120Hz refresh rate and 3K resolution. It's a beautiful and bright panel, with inky deep blacks, high contrast, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and sharp text and images that make looking at webpages and icons super nice. It's also a touchscreen, which we love to see on a Windows laptop.

It can reach a peak brightness of around 500 nits, in our testing reaching 498. In HDR mode, HP rates the display for 1100 nits, which is pretty great I can confirm that HDR mode does pop on this display, though I'm not often watching HDR content.

What's also nice is that the display doesn't have rounded corners. Many high-end laptops these days, including MacBook's will round off the corners of the panel. This looks nice in theory, but in reality you lose genuine screen real-estate by doing this. The OmniBook Ultra has square display corners, so you're not missing out on any pixels.

I love typing on this laptop. There's something about the keyboard that makes it super easy to type on. It's quiet, smooth, lightweight, with enough key travel to be satisfying but not overbearing. It's a new keyboard design for HP laptops, with keys that are much closer together.

However, unlike Dell's keyboard (which I find more difficult to type on) the keys on the OmniBook Ultra are tapered at the edges, which gives them a little separation. This separation makes it easy to type without looking at the keys, as each key is distinctly placed and easily identified with your fingers. I also think it looks nicer than Dell's keyboards.

The port selection is good enough. On the left, we have a USB-C port and 3.5 audio jack, and on the right there's two additional USB-C ports. You won't find USB-A or an SD card reader here, which would've been nice additions, but I understand that to maintain the razer thin design, those ports needed to be omitted.

Webcam is also pretty good. It's a 5MP sensor that looks fine in daylight, but gets quite noisy in low-light environments. It is flanked by IR sensors, which support Windows Hello face unlock which is nice and fast, and much preferred over a fingerprint reader. The device also features wake on approach and screen dimming when you look away, though these are off by default.

What I don't like

Believe it or not, but there's really not a lot to dislike about the HP OmniBook Ultra. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the lack of a USB-A port is a little annoying sometimes, along with the absence of a microSD card reader.

Some will likely dislike that the display is glossy. I personally don'y have an issue with this, but it does mean reflections are very obvious when in a well lit environment. This is something that would be remedied with an anti-reflective or anti-glare coating, or a matte display option.

I also really don't like that Qualcomm insists on placing an ugly sticker on the keyboard deck to represent its silicon. I know OEMs include this because Qualcomm gives them incentive to do so, but I really feel like it detracts from the otherwise perfect appearance of the OmniBook Ultra.

I can also see how some may not love the look or feel of the keyboard. The keys are quite close together, but they are tapered at the edges to give them more of a separated feel. I personally love it, but some of my peers said they weren't huge fans. It'll come down to individual preference.

Lastly, the lack of a 5G option will be an upset for some. I know there is a small but vocal group of people who believe 5G is a must have feature on their Windows laptop, meaning this device won't be a fit for them.

Performance and Battery

Under the hood, the HP OmniBook Ultra is packing Qualcomm's latest SoC in the form of a Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E-90-100,) featuring 18 cores and hitting boost speeds up to 5.0 GHz, this processor is capable of chewing through multi-threaded tasks with ease.

My review unit comes with 2TB storage and 64GB RAM too, though I think that's a little overkill. For most people, the configuration with 32GB or even 16GB RAM is likely more than enough for daily tasks and creative work.

In my testing, the OmniBook Ultra is a beast. I was able to edit 4K video on it with no problems, as well as play a few games with smooth framerates at 1440p. It's definitely not a gaming machine, but if you want to play something casually every now and then, it's something this device can handle, assuming there are no compatibility issues with Arm.

In benchmarks, the OmniBook Ultra performed very well. Cinebench 2026 tests resulted in 4,646 points in multi-core, and 632 in single-core. That places is neatly between an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and Apple M4 Max in single-core performance, and and an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990W and Apple M4 Max in multi-core. It's a seriously capable chip.

Geekbench is a similar story, earning a multi-core score of 20,448 and single-core score of 3,687. Geekbench's GPU test resulted in a score of 39,738 too. In CrossMark, it achieved a score of 1,993. SSD performance is also excellent, with a CrystalDiskMark read score of 10,407.29 MB/s and write score of 7225.54 MB/s, making one of the fastest SSDs in a Windows laptop currently.

Above all else, even under heavy load, the device is whisper quiet. It has a built-in fan, designed around a vapour chamber that does an excellent job at keeping the keyboard deck cool enough to use comfortably under heavy load. The fan does get audible when under sustained load, but it's not loud or overbearing.

Regarding battery life, I was simply blown away. HP rates the OmniBook Ultra as capable of hitting 44 hours on a single charge, and while that's certainly an overestimation, the OmniBook Ultra can easily get you through a work day on a single charge, with plenty of power left to spare.

In my testing, I would usually end the 8 hour work day with about 35-40% battery remaining. That's with about 6-7 hours of screen time conducting day to day tasks such as writing, web browsing, and listening to music. In our controlled battery life tests, it achieved around 22 hours, which is super impressive.

That means real world usage should see you capable of taking the device to work without a charger, and not have to worry about it running out. You can even get through most of the next day too before needing to plug in again. Seriously impressive longevity in this battery, which is a 70Wh cell. Paired with the efficient Qualcomm chip, and you've got a perfect mix of power and efficiency.

When you do find yourself low on power, the OmniBook Ultra supports fast charging, meaning you can juice up from 0% to about 50% in under an hour.

Conclusion

Overall, I think the HP OmniBook Ultra is my new favorite Windows 11 PC in 2026 so far. It's beautiful, powerful, energy efficient, and features most bells and whistles that you might want on a flagship Windows laptop in the current year.

Some will likely find HP's new keyboard design a little controversial, or the lack of an anti-reflective display annoying, but personally I don't have issues with either of these. I prefer glossy displays and I've found HP's new keyboard design to be delightful to use.

You should buy this laptop if...

✅ You want an excellent all-round Windows laptop

✅ You need all day battery life

✅ You want an incredible OLED touchscreen

✅ You want a Windows on Arm PC

You should not buy this laptop if...

❌ You want a laptop with 5G

❌ You need a laptop with an anti-reflective or matte screen

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Last month, several Dell users reported that Dell SupportAssist, the company’s device recovery software, was instead causing system crashes, leading to blue screens and reboot loops on Windows 11. However, the PC maker indicated that Microsoft's Windows 11 wasn't to blame.

At the time, Dell recommended uninstalling the software. However, our own Windows OS expert, Mauro Huculak, noted that disabling the service could also mitigate the issue. Concerningly, Dell has published a new blog post indicating that its Remediation Dell SupportAssist (version 5.5.16.0) and Alienware SupportAssist can trigger blue screen errors and unexpected reboot loops on Windows 11 (via Neowin).

Dell SupportAssist is part of the company’s broader SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools, so users are advised not to disable or uninstall it while troubleshooting. Dell has since released an update, version 5.5.16.1, which is expected to resolve the issue.

Impacted users are advised to verify that their devices are running the latest version by checking the Installed Apps section in Windows Settings. A new update should be available through the SupportAssist's "Update Software" feature or Dell Command Update. This should resolve the annoying issue.

Late last month, I also reported on an annoying HP BIOS bug that was leaving high-end Windows 11 PCs stuck in an endless BitLocker recovery loop. At the time, HP recommended users to avoid downloading and installing the faulty BIOS update by disabling automatic updates in Windows Update in their device settings app while it worked on a permanent fix.

The company also provided a manual workaround to resolve the BitLocker Recovery loop and allow for the successful implementation of the 2023 Microsoft certificates on an individual computer.

To resolve the issue where the new UEFI Secure Boot CA 2023 certificates fail to apply, HP now recommends updating affected devices to the latest BIOS version and ensuring the required Secure Boot certificates are configured before installing Microsoft’s Windows 11 Patch Tuesday updates. Affected devices might require several BIOS configuration changes to run seamlessly without unexpected system restarts.

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In a not-so-surprising turn of events, HP recently revealed that 3 out of 10 of its installed user base is still running Windows 10, despite Microsoft unceremoniously pulling support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. The move left approximately 400 million PCs in the lurch because they didn't meet Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

Notably, the number of Windows 10 holdouts has slightly decreased from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even be expected to roll over into 2026.

While recently speaking to investors, Ketan Patel, president of personal systems, claimed the slow transition to Windows 11 from Windows 10 was giving HP a financial boost (via The Register):

"Windows 11: 30 percent of the installed base is still to be refreshed. That's one tailwind which we see as an opportunity in the short run."

HP's CFO, Karen Parkhill, reiterated the same sentiments while indicating that the trend was regional and particularly strong in EMEA and APJ for the company's FY26Q2, which ended on April 30. For context, the company's revenue grew 9% year-on-year to $14.41 billion.

"We have roughly 30 percent of the installed base still on Windows 10, so we still have some more to go. The Win 11 refresh that we've driven now in EMEA and APJ is now on par with North America."

Despite pleas and petitions from users asking the company to extend support for the operating system, it turned a deaf ear to the requests. It extended Windows 10's lifeline through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which users can enroll in for free by syncing their PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account, or pay $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. It's worth noting that the company later backtracked on the move, making access to Windows 10's extended support updates free for regions in the European Economic Area that do not meet the cloud backup requirement.

Still, groups like The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, said Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

andCritics have branded Windows 10's end of support as programmed obsolescence by Microsoft, as the move practically forced millions of working PCs into early retirement because they didn't meet the stringent hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) warned that Microsoft's pulling the plug on Windows 10 will have a major impact on older devices, widening the digital divide.

In the interim, groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end-of-life. The campaign encourages steadfast Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

Between the dwindling hype behind sophisticated AI PCs and limited spending power to get new devices, it makes sense that there would be a significant number of Windows 10 holdouts.

Microsoft has made blatant attempts to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, including full-screen multi-page pop-up ads awnd even using Copilot+ PCs and its next-gen AI features to make its point with bold statements like "Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10 PCs."

It remains unclear whether users still running Windows 1o on their devices enrolled for the ESU program or are just using the operating system without security updates.

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If you own an HP laptop — particularly a high-end model, including HP EliteBooks, ProBooks, and ZBook workstations — there’s a strong chance you may encounter a buggy BIOS firmware update delivered through automatic Windows Update.

The flaw can cause your PC to freeze during boot or display the Blue Screen of Death, rendering it unusable until a fix is applied.

Some users have reported that their devices boot directly to the BitLocker recovery screen as early as April 2026. Even after entering the correct recovery key to access the desktop, Windows 11 fails to recognize the change, triggering the same BitLocker recovery loop.

While speaking to The Register earlier this week, HP indicated it's "aware of purported BIOS issues and is looking into the matter." And now, in a new support document — spotted by Windows Latest — HP indicated that:

"Microsoft’s 2023 certificates may fail to properly apply on the computer when this BitLocker issue occurs. To verify the status of this process, check the UEFICA2023Status and UEFICA2023Error registry values. If the UEFICA2023Status registry value remains in an "In Progress" state over time and the UEFICA2023Error registry value shows any number higher than 0, then the update process has failed."

Zbook Ultra G1a first-attemp-boot freeze from r/Hewlett_Packard

While HP works on a permanent fix for the issue, the best course of action is a preventative one — to avoid downloading and installing the faulty BIOS update by disabling automatic updates in Windows Update in your device settings app.

In the interim, the company has also provided a manual workaround to resolve the BitLocker Recovery loop and allow for the successful implementation of the 2023 Microsoft certificates on an individual computer.

If you’ve already installed the update, you can try reverting to a known working version. The process comes with its own hurdles, but some users have reported some success. As The Register highlighted, "users have reported some success using the network BIOS downgrade functionality, but only with an HP USB-C to Ethernet dongle."

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Apple's MacBook Neo may have some new competition, and I'm not talking about Windows laptops that have been discounted. New PCs from Honor, ASUS, and HP have been spotted at Chinese retailers. All three of the laptops are powered by the Intel Core 5 320 processor.

VideoCardz highlighted the three new laptops. Since the PCs appear on a retail site based in China, their prices are in RMB. A rough conversion to USD places them all in a similar price range to the MacBook Neo.

Despite costing about the same as the MacBook Neo, all three of the Windows laptops feature 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Both those specs are double what's seen in the base MacBook Neo (and more RAM than any MacBook Neo is available with).

The Intel Core 5 320 is a 6-core, 6-thread processor. It has two performance cores and four low power efficient cores, according to Intel.

Benchmarks of the Intel Core 5 320 stack up favorably against Apple's A18 Pro, which powers the MacBook Neo. Figures from PassMark show a single-core score of 4,047 and a multi-core score of 15,222 for Intel's new chip. The A18 Pro scored 4,066 single-core and 11,993 multi-core.

The Intel Core 5 320 is an Intel Wildcat Lake CPU made for affordable laptops.

The new laptops are listed in China, but we should see other PCs powered by Intel Wildcat Lake chips in other markets soon.

Windows 11 vs macOS

The price of the MacBook Neo is the main way the laptop disrupted the market. Before the introduction of the MacBook Neo, people would have to purchase a used MacBook to dip into the sub-$600 price range. I could argue that even in 2026 a MacBook with an M1 processor is a better choice than the MacBook Neo, but that's not really the point. Many people want to purchase new devices rather than rely on the second-hand market.

Windows has dominated in the budget-friendly space for years. The financial reality is that for many, a MacBook was not even an option worth looking at for the longest time. The MacBook Neo changed that, and pitted Windows 11 against macOS in a new price band.

The trendy opinion is to assume that this means the MacBook Neo will dominate Windows laptops in the same price range. Many reviewers, bloggers, and social media users would have you believe the only thing preventing macOS from being king across the board was the lack of a budget option. I'm not sure that's the case.

I'm sure some people will pick the MacBook Neo as their first device. College campuses will have plenty of the colorful laptops come fall. But Windows has been around for a long time and has billions of users for a reason.

Even the reaction of the Windows Central team to the MacBook Neo was split. Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden argued that Microsoft should panic. Our Senior Editor Ben Wilson lost interest in the MacBook Neo after seeing its specs.

I argued that Microsoft abandoned the true budget market and left the door open for the MacBook Neo. But that was about Microsoft-made hardware, not Windows laptops overall. The new laptops from Honor, ASUS, and HP show that other OEMs can step up and fill the void on the Windows side of things.

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Despite what I can describe only as one of the biggest dilemmas the PC industry has ever faced, global shipments of laptops and desktops have gone up in 2026.

As hardware costs continue to rise, forcing all brands to reevaluate pricing, a new report from Counterpoint Research reveals that global PC shipments grew by 3.2% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026.

That growth comes out to approximately 63.3 million units shipped in Q1 2026 compared to 61.4 million units in Q1 2025. As Counterpoint notes, this growth was caused by the rise of memory prices and the trailing effects of Windows 10's retirement.

ASUS, which I consider to be one of the most improved brands of late when it comes to hardware quality, saw the biggest growth at 20%. It shipped 4.8 million PCs in Q1 2026, though it remains in fifth place overall.

Lenovo, which has been the world's largest PC manufacturer for years, remains in top place with 9% growth, which comes out to 16.5 million units shipped in Q1 2026. Overall, it holds a 26% global market share.

HP remains in second place despite a 5% year-over-year decline, and Dell also holds its spot in third with a modest 8% increase. Apple's global shipments also grew by 11%, no doubt helped by the affordable MacBook Neo.

👉 Microsoft reveals major price increases for all Surface PCs as RAM crisis continues: Flagships now $500 more expensive than at launch

Weren't PC sales supposed to decline in 2026?

I've been keeping tabs on PC shipments and hardware prices ever since the AI-driven RAMpocalypse really kicked off in 2025, and there have been plenty of warnings from analysts that spiking costs will crater PC sales in 2026.

Unfortunately, the growth seen in Q1 2026 isn't actually a sign that PC sales have leveled off. As I mentioned above, this is more about the lasting effects caused by panic buying and Windows 10 users upgrading to Windows 11 PCs.

It's not all bad news, at least for the big PC brands. Counterpoint suggests that a combination of Windows 10 upgrades, interest in Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chips, and demand for AI PCs using Intel and AMD hardware will help balance growth as we head into 2027.

As noted by Senior Analyst Minsoo Kang, "the PC market's decline is likely to be less pronounced compared to other consumer electronics segments."

It's not looking good for the smaller PC brands

The five companies at the top of Counterpoint's charts ship almost 80% of the world's PCs. Counterpoint lumps other, smaller brands into the same category. Overall, this section fell by 7% year-over-year.

This data aligns with an IDC study I covered in January 2026, which warned that "smaller brands may not survive, and consumers, particularly DIY enthusiasts, may delay purchases or shift their spending to other devices or experiences."

Market growth will ultimately hinge on supply chains, says Counterpoint, as well as the ability to shift away from "low-margin models to more sustainable mid-tier and premium segments."

Windows Central's take

As someone deeply involved in the PC world, I hate to see all the negative market predictions. What's worse is the assumption that entry-level PCs will all but disappear in the next year or two.

Although I love to test the most premium hardware, the reality is that a majority of Windows users are buying in the sub-$1,000 range.

If that market completely disappears, we'll be having an entirely new conversation about how to keep your PC going even when it's far past its expiry date.

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When Lenovo introduced its Qira AI assistant at CES 2026, it was the first "ambient intelligence layer" concept shown off by one of the major PC brands.

Designed to operate seamlessly across Lenovo's PCs and Motorola phones, Qira wants to be your digital twin that's always present and always ready to help. I got a hands-on demo with Qira and came away intrigued at what it will theoretically be capable of when it launches.

I always suspected that Qira wouldn't be the only AI intelligence layer on the market, and indeed, HP introduced its new HP IQ "AI orchestrator" during its Imagine 2026 event hosted on March 24.

These AI assistants seem quite similar at first glance, but the more I've dug into the details, the more I can see how they're actually different. Let me explain.

Lenovo Qira is a lifestyle AI assistant designed to be your digital twin

Lenovo made a big deal of Qira at CES 2026 on the demo floor and during presentations, and it came across to me that it's more of a lifestyle AI assistant that's ready to help with work and with play.

Lenovo envisions Qira as becoming your digital twin over time as it learns your interests and habits, enabling it to take proactive steps to streamline your life at work and at home.

It's "always present" and ready to "support you in the moment," whether you're working at a PC or enjoying some downtime on your phone.

What I saw seems like a boon for someone as disorganized as I am. Qira is able to carry out instructions in apps on your PC or phone (online or offline), and it is able to coordinate with other AI agents on your behalf. Here are some of Qira's abilities highlighted by Lenovo:

• Next Move: Qira offers proactive and contextual suggestions based on the task at hand.
• Chat Mode: Text chat naturally with Qira and have access to all previous conversations and docs from other devices.
• Live Mode: Share your screen or camera, or just talk to Qira about what's happening around you.
• Catch Me Up: A notification organizer that's especially useful on a phone.
• Pay Attention: Qira records and summarizes your meetings and classes. Can also provide live translation.
• Write For Me: Rewrites your text to be more casual, professional, or enthusiastic.
• Creator Zone: An image creator and editor that uses your PC's NPU instead of the cloud.

Because it remembers who you are (it is your digital twin, after all), it works seamlessly across all of your Qira-compatible devices.

On what devices does Lenovo Qira run?

Qira is designed to run on Lenovo's laptops, tablets, and desktop PCs, on Motorola phones, and on a range of wearable, all-seeing and all-hearing devices that have yet to make it past experimental stages.

When not in use, Qira fades into the background until required. When in use, a toolbar expands with extra controls. Qira can be controlled with voice and with text.

How does Lenovo Qira handle your data?

A digital twin wouldn't be much without access to a lot of your data, so there are certainly some privacy concerns. Lenovo hasn't exactly made it clear how it will handle data security, but the company promises to have a "very transparent and clear approach for the user."

Qira will either process data locally or in the cloud, depending on your request and your device's capabilities. Lenovo isn't trying to compete with Copilot, Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, or any of the other big AI firms.

Instead, it will intelligently select which LLM is best for the task at hand and tap it for help. So, yes, your data will be sent out to the cloud if you allow it.

HP IQ is a professional intelligence layer to boost productivity in workplaces

HP introduced IQ as a "workplace intelligence layer" that's designed to coordinate your workflow across HP's PCs, essentially creating a "connected ecosystem" of AI-capable devices.

HP is focusing heavily on professionals with its AI intelligence layer. At its core, it aims to alleviate the redundancy of routine tasks. HP IQ includes four primary AI tools.

• Ask IQ: "Intelligent, contextual answers and guidance" with voice and text requests.
• Analyze: Summarize personal documents (PDFs, PowerPoints, Word) and get insights on what to do next.
• Notes & Knowledge: An interaction tracker that saves notes and actions to help you pick up right where you left off. Includes a search function.
• Meeting Agent: Can record notes and capture ideas from meetings without switching apps or other interference.

These four tools make up the core of HP IQ, but the feature that has me most intrigued is HP NearSense, a "spatial intelligence" that alleviates pain points surrounding PC-to-PC file sharing and collaboration.

With NearSense enabled, files can be shared by dragging and dropping in real time between select HP laptops and Android phones. The same goes for one-click video meetings and collabs.

HP plans to expand NearSense to its broader ecosystem over time, adding Poly video, printers, desktops, workstations, and accessories into the mix.

Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino got a hands-on demo of HP IQ at Imagine 2026, including a look at its Visor PC interface. It's essentially a drop-down half-window that opens up when you need it, with quick access to HP IQ's AI-powered tools.

On what devices does HP IQ run?

HP IQ is first coming to the new EliteBook X G2 laptops, and the company expects to roll out the feature to more HP devices later in 2026.

Thanks to the use of Google's Device-to-Device-Infrastructure (D2DI) for NearSense, the local file sharing and collaboration features will also work on Android devices. This cross-platform interoperability is expected to arrive "later this year."

How does HP IQ handle your data?

In contrast to Lenovo Qira, which operates locally and in the cloud, HP IQ is designed to keep all of your data on your device.

That's ideal for professionals who can't trust sending sensitive information to any cloud. Because HP IQ relies completely on the local device, a capable Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will be required. That's undoubtedly why HP IQ is only arriving on select notebooks to start.

When do Lenovo Qira and HP IQ officially launch?

Lenovo Qira is still expected to launch on select Lenovo devices beginning in Spring 2026. It's expected that Motorola devices will receive Qira following the Lenovo PC rollout.

HP IQ is also coming to select HP AI PCs in Spring 2026. The rollout for other HP devices is expected to occur in Summer 2026. Android compatibility is coming later this year.

What do you think about Lenovo and HP's AI-powered intelligence layers?

Are these tools something you can see yourself using? Would you rather trust one that keeps all data on your device rather than calling out to the cloud? How would you use these AI tools? Let me know in the comments section below!

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HP introduced one of my most anticipated laptops of the year at CES 2026, and the new OmniBook Ultra 14 (G2) with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite chip is now finally available to buy directly from Best Buy.

Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino went hands-on with the new OmniBook Ultra 14 (G2) ahead of its launch, and he found that the updated version for 2026 is thinner, lighter, and more durable than the 2024 model with Intel Core Ultra that we reviewed favorably.

The big attraction here is the Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E-90) System-on-Chip (SoC) with 18 cores, a boost clock up to 5GHz, and an integrated GPU that hits a 1.7GHz clock speed. Can't forget the NPU that hits 80 TOPS of power for local AI tasks; that's higher than any other NPU from Intel or AMD.

We've already seen how the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip beats Apple's M5 in three major benchmarks, and it's overall a massive upgrade over the last-gen Snapdragon X1 Elite in terms of efficiency and performance.

The 14-inch laptop weighs only 2.83 pounds (1.28kg) despite a sturdy aluminum chassis with 11 MIL-STD-810 durability certifications, and it measures just 0.42 inches (1.06cm) thin. This is peak modern HP design language in full effect, with a lattice-free keyboard and oversized haptic touchpad providing cutting-edge input.

Best Buy has set the introductory price for the OmniBook Ultra 14 (G2) at $2,049.99. The model includes a gorgeous 14-inch 3K OLED touch display that can reach up to 1,100 nits brightness, 32GB of LPDDR5x-9523 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD. Yes, this laptop is going to absolutely rip.

I'm personally far more excited for the Snapdragon X2 Elite version of HP's OmniBook Ultra 14 (G2), but I know the same doesn't apply to everyone.

HP is also offering a version of its new laptop with Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" chips direct from its own website. Starting at $1,699.99, you can get a Core Ultra 7 365H CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, a 512GB M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD, and the same 14-inch 3K OLED touch display.

You can configure models with up to a Core Ultra X9 388H CPU, 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 2TB of M.2 SSD storage space, but prices climb quickly.

An Intel model similar to the Elite X2 config, with Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD costs about $2,339.99, making Qualcomm's option the far more affordable choice when hardware is on par.

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HP, the hugely popular PC and laptop manufacturer (alongside monitors and other peripherals), is jumping into the subscription space. It appears to be targeting gamers amid the current RAM and storage crisis, driven in part by AI demand, so if you aren't particularly set on owning your hardware, HP has you covered.

I didn't even know this existed until Linus Tech Tips and our sister site PC Gamer covered it. The HP OMEN Gaming Subscription is essentially a way to rent a gaming laptop at different spec levels and, unsurprisingly, very different price points.

Subscription fatigue feels very real right now. Everything seems to want a monthly fee, and maybe it is working. A friend said to me recently that he cannot wait until he can simply subscribe to a PC in the cloud. That led me into a short rant about why that sounds terrible, but I digress.

HP is offering different laptop tiers and optional gear at a monthly fixed fee, requiring a soft credit check and even a 30-day money-back trial if anyone is genuinely interested.

After that first 30 days, however, you are locked in for a minimum of 12 months before you can walk away without penalty.

The service also appears to be available only in the US for now. Here are all the tiers I can see available, but you check the official HP website yourself:

Of course, that's not all. You can also rent accessories and monitors, ranging from $4.99 a month for a mouse, $7.99 for a headset, $3.99 for a USB-C hub, $5.99 for a monitor, $9.99 for a higher-tier monitor, and $7.99 for a microphone.

It does raise the question of who this is really for. Services like PayPal, Klarna, and other buy now, pay later options already exist, so who genuinely wants to use equipment they will never own?

That said, I wouldn't personally recommend those services either. Waiting, saving, and paying outright still make the most financial sense long term, but obviously, it depends on whether you can manage it.

Alongside the OMEN gaming subscription, HP also lets you upgrade your device every year. That means you could stay on relatively current hardware, and you also get 24/7 customer support included. What you do not get, at any point, is ownership of the device, no matter how long you keep paying.

If you fail to return your laptop or accessories, HP can charge up to $3,299 for its highest-tier laptop. That figure is roughly in line with what you would pay to buy it outright.

Where it becomes more concerning is the cancellation fee. If you do not cancel within the first 30 days, you are locked in, and on the highest-tier laptop, you would face a $1,429.89 cancellation fee in the second month, with that amount gradually decreasing each month thereafter.

For context, the $129.99 RTX 5080 tier would cost roughly the same as buying the laptop outright after around 16 to 18 months at current sale pricing, except in this case, you still have nothing to show for it at the end.

As someone who loves Xbox Game Pass, I feel like renting hardware is just a step too far, and possibly a sign of things to come as more and more companies seem hellbent on you not actually owning anything, with even Jeff Bezos believing you won't own hardware and rather rent it in the future.

Would you ever subscribe to a gaming laptop instead of buying one outright? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

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It's a new year, and that means that top tech analysts are poring over data from 2025 in an attempt to make sense of the next 12 months.

Earlier this week, I covered a report from tech research and advisory group Omdia, suggesting that 2026 will see a laptop supply that fails to meet demand, driving up prices for consumers.

That same sentiment is being shared by the International Data Corporation (IDC) in an independent report that looks eerily similar to the one from Omdia.

According to IDC's research VP, Jean Phillipe Bouchard, "the PC market will be far different in 12 months, given how quickly the memory situation is evolving."

Bouchard is, of course, referring to the ongoing DRAM shortage caused by AI firms buying up production for the months and years ahead. AI datacenters require an unfathomable amount of memory to operate, and unfortunately, the core tech is the same that goes into the consumer RAM found in our personal PCs.

Given the choice of selling to consumers or to AI firms, memory manufacturers are following the big money that seems to swirl endlessly around the latter.

On one hand, the big laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, Dell, and ASUS — which had stellar sales in 2025 — are likely better positioned to weather the storm thanks to their "scale and memory allocations." On the other hand, IDC warns that "smaller brands may not survive, and consumers, particularly DIY enthusiasts, may delay purchases or shift their spending to other devices or experiences."

Laptop makers had a great 2025, and Lenovo continues to lead the way

IDC points out that 2025's holiday season saw strong laptop sales, which isn't out of the ordinary. However, news of the impending laptop price spike likely amplified sales as consumers and the big brands attempted to get ahead of the newfound costs.

Add to that the lingering uncertainty of Windows 10's end-of-life and the push for Windows 11 PCs, and you can certainly see why PC sales were so strong. Lenovo alone shipped 19.3 million PCs globally in Q4 2025, according to IDC.

Just like Omdia's results, IDC shows Lenovo at the top of the PC sales charts with around 71 million (70.8 is the exact number IDC shares) shipments throughout all of 2025. HP comes in second place with 57.5 million shipments, Dell in third with 41.1 million, Apple in fourth with 25.6 million, and ASUS in fifth with 20.5 million.

My recommendation for those who need a new PC? Buy now and get it over with before the big price hikes hit. There are plenty of laptops from 2025 available, many of them at a discount as retailers attempt to clear out inventory for new 2026 models. I just put together a roundup of 13 top laptops on sale at Best Buy's Winter Sale if you need a bit of inspiration.

Do you agree with analysts who suggest that PC sales will decline in 2026? Do you see any way around the factors driving those price hikes? Let us know in the comments section below!

Laptop and desktop PC manufacturers had a healthy year in 2025. Global PC shipments climbed by 10.1% to 75 million PCs in Q4 and, for the entire year, by 9.2% to 279.5 million PCs.

The data, presented by tech research and advisory group Omdia, shows that laptops and mobile workstations were the biggest sellers, hitting 58.6 million units shipped in Q4 and 220.4 million units shipped throughout the full year. That's a significant 8% jump year over year compared to 2024.

The bigger jump, percentage-wise, landed in the desktop PC sector. Desktop and workstation shipments hit 16.2 million units in Q4 2025, raising the total number of units shipped last year to 59 million. That's a 14.4% increase compared to 2024.

Lenovo, the PC manufacturer that I saw focus more on AI than ever at CES 2026 despite having a ton of new hardware to show off, sold the most PCs in 2025 with 71 million units. It grew 14.4% in Q4 2025 and, for the year, 14.6%.

HP arrived in second place with its suite of rebranded Omni PCs that shipped 15.4 million units in Q4 alone. That performance contributed to about 57 million sales throughout the year.

Dell landed in third place with about 42 million PCs sold throughout 2025, which is about 7% better than its sales in 2024. Remember, Dell is the only PC maker that has openly admitted that consumers are not buying PCs just because they have AI, which stands in stark contrast to Lenovo, which is focusing more than ever on AI PCs.

Looking back at 2025, these strong PC sales numbers are not exactly surprising. Microsoft killed Windows 10 on October 14, which undoubtedly forced (and is still forcing) a ton of Windows users to upgrade to something new running Windows 11.

Tariffs on PCs and the parts that go into them seemed to be a constant threat, which surely drove some to buy a new PC sooner than they wanted. And to wrap up 2025, we were treated to a new crisis: memory and storage shortages driven largely by AI's insatiable demand for massive datacenters.

The PC market isn't expected to have such a great 2026

According to Omdia's Principal Analyst, Ben Yeh, 2026 isn't projected to be as kind to the world's PC manufacturers:

Indeed, this shouldn't exactly come as a surprise to anyone who's been following PC markets for the past few months. Yeh adds that "supply-side pressures will be more pronounced and supply will not fully meet demand," while also stating that PC sales will largely "hinge on vendors' memory and storage procurement and negotiating leverage."

Are you expecting to see a decline in PC sales in 2026 due to ongoing market conditions (tariffs, shortages, etc.)? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments section below!

Seeing new HP OMEN gaming hardware has been a staple of the Consumer Electronics Show experience for years, but that's changed with CES 2026. That's right, you won't see any HP OMEN gaming laptops, desktops, or other devices coming out this year.

This might sound upsetting at first, particularly to people who prefer to use these devices, but this is actually good news.

The reason there aren't any HP OMEN devices at CES 2026 is that HP has moved all of its gaming hardware under the HyperX subbrand name. So, if you love HP OMEN gaming monitors and laptops, you'll now find them named similarly, but under HyperX OMEN.

Here's the official announcement from HP itself:

“Gamers deserve a seamless experience that matches their passion, from the systems that power their worlds to the gear that connects them,” said Josephine Tan, Senior Vice President and Division President of Personal Systems Gaming Solutions at HP Inc. “As we bring OMEN and HyperX together, we’re continuing to push the boundaries of gaming innovation, delivering performance, personalization and experiences that help every player reach their full potential.”

As Tan said, putting all of HP's gaming devices under the same HyperX name makes it easier to find all of the gaming hardware offered by the company. It feels better organized this way.

To kick off this change, HP announced several new OMEN devices under the HyperX name, with a particular emphasis on the HyperX OMEN MAX 16, which HP says is "the world's most powerful gaming laptop with fully internal cooling."

This gaming laptop utilizes Intel Core Ultra 200H processors and AMD Ryzen AI processors, along with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 L GPU. It also offers a gorgeous 16-inch OLED display that's capable of hitting up to a 240Hz refresh rate. It's an impressive gaming laptop, indeed.

Other new HyperX OMEN devices worth noting are the stunning HyperX OMEN QD-OLED 360Hz 34 curved gaming monitor and HyperX Clutch Tachi (Xbox-license arcade controller).

A rebrand that completely makes sense

In case you didn't already know, HP acquired HyperX in June 2021, and up until now, the HyperX line has traditionally been more like a supplemental gaming subbrand that mainly covers gaming accessories like headsets, keyboards, gaming mice, and such.

Now, with HyperX taking more control of the gaming side of things, the main HP brand can focus more on its consumer and business laptops while HyperX dives deeper into the gaming side of things.

It's a shift that not only makes perfect sense, but gives more credence to the HyperX name as a true gaming hardware brand, not just a peripheral support company.

How do you feel about HP OMEN rebranding to HyperX? Does it feel like a good change? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

Much of what you'll see at CES 2026 will be iterative upgrades to the same technology you're used to. Laptops receive generational performance gains, and monitor resolution continues to increase, which generally only interests the kinds of people who are growing tired of whatever's on their desk. Thankfully, HP brought something genuinely interesting to Las Vegas this year — the EliteBoard G1a.

I know it looks like a keyboard, but it's actually a mini PC with a choice of AMD's Ryzen AI 300 PRO mobile processors inside. That includes an NPU rated for up to 50 TOPS, which classifies the EliteBoard G1a as a Copilot+ PC. Of course, it still is a functional keyboard on the outside, but its primary intention is to replace AIO PCs and help prevent limitations of screen sizes. If you ever saw the Raspberry Pi 500, it's like that.

HP calls it "the first and only AI keyboard PC," and part of its inspiration was noticing how many hybrid workers were constantly working from laptops with their lids closed, switching instead to an external monitor. If those high-end displays are permanent fixtures, then why not put the "PC" part into something more convenient than a full-size laptop and keep the video-out? It's a great idea, but it gets even better when you see how much thought went into this.

An upgradeable and serviceable AI PC

It's essentially the same keyboard experience as HP's EliteBook laptop range, though we're told the key travel has been "tuned for the desktop space," which I think is fair to assume means a deeper typing experience. You get a number pad, too, if you're into that kind of thing — and our advice on the best laptops with numpads strongly hints that many of you are.

But we all know what a keyboard is, so let's talk about the components inside this curious PC-in-disguise. By far, the best news about the EliteBoard G1a is the fact that it's using standard parts that you'd find in most upgradeable laptops. That includes DDR5 SODIMM RAM for memory and M.2 NVMe solid-state drives for storage.

The rest of the board is serviceable with a top-down design for the spill-resistant keyboard portion that users can replace "in ten minutes" and a removable bottom panel that gives easy access to the cooling fan and its various PC components. Other valued extras, like an optional fingerprint reader, depend on the HP EliteBoard G1a "Next Gen AI PC" you choose — of which, there are two.

Both EliteBoard G1a models are similar and almost identical at a glance. However, one has a permanently fixed USB-C cable while the other is detachable.

The former gives you an extra USB4 port to compensate, but both variants support up to four 4K monitors running at 60Hz — an ambitious spec sheet for what looks like a regular keyboard.

Its remaining multi-option component categories, such as wireless networking standards and storage capacity, will be configurable in HP's online store.

Of particular note is the configurable battery, which gives the EliteBoard more flexibility if you just need to hook it up to a monitor for a few hours, as HP claims around 3.5 hours of use on a full charge.

A battery-powered mini PC built into a rugged but slick keyboard that replaces your laptop during daily commutes to the office? I'm into it. The EliteBoard G1a reminds me of my beloved HP Envy Move — an AIO PC with a battery — in that it dares to do something different without resorting to gimmicks. It's a well-deserved winner of the CES Innovation Award, and I can't wait to try it.

What do you think of the HP EliteBoard? Is it innovative or gimmicky? Would you ever use it at work or even as a permanent home PC? Let me know!

HP is going all out for CES 2026, with a wide range of products to show off for the new year.

Among the devices announced is the latest iteration of the HP Series 7 Pro 4K Monitor, which has grabbed our attention here at Windows Central thanks to its many useful features, impressive motion clarity, and notable visual quality — all of which are due to the new NEO:LED technology it uses in conjunction with Black IPS.

Take a look at this 31.5-inch monitor's specs yourself:

If you haven't heard of NEO:LED displays before, that's because this is a very new technology developed by LG, which produces crisper details, deeper darks, and more vibrant colors than is typically seen in IPS panels.

According to HP, the 31.5-inch Series 7 4K Monitor is capable of reaching up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time while producing up to 99.4% of Adobe RGB, 99.4% of P3, 100% of sRGB, which is well within the color range realm of an OLED display. Using IPS Black technology, it even produces 2700:1 contrast. Impressive indeed for an IPS panel.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO:LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

HP Eye Ease allows the monitor to be put in low blue light modes to reduce eye strain during computer sessions. As with most HP displays, this monitor can be managed using HP Display Center software.

To keep focus on the beautiful screen and the visuals it displays, this monitor offers a borderless design with micro-edge bezels. It's also anti-glare, so pesky reflections don't distract from the main event.

But the HP Series 7 Pro 4K is not just beautiful to look at; it also provides several convenient features that make it perfect for creative projects and artists. Namely, it offers a Smart KVM, allowing owners to use the same keyboard and mouse between two connected devices.

Additionally, it offers a healthy range of ports, complete with RJ45 for a wired internet connection, Thunderbolt 4 Type-C for connecting those aforementioned devices, and USB-A ports for various accessories. Meanwhile, this display also has Single Power On, which is a handy feature that, as the name implies, wakes your PC when you power on the monitor.

Getting the monitor into a perfect viewing position should be easy enough, given that it can be adjusted vertically, tilted, swiveled, and pivoted until the display is in the best location for your setup. And if you'd rather mount the monitor, it has a detachable base and supports 100x100m VESA mounting.

The 31.5-inch HP Series 7 Pro 4K Monitor (2026) is expected to be available in March on the HP website. Pricing has not been revealed yet, but will be disclosed closer to that launch period.

What do you think about the HP Series 7 4K Pro Monitor? Are you interested in NEO:LED display technology? Tell us about it in the comments.

I'll be attending the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas while you're reading this article, but I was given another opportunity to go hands-on with one of those CES 2026 announcements ages before the actual event.

This isn't the first time I've had an early, pre-production sample of an upcoming HP laptop on my desk, and this time it's the headline-stealing EliteBook X 14 (G2). I was so taken aback by its weight after pulling it from the box, I honestly believed for a moment HP hadn't sent me a functional device.

That's simply the nature of this laptop, though, which debuts a new ultra-light design and a crazy array of options — including the ability to equip it with Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm hardware. HP sent me the Intel-powered lightweight configuration, which also makes this my first experience with Intel Core Ultra (Series 3) silicon.

This hands-on was made possible thanks to a pre-production sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Doesn't catch the eye, but feels great in the hand

I actually reviewed the HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) last year, which was a big, beefy laptop that focused on performance more than design and portability. The new EliteBook X is a very different beast.

In fact, this laptop feels more like the successor to the absolutely incredible HP EliteBook Ultra 14 (G1i) I also reviewed, but with an even lighter chassis and a more diverse list of options when you go to buy one.

You can get this laptop with the latest and greatest from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, and all will boast the same design coming in at just over a single kilogram. Choose Intel, though, and you'll be able to select an optional "lightweight configuration" that further drops that weight to just under a kilogram, putting the new EliteBook X in the same category as the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) I reviewed.

Like I alluded to before, though, something about the weight distribution makes this laptop feel lighter in the hand than even the Zenbook A14, even if it really isn't. The EliteBook X 14 almost seems hollow, but the build quality is still there for a premium business-grade laptop.

I will say, though, that the aforementioned Zenbook A14 and EliteBook Ultra (G1i) both boast more elegant designs — the EliteBook X 14 isn't ugly, by any means, but HP's clearly focusing on functionality and playing it safe with the aesthetics. At least that means no corners were cut with this hardware.

You get three USB-C ports, HDMI 2.1, USB-A, even optional 5G cellular connectivity. Quad speakers flank the new lattice-less keyboard, and you can equip the EliteBook X with one of HP's excellent haptic touchpads, too.

The default mechanical touchpad is also quite nice, but I was far more interested in properly testing the keyboard. HP has been putting top-notch boards in its EliteBooks for years, so I was a little concerned by the redesign. Fortunately, this keyboard is still truly excellent — but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's better than HP's previous EliteBook keyboards, just different.

The next-gen 2.8K OLED display may look the same on paper as what HP (and many others) have been using, but it's now noticeably brighter than before, and it looks amazing. HP will offer a lot of display options for the EliteBook X 14 (G2), though, including an ultra-bright Tandem OLED that I'd love to try for myself.

Limited experience with the latest from Intel

It's always fun to get my hands on a laptop before it's officially revealed, but I was especially interested in this opportunity because the EliteBook X 14 (G2i) is among the first devices rocking the latest Intel silicon. I've written extensively about Intel Core Ultra (Series 3) — also known as Panther Lake — but this is my first experience actually using the new platform.

Sadly, because this is pre-production hardware, I can't share any benchmark scores or make direct comparisons. Any definitive conclusions on battery life and efficiency will also have to wait until we (hopefully) review the EliteBook X 14 (G2i) after it properly releases.

So, we're limited to my initial impressions after using this laptop for a few days, but it's enough to reassure me that Panther Lake will be a very strong generation for Intel. Even unfinalized, the new EliteBook X 14 is beautifully responsive and smooth, waking from sleep instantly and absolutely flying through Windows 11.

This laptop has also stayed entirely cool and quiet during my time with it, which bodes well. It's all the more impressive considering just how thin and light the EliteBook X 14 is, but HP also offering AMD and Qualcomm variants suggests to me the company is confident in its tuning and thermal management solution.

Overall, HP may be on to a serious winner with the EliteBook X 14 (G2) family, with countless options to help anyone make the perfect companion for their work. This is an enterprise laptop worth keeping an eye on when it arrives in Spring 2026, even if HP hasn't quite revealed pricing information yet.

Countless companies have taken to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to announce new products and innovations, but few can claim to be announcing as many laptops as HP — especially not those as unique as this one is.

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) series look like your average, premium business laptops at first glance, but this family has two things going for it: an ultra-light aluminum design, and an endless list of configuration options... including the ability to choose between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors.

I actually went hands-on with a pre-production sample of the Intel-powered EliteBook X 14, but this article isn't about that. Here's what you need to know about one of the most innovative laptops at CES 2026 — one that lets you choose the best silicon for your needs and priorities. For those looking for peak portability without compromising on features or performance, keep this laptop on your radar going into 2026.

Endless options to make the perfect laptop

Set aside how the headlining feature for the HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) family, and you'll still be met with a ridiculous number of options when you go to configure your own. Sure, there's the standard array of memory and storage options, but HP went so much further than that.

There are a multitude of OLED, IPS LCD, and even Tandem OLED display options depending on your needs and budget. You can add 5G cellular connectivity. You can upgrade to a haptic touchpad. You can even choose between three chassis colorways (silver, dark grey, or blue) for most of these options.

There's no doubt in my mind that the EliteBook X 14 (G2) will be a pricey machine across the board, but that's the cost for the freedom to pick and choose the exact features you want in a laptop. Beyond all of that, though, this laptop is impressive because it boasts separate Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm variants.

It'd be understandable if you believed that it's easy for a company to swap out processors from different companies, but that's simply not the case. It's pretty uncommon for laptops to offer more than one option without other noticeable, major differences in design or capabilities, and those options are rarely offered at launch.

In 2026, we're being blessed with Intel Core Ultra (Series 3), AMD Ryzen AI 400-series, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 silicon. That's a lot of options for the next generation of Windows laptops, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. No other company is so clearly committing to embracing each platform like HP is with the EliteBook X 14 (G2) series.

With the same design and nearly identical options, all that matters is which processor you prefer. I hope to see a lot more of this going forward, honestly, because Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm are all turning up the heat to better compete with each other (and that only benefits us).

The HP EliteBook X 14 (G2) series of laptops are set to arrive in Spring 2026, but HP hasn't divulged pricing details yet. If you want some more details, I went hands on with the Intel version of the EliteBook X 14 (G2) before heading to CES 2026.

Have you ever passed on your dream laptop because it lacked a specific option? HP's next-gen business laptop aims to dissolve those concerns, but do you think it succeeds? Let us know in the comments below.

Name any category of technology, and you're likely to find it at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas Nevada.

That includes a vast variety of gaming monitors across sizes, display types, and aspect ratios. One of the more interesting sources for gamers at CES 2026? The new family of high-performance screens from HP and HyperX, which includes even more OLED options.

I've already been a fan of HP OMEN monitors (in fact, I'm typing this article on one such display right now), and HyperX is taking over as the all-in-one, ultimate gaming brand for HP. It makes sense, and leading the charge are four new HyperX monitors, including an absolutely stunning 34-inch, ultrawide, 360Hz OLED display. Here's what you need to know.

HyperX is taking over, and monitors are a part of that rebrand

As a side note, HP is putting itself on the back burner as the brand for its gaming hardware, leaving everything to HyperX and simply "OMEN." That means HP's gaming monitors, laptops, and desktops are now HyperX OMEN, while all its gaming accessories and peripherals are still pure HyperX.

The move makes sense, honestly, but that means this wave of monitors is the first we've technically seen from HyperX, and it's an impressive debut lineup. That includes a 180Hz refresh of the entry-level OMEN 24 monitor, as well as brand-new OLED variants of the OMEN 27q and OMEN 27qs.

I reviewed and loved the original, 240Hz HP OMEN 27qs monitor, but the new HyperX OLED model refreshes the design and rocks an insane 500Hz refresh rate for peak performance. That may end up being a phenomenal monitor for competitive gamers, but it's still not the most exciting.

That honor goes to the new HyperX OMEN OLED 34 (G1). I'm actually still using the last monitor I reviewed, the HP OMEN 34c (G2), and this new addition to the family aims to be better in practically every single way.

You're still getting a 34-inch, 21:9, 1440p, curved ultrawide screen, but this time with V-Stripe QD-OLED as the display technology. What does that mean? Well, "V-Stripe" refers to the pixel array, or how individual pixel clusters are oriented. Vertical stripes can help reduce the risk of burn-in over time by more evenly distributing the pixels.

Beyond that, it's simply a colorful, vibrant, and color-accurate OLED display with perfect contrast and some wild performance for an ultrawide display, like a 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. Pair that with a range of other features, like additional USB ports and a KVM switch, and the OMEN OLED 34 could be one of the best monitors of 2026.

Sadly, we don't know exactly when it's coming or how much it'll cost, only that it's planned to arrive sometime in Spring 2026.

OLED is only continuing to get better, and that's awesome for gamers. Have you switched to an OLED monitor yet? Let us know in the comments below!

All-In-One (AIO) Desktops hardly made an appearance at last year's Consumer Electronics Show, but thankfully, that isn't the case with CES 2026.

Amid HP's wide range of monitors, laptops, and other tech, the OEM revealed the HP OmniStudio X 27, a powerful Microsoft Copilot+ AIO PC designed with several configurations and, notably, the first AIO to feature a NEO:LED display.

This desktop AIO provides everything you need for your PC in one relatively compact purchase, including a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and webcam. Not to mention, it's especially suited for creators thanks to its excellent screen and powerful processors.

But what is NEO:LED, and what does that mean for the HP OmniStudio X AIO's 27-inch display? Let's take a look at the AIO desktop's specs and discuss.

If you've never heard of a NEO:LED display, that's because this is a newer IPS display technology created by LG. The newness of this panel type is what makes the HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO so unique and compelling, since this is the very first AIO to feature this screen type.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO:LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

The big takeaway is that NEO:LED screens offer deeper blacks, a wider color range, and crisper details than typical IPS displays, all while consuming less power, too.

Indeed, HP states that this anti-glare AIO display produces 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3, which are impressive results you'd expect from an OLED panel. Plus, it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, which seems to be the new standard for non-gaming monitors in 2026, rather than the previous 60Hz or 90Hz standards. It conveniently offers auto HDR switching as well.

Processor-wise, the AIO utilizes Intel's latest CPU (central processing unit) along with NVIDIA's entry-level RTX 5050 GPU (graphics processing unit) for gaming, making it perfect for creative workflows. Several configuration options, ranging from 16GB to 2TB RAM and 512GB SSD to 2TB SSD, mean you can find the build that works best for your specific needs.

As part of being an AIO, this device not only comes with an HP 675C mouse and keyboard combo, but also has quad speakers and a tiltable 5MP IR camera with built-in microphones. With all of these features, you'll have everything you need to surf the web, stream shows, listen to music, and attend video meetings.

To improve the experience even further, this AI computer supports helpful features like multi-screen management, adaptive color and audio, and more. It can detect your face to wake when you approach, lock when you leave, and even offers onlooker detection to dim the screen if it senses someone else is looking at the display.

It's even compatible with Thunderbolt Share, Intel's creation that allows two devices to transfer files or use the same mouse and keyboard, simply by connecting two compatible computers with a Thunderbolt cable.

Fitted with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and a healthy range of ports including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, five USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0, headphone jack, and RJ45 port, the OmniStudio X 27 AIO provides sufficient connections for your various accessories and other devices.

The HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO is expected to be available for purchase at the HP website this week. It has a starting $1,499.99 MSRP.

What are your thoughts on this new NEO:LED display technology and the HP OmniStudio X 27 All-In-One Desktop? Does this look like an AIO you'd want to use? Tell us about it in the comments.

Another year, another Consumer Electronics Show, and another tidal wave of new tech announcements. HP is hitting CES 2026 hard with its own smorgasbord of reveals, including a complete refresh of its consumer-focused OmniBook family of laptops.

With new hardware, fresh designs, and the latest silicon from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD spread across five series, HP may be taking the cake for the largest number of laptop announcements at this year's CES. However, only one of these laptops truly stood out to me at first.

That's the brand-new HP OmniBook Ultra 14, with a thinner, lighter, and more durable design, an HP-exclusive version of the powerful new Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite, and a surprisingly imminent release date.

Lots of OmniBooks, but my eyes are on the Ultra

HP isn't holding back in 2026, with new hardware boasting Qualcomm Snapdragon X2, Intel Core Ultra (Series 3), and AMD Ryzen 400 chipsets across a range of form factors, screen sizes, and budgets.

Value-driven OmniBook 3- and 5-series devices are expected in February, starting at just $500, while more premium OmniBook 7- and X-series laptops are arriving later in Spring. There will be a lot of options under those four families, but it's what stands at the pinnacle that interests me most.

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (G2) is coming with a more refined and premium take on the design language that debuted with the HP OmniBook X Flip I reviewed, and it's a nice change of pace when so many other HP OmniBooks are rather reserved on the design front.

It's over 50% lighter than the last generation (at under 3lbs) and 5% thinner than the latest Apple MacBook Air (at around 11mm), passes 20 MIL-STD-810 tests for greater durability, and in general boasts a really impressive list of features and specifications. What impresses most, though, is that this laptop doesn't hold back when it comes to performance.

You'll be able to get the OmniBook Ultra 14 in Qualcomm and Intel flavors when it drops later this month (with an expected starting price of around $1,550), and that includes an HP-exclusive, 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite with an increased 5.0GHz clock speed and an insane 85 TOPS NPU for AI workloads.

HP has been on a strong run with its OmniBook laptops in general, lately, so I'm sure there will be a laptop for everyone here (it helps that there are so many options). I'll definitely be waiting for an opportunity to get my hands on the new HP OmniBook Ultra 14, especially the blue Snapdragon variant.

What do you think of HP's OmniBook announcements at CES 2026? Does the OmniBook Ultra 14 deserve the attention?

Whatever your reason for wanting one — to become a content creator, because you're always in voice calls, or even because you want to dabble in music — choosing the best microphone for you can feel impossible.

That's even without considering the differences between easy-to-use USB microphones and more flexible, professional XLR microphones. What if you could choose a microphone that does both just as well, though? That's where HP and HyperX are coming in with the FlipCast, an ultra-premium microphone that tries to be the best of both worlds.

I've been using the HyperX FlipCast, and it is a really good, high-end microphone for a variety of use cases. It's also expensive, lacks a mount or stand in the box, and falls behind in software customization compared to other options. Whether it'll be worth spending this much depends on how much you value that dual USB/XLR input capability.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HyperX and HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Refined hardware and excellent audio quality

Like many of the most popular professional-grade microphones, the HyperX FlipCast is a front-address dynamic microphone with a sleek, matte black cylindrical design. Of course, it also boasts some of the gamer-esque details I expect from HyperX.

That includes the RGB light strip in the middle, which is fully customizable... but turns off when the microphone is muted. This is similar behavior to the HyperX QuadCast 2 S I reviewed, but the FlipCast also has an LED indicator strip that turns red when muted, so I wish I could choose to have the RGB lighting stay on.

Speaking of that LED indicator meter, it's one of the FlipCast's best design features. By default, it indicates audio levels, but the multi-function wheel behind it can switch between headset volume, monitoring levels, and microphone gain. In general, the FlipCast's onboard controls are intuitive and useful, even if the touch-sensitive mute button feels a little too easy to press.

It all helps the FlipCast look and feel like the premium microphone its price tag suggests, but how good it is at actually capturing sound is obviously even more important.

The HyperX FlipCast is absolutely a high-resolution microphone with some serious recording props, even if it doesn't boast a wide array of different pickup patterns. It's a front-address microphone, so you'll want it pointing directly at your mouth.

Overall, audio quality is deep, clear, and consistent, exactly as I expected. The FlipCast feels similar in quality overall to the aforementioned QuadCast 2 S, but its AI noise cancellation is even better. This microphone is genuinely among the best at filtering out unwanted background noise, even without relying on the high-pass and presence boost filters built into the FlipCast.

I wouldn't say the FlipCast decidedly takes the crown among other high-end microphones in this price bracket (companies like Shure still wear that crown), but it certainly doesn't disappoint.

USB and XLR versatility, but simple software

The biggest selling point for the HyperX FlipCast is the inclusion of both USB and XLR connectivity. All-in-one USB microphones can be more affordable and are far easier to set up and use, but XLR microphones can deliver greater audio fidelity and support modular upgrades and enhancements.

Why would you want both in one microphone? Well, the FlipCast can support a dual-PC setup with simultaneous USB and XLR, or be easily used with different setups, but the real advantage is that you can invest in a great plug-and-play microphone now, and then upgrade to a more professional XLR setup down the line without having to buy a new mic.

The HyperX FlipCast isn't unique here, but dual USB/XLR microphones aren't exactly common — especially from major brands. The most well-known is likely the Shure MV7+, which you can get for $299.99 at Amazon.com and is critically acclaimed.

That microphone is a fair bit more expensive than the FlipCast (and also doesn't include a stand in the box), but you're also getting Shure's legendary audio quality and greater suite of software features and integration. This is the FlipCast's greatest weakness; HyperX NGENUITY is intuitive, but it lacks the deeper customization that brands like Shure and AVerMedia offer for their microphones.

It's also worth mentioning that, if you're confident you'll never want a full XLR recording setup, you can get an excellent USB microphone for less (like the aforementioned HyperX QuadCast 2 S, which does have a stand in the box).

HyperX FlipCast review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a microphone with both USB and XLR connectivity.
• You need intuitive onboard controls and software.
• You want consistently great audio recording and noise cancellation.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't really need a high-end XLR microphone.
• You don't want to pay extra for a proper microphone mount.

The HyperX FlipCast is an excellent studio-grade microphone that's competing with some of the most popular on the market, with consistently great audio quality, an attractive and intuitive design, and surprisingly effective AI-powered noise cancellation.

It can also grow with you thanks to USB and XLR connectivity, which is a huge boon for anyone investing in themselves for content creation or other professional endeavors. That makes the HyperX FlipCast a top-notch option in my eyes, but just because other high-end, front-address microphones forgo including a stand in the box doesn't make it any less annoying here, and you're already paying a nice chunk of change for the FlipCast.

Still, HyperX is once again proving its accessories aren't just for gamers with the FlipCast. It may not be the absolute best microphone across every category, but it does deliver more than enough to earn my recommendation. If this is the microphone for you, the HyperX FlipCast is now available for $229.99 at BestBuy.com and at Amazon.com.

If you also want the exact microphone arm mount I used, that's the HyperX Caster available for $139.99 at HP.com. Check out my in-depth HyperX Caster review for more information on it.

When I agreed to review the HyperX FlipCast microphone, I didn't expect I'd need a mount, as there's no stand included in the box. I've tested a number of microphones and mounts, but I'm always moving between headsets, webcams, and microphones for my audio recording needs, so my desk is often bereft of a boom arm.

So, HP and HyperX sent me its premium Caster arm for microphones and cameras, and I decided to review this often-overlooked accessory alongside the FlipCast microphone.

After a few weeks of using and adjusting, I can say with confidence that the HyperX Caster does boast the sleek design — and toolless installation and adjustment — to compete with the best microphone mounting solutions... but it's also ludicrously expensive, so all but the most determined or affluent are likely better off with a more affordable alternative.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HyperX and HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Easy setup, easy adjustment, easy headaches

A microphone arm isn't terribly complex, so I won't waste time in this review. The HyperX Caster's sleek, subtle design is reminiscent of other premium mounting solutions, but this microphone arm boasts a completely toolless setup.

There's only one clamping option, but the included C-clamp should provide enough leeway to support most desks and tables. You have 360 degrees of rotation, and three spring-assisted joints that can all be moved independently, capped with a standard 5/8-inch mounting thread (with 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch adapters in the box).

I've absolutely no complaints about the Caster's appearance, and it feels reliably constructed. There are also tracks for cable management built in that are equally easy to wrap your mind around. Once the HyperX Caster is properly set up, you're left wanting for nothing.

Setting up the HyperX Caster can be a real pain, though, and it's because of those "simple" spring-assisted joints. Tension dials in each joint adjust the strength of the springs, so you can tune the Caster to the weight of your microphone or camera, and ideally be able to move your microphone around freely without needing to make follow-up adjustments.

It works, but setting the tension in the joints can take a lot of trial and error, and the dials themselves feel cheap and fragile (none of them broke for me, but I can't say I wasn't worried). There's also very obviously a "happy medium" the joints prefer to stay in, so it's another exercise in patience if you need to adjust the HyperX Caster to a more extreme position.

It doesn't help that the Caster is simply large, even by microphone arm standards, so it's not as well-suited to compact, space-restrained setups.

HyperX Caster review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a premium microphone mount and are willing to pay for it.
• You want toolless installation with easy, intuitive adjustment.
• You have plenty of space to make use of this range of motion.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You just need a basic mount for your microphone or camera.
• You have limited space or a setup that won't work with a C-clamp.

Choosing an arm mount for your microphone or camera is definitely setup endgame, a way for content creators and professionals to take things to the next level. Microphone arms rarely break the $100 barrier, though, and the HyperX Caster soars across that threshold.

Is it worth the price? I think so, but only if you're actually willing to pay that much. Most people won't be, and that's fine. There are plenty of other excellent microphone arms that cost less and still do the same basic job.

Once you properly set up the HyperX Caster, though, I have to admit it looks great and is incredibly convenient for perfectly positioning your microphone or camera without having to think too hard about it. If that's what you need, you can get the HyperX Caster for $139.99 at HP.com.

You can also find more information on the microphone I used to test the HyperX Caster by checking out my in-depth HyperX FlipCast review.

Mini PCs are a great alternative to both laptops and full-size desktops, and plenty of users have recognized them for their competitive pricing, strong performance, and compact footprint.

I now have HP's new EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) in front of me, and I've lately changed my workflow to run entirely off of the device. I've been having a blast so far on a Copilot+ system that's reliable, stable, and plenty snappy. Here's what you need to know before buying.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A compact 1L chassis with extensive upgrade and replacement options

I'm always amazed at how much performance hardware and cooling can fit into the best mini PCs, and HP's EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) is a great example.

It measures just 1.35 inches (3.43cm) thin and is roughly 7 inches (~18cm) in width and depth. Weighing in at 3.13 pounds, it's no heavier than many laptops, and you shouldn't really notice it if you slip it into a bag to take with you. The chassis is a mix of plastic and aluminum, but it's as sturdy as can be.

The top panel is perforated to help feed the cooling fans with enough air, while the bottom panel has non-slip feet and pre-drilled holes for VESA mounting. I've been using the PC horizontally, but you can always add a vertical stand for an extra $2 at checkout.

The PC's front I/O — embedded in a stylized plastic faceplate —includes one USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack for headsets. Here you'll also find a standard power button.

The back of the PC is where you'll find the bulk of the ports, including HDMI 2.1, dual DisplayPort 2.1, a single USB4 with 100W power delivery, dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), and RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet. A lock slot can help keep the PC in place.

Here's where things get interesting. The back of the EliteDesk 8 Mini has a couple of modular sections, allowing you to customise some of the ports. My review model is equipped with an extra Thunderbolt 4 port — something you don't often see on AMD PCs due to Intel's licensing — and two Mini DisplayPort connections.

Not the ports you need? HP has a generous selection of alternatives, from video to 2.5GbE to USB. The highest any of these configs costs is $81 (for the dual Mini DP), but the next priciest is only $17. In the same vein, you have a bunch of choices for the WLAN card, ranging from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7.

The top panel of the PC is easily removable with just a thumb screw holding it in place. The internal hardware is packed in tightly, but HP made some smart decisions here to alleviate the upgrade process.

The main system fan is seated on channels that allow it to be lifted up and away from the rest of the PC. This reveals the dual SODIMM RAM slots for upgrades. The "loose" fan has dampeners on the sides to prevent rattling, and indeed, there was none during my time with the PC.

Unfortunately, the SSD isn't as easy to swap; it's located below the second fan that is screwed into place. Certainly not a dealbreaker. HP is focusing a lot on repairability for this mini PC, and just about every part that goes into it can be ordered from HP's PartSurfer market. That's a bigger deal now than ever as PC prices continue to rise due to a global RAM and storage shortage.

Steady Ryzen performance and impressive cooling abilities

At the time of writing this review, HP is offering a wide selection of pre-configured EliteDesk 8 Mini models starting at a discounted $759. All models run on AMD, and HP gives you the choice of Ryzen PRO or standard chips. On the table are several RAM options ranging from 8GB to 64GB, as well as storage options from 256GB "Value" SSDs up to 2TB TLC SSDs.

Although my review unit doesn't have it, HP's Wolf Pro Security comes with all pre-configured options, and it's available to add through the detailed customizer if you're building your own system. Its suite of security tools is certainly a boon for pros dealing in sensitive data, but anyone can take advantage of its added protection.

Let's dig into performance. My review unit has an AMD Ryzen 7 AI PRO 350 CPU — the top option — with 32GB of dual-channel DDR5-5600 RAM and a 1TB TLC M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

With 50 TOPS of AI power from the Ryzen Neural Processing Unit (NPU), the PC easily makes the cut for Copilot+. This gives you access to all of the latest AI tools baked into Windows 11, including Cocreator, Recall, Live Captions, and much more.

Even if you don't want to use the AI tools in Windows 11, HP's EliteDesk 8 Mini is a stellar performer for everyday work. I experienced no hiccups during daily work, and it took on sustained stress tests like a champ.

I ran a 20-minute full system stress test with the CPU maxed out at 4.3GHz and sitting at about 97°C. The loudest I measured the PC was 56dB right at the rear exhaust. From about a foot away from the PC, noise falls to about 49dB. You'll hear the fans kick on under load, but they never scream, whine, or get loud enough to remain noticeable. The case doesn't get overly hot, either.

This isn't a mini PC that you want to buy for gaming, yet the integrated Radeon 860M graphics have enough juice to handle lighter and well-optimized titles.

HP EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a compact mini PC with Copilot+ tools on board.
• You're a professional who needs extra security via HP's Wolf Pro.
• You don't have a lot of space on your desk and don't want a laptop.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're a gamer who wants a full-time gaming PC.
• You have no interest in using AI on your PC.
• You'd rather use a system with an Intel or Qualcomm chip inside.

HP created the EliteDesk 8 Mini (G1a) for professional use, and I can see it working quite well for a lot of enterprise customers. The configuration options are plentiful, it comes with additional security, and it has AI capabilities.

But that doesn't mean more casual PC users can't take advantage. This is especially true when HP's configurable setup allows you to skip extra costs like Ryzen PRO chips and TLC SSDs.

I love the modular rear port setup and the quiet, capable cooling system, two features that you won't find in a lot of the competition. Performance is great for my workflow involving heavy web browsing, occasional Copilot use, Photoshop, Office, and more. However, I do have one suggestion.

If you're looking for the utmost local AI performance, I recommend you check out the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) we reviewed favorably. It has AMD's Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 395 chip that can "steal" up to 96GB of system RAM to be used as VRAM for its integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, making it a killer system for more demanding AI work.

I've used a lot of different keyboards lately, and they've all tried to impress me in different ways. For this latest from HyperX, it's all about offering a premium, wireless gaming experience in a package more customizable than most.

Hot swappable switches, replaceable keycaps, a magnetic frame and badge, per-key and frame RGB lighting — you can make the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless your own, and trust that there will always be a great, feature-packed keyboard at the core. That's the idea, anyway.

In my testing, though, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless doesn't always compare favorably to others in the same price range, especially with some oddities and instabilities that you don't expect from a premium product. This keyboard has been out for a while, though, so you can often find it for much less than its original retail price — a fact directly responsible for it earning a slightly more positive recommendation from me.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP and HyperX had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A flexible design packed with features

As much as I personally value a tenkey number pad, I've grown rather fond of the popular 75% keyboard layout.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless is a good jab at the form factor, too, but it's not my favorite; it's missing the "Del" and right "Ctrl" keys, for one, and you still get the shortened right "Shift." You do get an F13 key in the function row, though, which some people will undoubtedly value.

Layout aside, this is a gasket-mounted design constructed mostly of plastic, with an aluminum top frame that is actually connected via magnets. You can pull it off to expose the screws holding the keyboard together, and swap it out for a different color. There's also a small metal badge on the right side of the keyboard that can be swapped out for a variety of designs, with HyperX selling badge packs for $24.99 at HyperX.com.

Combine that with the ability to swap out the switches and double-shot PBT keycaps, as well as the per-key RGB lighting and RGB light strips on either side, and the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless feels more customizable than your average keyboard, even if the base keyboard only comes in standard black.

Being a premium keyboard, customization isn't the only thing the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless has up its sleeves. You get multi-device connectivity across HyperX's 2.4GHz, three Bluetooth profiles, and the USB Type-C port, a customizable dial, and even an ambient light sensor that can dynamically adjust the RGB backlighting to match your surroundings (you don't see that often).

Battery life is surprisingly good when off the cable, too, getting up to 80 hours of usage even with RGB lighting enabled. The features, design, and build quality are there for the price, but what's it like actually using this keyboard?

Software and firmware that's rough around the edges

Simply setting up the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless was a chore, and Windows Dynamic Lighting is to blame... Sort of. I had already disabled it, but it was re-enabled when this keyboard was connected — and only affected this keyboard, not any of my other RGB-lit accessories or peripherals.

Until I found the culprit, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless simply didn't work correctly. Half the built-in keyboard shortcuts didn't work (and if they did, they gave no indication like they normally would), and none of my changes in HyperX's NGENUITY software would apply properly. I'm not the only person (or even reviewer) to encounter similar issues, too.

Once I disabled Windows Dynamic Lighting again and completely reset the keyboard and software, and reinstalled all firmware and software updates, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless finally worked properly. Well, except for the RGB lighting occasionally turning itself off until I turned the keyboard off and on again. Oh, and the handful of times the keyboard also disconnected from my computer entirely, until I turned it off and on.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless isn't new, either; it's enjoyed a full year of support, and it was still one of the more inconsistent keyboards I've used recently. Tally up every issue, though, and they took up less than 1% of my time using the keyboard, so I wouldn't go so far as to call it broken or even deeply flawed.

The rest of the time, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless has been great, with excellent performance and typing ergonomics. The acoustics are a little on the sharp and metallic side, though, and other keyboards in the $200+ price range simply feel better — so it's a good thing for the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless that it doesn't really cost $200+ anymore, which helps smooth over all of this.

Alloy Rise 75 Wireless review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a full-featured, premium, wireless 75% gaming keyboard.
• You'll actually take advantage of the increase customizability.
• You find this keyboard on sale for much less than its retail price.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• Small issues wear on your patience very quickly.
• You love creamy typing acoustics, like the best enthusiast keyboards.

The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless was released for $230, forcing it to compete with some of the best and highest-rated wireless gaming keyboards on the market. At that price, it'd be tough to recommend given how important consistency and stability are with a high-performance gaming accessory.

This keyboard doesn't really cost that much anymore, though. Whether you look at BestBuy.com or at Amazon.com, the Alloy Rise 75 Wireless normally goes for $130-140. That's much more palatable, and honestly makes this keyboard an excellent deal for those who want a premium peripheral without paying a premium price.

It won't go down in history as one of my favorite gaming keyboards, but the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Wireless is a good option when on sale, delivering a ton of features, better-than-average customization, and a really nice overall typing and gaming experience. Just be prepared for some occasional oddities, though, which will remind you why I reviewed this keyboard more favorably, because its price has fallen.

Cyber Monday deals are already live, which means I've been scouring the web to find the best deals you should take advantage of if you're in the market for a new PC right now. Frankly, I don't think we're going to find a more insane deal than this: 76% off HP's ProBook 4 G1i making it over $3,059 off while stocks last!

So, what's so special about the HP ProBook 4 G1i that makes it usually worth $4,000? Well, it's one of HP's top of the line professional grade laptops. It's usually designed for business use, featuring a large 16-inch 1080p display, paired with a full-sized keyboard and trackpad, complete with a number pad. It also comes with Windows 11 Pro instead of Home.

On the inside, it's powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which is Intel's latest laptop chips, paired with 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, which will be more than enough for most people. This model also comes with dedicated graphics in the form of an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, which is great for light gaming or creative work.

That Intel Core Ultra 7 has 16 cores and 16 threads, making it a powerhouse of a chip that will handle pretty much any task you throw at it. The best bit? It has two SODIMM slots, which means you can upgrade the 32GB RAM with your own sticks down the line, futureproofing it even further.

It also comes with all the ports, including a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-A, two USB-C, a headphone jack, and an Ethernet port. It also has a fingerprint reader for quick logging in with Windows Hello.

Frankly, this laptop is now one I'd generally consider, given its usual price tag, but when it's just $989, it's suddenly very recommendable, given how much power and performance you're getting. Plus, you can tell everyone your laptop costs $4,000, even though you didn't have to pay that!

FAQ

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

I woke up today with a single goal: find the absolute craziest Black Friday sale online. Well, I think I've found it with this insane listing on HP.com. Right now, you can grab HP's top of the line, $4,000 ProBook 4 G1i with an Intel Core Ultra 7, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage for just $1,199. That's a $2,849 saving!

So, what's so special about the HP ProBook 4 G1i that makes it usually work $4,000? Well, it's one of HP's top of the line professional grade laptops. It's usually designed for business use, featuring a large 16-inch 1080p display, paired with a full sized keyboard and trackpad, complete with a number pad. It also comes with Windows 11 Pro instead of Home.

On the inside, it's powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which is Intel's latest laptop chips, paired with 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage which will be more than enough for most people. This model also comes with dedicated graphics in the form of an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, which is great for light gaming or creative work.

That Intel Core Ultra 7 has 16 cores and 16 threads, making it a powerhouse of a chip that will handle pretty much any task you throw at it. The best bit? It has two SODIMM slots, which means you can upgrade the 32GB RAM with your own sticks down the line, futureproofing it even further.

It also comes with all the ports, including a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-A, two USB-C, a headphone jack, and ethernet port. It also has a fingerprint reader for quick logging in with Windows Hello.

FAQ

More Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

It's Black Friday, which means it's time to save some serious cash on a new Windows laptop. I've found this great deal on one of HP's latest 2-in-1 laptops, the OmniBook X Flip 16, which is now just $429.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price tag of $849.99! That's an almost 50% saving on a laptop with a 16-inch 2K touchscreen display and AI features to boot.

We reviewed the 14-inch HP OmniBook X Flip variant earlier this year, and we said they're great laptops if you can find them on sale. Well, that time has finally come, as it's now 50% off for Black Friday. At this temporary price tag of $430, you're getting a hell of a lot for your money.

On the inside, it's powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 5 processor, which is incredibly powerful and efficient, providing all-day battery life while still being capable of high-end tasks such as video editing and intensive multitasking. It has 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, which should be more than enough for most people.

The star of the show is its 16-inch 2K touchscreen display, which is attached to the device via a 360-degree hinge that lets you swing the display all the way around for use as a tablet. That's what makes this laptop a 2-in-1 convertible, because sometimes it can be a tablet too!

A 16-inch tablet is a bit unwieldy for sure, but it's cool, you can choose to use it in this way if you want! For the most part, it'll be a straight-up laptop most of the time, and in that mode it's perfect, with a large palm rest, and excellent keyboard and trackpad experience.

It also features built-in smart features like auto wake and sleep depending on whether you're present in front of the device, and is kitted out with two USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, along with a headphone jack and full-sized HDMI 2.1 port.

More Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

If you're in the market for a new Windows laptop this Cyber Monday, you might want to consider this HP OmniBook 5 16, which is now just $449, down from its usual $700 price tag $599 from its usual $899 price tag. You're getting an incredible deal at this price, with a 2K resolution, OLED touch panel, and 16GB 32GB RAM with 512GB SSD storage to boot!

HP's OmniBook 5 series is a range of great everyday laptops. Our 14-inch OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) review showed they're designed to last, with great battery life and performance thanks to the Snapdragon X Plus chip that's powering things under the hood. This 16-inch variant is rated for 34 hours of battery life, which means in real-world usage, this device will get you through the day with no problems.

The star of this show is the 16-inch 2K OLED with touch, which is a 2560 x 1440 panel that offers inky deep blacks and great contrast thanks to that OLED technology. You don't often find OLED displays in laptops under $600, so this is an added bonus for sure.

It comes with 16GB, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage, and because a Snapdragon X Plus chip powers it, it also includes an NPU that makes it Copilot+ capable. That means you get access to Windows 11's latest advanced AI features, which are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs like the OmniBook 5 16.

It also has a great 1080p front-facing camera, which is excellent for video calls and attending meetings remotely. It has a large keyboard and trackpad, which are great to type on, and there's no number pad, which means the keys and trackpad are centered in the middle of the deck, just as they should be.

FAQ

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Cyber Monday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

In a world where laptops are taking away ports and features to chase thinner, lighter, and more minimalist designs, HP is still offering a laptop that feels pulled straight out of the past — but in the best possible way.

This is the HP EliteBook 8 Flip 13 (G1i), and it's the latest in a long line of HP EliteBook devices that have impressed me. This laptop certainly isn't for everyone, and it absolutely isn't perfect, but those who demand a combination of form factor and features that you simply can't find anywhere else will fall in love with this productivity monster.

When the base price is high and every option adds to the cost, though, it can be expensive to get an EliteBook 8 Flip of your own. No matter how much you spend, too, the display will only ever be just fine.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

My HP EliteBook 8 Flip 13 (G1i) review

Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐

When most laptops have long since migrated to larger 14- and 16-inch panels, the HP EliteBook 8 Flip downsizes with a 13.3-inch screen (like we see with the largest tablets), making it more compact overall.

Even with a 2-in-1 design, this laptop still undercuts many of the most popular 14-inch laptops in weight and thickness, too. It's easily the most manageable 2-in-1 to use as a tablet that I've tested recently.

Even outside the unique display size and form factor, the EliteBook 8 Flip is well-designed. You still get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB Type-C (10GBps) and USB Type-A (5GBps) ports on the other side, HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Kensington Nano Security Slot — and you have the option of adding a SmartCard reader and a NanoSIM slot for cellular connectivity.

Forget all of that, the EliteBook 8 Flip 13 also supports active stylus input — and it has an actual garage to store the stylus inside the laptop! When's the last time you saw that? All of this makes the side of the laptop rather busy, but I can't fault this build quality.

HP is shoving a lot of features into a petite frame, and it all makes sense. This laptop will never win "best-looking laptop" awards, but its practicality levels are through the roof.

Display ⭐⭐⭐½

The smaller 13.3-inch display may be a large part of the EliteBook 8 Flip 13's appeal, but the display itself is unfortunately average, even if you consider all ten display options HP provides.

That's because, while you can pay more for an anti-glare coating, massively increased max brightness, or HP's Sure View privacy filter, the EliteBook 8 Flip 13 can only ever have a basic 1200p, 60Hz, IPS LCD panel. It's not a bad display by any means, with strong comfort and contrast levels, but it's also nothing to write home about.

The color accuracy will always be just okay, the white balance will always skew warm, and you'll always be limited by the resolution and refresh rate.

Performance ⭐⭐⭐½

It shouldn't surprise you to learn that the EliteBook 8 Flip 13 isn't a powerhouse. Intel's more modest U-Series Core Ultra chips make up the core of this compact laptop, and while the highest-end Core Ultra 7 265U (the one in my review unit) may boast 12 cores, it still falls behind Intel's and AMD's best.

Performance isn't necessarily a downside — this laptop prioritizes mobility and versatility above all else, and it needs the efficiency to survive a long day in the field. It's still plenty fast to boot and responsive in use, too, enough that I never had any issue relying on it for my workloads.

The real weakness is the integrated GPU, as it lacks the firepower for any but the least demanding games or creative applications.

Battery life ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Despite the smaller frame, HP still managed to squeeze a sizeable 62Whr battery inside the EliteBook 8 Flip 13. Pair that with the more efficient Intel chipsets and the low-resolution, low-refresh-rate IPS LCD display, and you have a recipe for class-leading battery life.

In general, the EliteBook 8 Flip does deliver on endurance, too. Even cranking the display brightness can't stop you from easily getting a full day of work out of this laptop. Looping an hour of Microsoft Office workloads and then an hour of an HD video only drained 7% of the battery each time. It's easy to keep the EliteBook 8 Flip charged with any of its three USB-C ports, too.

Where this laptop gets knocked down, though, is its inconsistent standby time. Most of the time, this laptop expectantly sipped battery when closed, but there were multiple times I went to open it in the morning to realize it never properly went to sleep overnight, draining the battery.

Keyboard & touchpad ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

I've never met an HP EliteBook keyboard that disappointed me, and that's not about to change today. This may be a smaller laptop, but the keyboard never felt cramped; the layout, legibility, typing action, and key feel are all excellent.

The touchpad isn't haptic, but it's nice and spacious, responsive, and consistent with Microsoft Precision drivers. It's a great all-around experience, but you do have to pay extra for keyboard backlighting and a fingerprint sensor baked into the power button.

Software & AI ⭐⭐⭐⭐

HP still loves to pack its laptops with a ton of software, but the EliteBooks at least aren't drowning in bloatware (HP just has too many individual programs). This is an EliteBook, so you also get HP Wolf Security, a huge selling point for enterprises considering their next laptops.

Enhanced security and privacy, Poly Camera Pro for a better video conferencing experience, Human Presence Detection (HPD) features, that's all great, and Windows 11 runs well under all of it.

But it's worth mentioning that this is not a full Copilot+ PC (the NPU is too weak), so you don't get all of the latest and greatest artificial intelligence features Windows 11 has to offer.

Everything else ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As I've already mentioned, the HP EliteBook 8 Flip 13 (G1i) is positively packed with features. It has an ambient light sensor for adjusting display brightness and colors, an accelerometer and gyroscope for posture changes, HPD features — but so much is optional and costs extra.

If you want to upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, that's an option. If you want to add the garaged active stylus, that's an option. If you want a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition for Windows Hello, those are options. If you want 4G or 5G cellular connectivity, that's an option. If you want Near Field Communication (NFC) or a SmartCard reader, those are options. If you want keyboard backlighting, that's an option!

Almost no other laptop provides all these options, especially not in a single chassis, but the EliteBook 8 Flip 13 can get expensive fast when you start adding them. No matter what options you choose, though, the 5MP front-facing camera is just average, and the dual bottom-firing speakers are only serviceable.

EliteBook 8 Flip 13 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a smaller, versatile 2-in-1 with great battery life.
• You need a lot of features that most laptops lack.
• You're looking for a reliable, professional laptop for work on the go.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You don't need most of the features this laptop has.
• You don't want to pay extra for enterprise-grade security.

The HP EliteBook 8 Flip 13 (G1i) is an odd duck, but it's also the right duck for a lot of professionals who need a compact, long-lasting, and versatile laptop for work — with a lot of features and options packed in that you simply can't find elsewhere.

Add every option, and you could end up paying over $5,000 for a laptop that's less premium in many respects than more traditional flagships, but those laptops can't do what this one does. Also, it's pretty regularly on sale (while I'm writing this review, it's exactly 50% off on all configurations at HP.com).

It's a truly unique laptop, and I can't help but praise it — even if the display and performance aren't anything to write home about. If you have a feeling this is the perfect productivity partner you've been seeking, you can get the HP EliteBook 8 Flip 13 (G1i) from $2,324 at HP.com (but, again, watch out for frequent discounts).

You don't have to spend a lot of money to land a great laptop, and both the HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) and the ASUS Zenbook A14 are proof.

We've tested and reviewed both of these laptops here at Windows Central, giving you a good idea of where the strengths and weaknesses lie, but I thought a direct comparison would go a long way in terms of helping you choose the perfect new PC.

Whether you're shopping for a new laptop to replace your Windows 10 PC or you simply need a lightweight, affordable device to take on the go, you should have a much better idea of which option is better for you after reading this guide.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Specs, price, and availability

These two Windows laptops firmly sit in the $500 to $1,000 price range, and there are frequent discounts that push the price into truly budget territory.

For example, at the time of writing, the HP Omnibook 5 14 with an OLED display, Snapdragon X Plus chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is down to $549 at Best Buy after a $150 discount.

If you're shopping at HP's official site, you'll find far more configuration options, and you might find a similar deal. At the time of writing, I found a model with a Snapdragon X (non-Plus) chip, OLED display, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD on sale for $529. I recommend spending the extra $20 for the more powerful Snapdragon X chip.

The best place I've found to shop for the ASUS Zenbook A14, at least in terms of discounts, is Best Buy. Although models generally start at about $999, frequent promotions have dropped it well below $600.

At the time of writing, a model with a Snapdragon X Plus System-on-Chip (SoC), OLED display, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD costs about $849 at Best Buy.

Because both of these PCs are so frequently discounted, I expect to see some big sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The event officially begins on November 28, but retailers will undoubtedly begin dropping prices well before then. My ultimate recommendation? Don't buy either of these laptops at full price.

Before I get into a more detailed breakdown of the big categories, here's a look at the specs available in each laptop.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Design and features

These are both 14-inch laptops built to be easy to carry around, but the ASUS Zenbook A14 really pushes the idea of "thin and light" to another extreme.

The Zenbook A14 weighs in at just 2.16 pounds (that's less than a kilogram for us non-American folks), which is a lot less than the OmniBook 5's 2.84 pounds (1.28kg).

The OmniBook 5 is actually a bit thinner than the Zenbook A14 and has a similar footprint, so how did ASUS shave off so much weight? The answer lies in the unique "ceraluminum" material.

It's a fancy name for magnesium alloy, but it's 30% lighter and 300% stronger than an average laptop's aluminum frame. It's also coated in a scratch-resistant ceramic layer to further protect the device. The OmniBook 5 14 uses a more traditional aluminum build that's quite sleek; it just weighs more.

Port selection favors the Zenbook A14 thanks to the inclusion of dual USB4. This is a significant upgrade over standard USB-C that rivals the transfer and display abilities of Intel's branded Thunderbolt 4 tech.

The Zenbook A14 otherwise includes HDMI 2.1 for video out, USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The OmniBook 5 falls back to standard USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) with 10Gbps bandwidth (compared to 40Gbps from USB4), and it adds an extra USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) port as well as a 3.5mm audio jack.

A laptop's keyboard and touchpad are crucial to its appeal, and thankfully, both laptops have great hardware in these areas. According to Windows Central laptop expert Zachary Boddy in their OmniBook 5 14 review, "the keyboard is spacious, legible, and feels pretty great for typing."

Boddy notes that the Precision touchpad is fairly standard, but it's "consistent and responsive."

Boddy also reviewed the Zenbook A14, remarking that "the layout is spacious and thoughtful, the function row is smartly designed, the purplish, off-white keyboard backlighting is consistent, easy on the eyes, and even highlights secondary functions and symbols."

The only downside to note has to do with the coating ASUS uses on its keys. Boddy noted that "the gray keys do a great job combating fingerprint smudges and marks, but what ASUS describes as 'smooth' feels more like 'slick.'" You might not find it to be an issue.

As for the Zenbook's touchpad, it makes use of all the space possible below the keys and does a great job of pointing.

The OmniBook 5 sticks with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, while the ASUS Zenbook A14 steps up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity.

Will the average user see much of a difference in performance between the two Wi-Fi standards? Not really, and I wouldn't put a lot of emphasis on this difference when it comes time to make a final decision.

The camera setup is essentially the same, with both laptops sporting a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor for Windows Hello facial recognition.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: OLED displays

Just a few years ago, it seemed like OLED display tech was reserved for high-end devices, but the perfect contrast and awesome color have now made their way into budget devices like these.

Both laptops feature a 14-inch OLED screen with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution. Both have a 0.2ms response time, and both have a 60Hz refresh rate. However, the OmniBook 5's screen is touch-enabled while the Zenbook A14's screen is non-touch.

On the ASUS side, it's rated for VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600, with 600 nits peak brightness in HDR content. For standard content, the display pushed up to 395 nits in our testing. The Zenbook A14's screen also hit 100% sRGB, 96% AdobeRGB, and 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction.

For the HP display, our testing showed that it didn't push past 300 nits of brightness in SDR content. As for color reproduction, the OmniBook 5's display hit 100% sRGB and 93% DCI-P3. If you're concerned about glare and working under bright lighting, the Zenbook A14 is likely the better choice.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Performance and battery life

Neither of these laptops is designed to be a powerhouse system for specialized work and gaming, and that's OK as long as you're just looking for an affordable PC for an average user's workload.

Both PCs use Qualcomm's Snapdragon X ARM-based chips, but there is some nuance to the specific hardware in use.

HP offers the Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) or the Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) for the OmniBook 5 14, with the former offering better performance with a higher clock speed.

The Zenbook A14 also makes use of the Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) chip, and depending on your market, you might also see Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) and Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100) options.

We tested the X1-26 version in the Zenbook A14 (the most affordable and the same chip that's available in the OmniBook 5), with Boddy stating:

"The ASUS Zenbook A14 performs totally fine. Windows is snappy and smooth, it's quick to boot up and log you in, apps open swiftly, and casual computing in general is a breeze."

If you want the most power, the Zenbook A14 is where you should turn, although you'll pay more as performance increases.

Turning to battery life, this is really where both laptops shine the brightest. While testing the Zenbook A14, Boddy was able to get about 12 hours of average real-world runtime from a charge.

Better yet, there was only about a 0.7% drop in CPU performance and a 1% drop in GPU performance when running on battery compared to AC power.

Despite having a smaller 59Wh battery capacity compared to the Zenbook A14's 70Wh, the OmniBook 5 comes out ahead for runtimes. According to Boddy:

"Looping an hour of Microsoft Office tasks and then an hour of an HD video through the Procyon benchmark suite drained just 6% and 4% of the battery, respectively. Battery life is genuinely exceptional, and it's not difficult to get two full days of work out of this machine."

Both of these devices are AI laptops with full access to Copilot+ tools in Windows 11 thanks to the Qualcomm Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Which should you buy?

Choosing between these two laptops will ultimately come down to the price (especially at the time you're buying) and your expectations.

If you'd like more power and don't mind less battery life, albeit still at an "all-day" level, the Zenbook A14 and its X Elite chip option should be the better choice. The same goes for those who want a brighter OLED display, or those who can't live without a couple of USB4 connections.

If you'd rather get the best battery life possible, our testing certainly shows that the OmniBook 5 14 is the winner with nearly two days of runtime on a charge.

I mentioned that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are headed our way at the end of November, and I expect to see the discounts available at the time of writing this guide to pale in comparison.

Bottom line, if you're shopping for a new Windows laptops costing somewhere between $500 and $1,000, both of these PCs should be near the top of your list.

Personally, I don't need an ultrawide monitor, but the category definitely has a plethora of fans that know exactly what they want. Ultrawide gaming monitors are a dime a dozen, and it's difficult for companies to stand out from the horde.

HP isn't breaking the mold with the OMEN 34c (G2), a second-generation offering that plays it just as safe as the first iteration — but it is another great option with above-average performance and solid image quality for the price.

I certainly have my share of criticisms, but none of them are enough to disqualify the OMEN 34c (G2) from earning a comfortable recommendation from me. It's a good gaming monitor, especially for those looking for a performant, ultrawide display that doesn't inflate the price tag with features they don't need.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A familiar design from HP OMEN

HP has settled into a nice flow with its OMEN family, carving out a unique visual identity while it builds out a comprehensive ecosystem of products. The OMEN 34c (G2) would never think to resist that flow, so we get an extremely familiar design here.

This monitor is fairly good looking for its price range with its matte black plastic, tasteful "OMEN" logos, and HP's diamond flourish, and the display bezels are as thin as I'd expect around three edges. I still have an issue with this stand, though.

Don't get me wrong, the OMEN 34c (G2) is just as wonderfully easy to assemble as last year, requiring zero tools or complicated instructions (unless you want to use a VESA mount, which will require some extra work).

The stand itself only allows for height and tilt adjustment, though — if you want to pivot, you'll have to turn the entire monitor and stand, which I patently refuse to do. I at least have faith HP will change this design with a future generation of monitors, but it's still annoying now.

I also have to criticize the distinct lack of any USB ports for connecting your accessories. You get two HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4 port, and that's it. Additional ports is a valuable feature for a lot of people (myself included), even if you don't go all the way with KVM support and device charging.

Finally, I'll briefly mention the dual 3W speakers, which are just as hollow, flat, and muddy as last year. These speakers are fine for notifications and casual video conferencing, I would not (and do not) want to use them for anything else.

Good gaming performance, solid image quality

On the display front, the OMEN 34c (G2) finally sees some notable upgrades. This is still a 34-inch, ultrawide VA panel (not IPS LCD or OLED) that runs at 1440p, but the performance and overall image quality have improved.

The upgraded 180Hz refresh rate is the perfect sweet spot between the 120Hz minimum and the 240Hz sweet spot of modern gaming monitors, although you're not likely to notice it over the last model's 165Hz refresh rate. Still, gaming on this monitor feels great.

HP also managed to massively bump up the color accuracy, hitting 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 88% of the DCI-P3 color gamut on the "Native" profile, as well as increasing the contrast ratios across brightness levels. At least with contrast, the OMEN 34c (G2)'s VA panel strikes a nice balance between more popular IPS LCD or OLED displays.

The one issue I have with this display is the viewing angles, which are less than perfect. There's a decent amount of hazing and color shift when viewing things off-axis; while the curve of the display does help to some extent, I still regularly noticed how content on both far ends appeared less vibrant and clear than directly in front of me.

That being said, it never stopped me from staying productive, enjoying videos, video conferencing, or gaming.

HP OMEN 34c (G2) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You know you want an ultrawide monitor.
• You value great gaming performance and that 180Hz refresh rate.
• You don't care about all the bells and whistles.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You need your monitor to provide additional USB ports.
• You need the best possible image quality and brightness.

My colleague, Rebecca Spear, reviewed the original HP OMEN 34c. Looking back at that review, not a lot has changed going into this second generation. HP did make some worthwhile improvements, but the OMEN 34c (G2) is still, overall, another simply solid option in an ocean of other solid options.

Unless you have specific needs that aren't met by this monitor, like additional USB ports or KVM support, you'll likely be happy. It's easy to assemble, the display looks good across a variety of content, and performance for gaming is generally excellent.

There are no fatal flaws here; HP just made a good ultrawide gaming monitor without any fluff. If that's what you're looking for, the HP OMEN 34c (G2) can be yours for $529.99 at HP.com, and is also available at BestBuy.com.

Earlier this year, I went hands-on with the HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q), and I said it "could be the best value AI laptop of the summer." It took me longer than expected to get my hands on a full production unit, but now I've had enough time with this laptop to decide if my initial impressions were spot on or off the mark.

My verdict? HP made a truly great value-driven Windows laptop... but whether it's the best value depends on how you get yours. You can build your own from $899.99 at HP.com, but every option will add a sizable chunk to your final price tag. No, the way to get the OmniBook 5 14 is by sticking with the pre-built configurations.

My favorite OmniBook 5 14 model is only $699.99 at BestBuy.com, and that's a sleek and capable AI PC with multi-day battery life, a vibrant OLED display, and the perfect amount of power for casual computing. That is my top value laptop of 2025, and I'll spend some time telling you exactly why.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

My OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) review

Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently reviewed the Dell 14 Plus (DB14255), another value-driven AI laptop in the same price range as the OmniBook 5 14, and comparing the two shows just how much HP's offering punches above its weight.

This laptop is slim and light (under 13mm and 3lbs, while the Dell is around 17mm and well over 3lbs), looks more modern with its sleeker display bezels, and has superior build quality with less panel flex and tighter seams.

The OmniBook 5 14's build quality definitely isn't as good as the most premium machines, but it's better than you might expect for a laptop that starts at less than $700. I like it a lot, but I do wish the port selection was more impressive.

On the left side, you're looking at two USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps) ports with 65W Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 capabilities, and on the right you'll find one USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps) drop-jaw port and a 3.5mm audio jack. I like that we still get a legacy USB-A port on such a thin laptop, but it would've been nice to get one USB4 port for more docking options.

Display ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The display is another area where the OmniBook 5 14 absolutely trounces the aforementioned Dell 14 Plus with its 1200p, 60Hz OLED panel shared across all configurations (with optional multitouch support).

It's a beautiful screen, with vibrant and accurate colors (100% of sRGB and 93% of DCI-P3 color gamuts are covered in my testing), excellent contrast and viewing angles, and impeccable performance. Sure, it's not super sharp or smooth, but it's still a fantastic screen for the price point.

I have to knock it down a peg, simply because it's also very dim. The OmniBook 5 14 couldn't even hit its rated 300 nits in my testing, which is very easily overwhelmed by any bright, direct light source. This screen looks amazing, but you won't be able to see it well if sunlight is a regular visitor to your workspace.

Performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) is not a powerhouse, but it was never meant to be. This is a thin-and-light Ultrabook designed with casual users in mind, and it's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series.

This Windows on ARM laptop is all about efficiency, so it's not a strong performer when it comes to gaming, photo and video editing, or other intense workloads (especially those that rely on heavy legacy programs).

For most users, though, this laptop is a splendid performer. It's snappy and responsive for web browsing, email, Microsoft Office, video conferencing, and beyond. With Microsoft recently celebrating that Windows 11 users now spend over 90% of their time in native ARM64 applications, too, performance really isn't a concern with this laptop.

Battery life ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trade-offs in performance are made worth it when you consider battery life. There's a meager 59Whr battery inside the OmniBook 5 14, but it still boasts some of the most impressive endurance I've seen.

Looping an hour of Microsoft Office tasks and then an hour of an HD video through the Procyon benchmark suite drained just 6% and 4% of the battery, respectively. Battery life is genuinely exceptional, and it's not difficult to get two full days of work out of this machine.

When you do need to charge it, HP includes an ultra-compact 65W GaN charger in the box, and it can get you a full day of usage in just 30 minutes of charging. Performance on and off the charger is practically identical, too, which is one of the greatest advantages of Qualcomm silicon.

Keyboard & touchpad ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The OmniBook 5 14 avoids the new "lattice-less" keyboard design of some of HP's other recent releases, which is a major positive in my eyes. This keyboard is spacious, legible, and feels pretty great for typing. The keyboard backlight can be a little slow to turn on at times, but it's even and highlights every letter and symbol on the keyboard.

The touchpad is more basic, with average build quality, but it's at least consistent and responsive with Microsoft Precision drivers. There's not much else to say — HP did a great job with the keyboard and touchpad.

Software & AI ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The OmniBook 5 14 is a Copilot+ PC, so it benefits from all the latest and greatest artificial intelligence features in Windows 11. Even if you don't find value in these features now, this laptop is future-proofed for years to come, and that's definitely worth something.

I also appreciate HP's own AI companion, which is tastefully designed and packed with features. Overall, the OmniBook 5 14 offers an enjoyable, stable software experience... but I will criticize HP's fragmented software and injected bloatware with every consumer laptop I review from it. There's just too much fluff to remove when setting up.

Everything else ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

When it comes to the extremities, the OmniBook 5 14 never disappoints. The 1080p front-facing webcam is more than solid enough for video conferencing, and it offers Windows Hello facial recognition for quick sign-ins and a built-in physical privacy shutter.

The dual, bottom-firing speakers performed better than I would've guessed, reaching shockingly high volumes with massively deteriorating in quality. They're not best-in-class by any means, but I was able to enjoy listening to music without any real complaints.

Your wireless connectivity needs are handled by Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and reflect my experience with the rest of the OmniBook 5 14's features — it's more than good enough for the price range, but it's not going to best any of the most premium laptops out there.

OmniBook 5 14 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a super sleek and light Windows laptop on a budget.
• You need fantastic battery life that can you last multiple days.
• You need a reliable, casual computing companion with no major flaws.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're looking for a laptop for demanding tasks like gaming.
• You need a whole lot of ports, or USB4 for docking.

I had high hopes for the HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) when I first used it, and it's awesome to see those hopes met and then some. It's often difficult to get excited about value-driven hardware, but HP did such a fantastic job with balancing this laptop's features, performance, and price.

I still like the ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025) I reviewed a little more and consider that the better laptop, but it also costs up to $300 more for similar specs. For just $699.99 at BestBuy.com (easily the best deal), there's really no other laptop that's beating the OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) for sheer value right now.

HP delivered the complete package with this machine, with multi-day battery life to boot. It's an excellent companion for casual computing and is guaranteed to enjoy years of new features through Windows updates. I only wish the port selection was better.

Whether it's for getting schoolwork assignments done on time or multitasking in the office, people are always on the lookout for 2-in-1 laptops that can take down notes or draw digital art on.

One of the safest bets for this task is the 2025-edition of the HP OmniBook X Flip 14, a reliable, great-quality mid-range HP laptop that's currently on sale at Best Buy for $749.99, after having its $1,049.99 MSRP cut by 39%.

Why should you buy this laptop?

HP has crafted many laptops over the years, from premium-grade gaming laptops designed to run AAA games to 2-in-1 workplace laptops that can multitask as a PC or a tablet to assist you in completing work with excellent efficiency.

HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025) falls in the latter category. While it may not have the advanced tech of its premium-grade brother, the HP Omnibook Ultra 14, this 2-in-1 laptop has plenty of enticing qualities that make it worth the price of admission at the mid-range scale.

The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 has a sturdy yet lightweight 2-in-1 design that's easy to store in carrying bags or luggage cases, with a 2.8K, 120Hz OLED display that boasts superb color accuracy and resolution performance.

This laptop also offers configuration options between AMD and Intel chipsets, both of which feature AI PC and Copilot+ to help you complete workflow tasks through Microsoft Office, the web, or email, done in a jiffy.

Additionally, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is compatible with stylus pens (sold separately), featuring high-performance connections and magnets on the laptop's side that allow pens to clip onto and stick securely until force is applied to remove them.

The only shortcomings of this device are that it has a short battery life 30 hours and that its lattice-less keyboard design may be unappealing to some typists.

Aside from that, the HP OmniBook X Flip is a gadget for folks looking for a more affordable AI-powered laptop to get through the day, as its MSRP of $1,049.99 isn't going to cost you an arm or a leg compared to its more expensive competitors.

In fact, it's become even more affordable as Best Buy is selling this laptop with a 29% discount for $749.99, saving you $300 in the process.

FAQ

You don't need a massively powerful gaming laptop to play League of Legends on, but that hasn't stopped HP. Revealed today, this latest version of the Omen 16 is a limited edition, targeted entirely at the League of Legends community.

And doesn't it look sensational? Nobody can ever convince me that there is a better color scheme on Planet Earth than black and gold.

Initially up for pre-order at $1,999.99 (yeah, it's a pricier laptop) this is essentially the Omen 16 we already know, but significantly jazzed up. If you're a big League of Legends player, talk about the ultimate flex. Apparently, it has some easter eggs to find, too.

"We know how passionate League of Legends fans are about the game and expanded universe, so our sole design goal was to create something that feels like it was plucked straight out of Runeterra. And with a sleek black and gold design, custom keyboard, and plenty of easter eggs to discover, we feel like we did that"

There are two spec options, both of which use the Intel Core i7-14650HX CPU and 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM. There are two accessible RAM slots, too, so you can upgrade as you may desire.

The differences come in which GPU and display you go for. There's a choice of the RTX 5060 or the RTX 5070. Display-wise, you're looking at a 1920 x 1200 165Hz option, or a 2560 x 1600 260Hz panel. Both plenty fast enough to play League of Legends on.

HP has also announced the Omen 25 gaming monitor, the official display of League of Legends and Valorant esports events globally. It'll be available from November at a price of $419.99, and has plenty to offer the keen competitive gamer.

The headline feature is the 360Hz refresh rate paired with a 1ms response time. For competitive games such as those made by Riot, this sounds perfect. It's also packing factory color calibration, and perhaps most important of all, a built-in stand to hang your gaming headset on when you're done for the day.

This isn't the first hardware collaboration we've seen between HP and Riot Games in recent times. We've already seen the equally striking Valorant Omen desktop PC, and who knows what else could be cooking inside HP's design labs.

As has become tradition in recent years, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days has been out-dealed by a competing retailer. This time it's HP with what I believe is the best gaming laptop deal of the week.

The HP OMEN MAX 16, released in 2025 and sporting NVIDIA's newest RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, is now down to $1,500 after a massive $600 discount.

I'll give it to you straight — the OMEN MAX 16 for 2025 isn't perfect, but it's a lot closer than many other gaming laptops.

Windows Central laptop expert Zachary Boddy performed in-depth testing on the OMEN MAX 16 for their review, making it easy to see where the laptop excels and where it falters.

Let me get the cons out of the way first. Like most gaming laptops, you'll want to keep it plugged in to avoid throttling the beastly RTX 5070 Ti and the 8-core AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU. Not a huge deal.

👉 Related: We’ve tested plenty of laptops — these Techtober standouts deliver the best mix of performance and value

Boddy also found that the fans can get loud when the system is under load, but they tested a model with NVIDIA's most powerful RTX 5090 card that produces a lot more heat. With the RTX 5070 Ti inside, fan noise should be much less of a problem.

The final nitpick in Boddy's review has to do with the keyboard. The lattice-free design with translucent keycap edges and RGB backlighting might be an acquired taste, but "the layout is solid," and the touchpad is "equally decent" with smooth and precise inputs.

Now, let's get into what the laptop does particularly well. HP designed the OMEN MAX 16 to be as sleek as possible, resulting in a truly premium appearance without a ton of bulk or baggage.

The OMEN Max 16 runs Windows 11, which could solve your Windows 10 End-of-Life issues, and it's loaded with a bunch of HP's custom apps that allow for easy custom or automatic tuning. If you want to overclock your system, you don't have to be an expert.

At stock tuning, the RTX 5070 Ti GPU with 12GB of VRAM and Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU are going to make demanding modern titles look incredible, especially if you enable DLSS 4 features in your favorite games.

The FHD+ display might irk some gamers who'd rather have QHD+, but at 16 inches, everything is going to look plenty crisp, and you'll have a ton of headroom for high frame rates thanks to the 165Hz variable refresh rate.

This model that's discounted by $600 comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. If you find that's not enough, you can always upgrade yourself after purchase with relative ease.

FAQ

HP's laptops are some of the best on the market today, especially if you're shopping in the new OmniBook category containing powerful and premium AI PCs.

While HP offers a range of laptops to fit different budgets, the truly premium hardware generally costs more than most consumers are willing to spend. That's remedied with Best Buy's limited-time sales event focusing on HP PCs.

I've pulled the four best HP laptop deals based on our testing and reviews, as well as discount pricing, but I urge you to have a look at the full list of HP deals at Best Buy for more options.

HP laptops on sale at Best Buy: Quick links

• Up to $500 off HP laptops at Best Buy for a limited time
• HP OmniBook 5 14": Was $699.99 Now $549.99 at Best Buy
• HP OmniBook X Flip 14": Was $1,049.99 Now $699.99 at Best Buy
• HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14": Was $1,599.99 Now $1,099.99 at Best Buy
• HP OmniBook X 17": Was $1,599.99 Now $1,149.99 at Best Buy

Top HP laptop deal at Best Buy

The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is the successor to HP's awesome Spectre x360. It's a convertible PC with premium design and features, including a gorgeous 14-inch OLED touch display with a crisp 2.8K resolution.

The keyboard and haptic touchpad are outstanding, the quad speakers pump out quality audio, and the 9MP webcam provides a detailed picture and includes an IR sensor for Windows Hello.

Intel's Core Ultra 7 256V CPU is on board, providing strong performance for your average workload. The integrated Arc GPU can also handle light gaming without issue.

👉 Related: Best Windows Laptops in 2025

As for battery life, I'll let Windows Central's Zachary Boddy's OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review speak for itself:

"Generating a Windows Battery Report returned some of the most consistently excellent endurance I've enjoyed in a recent Windows laptop, with me regularly getting over 9 hours of actual usage on a single charge without turning down features, display brightness, or performance."

This is the biggest discount currently offered on HP laptops at Best Buy, and it's also the PC I recommend to most people.

More great HP laptop deals at Best Buy

Fret not if the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 isn't quite right for you. I picked three other options with a mix of different prices and CPUs.

When it comes to running Large Language Models (LLMs) and other intense artificial intelligence workflows locally, colossal desktop PCs powered by hyper-expensive NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs tend to reign supreme.

Even the best discrete GPU quickly runs out of VRAM under these conditions, though, and that's where AMD's poorly named Ryzen AI MAX platform comes in. This all-in-one platform fulfils a very specific niche and does so in devices barely larger than just an NVIDIA GPU by itself, and it's this platform that HP selected for its flagship Z2 Mini (G1a) PC.

I've been using this compact mini PC and putting its insane hardware to the test, and reaffirmed that 1) HP knows how to make stellar enterprise-ready devices and 2) AMD Ryzen AI MAX should be the go-to for anyone who wants to meet their AI demands without sacrificing all their desk space.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

A beautiful design that nails the fundamentals

The HP Z2 Mini (G1a) is definitely a "mini" PC, although it's still beefier than the most compact options from companies like Geekom. That makes sense — there's a lot of power under this hood, and at 20cm x 16.8 x 8.55cm and around 2.3kg, it's still around the same size as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 by itself.

Many enterprise products clearly prioritize function over form, but the Z2 Mini manages to offer top-notch practicality in addition to elegant design. It's all matte black, with an interesting front grille design that allows for maximum airflow through the unit.

It looks awesome, but it does attract a lot of fingerprint smudges, so be careful when handling it. The Z2 Mini (G1a) is designed to operate vertically, horizontally, or even mounted on a rack, to the wall, on the back of your monitor, or wherever else you want it. The HP logo on the front also rotates to match the orientation of the PC, which I always love to see.

You get lots of ports on the rear and a few on the side (or top, depending on your orientation), and the Z2 Mini also supports HP's "Flex I/O" with two expansion slots for enterprises to customize their units. Even without expanding, though, you still get five USB Type-A ports, three USB Type-C ports (two of which are full USB4/Thunderbolt 4 ports), two Mini DisplayPorts, Ethernet, a Kensington Nano Security Slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Mini DisplayPort is a bit odd and will likely require an adapter, but you can't deny the Z2 Mini is loaded with ports, and it's on the cutting edge of wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, too. There's even a single, 2W internal mono speaker, since that's apparently important to enterprise customers (yes, the audio quality is terrible, tinny, and muted, but it's not meant for entertainment).

Like the other best mini PCs, the Z2 Mini allows for toolless access to its internals, including the two M.2 expansion slots. A simple switch lets you slide off half the main body, providing much more comfortable access than most mini PCs can manage... but that switch doesn't feel secure at all; there's a lot of give in the removable panel even when the switch is fully engaged. It's the one place the Z2 Mini (G1a) doesn't feel as high quality.

Ridiculous performance — exactly what you paid for

Depending on your configuration, your HP Z2 Mini (G1a) could have anywhere from 6-16 CPU cores and 16-40 GPU cores, but it's all under the AMD Ryzen AI MAX umbrella, and it's all with an industry-leading Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that enables Copilot+ PC AI features.

The model I reviewed sits near the top with the 16-core Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 395, 40-core Radeon 8060S, and 128GB of shared memory. Like other devices built on this platform, you can allocate up to 96GB of VRAM to the GPU. The Z2 Mini (G1a) supports many of HP's enterprise-focused apps and features, too, including the Performance Advisor app that lets you tweak every element of your PC (such as VRAM allocation) without needing to dive into the BIOS.

All that VRAM means the Z2 Mini can run massive LLMs entirely locally and entirely on the GPU, leading to drastically improved performance that can genuinely best the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. It helps that the Radeon 8060S is actually quite impressive for an integrated GPU, competing with laptop-grade RTX 4070s in overall performance.

This is my third experience with AMD Ryzen AI MAX, following my HP ZBook Ultra 14 (G1a) review and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025) review, and I've been impressed each time. While true desktop-grade hardware will absolutely outperform this mini PC in most tasks, you won't find such a capable compact PC anywhere else.

As expected, the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) performs better on average than the two laptops I've reviewed using the same platform, thanks to a beefier thermal system. Speaking of, the Z2 Mini does an excellent job cooling itself under sustained loads, but the fans do get loud — certainly more than your average mini PC.

At the end of the day, this mini PC excels at creative and AI workflows, exactly as HP designed it to do. This is a heavy-duty enterprise workstation meant for the most demanding users, and it delivers on that front while being backed by HP's impressive enterprise suite, like the HP Wolf Security Pro platform. Yes, you can also play games on it (I enjoyed some Forza Horizon 5), but those considering this mini PC will be doing so with a job in mind.

HP Z2 Mini (G1a) review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want the most powerful mini PC you can get your hands on.
• You want a compact workstation for heavy-duty AI workloads.
• You highly value HP's added enterprise features and programs.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You won't take advantage of the shared system and GPU memory.
• You're looking for a capable but affordable mini PC for the home.

The HP Z2 Mini (G1a) is an absurdly good bit of kit — I'll just put that out there. AMD knocked it out of the park with its Ryzen AI MAX platform, and HP kept that momentum up with its practical design and bevy of useful features.

When it's on sale, the Z2 Mini (G1a) also isn't a terrible value considering all the capabilities packed into its compact chassis, but that's if it's on sale. Like all HP Z-series devices, this mini PC can be incredibly expensive, which makes it even more important that you're certain this is the PC you actually want.

Yes, it's far more powerful than your average mini PC, enough that it can play all the latest and greatest PC games in a form factor not much larger than your average desktop GPU, but it's designed with very specific and very demanding workloads in mind. It's a specialized tool targeting AI-focused enterprises, and you see that in every part of this mini PC — all the way to its mounting support.

In that niche, though, the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) simply can't be beat, and you can configure your own from $2,480 at HP.com... or peruse HP Z2 Mini (G1a) configurations at HP.com for potential discounts.

I've been a little busy working through the gaming backlog and, well, working, to spin it up in a while, but one of my favorite competitive multiplayer shooters is VALORANT. So, when I learned that HP was making a limited-edition VALORANT PC, I leapt at the chance to be among the first to get their hands on it.

This is the HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition, a pre-built tower based off the HP OMEN 35L (2024) I reviewed and praised. It's the introductory fanfare for the OMEN 35L Stealth Edition coming later this year as the official PC for Riot Games' VALORANT and League of Legends esports tournaments.

Yes, I have the OMEN 35L VALORANT Edition on my desk, and I'm honestly impressed by all the detail in this design throughout the case and internal components. This isn't some unobtainable showpiece, either — the HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition is now available for preorder for $1,829.99 at BestBuy.com, and you can even configure your own from $1,672 at HP.com.

A capable pre-built tower with an even sleeker design

To the surprise of absolutely no one, this desktop is based off the standard HP OMEN 35L, and that's a good thing. It's one of the better pre-built towers for gamers and creators, with a beautiful design, excellent performance, and a wide range of available configurations.

Being a limited-edition variant, though, this OMEN 35L makes some notable changes to the design. I'm honestly surprised by how in-depth this collaboration is, because few elements seem to remain untouched.

The matte black case is marked by various red accents and details, and the glass side panel is adorned with various etched symbols. There's also a new glass front panel, with a tasteful gap behind it to allow for airflow. Even the internal components enjoyed the VALORANT treatment, with color-matched elements and subtle details throughout.

HP and Riot Games also include a magnetic VALORANT Gun Buddy accessory in the box, which can attach to any of the metal panels of the OMEN 35L... or anywhere else you want, honestly. No one is going to buy this PC just for this little accessory, but it's still a fun addition.

A lot of licensed limited editions would only ever appeal to hardcore fans of that franchise, but this PC looks great even if you're not a VALORANT fan. It also helps that there's a really capable desktop at the center of it all, although this OMEN 35L is far from the most powerful you can actually buy.

It's powered by an Intel Core i7-14700F, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (16GB), up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 4TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. It may not be the cutting edge on every front, but that's more than enough power to compete with the best in VALORANT.

The configuration that I think will appeal to most people is the one offered for $1,829.99 at BestBuy.com, with an RTX 5060 Ti (16GB), 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage under the hood.

HP and VALORANT are going hand-in-hand from now on

The VALORANT Edition is obviously the news of the day, but HP previously announced an OMEN 35L Stealth Edition that's coming in the near future. Riot Games chose HP as its partner for its esports tournaments, and it's the sleek, matte black Stealth Edition that professional VALORANT players will be using to compete with each other.

I'm planning to review that Stealth Edition, and I'm probably more excited than I should be for it, but I also didn't expect HP to release a separate VALORANT Edition targeting hardcore fans outside of esports tournaments. The former is meant to blend into the background, so everyone focuses on the match, but the latter is perfectly over-the-top and just as capable.

HP isn't gatekeeping either version, though. You can actually preorder the HP OMEN 35L Stealth Edition for $2,589.99 at HP.com right now, and the fact the VALORANT Limited Edition is available at HP and Best Buy in multiple configurations reassures me stock isn't too limited (but you probably shouldn't wait too long, regardless).

It's tiring to see one-of-one special edition PCs that no normal person will ever be able to have, so it's refreshing to see HP put in the work to make a proper limited-edition design and offer it to the masses. The HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition honestly does look awesome, too; it's a little on the pricey side, but it is a custom licensed design, so I expected as much.

Windows 10 users have a little over a month till Microsoft pulls the plug on the operating system on October 14, 2025. A public interest group (PIRG) petitioned the company to reconsider its decision, claiming it would lead to the single biggest jump in e-waste ever.

An estimated 400 million PCs are still running Windows 10 despite this imminent end-of-support. However, Windows 11 is slowly gaining traction and broad adoption as it recently surpassed Windows 10 as the most dominant desktop operating system.

HP and Dell, two PC manufacturing giants, recently indicated that up to 50% of computers are still running Windows 10, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even be expected to roll over into 2026 (via ComputerWorld).

Multiple users recently complained that they aren't able to access Microsoft's extended support program for Windows 10, but the tech giant confirmed that it is rolling out in waves and should be available for everyone before it cuts support for the operating system.

While enterprise customers seem eager to upgrade to Windows 11, HP CEO Enrique Lores stated during last week’s earnings call that small and medium-sized businesses are more likely to rely on Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers an extra 12 months of support before they consider upgrading.

As you may already know, there are several options that users could choose to continue receiving security updates after Windows 10's imminent death, including syncing your PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft account, redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, or paying $30 for extended security updates (ESU), which now supports up to 10 devices.

But community groups like 'The Restart Project' say Microsoft's ESU program doesn't cut it, while describing it as a last-minute snooze button that only postpones the issue by 12 months.

It's also co-developed the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, including offering practical advice on how to adapt repair events and more.

According to The Restart Project:

"Microsoft’s decision not only accelerates premature disposal but also undermines efforts to extend product lifespans and puts additional pressure on resource use and waste management systems."

PC shipments and AI PC sales are on the rise

As has been the trend since last year, PC shipments are steadily improving, with HP reporting an 8% increase in the third quarter for consumer PC shipments and 3% for commercial PC shipments compared to last year. The PC maker also reported a 6% increase year-over-year in revenue.

According to HP CEO Enrique Lores:

“The demand for AI PCs is going to be driven by applications, and we are seeing more… applications taking advantage of the new capabilities.”

However, Dell's consumer revenue took a 7% hit, though it generated more profits on higher PC prices, according to the company's Vice Chairman, Jeff Clarke. According to the executive:

“We expect moderate growth as the PC refresh continues, driven by an aging installed base and the Windows 10 end of life.”

This news comes after Gartner recently projected AI PC shipments to skyrocket to 77.8 million units later this year, which could translate to 31% of the global PC market. Perhaps more interestingly, the projects further suggest that PC shipments could hit 143 million units next year, which will make up for more than 50% of PC sales.

As Windows 10's death looms, users have openly expressed their frustrations across social media, indicating that Microsoft's decision to pull the plug on the operating system is programmed obsolescence, disguised as a blatant attempt by Microsoft to bolster Copilot+ PC sales and coerce Windows 11 upgrades.

"I dont want a new laptop this works fine and somehow managed to resell the old ram. which sucks I hate how techworld is literally making the world a living hell," one user lamented, and they aren't alone.

Many gamers may not be fully aware, but HP isn’t just making printers and productivity-focused PCs — the company also maintains a significant presence in the gaming industry.

HP’s OMEN and HyperX brands have continued to grow in scale and ambition, and have also increasingly separated themselves from HP’s more mundane consumer efforts. Case in point, the dedicated event at which HP announced a slew of new gaming hardware and accessories.

I was invited to attend this unique event by HP, and arrived early to go hands-on with the brand-new HP OMEN PCs and HyperX audio gear. I came away impressed and intrigued, especially by the beastly OMEN MAX 45L gaming desktop that pulls out all the stops.

Gaming to the MAX with a new flagship desktop

The HP OMEN 45L is dead; long live the HP OMEN MAX 45L, the most absurdly powerful pre-built desktop PC to ever come out of HP’s laboratories.

On the inside, you’ll find some insane hardware… but not entirely unfamiliar. The OMEN MAX 45L is powered by the latest from AMD and NVIDIA, up to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and GeForce RTX 5090, to be exact. You can also get crazy amounts of RAM and plenty of PCIe Gen5 SSD storage, but none of that is what makes the OMEN MAX 45L special.

Much of that you can also find in the refreshed HP OMEN 35L (which I’ll talk more about later), but this desktop’s overwhelming presence is due to its unique cooling solution. HP’s “CRYO CHAMBER” brand has returned, but you haven’t seen it like this, yet.

I’ll admit, the OMEN MAX 45L does look odd in person. It’s like a normal gaming desktop wearing a hat, but it’s all for a purpose. Different paths for airflow and improved use of ambient air result in substantially improved thermals, and in turn allow users to truly max out this PC’s hardware.

HP has already impressed me with the depth and granularity of its overclocking and power management features with recent OMEN hardware, but the OMEN MAX 45L goes a step further by letting you overclock the memory, CPU, and GPU — and HP was very excited to tell me there are no artificial limitations here. You can really push this hardware to the max.

It’s this promise of truly “extreme” performance thanks to the OMEN MAX 45L’s overclocking capabilities that presumably justifies its position at the top, but I’ll have to test it for myself to see if it really earns that distinction.

Leaving behind the RGB and flying under the radar

The biggest surprise of HP’s event, though, was how much I really loved the new “Stealth Edition” OMEN 35L. The OMEN 35L hasn’t changed much since I reviewed it, apart from a spec bump to the latest AMD and NVIDIA internals, but this version takes the same hardware and slots it into a sleek, nondescript, matte black case devoid of RGB lighting and bold glass.

I was a fan when I covered the product’s announcement, but this desktop looks even better in person. It’s clean, and it makes a lot of sense why Riot Games chose this specific computer as the standard for its VALORANT esports league.

I love RGB lighting as much as the next gamer, but there’s also a depressing lack of “sleeper” hardware that HP is filling here — and the positive reception has apparently already been immense.

I don’t expect this OMEN 35L to be a drastic departure from last year (apart from slightly improved performance and hopefully more stable software), but I am very interested to check out the Stealth Edition.

A different approach to AMD and Intel laptops?

One of the more interesting things I learned during this HP event is how the company is approaching AMD and Intel SKUs for its OMEN gaming laptops. I recently reviewed the flagship HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) and liked it well enough, and now it's getting an AMD variant — with a twist.

The original OMEN MAX 16 is powered by Intel Core Ultra HX-series CPUs, Intel's most powerful mobile chipsets. The downside is that the integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) isn't powerful enough to enable full Copilot+ PC status, making them lesser AI PCs in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Instead of using the AMD equivalent, like what's found in the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) I reviewed, the new OMEN MAX 16 is actually powered by AMD Ryzen AI chipsets. That means less raw power, but far greater efficiency and a whole lot more smarts for artificial intelligence features.

HP told me it's because it found people want that choice, and many value battery life enough to trade some CPU performance for it. I'd certainly make that choice, so I'm all for HP's slightly more unique approach here. The standard, mid-range HP OMEN 16 is getting the same AMD/Intel treatment, too.

Leveling up your audio with new HyperX accessories

HyperX joined the fun during this Level Reforge event, too, showing off two new wireless gaming headsets and two new microphones. I got to check them all out to varying degrees, and I think this is an exciting lineup for a few reasons.

Possibly the most interesting of the bunch to me personally is the HyperX Cloud Flight 2, a new multi-platform, mid-range headset. It's ultra-light and made of plastic, so it's not the most premium feeling, but HyperX is doing some interesting things here.

All the basics are covered — angled 50mm drivers, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, an Xbox-specific version with added features (like a built-in chat mixer), up to 125 hours of battery life, an upgraded 10mm boom microphone, and more.

On top of that, though, HyperX designed the headband cushion, earcup cushions, and magnetic faceplates to all be easily removable and replaceable. More than that, the headset's RGB lighting actually covers the entire area underneath those faceplates, allowing light to shine in through cutouts; that opens a lot of possibilities for customizing your headset, and HyperX is looking into expanding those options for consumers.

There's even an internal microphone so that you can continue to do voice calls without the awkward boom microphone attached, which a lot of headsets that claim to double up as wireless headphones lack.

I also tried out HyperX's new flagship Alpha 2 wireless headset, which immediately feels extremely polished and premium with its understated, RGB-less, metal-infused design. It's sleek and comfy, the audio sounded excellent in my limited testing, and HyperX is promising a ridiculous 250-hour battery life.

That headset will be going up against the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I reviewed, though, so the performance will have to be top-notch to justify its higher price tag of $299.99 at HP.com.

I did check out both of the new HyperX microphones, too, although I wasn't really able to test them. The premium FlipCast for $229.99 at HP.com could be a fantastic option for those who want to get into content creation of any kind but aren't quite ready to invest in a full (often expensive) XLR-based setup; the FlipCast also boasts USB input for casual plug-and-play, as well as a smart and attractive design with a dynamic LED meter.

I actually have the HyperX FlipCast in to review, so you can expect my in-depth thoughts on it in the coming weeks. I don't have the SoloCast 2 yet, but I am excited to eventually check it out. This is HyperX's most affordable USB microphone, and it looks like it'll be a direct competitor to the AVerMedia VERSATI go (AM310G2) I reviewed and loved.

It'll be interesting to see if the SoloCast 2, which costs $59.99 at HP.com, can offer the same level of quality and features as that microphone.

A fun and creative way to show off new products

I do want to spare a moment to talk about the event itself, because this wasn't your normal tech briefing. HP got a bunch of well-known Twitch streamers and content creators together in a game-show format, with the goal being to "reforge" a broken blade by excelling at a variety of mini-games.

Beyond the awkward, forced jokes of the beginning, this event was actually really enjoyable to watch. The games were fun, and the synergy between teams and the excellent hosts led to some hilarious moments.

In between event beats, HP announced its new products with flashy commercials and casual interviews between obviously passionate (and often nervous) nerds, which made the products feel like they were truly made for gamers, by gamers.

HP seemed very pleased about the reception to the event, too, as this was the first time the company has ever attempted something like this. I and many others had plenty of feedback to give for future iterations, and it does seem like we can expect Level Reforge to return next year.

I always appreciate engaging with a company that actively seeks out criticism, too, and I chatted with various HP OMEN and HyperX leads and engineers on new and existing hardware.

For example, one of the demo areas used the HP OMEN Transcend 32 OLED monitor I reviewed, but had been afflicted with a dreaded forced pixel refresh. I had an open and shockingly productive conversation with a member of that team about my review and all my criticisms for what is genuinely a great monitor, and it reassured me that future HP OMEN monitors will actually be better because of feedback from actual users.

Thank you, HP, for inviting me out to Level Reforge. I had more fun than I honestly expected I would. As for what comes next, stay tuned to Windows Central for my reviews of the new HP OMEN and HyperX gear!

Back-to-school season is upon us, and I know that there are plenty of parents and students still shopping for a new laptop that won't break the bank.

HP's 14-inch OmniBook X Flip is a top contender for students and practically anyone else who wants a quality convertible laptop on the cheap, coming at you with strong performance, full Copilot+ PC capabilities, and a portable, versatile design.

Rather than paying the regular $1,049.99 price, this laptop, to which we handed a Windows Central Recommended Award in our review, is now down to $699.99 at Best Buy. That's $350 or 33% off the regular price, and I don't expect the deal to last long.

Back-to-school laptop deals: Quick Links

• Up to $1,000 off with back-to-school laptop deals at Best Buy
• Up to $800 off with back-to-school laptop deals at B&H
• Up to $820 off laptops at Newegg's back-to-school sale
• Rotating laptop deals available now at Amazon

Why HP's OmniBook X Flip 14 for 2025 is such a tempting laptop

Windows Central Staff Writer and laptop expert Zachary Boddy reviewed the OmniBook X Flip 14 less than a month ago; they gave it four stars and a Recommended Award.

While Boddy called out battery life as one drawback, you must understand that it can still deliver "all-day" life; it just won't keep up with some of the best Windows laptops out there.

The lesser battery life is due to the solid performance from the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, complete with Radeon 860M integrated graphics and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 50 TOPS of AI power. Yes, this is an AI PC and a Copilot+ PC.

The laptop is durable with a "practical 2-in-1 design" that allows you to use it as a tablet or as a notebook, and its 14-inch 1200p touch display supports inking for those who prefer sketching and writing notes.

As Boddy stated in their review, "this laptop feels made to go on sale." At $350 (or 33%) off the regular price, I don't expect the $699.99 sale tag to last long.

Best Buy Plus and Total members can money back

Best Buy is home to a couple of paid membership programs that can get you exclusive rewards and perks as long as you're subscribed.

In this case, My Best Buy Plus and Total members will receive a $25 bonus reward for every $250 spent on a new Windows laptop. For the HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 that I'm highlighting here, the $700 sale price should shuttle $50 over to your membership account after purchase.

You can sign up for My Best Buy Plus for $49.99 per year. This lands you free two-day shipping, exclusive access to some products and deals, and a 60-day return period.

If you'd like to go all out with My Best Buy Plus perks and additional protection plans, 24/7 tech support, VIP member support, and discounted repairs, a My Best Buy Total membership can be purchased for $179.99 per year.

HP has been steadily growing and improving its OMEN line of gaming hardware in the last few years, and the brand has become a consistently good option for consumers.

Now, the OMEN family is quite a bit larger, with HP announcing a handful of hardware refreshes — and an entirely new product to sit at the very top of the lineup.

2025 is giving us a new HP OMEN 35L desktop (including a very interesting new edition), a refreshed HP OMEN 16 laptop, and the absolutely ridiculous HP OMEN MAX 45L desktop.

There's some interesting stuff going on here, so let's dive in.

First, we have the all-new HP OMEN MAX 45L. Similar to the HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) I reviewed, this tower is meant to be the best HP can offer to those who demand the greatest performance.

Equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (16 cores, 32 threads), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (32GB VRAM), 128GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of PCIe Gen5 SSD storage, the OMEN MAX 45L is a monster for gaming, creation, and artificial intelligence workflows.

What makes this desktop "flagship" level, though, is more than just the components inside. Toolless entry into the roomy chassis allows for easy upgrades of the standard parts, you get a high-powered motherboard that enables in-depth CPU, GPU, and RAM overclocking, HP improved its "CRYO CHAMBER" cooling technology (which includes 360mm liquid CPU cooling), and the 1,200W PSU is now fully modular and even includes unique features like automatic fan cleaning.

This tower is massive and it's bound to be expensive, but it should offer some of the best and most consistent performance you can expect out of a modern gaming PC, and compete with PCs like the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 10) I just reviewed. I do wish the OMEN MAX 45L got the same "pair up to three wireless HyperX accessories without a USB dongle" feature as the MAX 16 laptop, though.

Before I jump into the new OMEN 35L desktop, a brief mention of the third OMEN product HP announced today.

The HP OMEN 16 gaming laptop has also been refreshed, but it's a simple spec bump to the latest internals, including up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.

I reviewed the HP OMEN 35L (2024), and I honestly loved that desktop. It wasn't perfect (mostly on the software/firmware front), but its compact chassis was gorgeous. HP hasn't messed with that design for 2025, but the OMEN 35L is getting treated to many of the same on-paper components as the OMEN MAX 45L.

Performance won't be as good thanks to less space for airflow to keep everything running cool, but a lot of people will be more than happy to accept that compromise. The most exciting part about this year's OMEN 35L, though, is the new Stealth Edition.

Designed for esports but aimed at anyone who wants a more understated design, the OMEN 35L Stealth Edition boasts all the same specs as the standard version, but does away with the glass-clad, RGB-lit chassis in favor of a blockier, all matte-black design.

It's a gaming PC that doesn't look like a gaming PC, and I personally think it's awesome. It's an even better version of the reasons I loved the Dell XPS Desktop (8960) we reviewed. I'm willing to be a lot of people will be drawn to the Stealth Edition.

In other news, HP also announced some new HyperX gaming accessories, so be sure to check those out, too. Stay tuned, because as you're reading this I'm in Los Angeles with HP, going hands-on with these new products. My initial impressions will be appearing on Windows Central soon.

In addition to a modest addition to the HP OMEN hardware family, HP and HyperX also announced humble horde of new accessories — and any one may be what you were looking for to complete your setup.

Today's unveiling includes two new HyperX Cloud wireless gaming headsets and two new microphones. For many, the long-awaited follow-up to HyperX's hugely popular Cloud Alpha Wireless headset will be especially interesting, as will the unique FlipCast microphone and its dual USB/XLR inputs.

Those of us with more modest tastes, though, will be drawn to the reasonably equipped Flight 2 gaming headset or the compact, all-in-one SoloCast 2 microphone. There's a little something for everyone here, especially for existing HyperX fans looking for an upgrade.

First, we have two different microphones. There's the HyperX SoloCast 2, the follow-up to the company's compact, cute-and-friendly budget microphone. It's still an all-in-one USB condenser microphone with a standard cardioid polar pattern, but now in a more squared-off design.

This is for the casual consumers who need higher quality and higher resolution recording, but don't want to break the bank or invest in a hardcore recording setup. Depending on the pricing, the SoloCast 2 could be an excellent option.

The more exciting of the two microphones is easily the FlipCast, a more premium microphone with a unique design and a standout feature.

Not only is it significantly higher resolution (the same 32-bit/192KHz sampling rate as the premium HyperX QuadCast 2 S microphone I reviewed, actually), it also supports both USB and XLR output. The FlipCast can be a high-quality USB microphone in any situation, but it's ready to grow into expanded XLR setups with audio mixers and studio decks — and it can even handle dual-PC streaming setups.

I also quite like the design, including the raised LED level indicator and the onboard controls. If the FlipCast delivers on the quality and ease-of-use front, it could be the perfect microphone for those who know they may need more in the future.

Next, we have two new HyperX Cloud wireless gaming headsets, also split between an option for everyone and an option for those who want something more premium and... unique.

The HyperX Cloud Flight 2 Wireless is the latest, more affordable wireless gaming headset from HyperX, and features a refreshed design with removeable magnetic faceplates and RGB lighting. HyperX apparently designed this headset to be more modular, with swappable headbands, ear cushions, and faceplates.

At its core, though, it's still a HyperX gaming headset. You get angled 50mm HyperX drivers, a detachable 10mm boom microphone, 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless modes (with onboard controls), and up to 100 hours of battery life. Interestingly, HyperX also baked in an internal microphone, so you can still take calls even without the main microphone (albeit at a lower quality).

There is an Xbox version for those who need it, too, which I cannot say about the more premium, PC-focused HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless headset.

Right off the bat, HyperX addressed some of the biggest concerns with the original Alpha: the design is sleeker, there's now Bluetooth connectivity (including simultaneous source mixing), and you get even larger and more dynamic audio drivers.

Battery life isn't quite as impressive as the original, but with up to 250 hours of juice, the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is still a technical marvel. All that, and HyperX is also including a new RGB Base Station, which includes a volume dial, audio controls, and programmable macro buttons. It's a cool addition that will appeal to some users more than others, but it does help the Alpha 2 Wireless stand out.

Stay tuned, because as you're reading this I'm in Los Angeles with HP, going hands-on with these new products. My initial impressions will be appearing on Windows Central soon.

HP's massive laptop rebrand of 2024 has delivered us the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 and the OmniBook X Flip 14, two convertible PCs from the new consumer portfolio.

While the laptops share a lot of similar performance hardware specs, the Ultra Flip 14 is definitely positioned as the top-tier OmniBook, with the X Flip 14 arriving as a close second.

That means you can expect improvements to the camera, speakers, and overall design from the Ultra Flip 14. But just because the Ultra Flip 14 has the superior features doesn't mean it's the right choice for you, especially since it costs quite a bit more than the X Flip 14.

I'm here to break down the similarities and differences between the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 and X Flip 14 to help you buy the right PC.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 vs. X Flip 14: Specs and availability

HP's OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, as the more premium offering, is unsurprisingly the more expensive option. Prices normally start at $1,1449.99 if you're shopping at HP, and that's for a model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and 2.8K OLED touch display.

At the time of writing, HP is offering a $450 discount, dropping the price to $999.99. As usual at HP, there are a ton of configuration options available, allowing you to bump up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD.

You can also find OmniBook Ultra Flip models at Best Buy. If HP doesn't have a running discount while you're shopping, chances are high that Best Buy will have a deal for you.

The HP OmniBook X Flip 14, as mentioned, is the more affordable laptop. Prices start as low as $999.99 at HP for a model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and FHD+ IPS touch display.

At the time of writing, this introductory model is marked down by $300, which comes out to $699.99 at HP. As with the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, Best Buy is another great place to shop for the OmniBook X Flip.

Best Buy deal pricing, at the time of writing, starts at $699.99, and that's for an Intel model with a 1TB SSD. The regular price for an AMD model at Best Buy is $849.99, making it the cheapest option out of the bunch when there are no ongoing sales.

It's worth mentioning here that HP also offers a 16-inch version of the OmniBook X Flip. It features AMD Ryzen AI 300 and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPUs and, of course, the option for a larger OLED touch display.

While I'm not comparing the 16-inch model here, you can check out the full lineup of OmniBook X PCs at HP's official site.

The OmniBook Ultra Flip is the Spectre x360's successor

Just because HP rebranded its laptops doesn't mean its new PCs are completely original.

The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a continuation of the premium Spectre x360 laptops, and that's evident as soon as you take a close look at the design.

👉 Related: HP OmniBook X vs. OmniBook Ultra: Snapdragon X or Ryzen AI 300 in your AI PC?

From the angled rear corners that house ports to the sleek edging, I can see the x360's influence. HP refined the new laptop, shaving off a couple of millimeters of thickness and about 0.2 pounds (0.09kg) of weight.

As Windows Central's Zachary Boddy states in their OmniBook Ultra 14 review:

"Overall build quality is still flawless, every bit exuding the premium feeling this laptop's price tag demands. HP still uses a healthy mixture of recycled and reused materials, including aluminum and plastic, and it clearly hasn't impacted the caliber or reliability of this hardware in the slightest. The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 may be a little on the reserved side design-wise, but it survives the gauntlet that is the premium Windows laptop segment."

The OmniBook X Flip 14 arrives with a less intricate design, lacking the cut rear corners and weighing slightly more than the Ultra Flip 14.

Our own Zachary Boddy also reviewed the OmniBook X Flip 14, remarking:

"Most companies use androgenous designs across their entire budget and mid-range lineups, and HP is the same. The OmniBook X Flip 14 is your standard Windows laptop clad in aluminum, with dual 360-degrees hinges to support those 2-in-1 features."

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Not for a lot of users, especially when you consider the price difference. The OmniBook X Flip 14 is a fine laptop; it's simply not as fancy as the Ultra Flip 14.

The OmniBook Ultra Flip costs more, but its features outshine the X Flip

You'll find the biggest differences between these two PCs once you start digging into the features.

The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 makes up some of the price difference by offering a higher-res 9MP camera (compared to 5MP in the X Flip 14), four speakers (compared to two), and a superior keyboard/touchpad setup.

HP decided to keep a similar chiclet-style keyboard from the Spectre x360, as well as a large glass haptic touchpad. I still use the last Spectre x360 generation as a daily driver, and I can attest that the typing and pointing hardware is top-notch. You get the same experience from the Ultra Flip 14.

HP, for some reason, moved to a "lattice-less" keyboard on the X Flip 14, removing the spacing between the keys. Some might like this design, but for many it will cause typing errors as fingers accidentally tap other keys.

The X Flip 14 also lacks a haptic touchpad. The traditional pointer with moving parts works fine, and only those who have worked with a haptic touchpad in the past will notice a difference.

As Zachary Boddy mentions in their X Flip 14 review, the webcam, microphones, and speakers all do a great job when compared to other laptops from the same price range. They're just not as good as the options in the Ultra Flip 14.

The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14's display didn't change compared to its Spectre x360 predecessor, but that's not a bad thing.

All models come with a 14-inch OLED panel at a 2880x1800 (2.8K) resolution, 48-120Hz variable refresh rate, 0.2ms response time, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 support, and about 400 nits maximum brightness with SDR content.

Testing the display, it hit 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color reproduction, falling back to 93% for the AdobeRGB gamut.

The OmniBook X Flip 14 has a similar 14-inch OLED display option available to configure as the Ultra Flip 14; however, it's a $130 upcharge.

Most models fall back to a less impressive IPS panel with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution, touch functionality, and 400 nits brightness. All panels support inking.

As Zachary Boddy points out in their OmniBook X Flip 14 review:

"This laptop shines the most on the lower end of its price range, where it's equipped with a 1200p IPS LCD display. It's not nearly as fancy, but you'll save yourself a decent chunk of change and get better battery life. That's also the display you'll find on all the configurations at Best Buy and the models that most often go on sale."

One last thing: connectivity. The Ultra Flip 14 features two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB-C 3.2 (10Gbps) port. It also boasts Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast and reliable connections.

The OmniBook X Flip 14 has dual USB-A (10Gbps), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C 3.2 (10Gbps), and either a Thunderbolt 4 (Intel) or a USB4 (AMD) connection. You're less likely to have to use a Thunderbolt dock with the X Flip 14, although having two Thunderbolt ports on the Ultra Flip may be preferred depending on your workflow.

How to choose between power and battery life

The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is available with a range of Intel's Core Ultra (Series 2) mobile chips, which include up to Intel's Arc 140V integrated graphics and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) running at 48 TOPS.

That's enough to grant it access to local Copilot+ AI tools in Windows 11, and HP has also piled on several of its own AI enhancements.

Things like gesture controls, smart power modes, upgraded Human Presence Detection (HPD), camera and sound optimizations, and even Wolf Security tools — they're all here.

👉 Related: Best Windows laptops in 2025

The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in our review model impressed, with Zachary Boddy stating:

"That is to say, this laptop runs like a dream. It's not a powerhouse workstation for heavy-duty creative work or hardcore gaming, of course, but it's a stellar performer considering its compact stature and flexible design. Intel Evo certification guarantees short waits when booting up, waking from sleep, or logging in, as well as fantastic standby endurance."

Battery life is also a perk. According to Windows Battery Report, our review unit averaged 9 hours of real-world runtimes. That's more than enough to get you through a workday without plugging in.

The OmniBook X Flip 14 is a similar story. It has access to Copilot+ tools and most of the same HP AI enhancements whether you choose an Intel Core Ultra or an AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPU, but the performance and battery life differ.

If you go with AMD, you'll get a bit more raw power, especially if you're often involved in CPU-intensive tasks. However, battery life isn't as good. You can still expect "all-day" runtimes, but the Intel models will give you more time before needing to be plugged in.

The drawback? Not quite as much raw power in the Intel chips as in the AMD chips. Keep in mind that either CPU choice is going to be more than enough power for your standard productivity tasks, including web browsing, email, and Microsoft Office.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 vs. OmniBook X Flip 14: Which should you buy?

Making the right choice between these two well-rated AI laptops ultimately comes down to how much you're willing to spend.

Considering the X Flip 14 can usually be found for hundreds of dollars less than the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, I assume that many users will easily come to terms with some of its shortcomings.

👉 Related: How to choose the best HP laptop: OmniBook, EliteBook, OMEN, ZBook, and more

I do, however, recommend checking out the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 first. It received a higher review score and a Windows Central Editor's Choice award, and it's an all-around superior PC.

If you can't find it for a reasonable price or simply don't want to pay extra for features that don't really impact performance or battery life, give the OmniBook X Flip 14 a glance.

It's much better suited to casual use, and the fact that you can usually find it for far less than $1,000 only sweetens the deal.

The vast majority of more affordable laptops are dreadfully boring, especially in the design department. It's intentional, of course — premium devices will always be more exciting, but it does make reviewing budget and mid-range laptops a lot less interesting.

The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025) is an important addition to HP's growing OmniBook lineup, but it doesn't escape the mid-range curse.

It's a safe and boring laptop with a sturdy, versatile 2-in-1 design, strong enough performance to handle everything most people do with their laptops, and a range of configuration options to suit your needs or budget. It helps that it's already regularly going on sale, too.

I did find myself enjoying this laptop's design more than I expected (notable due to one feature), but I'm absolutely not a fan of HP's decision to begin moving toward new lattice-less keyboards.

A safe 2-in-1 design with one unique feature

Most companies use androgenous designs across their entire budget and mid-range lineups, and HP is the same. The OmniBook X Flip 14 is your standard Windows laptop clad in aluminum, with dual 360-degrees hinges to support those 2-in-1 features.

At over 3lbs and between 11.4 and 17mm (depending on where you measure), the OmniBook X Flip isn't the thinnest or lightest machine around, but it doesn't feel bloated by any means.

This laptop's one unique feature is how the bottom panel "swoops" toward the front of the laptop, creating a unique side profile and providing space for the dual speaker system to fire forward, rather than downward.

These speakers aren't the best, but this positioning is undeniably better than what a lot of cheaper laptops do, and I honestly dig how it looks. Build quality is also quite good — I've no complaints in that department.

You get a nice number of ports, too, with two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, one USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, one HDMI 2.1, one 3.5mm audio jack, and one USB4 (or Thunderbolt 4) port. If you also get the HP Rechargeable MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen for $82.99 at HP (also sometimes on sale), it conveniently clips to the side of the OmniBook X Flip with some shockingly strong magnets, too.

Up front, you'll find one of three multi-touch displays. My review sample boasts the highest-end panel, and one that we've seen on a lot of premium laptops — a 2.8K, 120Hz OLED display with excellent color accuracy and performance. It's still a beautiful display, but it's honestly not the screen I recommend.

This laptop shines the most on the lower end of its price range, where it's equipped with a 1200p IPS LCD display. It's not nearly as fancy, but you'll save yourself a decent chunk of change and get better battery life. That's also the display you'll find on all the configurations at Best Buy and the models that most often go on sale.

Choosing between power or battery life

Most of HP's highest-end laptops don't provide much in the way of choice, which is always a shame. The OmniBook X Flip falls just under that line, though, and you get a wide range of configuration options.

Sure, that means choosing between the fancy OLED panel and the "basic" IPS LCD alternative, or choosing how much memory and storage you want, but it also means choosing between AMD and Intel chipsets.

My review configuration is equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, but you can also go up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V on the blue side. Speaking of blue, there's also the option for a beautiful, dark blue colorway with Intel models, which I desperately wish I had received for review.

Either way, both Intel and AMD versions are physically the same laptops for the most part, and both offer the same AI PC and Copilot+ PC features, including all of HP's own artificial intelligence additions. So, which should you choose? The answer is surprisingly straightforward.

Both variants of the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025) will boast more than enough power for the more casual users likely to buy this laptop — no amount of web browsing, email, Microsoft Office, or general usage will bring it to its knees.

When it comes to raw computing power, though, there's a clear winner. The AMD-powered OmniBook X Flip 14 is a fair bit more powerful, and anyone who relies on CPU-heavy applications will notice the difference. The side effect is worse battery life, and this laptop isn't all that impressive in that department.

Don't get me wrong — the OmniBook X Flip 14 can be described as an "all-day" laptop in any configuration, but the AMD variants boast noticeably worse endurance (especially standby times). By comparison, the Intel variants will have considerably less power, but in exchange, you get longer battery life (and a lower average price tag).

Which is best for you will depend on what you do with your laptop, but for most I'd suggest the Intel variants of the OmniBook X Flip... and I'm saying that as a big AMD Ryzen AI fan.

A great, affordable AI laptop — especially on sale

Whichever configuration you choose, you'll benefit from the same 2-in-1 design, but the OmniBook X Flip 14 does have one major weakness — the keyboard. HP's laptop keyboards have been incredible for a couple of years now, but the company has decided (for some reason) to move to a new lattice-less design on some of its newer devices. I hate it.

The webcam, microphones, speakers, they're all fine, but this keyboard just isn't it, HP. "Lattice-less" sounds impressive, but Microsoft figured this out years ago with its Surface Pro Type Covers — you need proper spacing between keys. It's all too easy for even an experienced typist to accidentally hit the wrong key simply because everything is so close together.

The keyboard aside, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025) really is a great, affordable AI-powered laptop with some solid overall hardware, but it does feel like it's made to go on sale. I say that because it started seeing some serious discounts before I even finished my review.

In fact, while I'm writing this review, the Intel variant of the OmniBook X Flip 14 is starting from $699.99 at HP — a $300 discount. With those prices, this laptop goes from "great" to "amazing" really fast.

OmniBook X Flip 14 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a high-quality, 2-in-1 AI laptop without breaking the bank.
• You like being able to choose between Intel and AMD hardware.
• You want a solid stylus experience with strong magnets for storage.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're looking for the longest-lasting battery you can get.
• You need the most accurate and responsive keyboard possible.

At retail price, you can get the OmniBook X Flip 14 for less than $1,000 already, but at that point it's worth paying extra for more power and storage. Those configurations? $1,099.99 at Best Buy for the AMD variant and $1,049.99 at Best Buy for the Intel variant.

As I've already said, though, this laptop feels made to go on sale. I really like it even at full price, but I've seen enough discounts this early in the OmniBook X Flip's life span to know HP designed this laptop with deals in mind, rather than the premium choices among the best Windows laptops.

If you want to configure your own HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (2025), those prices start from $1,129.99 at HP for the AMD versions and from $999.99 at HP for the Intel versions. The lowest possible prices, though, will get you the OmniBook X Flip 14 for $899.99 at Best Buy with AMD or $849.99 at Best Buy with Intel (just keep in mind those potential sales, it may be worth waiting).

The heatwave in the UK has melted my brain, but my ice cream analogies are going strong. Right now, you can save $370 on the HP OmniBook X Flip 16, which is a pretty — ahem — sweet deal.

The convertible laptop has some personality, especially if you like HP's elegant hinge design. That being said, I'd say the PC is pretty vanilla.

That's not bad, of course. Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors of ice cream for a reason. It's consistent, easy on the palate, and can be accentuated with toppings.

I suppose there are other items with vanilla in them, but I'm desperate for ice cream and stuck at a desk.

What is an HP OmniBook?

Unless you've purchased a new laptop in the last 15 months or keep up to date on PC branding, there's a good chance you haven't heard of an HP OmniBook. You may have even searched for a device with Spectre, Envy, Pavilion, or Dragonfly in its name.

HP announced a dramatic shift in PC branding in May 2024, getting rid of several well-known brands as part of an effort to simplify its naming scheme. All consumer PCs now have "Omni" in their names.

As a fun fact, Hewlett-Packard (now HP) had a range of OmniBooks over 20 years ago that were designed for business users. That lineup was discontinued in 2002, but the nod is there for old school Hewlett-Packard fans.

While you could read through the OmniBook X Flip 16's spec sheet to see if it fits your workflow, you can learn a lot about the device based on its full name.

Consumer PCs under the Omni brand have different tiers: 3, 5, 7, X, and U(ltra). The part of the name after Omni indicates the form factor.

HP's shift to the Omni branding has gone well. The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 Ultra (2024) earned a 4.5 out of 5 in our review. Our Zachary Boddy has an HP OmniBook X Flip 14 on their desk and has been impressed with the PC so far.

The OmniBook X Flip 16 shares a lot with its smaller sibling that's currently being reviewed by Boddy. Both are premium mid-range Windows laptops designed for productivity and AI.

Like its smaller sibling, the OmniBook X Flip has a zero-lattice keyboard. That's a significant shift from HP's keyboards of the past. The feel of the keyboard is a bit different, but I think keyboards are often a matter of taste, so it's hard to pick one that's perfect for everyone.

The AMD Ryzen AI chip inside the OmniBook X Flip 16 has 50 TOPS, making the laptop a Copilot+ PC.

Since the PC is a 2-in-1, you can flip it into different postures, such as tent mode or presenter mode. You can also flip the screen all the way around to use the device like a tablet.

Considering the 16-inch screen of the device, you may prefer to use it as a tablet while resting it on a table or desk as opposed to holding the PC all day. Stylus support makes the laptop a great choice for note taking as well. Just note that the stylus may be sold separately depending on retailer.

Tldr; the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 is a 2-in-1 laptop from a well-known brand. It is a mid-range Windows laptop that features a 2K touch screen, an AMD Ryzen AI 5 processor, and AMD Radeon 840M graphics.

This particular model has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. A $370 discount cuts the price of the OmniBook X Flip 16 to $529.99, which is an excellent bargain.

Today might be the last day of Amazon Prime Day, but the best deal for my favorite All-in-One (AIO) desktop is actually at Best Buy. The thing is, time is running out since this is actually a deal of the day.

Today only, you can grab the HP OmniStudio X 27" AIO for $1,259.99 at Best Buy. That's $260 off the usual price.

But you'll have to hurry. At the time of writing, this discount only has 11 hours left before it ends.

Everything you need in one purchase, including the keyboard and mouse

At the end of last year, I wrote an HP OmniStudio X AIO review for the 31.5-inch variant. The deal going on today is for the 27-inch option, but it largely features the same specs aside from the smaller screen.

Here's a quick rundown of the AIO specs from the Best Buy deal — It's powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor, with an Intel Arc integrated graphics card, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. The 27-inch display supports 4K resolution (3840 x 2160).

Meanwhile, a health range of ports on the back of the computer makes it easy to attach accessories and other devices.

I absolutely loved using this AIO, because of its fantastic performance, display quality, and built-in features that make it the perfect all-rounder for office, school, or personal usage.

As with most AIOs, this one comes with a keyboard and mouse, along with built-in speakers and a built-in webcam, so you don't need to purchase any additional accessories to use the computer right out of the box.

The webcam 5MP IR camera produces clear imagery and good coloring to help display me well during work conference calls and family video calls. Since the camera pops up out of the top of the monitor, I can push it back in when I'm done to ensure my privacy and make my work area look a little tidier.

I also walked away feeling impressed by the speakers, which delivered a fuller sound quality than many other built-in monitor speakers offer.

Thanks to tool-less assembly, I was able to get it set up within a matter of minutes after opening the box. There's a built-in screw at the bottom of the base to secure it to the stand. Additionally, you just have to press the stand into the back of the monitor to attach the two together. It's really quite easy and convenient.

The base is sturdy without taking up too much space on the desk. Meanwhile, the stand can be adjusted up and down or tilted to help you find the perfect viewing angle.

During my time with the HP OmniStudio X, I was able to do a wide range of activities, from the aforementioned video calls to working on creative projects in Photoshop. It handled all of these tasks with ease.

Out of curiosity, I also attempted to play some graphically straining games on it to see how it would fare. Unsurprisingly, it could play these games, but not nearly as well as a dedicated gaming laptop or gaming desktop.

Still, you could easily enjoy gaming on this AIO if you use a cloud gaming service such as Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) or NVIDIA GeForce NOW.

At the end of the day, the HP OmniStudio X is one of the very best AIOs on the market right now. So, if you're interested in getting a computer that comes with all of the parts you need to use it, I highly recommend you consider this PC.

Plus, with it being discounted to just $1,259.99 at Best Buy for the next few hours, you'll be able to save some money on one of the most reliable computers out there today without needing an Amazon Prime membership.

The focus on Amazon Prime Day is, well, Amazon, since it's their event, but often the best deals come from adjacent retailers. HP has swooped in to steal the crown for the most ludicrous deal of the whole event on its OMEN MAX 16 gaming laptop.

Until the end of today you can save an eye watering $920 and get an OMEN MAX 16 with an RTX 5090 for just $2,679.99 when you use the promo code LEVELUP20. With an MSRP of $3,599.99, you see why I'm so excited about it.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

HP has already knocked the price of this goliath of a gaming laptop down to $2,999.99, but the special sauce is the promo code. Entering LEVELUP20 at checkout takes another huge chunk off the price.

We reviewed a very similar configuration, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, NVIDIA RTX 5090 24GB GPU, and 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory.

Considering that at Best Buy, right now, the OMEN MAX 16 with the same CPU but an RTX 5080 GPU is a whopping $3,159.99, you get the scale of this discount.

It's a true door buster.

So what's the short version on how good it is? Well, enthusiasts will be right at home with built-in overclocking options, it's amazingly sleek given the hardware inside, and it even has a good keyboard.

You don't have to worry about your games, because it will crush them. All of them. It might be a laptop GPU, but the 5090 is the king of the hill right now.

Any downsides? Well, the display on the configuration this deal pertains to isn't the best HP has to offer. It's only 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it does have a 165Hz refresh rate, and anti-glare.

You also only get a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD for storage, which will soon fill up with today's gargantuan game sizes. But when you're saving over $1,200 on the laptop, you've plenty of change left to upgrade the SSD.

This deal is truly unbelievable, but it's only around for the remainder of today, Friday, July 11. When the clock ticks over into Saturday, it will be gone. If you've been holding off for the absolute biggest, baddest gaming laptop deal during Prime Day, you've found it right here.

I almost always have at least two or three new laptops in my office to test and review, so it makes little sense to become overly attached to any one device — but one laptop in particular has stayed on my desk for over six months now.

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is the machine I keep coming back to time and time again, and it's the laptop I'll recommend to anyone looking for a premium 2-in-1, regardless of any discounts it may be enjoying at the time.

For Amazon Prime Day, though, it's all "deals, deals, deals" for us writers. It just so happens that the OmniBook Ultra Flip is enjoying a nice sale right now, letting you pick it up for just $1,199.99 at Best Buy.

Sale or not, this is the laptop that has stayed on my desk the longest

• Shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon

Just in the first 6 months of 2025, I've reviewed 58 tech products and counting, and quite a few of those were laptops. It doesn't seem to matter what comes across my desk, though, because the same laptop has been holding steady through all of it — the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024), an early winner of a Windows Central Editor's Choice award.

The simplified naming scheme at HP may lead to some pretty silly titles, but it doesn't affect the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 being one of the best Windows laptops you can buy right now, running Windows or not.

I've maintained a white-knuckled grip on this laptop because it's just that good, and even my warning of its wildly expensive pricing in my HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) review didn't meaningfully affect my overwhelming recommendation.

A mere 15mm thick, powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chipsets, bolstered by the full range of Copilot+ PC AI features (a list that is finally becoming impactful), and fronted by a wonderful 2.8K/120Hz OLED display with touch and stylus input. Oh, and let's not forget the top-notch keyboard, the phenomenal haptic touchpad, and the shockingly excellent quad speakers.

All of HP's meaningful investments in artificial intelligence and the vision of AI PCs doesn't entirely save the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 from the bevy of bloatware all of HP's consumer laptops are subjected to, but there's no denying that this hardware is among the most refined and advanced on the market right now.

Lenovo, ASUS, Razer, and HP itself have all thrown some mighty impressive laptops at me, but only the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 remains on my desk after all that time. Why? Because this is the one laptop I've reviewed that delivers the full experience of a modern, premium Windows 11 laptop.

The hardware is excellent, but this is also an incredibly sleek 2-in-1 laptop with an active stylus included in the box. Despite that, it performs well enough to handle even casual gaming, and its battery life can truly last all day and then some.

It's the complete package, and it's the definition of "jack of all trades" — it may not be the absolute best in every category, but it's the only laptop that does everything and does it well. That's why it's still the laptop I can rely on every day and why I don't need a sale to recommend it to you.

Of course, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) is on sale for $1,199.99 at Best Buy, a $400 discount that nets you an Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. This laptop may be worth the full price, but a sweet discount never hurts.