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HP's OmniBook 3 16" beats everything else on the budget laptop market right now β if only the pricing were easier to predict
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.
HP OmniBook 3 16" (As reviewed) | |
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X (X1-26) |
GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
RAM | 32GB LPDDR5x (integrated) |
Storage | 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (upgradeable) |
Display | 16 inches, 1920x1200 (FHD+), OLED, 60Hz, 0.2m response time, 300 nits, 100% DCI-P3, HP Eye Ease |
Ports | 2x USB-C (10Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio |
Camera | 1080p + IR, physical privacy shutter |
Speakers | Dual stereo |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery | 68Wh |
Dimensions | 14.12 x 9.91 x 0.58 inches (35.8cm x 25.1cm x 1.47cm) |
Weight | 3.65 pounds (1.65kg) |
The best deal I could find at the time of writing this review comes from Walmart, where you can pick up an OmniBook 3 16" with 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and an IPS display for just $399.View Deal
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 β Thunderbolt 4 is generally reserved for Intel systems β 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 β and I mean full β days of mixed use without needing a charge.
I was seeing full β and I mean full β 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 ...
β You can find a great deal for somewhere around $500-$700 (or less).
β You need a 16-inch screen and a number pad to better handle multitasking and productivity.
β You want a laptop with outstanding battery life.
You should not buy this if ...
β You're looking for a PC with a discrete graphics card.
β 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.
Anywhere around $500 to $700 (or less), and I'd say you have yourself a new PC.
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 β I really hope OLED returns as a common option when configuring β doesn't help.
HP's OmniBook 3 16" is an above-average laptop in the $500 to $700 range, and you can often find it for even less with the right discount. A strong Snapdragon X CPU, exceptional battery life, and a number pad are all perks. If it's not on sale, make sure you're not overspending when there are so many other great laptops available for $1,000 to $1,500.
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