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Arm-based Windows laptops running Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are all the rage, at least if you hear it from Microsoft or its manufacturing partners. But they aren’t exactly affordable, or even a good value compared to Intel or AMD. But the newest mid-range offerings from HP will start at $800, paired with 16GB of RAM. That’s a number that makes my eyebrows pop up.
The OmniBook 5 14 (ugh, not great names, folks) is getting that impressive base price, offering an 8-core Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and a rather paltry 256GB of storage in that introductory $799 price. Upgrade options include a faster Snapdragon X (sans Plus) processor, 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, though we don’t yet know how much those will run you. You get a 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED panel standard, nice, but you’ll have to shell out for a touchscreen upgrade. Frankly I like that setup — there are a lot of people who want OLED, and a lot who don’t necessarily need to get fingerprints on a screen, especially in a conventional clamshell form factor.
HP
An IR camera for Windows Hello is also standard, as is a 59-watt-hour battery with 65-watt charging via USB-C. Speaking of which, you get two of those, supporting a maximum external resolution of 5K. There’s also one USB-A port and a headphone jack, but no mention of a full-sized HDMI port or any card reader. With rather low-key white-and-grey looks, an aluminum and plastic chassis, and a weight of just under three pounds, the Omnibook 5 14 isn’t going to turn heads. But if it’s offering a good value, especially if some of those upgrades aren’t too steep, it doesn’t need to.
Looking for a little more screen real estate? Then the Omnibook 5 16, oh my god these names, offers a lot of the same capability with a 16-inch screen upgrade. It has almost identical specs, including the same screen resolution, battery, ports, and keyboard. But the good news is that it starts at just $849 — fifty bucks for that bigger screen isn’t bad at all, even if the other extras are a little lacking.
According to HP’s announcement materials, both of these laptops will hit US shelves in July. Expect to see the 14-inch laptop on shelves at all the big stores, including Amazon, Best Buy, MicroCenter, and Costco. They look like a good value picks to me, especially if you can wait a bit for a sale. Those Snapdragon processors should offer great battery life.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
