HP OmniBook 5 16-inch reviewed as a midrange laptop with strong battery at $649

ZDNET reviewed the HP OmniBook 5 16-inch with the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H and found it to be a reliable all-around laptop with “fantastic” battery life; the configuration ZDNET tested is on sale for $649. The OmniBook 5 series occupies HP’s midrange consumer lineup and offers flexible configurations, including Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 7 200-series, or AMD Ryzen 5 8540U processors.

ZDNET said the Intel variant is snappy and well-suited to students, multitasking and typical productivity software, though it is not a powerhouse. Physically the laptop is a silver clamshell with rounded edges, a roomy full-sized keyboard with number pad, good key travel and a functional trackpad, and most ports placed on the right side, including both 10Gbps USB-C ports, HDMI and a USB-A port.

ZDNET noted the default matte 2K IPS display tops out at 300 nits and recommended opting for an OLED upgrade for a more premium experience, at an extra cost. Battery life was a standout: HP cites 32 hours in its video playback test, and ZDNET reported real-world use delivering well over a full day on a single charge.

The review also highlighted a 1080p FHD True Vision webcam, DTS:X Ultra dual speakers with Audio Boost, generally cool and quiet operation except under heavy load, a weight of 3.92 pounds and a thickness of 0.73 inches.

Key Topics

Tech, Oled Display, Battery Life, True Vision Webcam, Intel Core Ultra, Ips Display