ZDNET's key takeaways
- HP OmniBook 5 16-inch with the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is on sale now for $649.
- It's a reliable all-around laptop for students and pros alike, with fantastic battery life and a competitive price point.
- Opt for an OLED display, as the 300-nit IPS display can't compete with more premium displays.
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The OmniBook 5 series occupies the mid-range of HP's consumer laptops for everyday use and the office, punctuated by fantastic battery life. The OmniBook 5 16-inch fits that description perfectly, with a roomy keyboard, a diverse range of configurations, and a very attractive $649 starting price.
I tested the OmniBook 5 16-inch with the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor, and found it to be a reliable, practical laptop with a very efficient battery, particularly for a 16-inch.
Also: HP's EliteBook X G2i could be the ultraportable business laptop I've been waiting for
However, while it succeeds in its mission overall, I have some critiques about its build, both of which seem to shine best when they're not pushed to the limits. Let's take a look.
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Build and hardware
The OmniBook 5 series is notable for its flexible configurations, including all three processor types: a Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 7 200 series, or AMD Ryzen 5 8540U. I tested the Intel variant and found it snappy and reliable for everyday tasks. This isn't a powerhouse configuration, but it's well-suited to students, multitasking, and typical productivity software.
Physically, the 16-inch OmniBook 5 is an HP laptop through and through, with a non-descript silver clamshell with rounded edges and full-sized, spacious keyboard. For anyone who likes a roomy set of keys with a functional number pad, it's a great laptop to work on, with nice key travel and a functional, appropriately-sized trackpad.
Also: Your Windows 11 PC has a free battery health feature that's seriously underutilized – how to find it
I will note that HP tried something different here by putting almost all the ports on the right side, including both 10Gbps USB-C ports, the HDMI port, and one USB-A port. This isn't a dealbreaker, but honestly, I find it more inconvenient, as I'm used to left-aligned connections.
The OmniBook 5 I tested is currently on sale for $649, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This is a competitive price for this laptop, but the cost is only apparent when looking closely at the trade-offs, namely the matte, 2K IPS display, which is serviceable, but caps out at 300 nits of brightness. Opting for OLED will deliver a more premium user experience, but it will raise the price by a few hundred bucks.
Features and daily use
As a business laptop, the OmniBook 5 handles video conferencing surprisingly well with crisp audio and nice video: HP's True Vision 1080p FHD webcam. This is further enhanced by the battery's efficiency, allowing multiple calls in a single workday without worrying about power.
Also: I tried the ‘infinitely modular' keyboard, and it could rewire productivity for good
Battery life is a standout feature. Intel's Core Ultra 7 255H-series processor balances power with performance here, designed for mid- to high-tier machines with a hybrid core design that can scale down to a trickle of power when idle, or up to 5.2 GHz with Intel's Turbo Boost.
HP cites 32 hours of battery life in its video playback test, but in real-world use, you can expect well over a full day on a single charge. After taking this laptop to the office, I was untethered from the charger on most days that consisted of typical workflows. For students with long days on campus, it's a great option for this reason alone.
Even under a heavy load, the OmniBook 5 is overall cool and quiet, though the fans will kick on if you're really pushing it. This isn't a laptop you'd buy for gaming, but you can certainly run casual games just fine, thanks to the processing power of the Arrow Lake CPU on board. I will note, however, that running more demanding graphical applications takes its toll on battery life.
Also: The most ultraportable laptop I tested at CES wasn't made by Dell or Lenovo
Similarly, it's actually quite a good for media playback, as the DTS:X Ultra dual speakers sound better than you'd expect, with HP's Audio Boost providing very clear vocal audio and a commendable amount of bass.
Finally, at 3.92 pounds, it's still quite lightweight for a 16-inch laptop, measuring just 0.73 inches at its thickest point, where the ports are. I commuted with the OmniBook 5 16 for over a week and found it to be just fine to carry around, easily slipping into my backpack.
ZDNET's buying advice
The HP OmniBook 5 16-inch is a solid midrange laptop that punches well above its $649 sale price. It's geared toward everyday users with diverse workflows, and delivers excellent battery life for those use cases, as pushing it outside its comfort zone taxes battery life.
Also: This haptic trackpad is one of the most exciting computing accessories I saw at CES
I'd recommend this laptop to students of all faculties, as well as professionals who need a capable work laptop and value a comfortable, full-sized keyboard. Its display isn't particularly premium, especially compared to all the new OLED laptops that are coming out this year, but that's one of the trade-offs for its price point.
If you like HP laptops and want a more cutting-edge, premium option, I'd suggest the new HP EliteBook X G2i, with Intel's latest Series 3 “Panther Lake” processor.
