HP’s first laptop featuring Windows AI functions, Copilot Plus, is called the Omnibook. This is a revival of an old brand, which was used for business laptops around the turn of the millennium. After a 22-year hiatus, HP is reintroducing Omnibook as a name for consumer computers, both laptops and desktops. It is largely replacing the previous Pavilion series, and perhaps also the Spectre and Envy models.
The first model to be released is the 14-inch Omnibook X. It is a great computer for a fresh start, as it brings many new features, including Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon X processor and the AI platform, Copilot Plus in Windows. This model comes with Qualcomm’s better new chip, the 12-core Snapdragon X Elite. There are versions with slightly higher boost clock frequencies, but this processor should perform excellently regardless.
And it does perform well, both in single-core operations and many types of mixed multi-core usage. Even though the laptop has “only” 16 GB of RAM, it handles most multitasking situations with ease. However, it has one Achilles’ heel. Extended, continuous load on the cores, including graphics, leads to overheating and a reduction in performance.
The laptop also becomes uncomfortably hot on the underside, making it difficult to use on your lap. It seems that the cooling system isn’t quite able to dissipate excess heat, despite kicking in fairly early and producing some noise. It is not louder than comparable laptops, but still noticeable.
Fast Enough, Despite Everything
Despite these issues, the laptop still performs well. These new Snapdragon-based laptops match or surpass Intel Core Ultra, AMD’s latest energy-efficient Ryzen laptop processors, or Apple’s M3 in a MacBook Air. While the graphics chip isn’t as strong as the ones in those three competitors, this isn’t a gaming PC, so it handles what is expected of it without any problems.
Above all, it’s the powerful NPU (Neural Processing Unit) that is of interest, with 45 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of neural performance for AI tasks. This provides faster handling in many creative programs and enables new features, such as local AI for both language models and image generation, significantly more energy-efficient than previous generations.
The only thing missing is more programs that can fully utilize this capability. But that will likely come in time. Right now, Copilot Plus itself isn’t that revolutionary, but with features like image generation, real-time captioning of both streamed movies and video meetings, webcam effects, and the upcoming Recall function, it’s well on its way.
Personal AI Assistant
HP has also pre-installed its own AI Companion. This digital assistant can summarize texts, search for information, and create text-based content. It can also catalog documents and make them smartly indexed for searches. It works well and is useful, but I’m not sure if the chat function does much more than what I can already do with Copilot.
Windows 11 for ARM works excellently, except for a few USB accessories whose drivers and support programs are not compatible. Be prepared for this if you plan to buy a separate webcam or USB microphone, for example. However, the built-in 1440p webcam looks good enough that you probably won’t need an additional one, and the microphone’s voice capture is also satisfactory.
Of HP’s previous laptops, the Omnibook X most closely resembles a Pavilion, with good build quality but not many luxury details. Its dark gray aluminum surfaces give it a sober appearance, and with its tapered design toward the sides and rounded edges, it’s comfortable to hold. The narrow edges mean that the laptop’s only USB-A port has a flap that must be opened, which seems a bit unnecessary just for aesthetic purposes.
More Ports Would Be Nice
More ports, in general, would have been appreciated. Currently, you get two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, as well as a headphone jack. The USB-C ports are fast, supporting USB 4 speeds, and both support display output. Wireless connectivity is as good as it gets with Wi-Fi 6e. It’s good, but Wi-Fi 7 would have been preferred.
Colorful but Dim
The screen, a glossy IPS panel with 1400p resolution, supports touch functionality, and you can use an active stylus pen on it. However, no stylus is included. The screen offers vibrant colors, well above the sRGB color gamut with high accuracy. Unfortunately, the brightness is lower than other laptops in this class, which can be an issue in bright sunlight for outdoor use. This also means that HDR mode isn’t feasible, and there’s no support for it. However, for indoor office work, it’s very comfortable to look at.
The built-in speakers are acceptable, but they lack warmth in the tone, so music doesn’t sound fully enjoyable. But I might be too picky in this regard.
Like all Snapdragon X laptops, the battery life is impressive. However, with a 59 Wh battery, the Omnibook lags behind the best models I’ve tested. Moderate mixed usage during a workday can still be managed without a battery crisis. So, while not the best, it’s certainly not bad.
The new Snapdragon laptops are impressive in many ways, and Windows is finally mature enough to run on ARM for most users. The question is whether the HP Omnibook X is a good choice in a crowded market of excellent competitors. It’s hard to say definitively, even though the overall quality is high. With a price a few hundred dollars higher than several comparable models, it’s difficult to award it top marks.
Specifications:
- Product Name: HP Omnibook X 14-fe0845no
- Tested: September 2024
- Manufacturer: HP
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100, 12 Oryon cores, 3.42 GHz
- Graphics: Adreno X1-85, 1250 MHz
- NPU: Hexagon, 45 TOPS
- Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5x
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Display: 14-inch glossy IPS, 2240×1400 pixels, 60 Hz, multi-touch
- Webcam: 1440p with IR
- Ports: USB-C 4, USB-C 3 Gen 2 with DisplayPort, USB-A 3 Gen 1, headset
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3
- OS: Windows 11 Home
- Other: Backlit keyboard, face recognition
- Noise Levels: 0–36 dBa
- Battery: 59 Wh, 3h 20min (high load, max brightness) to approx. 21 hours (low load, low brightness)
- Size: 31.3 x 22.4 x 1.44 cm
- Weight: 1.34 kg
- Price of Tested Model: $1,584.74 at HP
