Laptops keep getting more expensive. Many of my favorite laptops to recommend for budget-conscious shoppers are hundreds more today than they were six months ago.
Then there’s the HP OmniBook 5 to save the day. Don’t let the retail price of $1,300 throw you off, either. This configuration has a 14-inch OLED screen, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage, but it’s frequently discounted. And right now, it’s 42 percent off, bringing the price down to just $750, $550 off its retail price.
Importantly, this is also the model that comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip inside. While HP also has Intel and AMD versions of this same laptop on offer, the Qualcomm model gets you long-lasting battery life, akin to what you get on a MacBook.
I already mentioned the OLED display this comes with, which is beautiful. The range of color blows a typical IPS display out of the water, especially the ones that typically come at this price. It is a bit reflective, though, as it’s a glossy display. And while the standard resolution of 1920 x 1200 isn’t quite as sharp as a MacBook Neo, the extreme contrast ratio of OLED is undefeatable. There’s also a discount on the 16-inch model, which is even cheaper at $650 but doesn’t come with a touchscreen. It also appears bit less sharp since it’s the same resolution stretched across a larger screen.
Another strong suit for this device is its portability. The 14-inch model is only half an inch thick (and the 16-inch is only a hair thicker), right in line with the MacBook Neo. Combined with the thin bezels around the screen, the design has a modern, svelte look. HP even throws in a USB-A port for good measure, without adding extra thickness to the chassis.
Photograph: Luke Larsen