The HP OmniBook 5 16 is a peculiar device. It doesn’t feel at all competitive at the $1,199.99 price posted on HP’s website. However, big retailers also offer this laptop at far reduced prices, so when that’s considered, it seems like a good purchase. Nevertheless, I feel that this specific combination is being hindered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, a CPU with only two performance cores and no Intel Arc graphics.

Specs and features

The fundamental specs of the HP OmniBook 5 16 are quite standard for a mid-range Windows laptop. It comes with a 512GB solid-state drive, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i7 255U processor. However, it’s crucial to remember that the Core Ultra 7 255U uses entry-level “Intel Graphics” instead of Intel’s Arc graphics, so poor graphics performance is to be expected.

Model number: af1037nr
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255U
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x-7467 Graphics/GPU: Intel Graphics
NPU: Intel AI Boost (12 TOPS)
16-inch 1920 x 1200 display
512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 solid state drive for storage
1080p FHD IR webcam with microphone
One USB-A 3 (10Gbps), one USB-A 3 (5Gbps), two USB-C 3 (10Gbps) with DisplayPort 1.4a, and one HDMI 2.1 are the connectivity options.
Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E for networking
Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
59 watt-hours of battery capacity
Measurements: 14.08 x 10.03 x 0.73 inches
3.92 pounds in weight
System software: Windows 11 Home
Cost: $500 to $800 at retail, $1,199.99 MSRP

This model’s MSRP of $1,199.99 is listed on the HP website, which is extremely costly given the laptop’s specifications. The lowest price I could locate was $479 from Walmart over the Black Friday weekend, but it has since increased to $599 (and that variation had an upgrade to a 1TB solid-state drive). Most merchants, however, are selling the OmniBook 5 16 for between $500 and $800.

The HP OmniBook 5 16 with Intel hardware is the subject of this review. It’s crucial to remember that HP offers a number of OmniBook 5 models with AMD or Qualcomm processors. Some of these are very different, such as the OLED displays on the Qualcomm-powered versions.

Design and build quality

Like most low-cost Windows laptops, the HP OmniBook 5 16 has a rather simple design. The majority of the exterior appears to be made of plastic, and the standard color is a recognizable pale silver. Additionally, there is very little branding—just a little OmniBook 5 badge beneath the keyboard and a chrome HP logo on the top.

However, the OmniBook 5 16’s solid foundations make up for its lack of style. There isn’t much flex in the display lid or interior, and the chassis materials feel decent (for the price, at least). I did observe that the general feel is not as sturdy as the more stiff, smaller HP OmniBook 5 14.

This pricing range is highly competitive, and the quality of substitutes varies greatly. One may argue that Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 5i has a more opulent appearance. However, I think the OmniBook 5 feels a little better than the Asus VivoBook 16 Flip (and most VivoBook computers).

Connectivity

A good variety of physical connectors is available with the HP OmniBook 5 16. It has a 3.5mm combo audio jack, HDMI 2.1, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. The USB-C ports provide DisplayPort, Power Delivery (for laptop charging), and data speeds of up to 10Gbps.

This is the standard range of connectivity for a low-cost laptop. Higher data rate USB-C 4 connections are available on certain laptops in the same price range, like the Acer Aspire 16 AI. However, some feature less capable connectivity, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.

Due to HP’s adherence to the outdated Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 standards, wireless connectivity is likewise subpar. Since each person’s performance is more than sufficient, this isn’t a significant problem. However, Wi-Fi 7, which will be more future-proof, is offered by some rivals.

Performance

The Intel Core Ultra 7 255U is found in the HP OmniBook 5 16. You might assume from its name that it’s a rather powerful processor, but it’s not. Only two of the twelve CPU cores on the Core Ultra 7 255U are performance cores. Additionally, it only offers the more basic Intel Graphics rather than Intel Arc-branded graphics.

The specifications of the device I tested include 16GB of RAM and 512GB of solid-state storage; however, the Intel model of the HP OmniBook 5 16 that is sold at stores comes with a 1TB solid-state drive.

We begin with PCMark 10, a comprehensive system benchmark that gives the HP OmniBook 5 16 a respectable score of 6,214. This outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and approaches the Acer Swift 16 AI. The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 are two CPUs with better performance and pricing range that the Core Ultra 7 255U finds difficult to match.

The HP OmniBook 5 16 appears to struggle to maintain a high level of performance over time, according to the Cinebench 2024 multi-threaded test. The Core Ultra 7 255U is just unable to meet this benchmark. That might not come as a huge surprise. Compared to the Core Ultra 7 255U, which has two performance cores, the Intel Core 5 210H has four.

Battery life and portability

The HP OmniBook 5 16 is packed with a tiny 59-watt-hour battery. In contrast, the Acer Swift 16 AI has a 70-watt-hour battery while the Asus VivoBook 16 Flip has a 75-watt-hour battery. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, which has a 60-watt-hour battery, is comparable. What does this imply for battery life, then?

In the typical PC World battery test, which loops a 4K clip of the short film Tears of Steel at a display brightness of about 200 nits, I observed about 12 hours and 30 minutes of battery life.

HP OmniBook 5 16

HP OmniBook 5 16-inch Next Gen AI PC, 2K Touchscreen, Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, Windows 11 Home, Copilot+

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That is a below-average outcome, as the graph illustrates. Some 16-inch laptops have batteries that last at least 15 hours. That being said, the specifics of cost are important. Although their MSRP is comparable to that of the OmniBook 5 16, laptops such as the Acer Swift 16 AI and Asus VivoBook 16 Flip are frequently more costly at retail.

Aside from battery life, the OmniBook 5 16’s portability is adequate for a 16-inch device. It comes with a mid-sized USB-C power brick that can supply up to 65 watts, weighs a little under four pounds, and has a thickness of up to 0.73 inches. Like most 16-inch devices, the OmniBook 5 16 is not comfortable in a typical tote or messenger bag, but it is quite portable if you have a backpack with a laptop compartment.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced, well-rounded 16-inch laptop, the HP OmniBook 5 16 with Intel Core Ultra 7 255U is a good option. It typically retails for about $600, which is rather reasonable for a laptop of this size, even if its MSRP is far over $1,000. While it doesn’t stand out in any one category, the OmniBook 5 16 also doesn’t lag far behind.

When making a purchase, consumers should be mindful of the particular OmniBook 5 16 model they are thinking about. Models using AMD or Qualcomm processors are sold by HP, although their features can differ significantly. For instance, the OLED display on the Qualcomm devices is better.