By This HP Omen Transcend 14 is a powerful tool. As soon as you switch it on, the stunning OLED display and translucent key caps dazzle you with brilliant color. You’re surprised at how small and light it is for the specifications and all-metal chassis it has when you pick it up. You’re amazed at how smoothly contemporary games run on a laptop this thin, small, and reasonably priced when you fire up a game. It’s a terrific laptop, but there are a few catches and it’s not the appropriate computer for everyone because nothing is perfect.
HP Omen Transcend 14: Specs
Similar to other gaming laptops, the HP Omen Transcend 14 comes in a range of customizable options. The system we evaluated, which retails for $1,699, had a 1TB SSD, 16GB of RAM, an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics.
With the same CPU, the laptop’s cheapest model retails for $1,499; however, it only has a 512 GB SSD and GeForce RTX 4050 graphics. In addition to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage, you can configure the laptop. Even though many models only have Wi-Fi 6E, our evaluation device has both Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7.
The laptop’s standard price was $1,199, however, HP was providing a promotional discount of $300 off when we were reviewing it on their website. When there is a promotion like that, the value is much better.
- CPU: 155H Intel Core Ultra 7
- 16 GB of memory LPDDR5-7467
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics/processor
- 14-inch 2.8k 2880×1800 120Hz HDR OLED display
- 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD for storage
- Camera: 1080p camera
- Connectivity: 2x USB Type-A 10Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combination headphone jack, 1x Thunderbolt 4 / USB Type-C 40Gbps with USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB Type-C 10Gbps with USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7.
- Biometrics: Windows Hello’s infrared camera
- Capacity of battery: 71 Watt-hours
- Dimensions: 12.32 inches x 9.19 inches x 0.71 inches
- Weight: 3.6 lbs
HP Omen Transcend 14: Quality of design and construction
In-person, the HP Omen Transcend 14 appears even more vivid and bright than it does in pictures. It is sturdy, little, and elegant. The word “OMEN” is all that is visible on the laptop’s back instead of a luminous logo. To someone who doesn’t know that this is the name of a gaming brand, the laptop could not even appear to be intended for gaming. The laptop also doesn’t have an overtly gaming laptop appearance inside.
That is until the lights on the LED keyboard turn on! Then, it appears to be a laptop designed for gaming. The keyboard on our evaluation model included four different lighting zones. (HP says certain next models will have per-key lighting.) Since the keys are based on the “Pudding” key caps seen on HyperX keyboards, LED illumination can be seen oozing out of them. It sticks out because it is vivid and colorful. When you desire that kind of thing, the keyboard LEDs offer a vivid and appealing gaming appearance despite the general minimalist design. However, you can disable those LEDs with a single keystroke, so the laptop won’t look out of place in a conference room or classroom.
In my opinion, the design is fantastic because it’s vibrant and different from the majority of other gaming laptops I’ve seen. It is distinctive. I’ll get to the OLED screen in a moment, but the LED lighting on the keyboard also makes a lovely combination.
Hp Omen Transcend 14: Trackpad and keyboard
The trackpad and keyboard on the laptop are both sturdy and excellently functional. I’ve already said how much I adore the way the transparent sides of the keyboard allow the LED lighting to shine through.
Not that this keyboard is horrible, in my opinion. To be honest, I’ve used it better. The keys are a little bit soft. When you press each key down to the bottom, they don’t feel quite as sharp as they do when you’re typing on them. This isn’t a major surprise because the laptop is so tiny; there’s not always as much room for those keys to travel as there is on thicker, heavier gaming laptops.
There are no issues because the trackpad is roomy! It’s not quite as satisfying to slide your finger over the trackpad on a high-end business laptop like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, in my opinion, nor is it a glass trackpad. When compared to a glass trackpad, the surface is a tad rough. However, it functions adequately. These days, a Windows laptop in this price range comes with a rather typical trackpad. That is not inherently flawed.
HP Omen Transcend 14: Conclusion
What an amazing device the HP Omen Transcend 14 is. It seems like it was designed for more than just gamers; even if all you do is use it as a desk monitor for games all day, the stunning OLED screen can make for an amazing experience. The true value proposition, however, is when you pick it up and carry it around, utilizing it as a somewhat heavier ultraportable computer that can give excellent gaming performance when needed.
In light of this, the ideal clientele for this product would be those looking for a fantastic gaming system that is lightweight and portable, together with an attractive display. Everything requires trade-offs: a heavier, more robust laptop can offer more performance. Additionally, a laptop without a gaming GPU can be lighter. However, this device is a significant compromise: At an incredible price, you can get a lot of performance and portability, plus the OLED display is very unique to look at. (I really adore the LEDs on the keyboard; they add so much personality to the device.)
