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| HP's OmniBook 5 (model 14z-hm000) has a Full HD webcam with IR support |
In a market flooded with premium-priced ultraportables, HP has just thrown down the gauntlet with a jaw-dropping 46% price cut on its OmniBook 5 – bringing OLED technology to the sub-$600 bracket for the first time in recent memory.
The tech world moves fast, but every once in a while, a deal comes along that makes even seasoned reviewers do a double-take. Today, that deal is the HP OmniBook 5, now available for an astonishing $599.99 – a massive reduction from its original list price that effectively reshuffles the value proposition in the budget-to-midrange laptop segment.
A Display That Punches Way Above Its Weight Class
Let's cut straight to the chase: the star of this show is undoubtedly the 14-inch OLED panel. At this price point, you'd typically expect a standard IPS LCD with mediocre color reproduction and disappointing contrast ratios. Instead, HP has equipped the OmniBook 5 with a display that delivers the deep, inky blacks and virtually infinite contrast that OLED technology is famous for.
The 1,920 × 1,200 resolution might not be 4K, but on a 14-inch screen, it hits that sweet spot between sharpness and battery efficiency. With full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, this display is ready for content creation, media consumption, and everything in between. The 300 nits peak brightness may not be class-leading, but it's perfectly serviceable for indoor use and even manages to hold its own in moderately lit environments.
Under the Hood: AMD's New AI Engine
Powering this sleek machine is AMD's Ryzen AI 5 330 processor – a fascinating chip that combines one Zen 5 core with three Zen 5c cores. This hybrid architecture aims to balance performance and efficiency, intelligently allocating workloads to the appropriate cores. The included Radeon 820M integrated graphics won't be winning any gaming championships, but they're more than capable of handling everyday productivity tasks, light photo editing, and even some casual gaming at reduced settings.
The 16 GB of LPDDR5X-7500 memory ensures smooth multitasking, while the 256 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD (occupying an M.2 2280 slot) provides snappy boot times and application loading. Yes, 256 GB might feel restrictive for users with extensive media libraries, but for a secondary device or a student's daily driver, it's a reasonable compromise at this price point.
Ports and Connectivity: A Mixed Bag
HP has been generous in the connectivity department, equipping the OmniBook 5 with dual 10 Gbps USB-C ports that support DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.1. This means you can drive external displays and charge the laptop simultaneously through a single cable – a feature that's still surprisingly rare at this price tier.
The inclusion of two USB-A ports (one 10 Gbps, one 5 Gbps) is a welcome nod to users who haven't fully transitioned to the USB-C ecosystem, and the HDMI 2.1 port adds flexibility for presentations or connecting to larger displays. The 3.5 mm combo jack remains present, which will please the wired audio crowd.
Speaking of upgrades, here's where things get interesting: you can grab this deal through the official HP store at the link below:
Check out the HP OmniBook 5 deal here
But connectivity isn't perfect. The MediaTek MT7920 wireless card offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 support, which is fine by today's standards. However, HP is offering a tantalizing $10 upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 standards – a no-brainer for anyone looking to future-proof their investment.
Design and Portability: Premium Feel Without the Premium Price
The OmniBook 5's aluminum body measures 12.28 × 8.56 × 0.54 inches (312 × 243 × 13.7 mm) and weighs just 2.94 pounds (1.33 kg). This puts it firmly in the ultraportable category, competing directly with offerings from Dell's XPS line and Lenovo's Yoga series – but at a fraction of the cost.
The 59 Wh battery is respectable for a laptop of this size, and the included 65 W USB-C GaN power adapter means you can recharge quickly without lugging around a bulky power brick. In real-world usage, you can expect anywhere from 8 to 10 hours of mixed use, though that will vary depending on screen brightness and workload.
Where It Falls Short
No product is perfect, and the OmniBook 5 does have its compromises. The absence of USB4 support is noticeable – especially when you consider that many competitors at this price point are beginning to include it. USB4 would have provided Thunderbolt-like capabilities, including faster data transfer and support for external graphics enclosures.
Similarly, the lack of an SD card reader will frustrate photographers and content creators who regularly transfer files from cameras. These omissions feel like deliberate cost-cutting measures rather than oversights, but they're worth considering if these features are essential to your workflow.
The Verdict: Should You Buy the HP OmniBook 5?
At $599.99, the HP OmniBook 5 represents exceptional value. The OLED display alone is worth the price of admission, and the inclusion of a modern AMD processor, ample memory, and a premium aluminum chassis make this a compelling package.
The upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 for just $10 is an absolute steal – it's the kind of inexpensive future-proofing that you'll thank yourself for in a couple of years. The 256 GB SSD is the main bottleneck here, but storage can be upgraded later, unlike the display or processor.
For students, professionals on a budget, or anyone who prioritizes display quality over sheer processing power, the HP OmniBook 5 is currently one of the best deals in the laptop market. It won't replace a dedicated workstation, but as a daily driver for productivity, media consumption, and light creative work, it's almost impossible to beat at this price point.
Just remember: deals like this don't last forever. If you've been waiting for the right moment to upgrade, this might just be it.
What do you think about the HP OmniBook 5 at this price? Is the OLED display worth the compromises? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source : HP
