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| The new OmniBook 5 16-inch benefits from up to a 16-core Intel Panther Lake processor. |
If you've been keeping an eye on HP's laptop lineup this year, you already know the company has been busy refreshing its OmniBook 5 series. We've covered their smaller 14-inch models extensively, including the AMD-powered versions and the Intel-based alternatives. But now, HP is making a bigger statement—literally—with a brand new 16-inch OmniBook 5 that's turning heads for all the right reasons.
Two Processors, One Big Decision
Here's the deal: HP is offering this 16-inch powerhouse with a choice between the Core Ultra 7 355 and the Core Ultra 9 386H. Now, you might think these are close cousins—and they are—but our benchmarking reveals a surprising 25% CPU performance gap between them, with the Core Ultra 9 386H taking the crown.
What gives the 386H that extra kick? It packs an additional 8 Darkmont E-Cores under the hood, making multitasking feel effortless. That said, both chips share the same integrated GPU with 4 Xe3 cores, so graphics performance remains consistent across the board.
Wondering about real-world usage? If you're a content creator or heavy multitasker, the Core Ultra 9 is worth the upgrade. For everyday productivity and light gaming, the Core Ultra 7 will serve you just fine without breaking the bank.
Memory, Storage, and Battery Life
HP is making some interesting choices with memory configurations. The Core Ultra 9 386H comes standard with 32 GB of RAM, while the Core Ultra 7 355 SKUs are capped at 16 GB. That's a pretty significant difference, especially if you're planning to run demanding applications or keep dozens of browser tabs open.
On the storage front, both processors support 512 GB or 1 TB of PCIe Gen 5 storage—so you're getting top-tier speed regardless of which chip you choose. And battery? Both versions come with a 68 Wh battery, which should give you solid all-day performance.
The new OmniBook 5 16 comes with Glacier Silver, Meteor Silver, Sahara Silver or Starlit Blue finishes.
Connectivity and Display Options
HP gives you two connectivity choices here: a Realtek modem with Bluetooth 5.4/Wi-Fi 6, or a more advanced option with Bluetooth 6.0/Wi-Fi 7. If you're future-proofing your setup, the Wi-Fi 7 option is the way to go—but both will handle your daily connectivity needs just fine.
Now, let's talk displays, because this is where things get interesting. Every unit ships with an OLED panel by default. The baseline option is a 1,920 x 1,200-pixel display with 300 nits peak brightness and a 60 Hz refresh rate. Not a touchscreen, but perfectly serviceable for most users.
Want to upgrade? Here are your options:
- Touchscreen upgrade: $70 more for the same resolution with touch input
- Premium panel: $60 extra gets you a stunning 2,880 x 1,880-pixel display with a 120 Hz variable refresh rate, 500 nits SDR brightness, and an impressive 1,100 nits peak HDR brightness
That premium display is a genuine upgrade—especially if you're watching HDR content or doing photo/video work where color accuracy matters.
Pricing and Configurations
Let's break down the costs, because HP is offering some flexibility here:
- Customizable model (Core Ultra 7 355, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD): $1,599
- Pre-configured unit (same specs): $1,399—that's a $200 saving just by going with a ready-made option
- Fully loaded model: $2,489 when configured directly through HP
Here's the full breakdown of available configurations on HP's official store page:
And if you're looking to compare different builds, HP also offers this alternative 16t model with the same core specifications:
Explore the HP OmniBook 5 16t variant for additional configuration choices.
Is the 16-Inch Worth It?
The new OmniBook 5 16-inch is a significant upgrade from last year's model. Remember the Core Ultra 7 255U we reviewed in the previous OmniBook 5 16-inch? These new processors leave it in the dust—they're seriously more powerful across the board.
But here's my honest take: if you don't need the larger screen real estate, the 14-inch versions might still be the sweet spot. They're more portable, and you can get similarly impressive specs for less money. However, if you're a power user who wants that extra screen space for spreadsheets, video editing timelines, or multitasking in general, this 16-inch beast is a compelling option.
Want to see our coverage of the smaller models? Check out our detailed reviews of the 14-inch OmniBook 5 with AMD processors:
Read our full analysis of the HP OmniBook 5 14-inch AMD variant.
And for the Intel-powered 14-inch version:
Here's our complete breakdown of the HP OmniBook 5 14-inch Intel model.
Final Verdict
The HP OmniBook 5 16-inch represents a solid step forward for the lineup. The processor choices give you genuine performance tiers to choose from, the display options are genuinely impressive (especially that 120 Hz OLED), and the pricing, while premium, isn't outrageous for what you're getting.
Just remember: if you're going for the Core Ultra 9 model, you're not just paying for the processor—you're also locked into 32 GB of RAM, which might be overkill if you're not pushing the system to its limits. And if you're on a budget, that $1,399 pre-configured unit is actually a pretty sweet deal for what you get.
Bottom line: HP is delivering a genuinely competitive 16-inch laptop that should appeal to power users, content creators, and anyone who values screen real estate. The performance is there, the display options are solid, and the customization options give you real flexibility—as long as you're willing to pay for it.
Need to compare prices? You can also find the HP OmniBook 5 16-inch on Amazon for potentially different pricing and availability.
Shop the HP OmniBook 5 16-inch on Amazon here.
Prices and configurations accurate as of publication. Always check the manufacturer's website for the most up-to-date information and any current deals.
