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| RTX Spark laptop hands on review: The OmniBook Ultra that wants to beat the MacBook Pro |
The laptop wars are heating up, and HP is bringing a new weapon to the fight. We’ve just gotten our first close-up look at the HP OmniBook Ultra 16, a powerhouse creator laptop that marks the debut of Nvidia’s highly anticipated RTX Spark platform.
If you’ve been waiting for a Windows machine that can truly go toe-to-toe with Apple’s MacBook Pro in terms of performance and build quality, this might be the one.
A New Era for PC Processors
For years, the PC market has been dominated by Intel and AMD. But that era is ending. Nvidia is entering the ring with its RTX Spark platform, a new line of ARM-based SoCs (System on a Chip). HP is one of the first major manufacturers to jump on board, launching two new devices under the OmniBook brand: the Ultra 14 and the Ultra 16.
We had the chance to go hands-on with the larger OmniBook Ultra 16, and while Nvidia is keeping benchmarks under lock and key until the official launch, the physical design tells us a lot about what to expect.
Design: A ZBook in Disguise?
The first thing you notice about the OmniBook Ultra 16 is that it looks serious. This isn't a flashy, colorful consumer laptop. It features a sleek, all-black aluminum chassis with a CNC unibody construction that feels incredibly premium.
In fact, the build quality is so high that it could easily pass for an HP ZBook workstation. The hinges are designed to allow for massive fan exhausts on the back, ensuring better airflow for the powerful components inside. However, this design choice limits the screen opening angle to about 135 degrees.
At 2.2 kg, this is a substantial machine. It’s not an ultraportable you’ll toss in a bag without noticing, but the weight comes with a promise of serious power. Under the hood, HP claims the cooling system—featuring two fans and three heatpipes—can handle up to 70W of power from the 20-core Nvidia RTX Spark chip.
Keyboard, Ports, and Features
HP has refined the typing experience on the OmniBook Ultra 16. The keyboard features a slightly concave key-dish design for better comfort, and the touchpad is a massive haptic unit (though we couldn't test it on the powered-off unit).
For connectivity, HP isn't forcing you into the dongle life. You get:
- Thunderbolt support
- USB-A
- HDMI
- A microSD slot
While photographers might lament the lack of a full-size SD card reader, the inclusion of four speakers and a physical webcam shutter (a staple of HP’s business line) makes this a very practical machine for professionals.
The Competition: A Tale of Two Laptops
While the OmniBook Ultra 16 is a beast designed for heavy creative workloads, HP also offers excellent options for those who prioritize portability. For business users who need something lighter, the HP EliteBook X G2i is a compelling alternative.
Unlike the 16-inch creator-focused OmniBook, the EliteBook X G2i is a 14-inch ultraportable weighing just 1.2 kg. It swaps the raw power of the RTX Spark for an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and 32GB of RAM, focusing on all-day battery life and enterprise security. If the OmniBook Ultra 16 is a mobile workstation, the EliteBook X G2i is the ultimate road warrior for executives.
The Verdict So Far
We are incredibly excited to see how the Nvidia RTX Spark platform performs in the real world. The HP OmniBook Ultra 16 looks like a formidable competitor to the MacBook Pro, offering a premium build and a focus on sustained performance.
A full review from Notebookcheck is already in the pipeline, so stay tuned for benchmarks and battery life tests. For now, it’s clear that the PC market is about to get a lot more interesting.
Source: Notebookcheck
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