HP's $700 OmniBook 5 Takes Aim at MacBook Neo

Michael Bennett · 2026-10-02

HP just dropped a new laptop that's making budget shoppers do a double-take. The OmniBook 5 14 AI PC starts at $700 and goes head-to-head with Apple's MacBook Neo. And on paper, it's bringing some serious firepower. Let's break down what you're actually getting for your money. ### The Screen Steals the Show The OmniBook 5 packs a 14-inch 2K OLED display with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. That's bigger than the Neo's 13-inch panel and even the 13.6-inch screen on the MacBook Air. OLED means deep blacks and vibrant colors, which is great for streaming or photo editing. One thing to note: brightness tops out at 300 nits. That's fine indoors, but on a sunny patio, you might find yourself squinting. If you want more, HP offers a 2.5K OLED touchscreen upgrade. ### Battery Life That Keeps Going HP claims the OmniBook 5 can last up to 42 hours on its local video playback test. Now, that's HP's own testing, so take it with a grain of salt. But compared to the MacBook Neo's 13 hours in similar tests, it's a massive difference. If you're someone who hates hunting for outlets, this could be a game-changer. ### Performance: Know What You're Paying For The $700 base model comes with an Intel Core 5 315 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. That's enough for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, and light document work. But if you're a heavy multitasker, you might want to upgrade. HP offers configurations up to an Intel Core 7 350, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Just be aware that the price climbs quickly, and the budget appeal starts to fade. ### Design and Connectivity: The Trade-offs The OmniBook 5 has an aluminum chassis and comes in muted silver, blue, pink, and green finishes. It's clearly taking a page from Apple's pastel playbook. Connectivity is where HP cut some corners. You get two USB-C ports, but neither supports Thunderbolt 4 speeds. And there's no USB-A port at all, so you'll need an adapter for older peripherals. That's a bit of a hassle if you have a trusty old mouse or flash drive. > "The OmniBook 5 makes a compelling case for budget buyers who prioritize screen and battery life over raw power." ### The Bottom Line HP is clearly gunning for budget-conscious buyers who want a big, beautiful screen and all-day battery life. The OmniBook 5 delivers on those fronts, but the entry-level specs might give power users pause. If you mostly stream, write, and browse, it's worth a look. If you need serious processing power, you might want to save up for something beefier. The OmniBook 5 will be available to order from HP and Best Buy in October. Also announced: the ProBook 4 G2iS 14 AI PC, with a 3K OLED display and up to 32GB RAM, though pricing is still under wraps.