– HP OmniBook 3 14 (Snapdragon X, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for $549.99 at Best Buy.
– Offers better RAM (16GB), storage (512GB), and battery (60Wh) than the $599 MacBook Neo (8GB/256GB/36.5Wh).
– Features a 1600p touch display, replaceable storage, and good port selection for the price.
– MacBook Neo wins on build quality, display quality, and single-core performance.
– Best for users needing an affordable, long-lasting Windows laptop with adequate daily performance.
The HP OmniBook 3 14 with an 8-core Snapdragon X X1-26-100 SoC, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage is currently retailing for $549.99 at Best Buy. Best Buy claims that this new price is $400 less than the $949.99 “Comparable Value”. We don’t think you should pay any attention to this $949.99 figure, as the HP OmniBook 3 14 is not a laptop of that price range.
What do we know about the specs?
What we do know, however, is that the $549.99 price of the HP OmniBook 3 is arguably excellent. In addition to the 16 GB RAM and 512 GB of replaceable storage, the laptop also carries a 1600p touch-sensitive display, a fairly large 60 Wh battery, and a good port selection.
There are:
- Two Type-C ports
- One USB-A port
- A headphone jack
- An HDMI output
These are pretty good specs for a $549.99 Windows laptop, and, in some areas, beat the MacBook Neo. For instance, the $599 MacBook Neo only comes with soldered 8 GB of RAM, a non-replaceable 256 GB SSD, only two Type-C ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
How does the battery compare?
It has been quite clear since the launch of the Apple MacBook Neo that there are hardly any Windows laptops that can compete with the MacBook Neo at $600. Windows laptop OEMs have finally recognized this, and MacBook Neo competitors like the Dell XPS 13 are on the way. In the meantime, if you need a super affordable Windows laptop right now that doesn’t suck, take a look at the HP OmniBook 3 14 that is now on sale at Best Buy.
The MacBook Neo also has a small 36.5 Wh battery, which delivers good but not great results. With a power efficiency Snapdragon X1-26-100 SoC and a 60 Wh cell, HP claims the OmniBook 3 will last over 20 hours when streaming media online.
Are their any downsides?
That said, the MacBook Neo is a clearly better option when it comes to build quality, display quality, and single-core performance.
Long story short, if all you need is a portable Windows laptop that has adequate performance for daily tasks, long battery life, and won’t become outdated quickly due to low RAM and storage, the HP OmniBook 3 14 on sale is currently a pretty good option.