ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The HP OmniBook Extremely Flip is on sale now for $1,600.
- It is a light-weight, convertible work laptop computer with a stable battery life and a booming speaker system.
- Nonetheless, the mannequin is not a powerhouse as some may discover its efficiency slightly disappointing
extra shopping for selections
After I first tried the HP OmniBook Extremely Flip Subsequent Gen AI PC 14 (sure, that’s its full identify), I felt a way of déjà vu. I assumed to myself, “Have not I reviewed this laptop computer earlier than?”
It took me a minute earlier than I noticed the system appeared almost equivalent to HP’s Spectre x360, which I reviewed earlier this yr. Not solely do they appear alike, however in addition they have comparable options. The one noticeable distinction is their colours (my Omnibook unit was black, whereas the Spectre was darkish blue).
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This is not stunning since HP introduced in Might 2024 that it could be rebranding its laptops and solely utilizing one in all two names: Omni or Elite. So, you possibly can consider the brand new Omnibook Extremely Flip as a direct follow-up to the Spectre x360 from February 2024, maintaining the previous design intact whereas upgrading the interior elements.
The Omnibook Extremely Flip balances an aesthetically pleasing design with consolation. Every button on the keyboard is a near-perfect sq. with a pleasant journey distance, making certain stress-free typing. The laptop computer’s edges are spherical, so they will not poke you within the arm. Moreover, regardless of the mannequin’s darkish colour, fingerprints are hardly noticeable.
Just like the Spectre x360, the 2 corners on the skin of the laptop computer are flat, with both sides housing a USB-C port. Nonetheless, not like the Spectre, the Omnibook Extremely Flip lacks mini docking stations. Until you buy a third-party Thunderbolt docking station or adapter, you are caught with the inputs supplied.
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After all, there’s extra to the laptop computer than you see on the floor. My unit homes an Intel Core Extremely 7 258V processor, an built-in Intel Arc graphics card, and 32GB of reminiscence. The Omnibook Extremely Flip’s efficiency was stable total, though it isn’t a powerhouse. I ran the laptop computer via a number of benchmark assessments and it did properly. HP’s Omnibook Extremely Flip constantly earned scores of over 10,000 on Geekbench 6.
These numbers, nonetheless, nonetheless fall in need of contemporaries just like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441. On the very least, the Omnibook handles your common workplace duties properly.
The Omnibook Extremely Flip excels within the audio division. It homes a four-speaker setup fine-tuned by the corporate’s Poly Studio model, delivering booming audio output with a punchy bass. This, mixed with the 9MP AI webcam, provides a video name expertise that few can replicate.
The Omnibook Extremely Flip’s battery isn’t any slouch — it lasted 13 hours on a single cost throughout testing. That quantity was under the corporate’s purported 20-hour runtime, but it surely’s nonetheless lengthy sufficient to take you thru your complete workday.
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I additionally discovered the touchscreen to be fairly hanging. It boasts a 3K (2,880 x 1,800 pixels) OLED. The decision is unbelievable, and because of software program enhancers, the colours are vibrant.
That stated, I want HP coated the glass in an anti-glare coating to keep up visibility beneath vivid circumstances. The show is so reflective that even a boring bed room gentle can obscure the display screen.
The OLED and the good {hardware} enable HP’s Omnibook Extremely Flip to double as a drawing pill; nonetheless, this particular use case is restricted because the supporting options are half-baked. The system comes with a free stylus, but it surely’s nowhere close to as correct as an Apple Pencil.
I struggled to make use of the pen as inputs lagged outdoors of drawing apps. One thing so simple as closing a window proved tougher than it ought to’ve been.
My expertise with the laptop computer was pretty constructive, though there have been some quirks. Unusually, the check unit I obtained had Asus apps put in: the ProArt Creator Hub and MyAsus. I have been informed by an HP consultant that the Omnibook Extremely Flip doesn’t include Asus, and people packages shouldn’t have been on the laptop computer to start with. That might clarify why the Creator Hub software program did not work correctly.
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I chalked the apps on the assessment unit as some random incidence. The Omnibook Extremely Flip shouldn’t include bloatware from different corporations or manufacturers. These apps did not negatively affect my expertise in any main manner. HP’s system got here with 2TB of storage, so the area being taken up was a drop within the bucket.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
HP lately discounted the OmniBook Extremely Flip 14-inch laptop computer, and the 1TB mannequin is presently promoting for $1,200 at Greatest Purchase. It usually retails for $1,600. At $1,200, I do advocate shopping for this laptop computer. It’s a light-weight machine with an amazing show, loads of storage, and a long-lasting battery.
Should you’re open to alternate options, I’ve examined and advocate the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which homes a better-performing Snapdragon X Elite chipset, a barely longer battery life, and a wider collection of ports on the aspect. There’s additionally MSI’s Status AI Plus Evo, for those who worth portability. This ultra-lightweight laptop computer has a shocking 2.8K OLED show and stable efficiency courtesy of an Intel Lunar Lake processor.
