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Slightly Bullish +25

HP OmniBook 3 review: Battery life is the main attraction

🔋 Delivers exceptional battery life of nearly 22.5 hours in standard testing, allowing for two to three days of use without charging.

⚡ Achieves a top-tier multi-core CPU score of 659 in Cinebench 2024, demonstrating strong performance for productivity tasks.

📺 Features a 16-inch OLED display with vivid colors and deep blacks, though brightness is limited to 300 nits causing glare issues.

🔌 Lacks modern high-speed connectivity options such as Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 4, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0.

💻 Includes a spacious keyboard with a numpad and a large touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures effectively.

🎨 Offers an OLED panel option alongside standard IPS displays, though the OLED model is not currently widely available for sale.

🔊 Equipped with weak dual-speakers that produce tinny sound at high volumes, necessitating the use of headphones or external speakers.

📉 Integrated GPU performance lags behind competitors, suffering from emulation penalties in x86 benchmarks and poor 3D capabilities.

💰 Priced at $1,139.99 for the tested configuration, which is deemed expensive for an entry-level Snapdragon X chip.

📏 Physical dimensions are misleading as the device measures 21mm thick, contradicting HP's claim of being as thin as 0.58 inches.

🔧 The hinge mechanism is loose, causing the display lid to hang open when the laptop is tilted or stowed.

📷 Includes a 1080p webcam with IR camera and HDR support, along with Windows Hello facial recognition for biometric login.

Bullish Signals
  • The laptop achieves an impressive 22.5-hour battery life in PC World's standard test, significantly outperforming many competitors.
  • Multi-core CPU performance is solid, scoring 659 in Cinebench 2024, which benefits from Qualcomm's efficient core design.
  • The OLED display provides superior contrast and deep blacks compared to IPS panels, offering a realistic image for dark content.
  • The keyboard features a spacious layout with a numpad and excellent key travel that provides an audible snap during typing.
  • The touchpad is large (5.25 inches wide) and responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures without unintended input.
  • HP includes a compact power adapter that fits easily into small bags, unlike the bulky bricks often shipped by competitors.
  • The device supports Windows Hello facial recognition for fast and reliable biometric login security.
Risk Factors
  • The laptop lacks Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C 4 ports, limiting high-speed data transfer and external monitor connectivity options.
  • The OLED display is dim at 300 nits and glossy, making it uncomfortable to view in bright environments due to glare.
  • Integrated GPU performance is weak for the price, with x86 benchmarks running 50% slower than AMD counterparts due to emulation.
  • The speakers are tinny and lack low-end punch, becoming grating at higher volumes and requiring external audio solutions.
  • The physical chassis is thicker than advertised, measuring 21mm instead of the claimed 0.58 inches at its thickest point.
  • The hinge is loose, causing the display lid to hang open when tilted, which risks objects slipping between the screen and keyboard.
  • Wireless connectivity omits Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, which are now available in newer devices despite being optional for some users.
Full Analysis
The HP OmniBook 3 16-inch is reviewed as a mid-range laptop featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip, offering strong multi-core CPU performance and excellent battery life. The device boasts a spacious keyboard with a numpad, a large touchpad, and a 16-inch OLED display that delivers vivid colors and deep blacks. However, the review highlights significant design flaws, including a chassis thicker than advertised and a loose hinge that causes the lid to hang open when tilted. Despite its strengths in battery life (nearly 22.5 hours) and CPU efficiency, the laptop suffers from several connectivity and performance limitations. It lacks modern high-speed interfaces like Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C 4, omits Wi-Fi 7, and features a dim OLED panel with glare issues. The integrated GPU struggles with 3D tasks and emulation penalties, making it unsuitable for gaming or heavy graphics work. Additionally, the speakers are described as tinny and weak, requiring external audio solutions. Priced at $1,139.99 for a high-configuration model with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the OmniBook 3 is considered overpriced for its entry-level Snapdragon X processor. While cheaper configurations exist starting around $520, they come with reduced specs. The review concludes that while the laptop excels in portability and battery endurance, its lack of cutting-edge connectivity, average display brightness, and weak audio make it a mixed bag compared to competitors.