HP 16" Glacier silver aluminum Review
The HP OmniBook 5 packs a Copilot+ AI brain into a body with a disappointing screen and mediocre graphics. Its fantastic port selection is the only standout feature.
The 30-Second Version
A Copilot+ PC that's all about the ports, not the polish. The screen is mediocre and the AI features are the main draw, making it a hard sell unless you absolutely need six USB ports.
Overview
The HP OmniBook 5 is a laptop with a split personality. It's a Copilot+ PC built for on-device AI, but it's wrapped in a body that feels like a basic office machine from a few years ago. The one thing to know? It's a port king with a mediocre screen, and the AI features are the only real reason to consider it over a cheaper, non-AI laptop.
Performance
The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a mid-tier Ryzen AI chip. Our database shows its CPU lands in the 49th percentile, so it's fine for everyday tasks but not a speed demon. The real story is the GPU, which scores a 57th percentile. That's fine for streaming and light photo edits, but don't believe the 'thrilling gaming performance' hype. Our gaming score for it is a dismal 15.5 out of 100. It'll run older titles, but that's about it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- An absolute monster of a port selection, hitting the 99th percentile. You get two USB-C and four USB-A ports, which is almost unheard of now. 99th
- The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM is a solid amount for multitasking and future-proofing AI tasks. 71th
- HP Fast Charge is a legit quality-of-life feature, getting you to 50% in 30 minutes.
- Built with recycled materials and EPEAT Gold certified, which is a nice touch.
Cons
- The 16-inch screen is a letdown. A 1920x1200 panel at 300 nits in 2024 feels cheap, and it scores in the bottom 40% for screen quality. 26th
- The integrated AMD Radeon 840M graphics are not for gaming, despite the marketing. Our data confirms it's weak. 29th
- At 1.8kg, it's not exactly a lightweight, scoring poorly for compactness.
- Reliability scores are low in our percentile rankings, which gives us pause for long-term ownership.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 6 |
Graphics
| GPU | AMD Radeon 840M |
| Type | integrated |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 16" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 4 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.8 kg / 4.0 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At around $890, the value is shaky. You're paying a premium for the Copilot+ AI silicon, but you're getting a ho-hum screen and mediocre gaming performance in return. If the specific on-device AI features of a Copilot+ PC aren't a must-have for you, there's better hardware for the money.
Price History
vs Competition
This sits in a weird spot. Against a base model Apple MacBook Pro, you get way more ports and a lower price, but you lose out on insane battery life, a gorgeous screen, and build quality. Compared to the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you lose the innovative dual-screen functionality but gain a more traditional (and port-heavy) clamshell. The most direct competition is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC. You'd choose the HP for its expansive port lineup and lower price, but you'd pick the Surface for its superior design, touchscreen, and likely better screen.
Common Questions
Q: Can this laptop run games?
Not really. It has integrated AMD graphics that score very low in our gaming benchmarks. You can play older or very lightweight titles, but for modern games, look for a laptop with a dedicated GPU.
Q: Is the Copilot+ AI a big deal?
Right now, it's more about future-proofing. Features like Recall and live translation are neat, but mainstream apps are still catching up. You're buying the hardware for AI features that will become more useful over time.
Q: How's the battery life?
HP doesn't list a specific battery size, which is never a good sign. With a 16-inch screen and a standard efficiency chip, expect average all-day battery for office work, but don't plan on forgetting your charger.
Who Should Skip This
If you're a creative pro, a gamer, or just someone who appreciates a nice screen, this isn't it. Go get a MacBook Air for the screen and battery, or a Lenovo Legion if you need gaming power. The OmniBook 5 is for port enthusiasts and AI early adopters on a budget.
Verdict
We can only recommend the HP OmniBook 5 if you have a very specific checklist: you need tons of ports, you want a Copilot+ PC for on-device AI, and you're on a tighter budget than a Surface Laptop allows. For everyone else, the compromises on screen quality and portability are too significant. It's a niche machine for a niche buyer.