Since Apple launched the MacBook Neo, every Windows brand has needed a thin metal laptop at about $700. HP’s answer is the 2026 OmniBook 5 14, built on Intel’s low-power Core 5 320. This review is based on Notebookcheck’s test of the 16 GB model, which it rated 84%, and PCWorld’s test of the $699.99 model with 8 GB.
Design and build
The case is metal all over, 11.7 mm thick and 1.18 kg, about 50 g lighter than the MacBook Neo. Notebookcheck’s hands-on found no flex, and the hinge opens to 180 degrees with one hand. It comes in four colours: Smoke Silver, Starlit Blue, Peony Pink and Soft Honeydew.
The keyboard is backlit, which the MacBook Neo’s is not. Notebookcheck describes the key feel as shallower and spongier than on HP’s EliteBook business laptops. The clickpad is large at about 13.5 x 8 cm. The 1080p webcam supports face sign-in and has no privacy shutter.
Performance
The Core 5 320 has six cores and is tuned for battery life: it runs at 15 W under sustained load. It scored 6,319 multi-core in Cinebench R23 and 7,802 in Geekbench 6. The MacBook Neo scored 9,140 in the same Geekbench test, and the Core Ultra 7 255H in the ThinkPad E14 Gen 7 is about 2.6 times faster in Cinebench R23.
Single-core speed is good (2,572 in Geekbench 6), so browsing, documents and video calls feel quick. Memory makes a visible difference: Notebookcheck’s 16 GB unit scored 6,509 in PCMark 10, and PCWorld’s 8 GB unit scored 5,341. Our RAM calculator estimates how much memory your apps need.
The laptop is very quiet. The fan idles at 24.4 dB(A) and peaks at 34.8 dB(A), and the hottest point underneath reached 40.6 °C.
Graphics and gaming
The integrated graphics are basic. The 3DMark Time Spy graphics score is 1,412, about half of the ThinkPad E14 Gen 7’s. Cyberpunk 2077 ran at 11 fps at 1080p Ultra and 36 fps at 720p Low. Dota 2 reached 51.5 fps at 1080p Ultra. Notebookcheck scored gaming at 36%.
Display
Every OmniBook 5 14 has an OLED screen, which is rare at this price. The tested panel has 1920 x 1200 pixels, touch input, 100% coverage of sRGB and Display P3, and the deep blacks OLED is known for.
Its limits are brightness and reflections. Notebookcheck measured 282 nits on average, and the glossy surface shows strong reflections, so it works best indoors. Out-of-the-box colour accuracy is average (DeltaE 3.25), the refresh rate is 60 Hz and there is no HDR. Notebookcheck measured PWM dimming at 466 Hz. HP offers a 2880 x 1800 OLED with 120 Hz and HDR for about $120 more.
Battery life
This is the OmniBook’s best result. Notebookcheck measured 24 hours of Wi-Fi browsing at 150 nits from the 60 Wh battery, and 20 hours of video playback. PCWorld recorded a little over 18 hours of office work in UL Procyon. For comparison, the MacBook Neo lasted 12 hours 51 minutes and the MacBook Air 13 (M5) 16 hours 11 minutes in Notebookcheck’s browsing test.
HP advertises up to 42 hours. That figure is for local video playback at 200 nits with Wi-Fi disconnected, and no review has matched it. The charger is a compact 65W USB-C unit that weighs 159 g. Our battery life calculator shows how capacity and power draw turn into hours.
Ports and upgrades
On the left are HDMI 2.1 and two USB-C ports (10 Gb/s with DisplayPort and charging). On the right is a headset jack. That is one more video output than the MacBook Neo offers, and you will need an adapter for USB-A devices. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E.
The SSD, the Wi-Fi module and the battery can be replaced. The memory is soldered.
Price and value
The OmniBook 5 14 starts at $699.99 with 8 GB of memory and a 256 GB SSD. Notebookcheck’s 16 GB unit was $800, and PCWorld lists the Core 7 350 model with 16 GB and 512 GB at $1,069.99. Our value score uses $800, because 16 GB is the configuration to buy. The scoring method explains how price affects it.
Who should buy it
Buy the OmniBook 5 14 if you want a light Windows laptop for school, travel and everyday work, and battery life matters more than speed. Choose 16 GB of memory.
Skip it if you run heavy apps or play games. At $800 to $1,200, the ThinkPad E14 Gen 7 is far faster and can be upgraded, though it is heavier and lasts half as long on battery.