HP OmniBook 5 Launches as $700 MacBook Neo Rival with OLED and 42-Hour Battery

Key points

• The HP OmniBook 5 starts at $699.99 and is available in silver, pink, blue, and green.
• It features a 14-inch OLED display, with base models offering 1920x1200 resolution and 300 nits brightness.
• The laptop is powered by Intel Wildcat Lake processors, including the Core 5 315, Core 5 320, and Core 7 350.
• It offers up to 42 hours of battery life, 8GB to 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB to 1TB SSD.
• The device weighs 2.56 lbs and is 11.68mm thin, with dual USB-C ports, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Background

HP has previously released the OmniBook 3, a $599 laptop with an OLED display and Snapdragon X1-26-100 chip, also targeting the MacBook Neo. The current OmniBook 5 launch is part of a broader trend where PC manufacturers like Dell, Acer, and Lenovo are responding to Apple's entry-level Mac with budget-friendly, feature-rich alternatives.

How outlets are covering it

Notebookcheck emphasizes the OmniBook 5's OLED display and 42-hour battery life as key advantages over the MacBook Neo, while noting the base model's 300 nits brightness is lower than the Neo's 500 nits. The Verge highlights the laptop's thin, light, and colorful design, comparing it to the Neo's aesthetics but noting the lack of Thunderbolt connectivity. Engadget focuses on the OLED screen and 42-hour battery life, while also mentioning the integrated NPU for AI features. HP's official press release positions the OmniBook 5 as a premium yet accessible option for students and young professionals, emphasizing its OLED display and battery life.

Why it matters

The HP OmniBook 5 represents a significant move by PC manufacturers to compete with Apple's entry-level MacBook Neo, offering a larger screen, OLED display, and longer battery life at a similar price point. This could shift consumer preferences in the budget laptop market, especially for users who prioritize screen quality and battery life over raw processing power.

What to watch

The Core 7 350 model of the OmniBook 5 is set to be available later in October 2026. A version with a 2560x1600 resolution OLED and 400 nits of brightness is expected to launch in March 2027. Consumers can expect more budget laptops from other manufacturers as they continue to respond to Apple's entry-level Mac.