Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 18
HP OmniBook 3 Delivers 28-Hour Battery Life at $539, Challenging MacBook Neo
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Jun 18

HP OmniBook 3 Delivers 28-Hour Battery Life at $539, Challenging MacBook Neo

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Jun 18

Summary

  • $539 buys HP's 2026 OmniBook 3 with what ZDNET called standout value, led by 28-hour battery life and smooth everyday Windows performance.
  • A Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD handled office work, browsing and streaming well, though some Windows-on-Arm apps and benchmarks still failed to run.
  • The 14-inch laptop also pairs a 2K OLED panel with full DCI-P3 coverage and a 16:10 aspect ratio, but brightness tops out at 300 nits and outdoor visibility drops sharply.
  • Trade-offs remain modest rather than deal-breaking: bottom-firing speakers sound muffled, the Full HD IR webcam is merely adequate, and there is no touchscreen option.
  • ZDNET framed the model as one of 2026's strongest budget laptops, arguing Qualcomm's push into cheaper, efficient PCs is making Windows machines feel more competitive with Apple's entry-level lineup.

Insights

Is the OmniBook's record battery life a worthy trade-off for its significant software compatibility risks on Windows on Arm?
Can HP's new laptop truly rival a MacBook if its core software ecosystem is fundamentally compromised for many professionals?