MacBook Neo it made a big splash when it landed in March. $599 for a MacBook seemed basic, and it was easy for the average audience to advertise that Windows laptops he had no real answer for her.
But what if I told you there was a Windows option that was better in almost every way? That’s the HP OmniBook 5, a laptop you’ve probably never heard of unless you look closely at the space. I have been recommending it since I tried it last month. The price has fluctuated, but more often than not, the 14-inch model was selling for $500. You read that right: $500. Today, the cheapest, most stable price you will find is $730 over at Walmartbut I’ve seen HP repeatedly drop the price from $1,050 to around $500.
And just look at what you’re getting for the price, because it’s absolutely packed. It comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, double what you get on the $599 MacBook Neo. There is a 16 inch version tooif you like the idea of having more screens to work with real estate.
The HP OmniBook 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X, a high-performance chip that achieves excellent all-day battery life that at least matches the MacBook Neo. If you haven’t used a Windows laptop in a few years and still think it can’t compete with MacBooks in battery life, you’re sorely mistaken.
The 16 GB memory on the OmniBook 5 is very important to consider, as it is one of the main points of contention with MacBook Neo. Being stuck at 8 GB at 2026 feels brutal in principle, and when I was testing it I was able to load a MacBook Neo and find its breaking point. The 16 GB memory on the HP OmniBook 5 is enough that you will never have to worry about how many tabs, programs, installations or downloads you have going at the same time. Combined with Snapdragon X’s superior multi-mode performance, it enables the kind of freedom that lets you forget about hardware and focus on the task at hand. Don’t get me wrong—the MacBook Neo has its place, but calling it the undisputed king budget laptops just not right.
HP OmniBook 5 Is Only $500
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Specs and performance don’t tell the whole story, and Apple has never been known for offering tons of specs at affordable prices. But the OmniBook 5 14 is also an impressive design in a very portable package. At 0.5 inches, it’s exactly the same thickness as the MacBook Neo and almost the same weight too. What? MacBook Neo has more style and personality? Absolutely—especially if you like one of the bold color options. But I would say the OmniBook 5 is a very good computer in its own right. It’s also made of aluminum, solid and built well in your hands. The hinge is well proportioned, allowing you to open the lid with one finger. It doesn’t do that to feel cheap.
