HP OmniBook X AI 14 Review: Snapdragon laptop for everyday use with long battery life but weak display
Table of Contents
HP’s OmniBook X AI 14 is a lightweight 14-inch Windows laptop built around Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite platform. Its combination of a compact chassis, low power consumption and a large battery makes it an appealing machine for mobile productivity.
But the laptop is far from perfect. While the Snapdragon processor delivers enough performance for everyday work and the battery life is genuinely impressive, HP makes compromises in several areas. The most noticeable one is the screen, which is relatively dim, glossy and limited to 60 Hz. Software compatibility is another consideration because Windows on ARM still cannot run every traditional x86 application flawlessly.
At an original price of around $1,100, the OmniBook X AI 14 therefore feels somewhat unbalanced. It becomes more attractive when discounted, but buyers should understand its limitations before choosing it.
HP OmniBook X AI 14: Key specifications
The tested configuration combines Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 with 16 GB of LPDDR5x memory and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
| Feature | HP OmniBook X AI 14 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 |
| CPU | 12-core Qualcomm Oryon |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno X1-85, 3.8 TFLOPS |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR5x-8448, soldered |
| Storage | 1 TB WD PC SN560 SSD |
| Display | 14-inch IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2240 × 1400 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Battery | 59 Wh |
| Weight | Approximately 1.31 kg |
| Thickness | 14.3 mm |
| Operating system | Windows |
| Power adapter | 65 W |
The 16:10 display provides a useful 2240 × 1400 resolution, while the compact chassis keeps the machine highly portable.
Design and build quality
The OmniBook X AI 14 has a clean, understated appearance. HP offers the machine in Meteor Silver and Ceramic White, with the metal surfaces giving it a modern premium look without being overly flashy.
At only about 14.3 mm thick and weighing roughly 1.3 kg, portability is one of the laptop’s strongest characteristics. It is easy to carry throughout the day and takes up little space in a backpack.
The exterior also does a good job of resisting fingerprints thanks to its treated surface.
However, the thin construction comes with some compromises. The base can be twisted with noticeable pressure, and doing so may produce some creaking. The display lid feels more solid, although the hinges allow a small amount of movement.
Opening the lid is possible to approximately 135 degrees.
The bottom panel is relatively easy to remove, providing access to the cooling system, SSD and wireless module. The RAM, however, is soldered and therefore cannot be upgraded later.
Ports and connectivity
HP provides two USB-C connections, although they are not identical. One supports USB4 with transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, while the other is a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection.
A conventional USB-A port is also included, along with a 3.5 mm audio jack.
One curious omission is Wi-Fi 7. Many Snapdragon X-based laptops use Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7800 wireless platform, but the OmniBook X instead uses the FastConnect 6900, limiting it to Wi-Fi 6E.
In practical testing, wireless performance remained respectable, so this is more of a future-proofing issue than a major everyday problem.
Webcam
The built-in 5 MP webcam is one of the better features of the laptop.
Image quality is good for video calls, while the physical privacy shutter adds an important security benefit. Windows Hello facial recognition is supported, and HP also includes Windows Studio effects.
For remote work and online meetings, the camera is more than adequate.
Keyboard and touchpad
The backlit keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience despite its relatively short key travel. Key presses feel precise, although they produce more noise than some competing thin-and-light laptops.
The power button is visually separated from the function keys, while the vertically arranged arrow keys remain relatively small.
One minor annoyance is that the keyboard illumination does not automatically activate.
The ClickPad performs well. Its surface provides smooth finger movement and accurate tracking, although the physical clicking mechanism becomes fairly loud toward the bottom.
Because this is a touchscreen configuration, users also have the option of interacting directly with Windows through the display.
Display: The OmniBook X’s biggest weakness
The 14-inch IPS touchscreen is easily the most disappointing part of the OmniBook X AI 14.
HP uses a 2240 × 1400 panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The resolution is perfectly suitable for a 14-inch laptop, producing a reasonably sharp image, and colors appear reasonably vibrant.
The problem is brightness.
Testing produced an average brightness of roughly 293 cd/m², with a maximum of around 306 cd/m². That is considerably lower than many competing premium laptops.
The glossy surface makes matters worse. Reflections are clearly visible, and the combination of low brightness and a reflective coating can make the display difficult to use in bright rooms or outdoors.
The 60 Hz refresh rate is another weakness. Modern laptops in this segment increasingly offer 90 Hz or 120 Hz displays, which provide noticeably smoother scrolling and animation.
Response times are also slow. Measurements reached approximately 32.8 ms for black-to-white transitions and around 52 ms in the grey-to-grey test. Fast-moving objects can therefore leave visible trails.
There is no PWM flickering detected, which is a positive point.
Color coverage is reasonable, with complete sRGB coverage and approximately 78.9% Display P3 coverage. However, color accuracy is not strong enough to make the laptop an ideal choice for professional photo or video work.
Overall, the screen is acceptable for documents, web browsing and office applications, but it is considerably weaker than what the rest of the laptop’s hardware suggests.
Snapdragon X Elite performance
The OmniBook X AI 14 uses the entry-level Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100.
This version features 12 CPU cores and can reach up to 3.4 GHz, but unlike some faster Snapdragon X Elite variants, it does not have a dual-core boost mode.
For ordinary productivity, the processor is more than capable. Web browsing, office applications, video conferencing and multitasking generally feel responsive.
Native ARM applications provide the best performance. The situation becomes more complicated when using conventional x86 Windows software through emulation.
This remains one of the biggest considerations when buying a Windows-on-ARM laptop. Many popular programs now have ARM versions, but not every application does, and some older or specialized programs may not work correctly or may suffer performance penalties.
Potential buyers should therefore check compatibility with the software they rely on before purchasing.
Benchmark results
In Cinebench 2024, the OmniBook X AI 14 achieved approximately:
- 840 points in the multi-core test
- 108 points in the single-core test
Its overall CPU performance is sufficient for mainstream productivity but falls behind higher-end AMD Ryzen AI systems.
The laptop also maintains similar performance when running from battery power, which is useful for mobile workloads.
System responsiveness
Subjectively, the system feels fast during normal use. Applications launch quickly, Windows responds promptly and general multitasking is smooth.
The CrossMark overall result was approximately 1,257 points, placing it below several faster AMD-based competitors but within the expected range for this Snapdragon configuration.
Memory performance reached roughly 62.6 GB/s in the tested configuration.
The key limitation isn’t raw responsiveness; it is software compatibility. If all of your essential applications support Windows on ARM, the experience can be very good. If you depend on older x86-only programs, the situation is less predictable.
SSD performance
HP equips the laptop with a 1 TB Western Digital PC SN560 PCIe 4.0 SSD.
After the operating system and preinstalled software are accounted for, around 879 GB is available to the user.
Sequential testing produced read speeds of approximately 4.77 GB/s and write speeds around 3.24 GB/s.
The drive also maintained relatively consistent performance during sustained workloads, making it a solid choice for normal office work, application loading and file transfers.
Graphics performance and gaming
The integrated Adreno X1-85 GPU is sufficient for everyday graphics workloads and high-resolution video playback.
Gaming is a different story.
The 3.8-TFLOPS version of the GPU used here is relatively modest, and the Windows-on-ARM ecosystem introduces another layer of compatibility issues. Native ARM games are preferable, while emulated titles can have unpredictable results.
During testing, Baldur’s Gate 3 did not run, illustrating the compatibility problem.
Some older or less demanding games can still be playable after reducing graphics settings. For example, the tested configuration reached around:
- GTA V: 98 FPS at low settings
- Dota 2 Reborn: 86 FPS at low settings
- Cyberpunk 2077: roughly 24 FPS at low settings
- Far Cry 5: around 37 FPS at low settings
- Strange Brigade: around 138 FPS at low settings
These numbers make the OmniBook X suitable for casual gaming rather than demanding modern titles.
Cooling and noise
The laptop generally stays quiet during everyday tasks.
Idle and light workloads produce fan noise around the 30 dB(A) range, while demanding workloads can push the system to approximately 37 dB(A).
The fan becomes more noticeable at high load because it spins at a relatively high speed, but there were no problematic electronic noises from the test unit.
Surface temperatures remain comfortable during normal operation. Under heavy workloads, however, certain areas reach approximately 44 °C.
That is warm but not dangerously hot. The palm rest and touchpad remain comparatively cool, which helps maintain comfort while typing.
Power consumption
Low power consumption is one of the laptop’s biggest advantages.
At idle, the system consumed only a few watts depending on brightness and configuration. During demanding workloads, consumption briefly approached 68 W before settling at a lower sustained level.
The supplied 65 W charger is therefore appropriately sized for the machine.
The efficient processor and relatively low-power display are major contributors to the laptop’s excellent endurance.
Speakers
The stereo speakers are surprisingly loud for such a thin laptop, reaching more than 90 dB in testing.
Voice reproduction is particularly clear, making the speakers well suited to video calls, presentations and spoken content.
The major weakness is bass. Music and movies lack the low-frequency depth found on better-equipped premium laptops.
For meetings and general media consumption, however, the audio system is perfectly usable.
Battery life: One of its strongest features
Battery endurance is where the OmniBook X AI 14 really shines.
The laptop contains a 59 Wh battery, and its efficient Snapdragon platform allows it to run for long periods away from a charger.
In web-browsing testing at approximately 150 cd/m² brightness, the laptop lasted around 18 hours and 37 minutes.
At maximum brightness, runtime remained impressive at approximately 14 hours and 15 minutes.
Video playback was even better, reaching roughly 21 hours and 38 minutes.
Under maximum sustained load, the battery lasted about 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Charging from an empty battery to full capacity took approximately 158 minutes, with an 80% charge reached after about 98 minutes.
These are excellent endurance figures for a thin 14-inch Windows laptop.
It is worth remembering, though, that the dim display helps reduce power consumption. HP’s decision to use a relatively low-brightness 60 Hz panel contributes to the impressive battery results.
Sustainability and repairability
HP uses recycled materials in several components, including portions of the speaker housing, display bezel, keyboard components and metal chassis parts.
The laptop also carries an EPEAT Gold certification with Climate+ and an Energy Star certification.
On the downside, soldered RAM limits future upgrades, while the overall repairability score is less impressive than the machine’s portability and energy efficiency.
Pros and cons
Advantages
- Lightweight 1.3 kg chassis
- Very good battery endurance
- Efficient Snapdragon X Elite processor
- Responsive performance for office workloads
- 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Good 5 MP webcam
- Comfortable keyboard
- Useful USB-A and USB-C connectivity
- Quiet during normal use
- Full sRGB coverage
- No PWM flickering
Disadvantages
- Dim display at around 293 cd/m²
- Highly reflective screen surface
- Only 60 Hz refresh rate
- Slow display response times
- Weak gaming performance
- ARM software compatibility remains an issue
- RAM is soldered
- No Wi-Fi 7
- Chassis could be more rigid
- Limited bass from the speakers
Verdict
The HP OmniBook X AI 14 is a laptop with a strong foundation but an oddly compromised display.
Its Snapdragon X Elite processor provides enough power for everyday productivity, while the efficient ARM platform delivers exceptional battery life. The machine is also thin, light, quiet and equipped with a good webcam, comfortable keyboard and fast enough SSD.
Unfortunately, the display prevents the laptop from feeling truly premium.
A maximum brightness of roughly 306 cd/m² is disappointing for a mobile laptop, particularly when combined with a glossy surface. The 60 Hz refresh rate and slow response times further weaken the visual experience.
Windows on ARM also requires some consideration. If your applications have native ARM versions, the OmniBook X can be a very capable everyday computer. If you depend on specialized legacy Windows software, compatibility should be investigated before buying.
At its original price of around $1,100, there are competing laptops with considerably better displays. However, when discounted below the $1,000 mark, the OmniBook X AI 14 becomes more compelling.
The bottom line: HP has created an impressively efficient and portable Snapdragon laptop, but a brighter, faster display would have turned it into a much more convincing all-round package.