With the school year wrapping up, it’s time to start thinking about tech gear for the one ahead. Each year brings greater demands, making it harder to find a laptop that will last for years without breaking the bank. Enter HP’s latest release: the OmniBook X Flip—a versatile and customizable system that could be the ideal laptop for both students and business users.
Unlike most laptops that ship with only AMD or Intel chipsets, HP allows users to choose the brand that best suits their needs. I had the opportunity to test both versions on 14- and 16-inch screen sizes. The experience was largely consistent between the two, with some differences noted where relevant. The 14-inch model came equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, while the 16-inch unit featured an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. Both represent the top offerings from each brand for this laptop. Each system also came with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 3K (2880×1800) 120 Hz OLED display and an HP USB-C rechargeable stylus for use with the touchscreen.
Unboxing
Unboxing the HP OmniBook X Flip laptops was a fairly typical experience from HP. On top, you’ll find the laptop itself. Beneath it are the warranty documents, along with a compact 65-watt USB-C charger and power cord. As mentioned earlier, my units also came with a stylus in the box. While this is an optional add-on, it was a nice touch to see it included with these systems.
Ports/Hardware Overview
Whether you choose the larger or smaller version of the HP OmniBook X Flip, the overall port layout and design remain consistent across both models. On the left side of the laptop, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and two USB 4 ports that support charging, data transfer and display output (with one being Thunderbolt 4 on supported Intel units).
On the right side, there’s another USB 3.2 Type-A port and a headphone/mic combo jack. I would’ve liked to see a MicroSD card reader on the larger model, given the extra space, but the overall port selection is more than adequate for the average user. It allows for multiple devices to be connected at once with minimal need for dongles—something I really appreciated when travelling.
Running along the lower front edge of the laptop are two speakers, which I’ll go into more detail on later in the review. The main deck provides ample wrist space and, unlike some laptops I’ve used before, doesn’t dig into your wrists while resting or typing. On the larger model, I initially assumed the sections running along the keyboard sides housed additional speakers, but later found out they were likely vents for cooling. Given the price point, I wasn’t completely disappointed—but I was hoping for a little extra audio boost when I first saw them.
Display
The first aspect of the HP OmniBook X Flip worth digging into is the display—it’s what you’ll be looking at most while using the laptop, after all. No matter which model you go with, both feature a 3K 120 Hz OLED screen, and they’re stunning to use in practice. Videos and images feel like they’re popping off the display, with rich, vivid colours that make watching movies an absolute treat. The screens are also DCI-P3 colour-accurate, so doing light video or photo editing isn’t out of the question. That kind of flexibility isn’t always found in laptops at this price point, especially not with OLED panels of this calibre.
“SSD speeds on both HP OmniBook X Flip models were blazing fast.”
Both displays come in my preferred 16:10 aspect ratio, which strikes an outstanding balance between productivity and media consumption. My only real complaint was the excessive reflectivity and glossiness of the screens. In brighter lighting or outdoor settings, glare from external light sources made it tough to see the display clearly. I tend to work in a wide range of environments, so my use case may be more demanding than most—but it’s still something to keep in mind.
Using the stylus on the display felt even better than pen on paper. It glided effortlessly across the screen, making it enjoyable to use. For business users, this would be a great laptop to have on hand for document signing. While it didn’t significantly improve my limited art skills, it was still a lot of fun to sketch out quick drawings or jot down ideas. I often found myself browsing the web in tablet mode to avoid getting fingerprints on the screen while navigating.
Keyboard/Touch Pad
As a reviewer, I get to test a wide range of laptops, but something that always takes a bit of adjustment is getting used to the layout and feel of the keyboard. I generally prefer spaced-out, chiclet-style keys with a decent amount of keystroke travel. On the HP OmniBook X Flip, the keys are noticeably larger and positioned closer together than those on many other laptops I’ve used.
While they did offer a nice overall feel, I still found myself making frequent spelling errors—even after using the laptop for weeks. I won’t fault HP for this, since I switch between computers often, but users coming from a different layout might also face a similar adjustment period. The keystroke depth is slightly shallower than on some models, but still offers enough travel to make longer typing sessions comfortable.
“Using the stylus on the display felt even better than pen on paper.”
On the larger 16-inch model of the OmniBook X Flip, I would’ve liked to see HP include a number pad, especially given the extra available space—space that’s currently taken up by mesh cutouts along the sides of the keyboard. While this isn’t a feature I rely on daily, it would have been a nice addition.
On both sizes, the touchpads are quite impressive. They provide plenty of room to move your fingers and perform a wide range of gestures, such as scrolling or zooming. My fingers glided effortlessly across the smooth surface, and I found these to be some of the nicest touchpads I’ve used on a laptop to date.
Audio/Speakers
Unlike many laptop manufacturers today that build downward-firing speakers into their systems, I was pleasantly surprised to see HP has opted for front-facing speakers instead. I regularly appreciated this design choice, especially since I often use laptops on soft surfaces like a bed or couch—places where downward-firing speakers typically get muffled or drowned out. As mentioned earlier, the larger model appeared to have extra speakers built into the chassis, thanks to the mesh panels along both sides of the keyboard, but that ultimately wasn’t the case.
Still, even with only dual front-firing speakers on both models, the audio quality was above average. Sound came through fuller and more detailed than on many laptops I’ve tested. At both high and low volume, I never encountered any crackling or distortion. I did find myself wishing for a bit more bass, but that’s a common issue across most laptops these days.
Performance/Benchmarks
Given the choice between Intel or AMD processors, performance and benchmark results do vary slightly—though both options are more than adequate for day-to-day tasks. While synthetic benchmarks don’t always tell the full story, I was surprised by the real-world performance differences. The Intel Core Ultra 7 in my 16-inch model scored 2,696 in single-core and 10,865 in multi-core tests using Geekbench 6, while the 14-inch model with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 returned results of 2,823 and 12,833, respectively. In Cinebench 2024, the Intel unit scored 577 in multi-core tests, compared to 718 on the AMD model. The tables turned in 3DMark Time Spy, where the 16-inch model scored 4,233 versus the 14-inch model’s 2,808.
“On the HP OmniBook X Flip, the keys are noticeably larger and positioned closer together than those on many other laptops I’ve used.”
While I wouldn’t recommend either system for serious gaming, the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 with Intel Arc graphics outperformed the AMD version in every game I tested. The larger chassis may have helped dissipate heat better than the smaller model, and I felt comfortable launching the occasional game. GTA V ran on the highest settings at 60 frames per second or higher without issue. BeamNG.drive, set to medium, averaged 50–70 FPS depending on the map or vehicle. Even when running the built-in benchmark, I hit 60 FPS at times, which was surprising for a laptop in this category. If you’re looking to tackle more graphically intensive tasks, the Intel configuration is likely the better choice.
SSD speeds on both HP OmniBook X Flip models were blazing fast. Each delivered read speeds above 6,000 MB/s and write speeds around 5,500 MB/s. Both units can be configured with up to a 2TB SSD, providing ample storage for files without relying on external drives—reducing the need for additional carrying and keeping your setup compact.
Battery Life
In my testing, both units performed admirably in terms of battery life. Running my usual tasks and using each laptop as I typically would throughout the day, I could easily get through a full workday—and then some—before needing to reach for a charger.
The 16-inch model generally lasted longer, though it also came equipped with a larger 68 Wh battery compared to the 14-inch model’s 59 Wh. Whether Intel or AMD optimization played a role is hard to say without testing more units with opposing chipsets. Still, I’d crown the 16-inch HP OmniBook X Flip the battery champ between the two.
“While not the most powerful laptop on the market, the HP OmniBook X Flip is more than adequate for the average user looking for a well-built system that won’t break the bank.”
I consistently got an extra three to four hours out of the larger model, often reaching up to 16 hours of total use. That alone could make it a better choice for students or business users who need longer battery life. That said, this doesn’t make the 14-inch version a poor choice—it still handled a full day with ease, even in more space-constrained environments.
Overall Take
While not the most powerful laptop on the market, the HP OmniBook X Flip is more than adequate for the average user looking for a well-built system that won’t break the bank. As a back-to-school option, it’s hard to ask for much more considering everything it offers. For business users, this is a laptop that will carry you through long days without looking out of place in a professional setting. If I were in the market for a new laptop, this would fit the bill perfectly—offering the freedom to work without extra dongles or cables, along with sufficient performance and battery life to handle everything I need on a day-to-day basis.
