The MacBook Neo caused a sensation when it landed in March. $599 for a MacBook seemed revolutionary, and it was easy for casual viewers to declare that Windows Laptops didn’t have a real answer to that.
But what if I told you there’s a Windows option that’s better in almost every way? It’s the HP OmniBook 5, a laptop you’ve probably never heard of unless you’re keeping a close eye on the space. I recommend it since I tested it last month. The price fluctuated, but more often than not the 14-inch model sold for $500. You read that right: $500. Today the cheapest and most consistent price you will find it for is $730 more at Walmartbut I’ve seen HP drop the price frequently from $1,050 to around $500.
And just take a look at what you’re getting for the price, because it’s absolutely stacked. It comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, double what you get on the $599 MacBook Neo. There is a 16 inch version alsoif you like the idea of working on screen real estate a little more.
The HP OmniBook 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon If you haven’t used Windows laptops in a few years and still think they can’t compete with MacBooks in terms of battery life, you’re sorely mistaken.
The OmniBook 5’s 16GB of memory is particularly important to note, as it’s one of the main points of contention with the MacBook Neo. Being stuck at 8GB in 2026 seems cruel in principle, and in testing it I was able to charge the MacBook Neo and easily find its breaking point. The HP OmniBook 5’s 16GB of memory is enough so you never have to worry about how many tabs, apps, installs, or downloads you have going on at once. Combined with the Snapdragon Make no mistake: the MacBook Neo has its place, but calling it the undisputed king of budget laptops it’s just not right.
The HP OmniBook 5 costs just $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 a low price. But the OmniBook 5 14 is also an attractive design in a highly portable package. At 0.5 inches, it’s exactly the same thickness as the MacBook Neo and about the same weight, too. Does the MacBook Neo have a little more style and personality? Absolutely, especially if you want one of the bolder color options. But I would say that the OmniBook 5 is a very nice laptop in its own right. It is also made of aluminum, sturdy and well-built in your hands. The hinge is well balanced, allowing you to open the lid with just one finger. This is not the case feel cheap.
The HP OmniBook 5 doesn’t compromise on the little things either. Some of my biggest issues with the MacBook Neo were with the little things. For one, its SSD’s storage speed was quite slow and the USB-C ports were outdated. One of them uses USB 2.0, a standard that is more than 25 years old. The OmniBook 5 has two USB-C ports capable of 10Gbps, as well as a USB-A port on the other side for existing peripherals. And while the $599 MacBook Neo doesn’t even have a fingerprint sensor, the OmniBook 5 has an IR camera with facial recognition for Windows Hello.
Photography: Luke Larsen
The main area where the MacBook Neo is slightly more powerful is the screen. It has a resolution of 2,408 x 1,506 pixels on a 13-inch screen, which is sharper than the OmniBook 5’s more basic 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. It’s also brighter, allowing you to boost it up to 500 nits. The good news is that HP didn’t skimp on the OmniBook 5’s screen. It’s an OLED, giving it infinitely better contrast and a wider color gamut. This is definitely the best Windows laptop screen you can get at this price, outperforming competitors like the Asus Vivobook 14. This was my top recommendation for a budget laptop, but once the HP OmniBook 5 arrived, I changed my mind. A lot of this has to do with the screen. So while it’s not as sharp or bright as the MacBook Neo, it’s no slouch either.
The only real downside to the OmniBook 5 is the touchpad. It’s not terrible and the click isn’t too loud. But it sometimes seems difficult to use with gestures that require more precision, like clicking and dragging. I could get by with this touchpad, but I found myself reaching for a mouse from time to time. This isn’t a problem, especially since the keyboard is comfortable to type on and is backlit, unlike the MacBook Neo.
Ultimately, it’ll be hard to convince you to switch sides if you’re already set on a Mac. I won’t blame you. But if you’re ready to find the best budget laptop At this price, there’s a strong case to be made for the HP OmniBook 5 when it goes on sale.
As I said above, the price of the HP OmniBook 5 has fluctuated considerably, which changes its value proposition. At its full retail price of $1,150, it’s a less attractive offering, having to compete with some high-end options like the MacBook Air. At Priced at $730 at Walmartit’s a shoo-in. At $500, it’s downright scandalous. So if and when you see the price drop, buy it and know that you got the best deal in the game.
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