HP is step up its laptop game . Although its Omen range of laptops have never been high-risk , a focus on value over build quality and feature article have kept most Omen machine off the lean of thebest gaming laptops . The Omen Transcend 14 is a step into more premium laptop designs , albeit with a few stumble .

It ’s a thin and light 14 - column inch play laptop with a stunning OLED showing and a price that ’s highly free-enterprise with alternative from Asus and Razer . Some strange choices in specs hold back the performance of the laptop computer , however , but I hope to see them resolve in the second loop of this machine .

HP Omen Transcend 14 specs

HP offers the Omen Transcend 14 in a few unlike configurations , and unlike competing laptop computer from Razer and Asus , HP found the design around one of Intel ’s newMeteor Lake CPUs . horsepower ties the CPU and GPU choices together , so you do n’t have an chance to mix and equal the handful of choice .

Both the RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 configurations come with a Core Ultra 7 155H , which is a 16 - nucleus central processor that can boost up to 4.8GHz . The RTX 4070 configuration descend with a Core Ultra 9 185H , which also feature 16 gist , but with a high 5.1GHz cost increase clock . This constellation also comes with 32 GB of soldered memory , while the other configurations are adhere at 16 GB .

It ’s foreign that HP flummox with Intel ’s CPUs for this generation around how they liken to the competition from AMD for gaming performance ( more on that below ) . My bigger topic is the storage conformation , however . Given that this is soldered memory , it would be nice to see a 32 GB option across configurations to give the laptop a bit more biography .

For storage , HP strangely does n’t default to 1 TB , which is what we see with other 14 - in play laptop computer . A base constellation on HP ’s website starts at a 512 GB SSD , and upgrade that to 1 TB is a $ 90 upcharge . Thankfully , the preconfigured option available at a retailer like Best Buy start with 1 TB of memory , so this should n’t be issue unless you ’re arrange the laptop directly from HP .

One option that continue the same across shape is the 2.8 potassium OLED show . This is the same display we saw on the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 , and it ’s gorgeous . I have some questions about the resolution , but I ’ll dig into those later .

Pricing falls directly where I ’d expect . The RTX 4070 shape is $ 2,000 , matching the toll of the 2024 Zephyrus G14 and coming in $ 700 cheaper than theRazer Blade 14 . Interestingly , the RTX 4060 is $ 1,700 , which is $ 100 more than what Asus is asking for a similar constellation .

A sleek design

The Omen Transcend 14 might be the best - looking gaming laptop computer HP has ever made . It accept cues from HP ’s more mainstream design like theSpectre x360 , with rounded boundary on the exterior , as well as the lid and body of the laptop . This does n’t look like a gaming laptop , and in this class of 14 - inch laptop computer that ’s essay to do everything under one roof , that ’s a good thing .

The body is made from aluminum , though it does n’t feel nearly as insurance premium as something like the Razer Blade 14 . I ’m not sure if it ’s the thickness of the aluminium or the overall expression , but there ’s a snatch of flex on the cardinal deck . I ’m not worried in the slightest about the durability of the laptop , especially give the full-bodied screen hinge , but the feel in your hands falls slightly short of the most expensive Blade options .

It ’s a fair trade - off for a laptop computer that ’s importantly cheaper , however . Elsewhere , HP even has an edge . The Omen Transcend 14 is surprisingly thin at 0.67 inch in the front and 0.71 column inch in the rear , matching what Razer declare oneself , but HP ’s laptop computer is significantly light at 3.6 pounds . Asus still has the lead in portability with its 2024 Zephyrus G14 at 3.3 pounds , but HP is n’t far behind .

Between the Razer Blade 14 , Omen Transcend 14 , and Asus Zephyrus G14 , HP falls foursquare in the eye . This is n’t the thinnest or light , nor the compact or heaviest , and its design , although attractive , is a mo more pedestrian than what you ’ll find on vie laptops . Whether that ’s a positive or negative is up to you .

Ports

The Omen Transcend 14 has a standard port selection , matching exactly what you get on the 2024 Zephyrus G14 . There ’s an HDMI 2.1 port , a 3.5 mm headphone Jack-tar , two USB 3.2 Gen 2 case - A ports , a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type - C port , and a Thunderbolt 4 connection . Both the USB - C port are up to of power delivery and DisplayPort modes , while the Thunderbolt 4 connection is also used for burden .

Although there are two USB - C ports technically , you ’ll be occupy one for charge most of the time . HP also uses a 140 - watt USB - C charger , which is n’t big enough to execute the GPU and CPU at their maximum power . like to theAlienware x14 R2 , it feel like you hit a performance wall in sure deed , specially the most demanding game likeCyberpunk 2077 .

HP lays out the interface in an interesting mode . The USB - C port you practice for charging is around the back of the laptop , along with the full - sizing HDMI 2.1 embrasure . This keeps the bulkiest connection out of your way , and I love the pattern . On the right , you ’ll find the two USB - A port near the back of the motorcar , and on the left , the remaining USB - C and 3.5 mm headphone jack are rivet .

It ’s a smashing survival of the fittest and a solid layout , but I ’m still questioning the selection to use USB - C for charging . It ’s not a huge deal with the RTX 4060 configuration I reviewed , but the RTX 4070 configuration make out with a more powerful GPU and CPU , as well as more memory , and use the same port for charging .

Keyboard and touchpad

The Omen Transcend 14 ’s keyboard is tolerable , but it ’s far from the adept I ’ve used for this course of study of laptop . The Razer Blade 14 and Zephyrus G14 stay the title-holder for 14 - inch gaming laptops , with the Zephyrus come out ahead due to a more or less longer travel . The Transcend 14 has a similarly long travel , but it ’s not as dapper in the process — bottoming out the Key feel a bit mushy .

Still , it ’s a self-colored keyboard that gets the occupation done for long typing sessions . My master issue is the RGB light . HP apply transparent edge around the keycaps , grant the RGB lighting to radiate through . It calculate great when the keyboard is all get down up , but with RGB off , it cheapens the feeling of the laptop computer overall . That ’s going to come down to personal preference , however .

HP tell it will have a variation of the Omen Transcend 14 with per - key RGB inflammation in the coming months , but this initial rivulet only features four zones of RGB light . localize the keyboard to a square color front neat , but any sort of radiation pattern crusade exposes the zone too understandably .

On top of that , the pace at which the RGB lighting updates is very boring . HP includes a handful of gradients that cycle across the keyboard , but they flicker and stammer when transition between colors . It does n’t look good , and I bear more care to detail on such an expensive laptop .

The trackpad is spacious , with rounded corners that match the laptop computer soundbox . It ’s not quite as swelled as the trackpad on the Razer Blade 14 , but few laptops can rival that standard . Size is n’t the issue here ; find is . There ’s a heap of length when you contract the trackpad , and I ’m a worried about how long it will hold up over meter .

Display

This screen is beautiful . This is the same display we saw on the Zephyrus G14 this class , and it wait just as good on the Omen Transcend 14 . It ’s a 2.8 K OLED presentation with a 120Hz refresh rate . That ’s a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 , which is a moderately declamatory jump from the 1600p display we typically see in 14 - inch laptop .

That has implication for functioning , which I ’ll jab into later . The lucidity of such a gamy settlement is marvellous , though . You ’re go a pixel density of over 240 pixels per inch ( PPI ) , which gets snug to what you see with a MacBook . It looks not bad on the desktop .

As you might mistrust , color is off the charts as well . I measured 95 % of AdobeRGB and 100 % of DCI - P3 , which is excellent reportage , as well as a entire color error of just 0.84 . This is exceptional coloration truth and insurance coverage , which should n’t add up as a surprise for an OLED video display .

Brightness ca n’t reach the level of an OLED monitor like theAsus ROG Swift PG27AQDM , but it ’s still substantial for a laptop computer . In SDR , I evaluate 381 nits , while in HDR , the sieve peaked at 606 nits , both for a 1 % windowpane .

CPU performance

The Core Ultra 7 155H has n’t been a star in our benchmark , but it ’s amazingly potent in the Omen Transcend 14 . I mistrust that has something to do with HP ’s active superpower allocation , as well as some cardinal updates for Intel ’s late laptop computer CPUs . Still , it ’s a moment behind what ’s usable on the AMD front for bet on laptops right now .

In Cinebench R24 , you may see that in action . Despite the Omen frolic twice as many cores , the Ryzen 9 8945HS in the Zephyrus G14 ranks higher . There ’s some amount of throttling going on due to the size of the laptop , too — theAlienware m16 R2with the same number of C.P.U. comes in significantly ahead in the multi - core test .

bestow more grounds to that is single - core execution , where the Omen Transcend 14 is just a spot behind what we expect out of this CPU . It ’s not a immense deal in one direction or the other , so do n’t take the pernicious differences here as something that will meaningfully touch on unmarried - magnetic core performance .

Breaking out of celluloid benchmark , the Omen Transcend 14 is stiff in Premiere Pro . It receive near to even the Zephyrus G14 , despite that laptop sporting a fast GPU .

unluckily , I did n’t have a chance to quiz the conformation with the RTX 4070 . Given the functioning of this contour , however , I would n’t be surprised if the Omen pass 14 is able to match the carrying into action of the Alienware m16 R2 with an RTX 4070 .

Ending with PCMark , the Omen Transcend 14 managed to outclass the Alienware m16 R2 with the same CPU , despite Alienware ’s laptop computer using a fast GPU .

Game performance

The Omen Transcend 14 is n’t about peak functioning , and that ’s OK . The GPU runs at 90W , likely to accommodate the the USB - ascorbic acid charger and slim body . Even with that via media , there ’s a mismatch between spectacles and performance , specially with the RTX 4060 configuration .

Starting with 3DMark , the Omen Transcend 14 does n’t shanghai . In both Time Spy and Fire Strike , it ’s behind theAcer Swift X 16 , despite that laptop using the weaker RTX 4050 . The most lineal comparison is the Alienware x14 R2 , however . Using the same GPU and a last - gen CPU , Alienware ’s laptop is still markedly faster .

That ’s not the primary issue facing the Omen Transcend 14 , however . The filmdom is . Above , you could see a range of benchmark at the native 1800p firmness of purpose . Even in operation mode , the only game to crack up 60 frames per second ( fps ) isGuardians of the Galaxy .

Stepping down to 1600p , Horizon Zero Dawnalso join the 60 fps club , but every other game fails to cross that line . The resoluteness of the screen door on the Omen Transcend 14 is but too high for the RTX 4060 to endure games at aboriginal resolution . The RTX 4070 will do better , but as we go steady with in our2024 Zephyrus G14 limited review , even that GPU can scramble at this high of a answer .

Thankfully , you have access code toNvidia ’s DLSSwith the RTX 4060 , and the Omen Transcend 14 holds up a good deal adept with DLSS turned on . Most games cross the 60 fps phone line with the operational Balanced mode of DLSS .

you could get playable carrying out out of the Omen Transcend 14 , but almost never at true aboriginal resolution . You ’ll take to use DLSS or turn down graphics scene in most games — or just recur to running secret plan at a low resolving power . Thankfully , even 1600p search good on this showing , so it ’s not too liberal of a compromise .

Ray tracingis on the table for this laptop , but only in small doses . As you’re able to see , lighter beam trace game likeShadow of the Tomb RaiderandGuardians of the Galaxywork well with DLSS enable , but more demanding title likeCyberpunk 2077fall short of playable , even withDLSS 3assisting in performance .

Decent battery life

The Omen Transcend 14 has surprisingly good battery life . In our web - browsing exam , the laptop lasted about five - and - a - one-half hours , which is a step above the Zephyrus G14 with similar hardware . HP say that may have to do with the lack of an MUX switch on this laptop computer . HP say the MUX shift suck down power , so it remove the switch from the laptop computer .

That could explicate why this machine is adept than similarly configured options . no matter , this is a gaming laptop , so you should n’t gestate great battery life . The upside is that the 140W USB - C courser is highly portable , and both USB - C ports digest power delivery .

Should you buy the HP Omen Transcend 14?

The Omen Transcend 14 is HP ’s initial try at this course of gambling laptop computer , and it ’s a dandy first attempt . A self-coloured , thin , and light purpose pushes this beyond just a gaming workstation , and the OLED show is stunning . It seems HP focused a minuscule too heavily on the portability of this laptop , however . USB - C charging worries me with the RTX 4070 configuration , and gambling battle on the high - resolution display with lower - end configurations .

This is a solid play laptop , and if it were n’t for loaded competition from Asus at the same price , it would get a testimonial . That ’s unfortunately not the case . At list price , the Omen exceed 14 compromises a bit too much compared to the rivalry . However , if you recognise the laptop computer on sale , particularly at around $ 1,400 for the RTX 4060 configuration , it ’s a great machine .