Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The first laptop in Microsoft ’s newCopilot+ PCinitiative are rolling out , run Windows on Arm and build around Qualcomm’sSnapdragon X EliteArm chipset . One of the first is theHP OmniBookX , which also put in HP ’s new brand attract together all its consumer laptop computer .
These machines are aimed primarily at Apple’sMacBook Air , which uses the Apple Silicon M3 Arm chipset and has provide the best balance between performance and battery life . Is the OmniBook X a serious competition ?
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
HP offers just two configurations with the OmniBook X. Both use the Qualcomm Snapdragon X elect X1E-78 - 100 chipset , and you ’ll pay $ 1,150 for 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD and $ 100 more for a 1 TB SSD . A 14.0 - inch 2.2 K IPS display is the only option .
The MacBook Air M3 has a more complicated configuration . The least expensive model is $ 1,099 for an 8 - core CPU/8 - essence GPU M3 chipset , 8 GB of RAM , and a 256 GB SSD . You ’ll drop $ 100 more for a 10 - core GPU , and for 24 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD , you ’ll spend over $ 2,000 .
Overall , the OmniBook X is more low-cost than the MacBook Air M3 .
Design
The OmniBook X does n’t depart too widely from HP ’s distinctive design , with a kind of mash - up of the exchange premium Spectre and midrange Envy aesthetics . It ’s an all - metal chassis and lid that ’s pretty fixed , with just some slight bending in the lid under moderate pressure . Its available in two colors , Meteor Silver and Ceramic White , and overall , it ’s a good looking if somewhat conservative laptop .
The MacBook Air M3 has Apple ’s latest rather box-shaped , but incredibly meticulous plan , open it a extremely recognizable and elegant aesthetic . It ’s machined from a square lump of aluminum , but like the OmniBook X , the lid is a bit flexible . It can be had in four colors , including Midnight , Starlight , Space Gray , and Silver . I would n’t pick either of these laptop computer over the other based on build tone or esthetic alone .
In condition of their input signal choice , the MacBook Air M3 win out . Its Magic Keyboard has larger keycaps , more primal spatial arrangement , and snappier , more exact switches , while the OmniBook X ’s switches are a bit firmer . The MacBook ’s Force Touch haptic touchpad is the best you’re able to buy , and it ’s much better than the OmniBook X ’s mechanical touchpad . It ’s great , more precise , and more customizable .
Neither laptop has a ton of ports , but the MacBook Air benefits from Thunderbolt 4 and a dedicated MagSafe 3 power supply connection , while the OmniBook X makes do with an extra legacy port . It has a USB4 port that mostly matches Thunderbolt 4 ’s capableness , but not quite . you may get the latest Wi - Fi 7 on the OmniBook X , while the MacBook Air M3 is limited to one multiplication earlier .
Finally , the OmniBook X has a high - resolution webcam and an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition , and it also can utilise some innovative AI features as part of the Copilot+ platform . That include enhanced Microsoft Studio Effects software with AI - serve background blurring and more . The MacBook has a Touch ID fingermark reader , and Apple Intelligence AI feature of speech will be rolling out in the next version of macOS Sequoia .
Performance
The OmniBook X uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78 - 100 Arm chipset . It has 12 cores ( eight performance and four efficient ) and runs at up to 3.4GHz . It does n’t have the threefold - marrow burst mode that the faster Snapdragon X Elite chipsets enjoy , making it the dim in the lineup . Its Adreno GPU runs at 3.8 peak ( Trillions or Tera Operations Per Second ) , and like all member of the line , its Neural Processing Unit ( NPU ) runs at 45 TOPS . The MacBook Air M3 uses the Apple Silicon M3 chipset with eight CPU cores ( four effective and four effective ) and either eight or 10 GPU cores .
In our benchmark that work natively on Windows on Arm , the OmniBook X was about 12 % quicker in Geekbench 6 multi - core and 25 % faster in Cinebench 2024 multi - core . The MacBook Air M3 was about 30 % faster in Geekbench 6 single - core and 40 % faster in Cinebench 2024 individual - core . In the one graphics benchmark that runs natively on both chipsets , the MacBook Air M3 was about 31 % faster .
Ultimately , each of these chipsets is more than fast enough for the most demanding productivity workflows . The MacBook Air M3 has faster computer graphic , which should make it a better gaming laptop — but only when running older titles or newer titles with graphics turn way down . In creative applications , the MacBook Air M3 will be loyal thanks to C.P.U. optimization in video encoding and decoding . But neither laptop computer will be a great choice for require creator .
Display and audio
The OmniBook X has a 14.0 - inch 16:10 2.2 K ( 2240 x 1400 ) IPS showing . That ’s not as acute as the MacBook Air ’s 13.6 - column inch 16:10 2560 x 1664 IPS panel .
According to our colorimeters , the MacBook Air M3 ’s display is a lot brighter and has importantly wider colors . The OmniBook X ’s colors are more or less more precise , and both laptops have around the same dividing line .
Overall , the MacBook Air M3 ’s display is better , particularly for Godhead and media consumer .
The OmniBook X has two downward - firing speakers that are just OK . The MacBook Air M3 ’s audio is much better , with four utterer assign out louder and clear audio .
Portability
The MacBook Air M3 is one of the sparse laptops you’re able to buy today at just 0.44 inches and well slender than the OmniBook X at 0.57 inches . The OmniBook X is also somewhat heavier . Neither laptop computer is a plenty to carry around , but the MacBook Air M3 is noticeably more svelte .
The biggest battle between these two laptops is in barrage life , where Qualcomm and Windows on Arm are intend to make the most shock . The OmniBook X is competitive with the MacBook Air M3 when curl our trial run television , lasting for 22 hours compared to the MacBook at around 19.5 hour . However , when web browsing , the MacBook Air M3 is a fortune stronger at 19.5 time of day liken to 13.5 hr . And when running Cinebench 2024 , the MacBook Air live 3.5 hours while the OmniBook X shuts down after around two hour .
The bottom line of descent is that the MacBook Air M3 is a great deal more efficient when running more demanding tasks . That means that for tangible - life story employment , Apple Silicon retain its top smudge .
A step in the right direction, but not far enough
The OmniBook X is a significant improvement over Intel ’s Meteor Lake chipsets , with unattackable performance and better shelling life . It ’s reasonably priced , well build , and is a honest first extremity of HP ’s new brand . As a Windows alternative to the MacBook Air , it ’s certainly worth considering .
On the other paw , the MacBook Air M3 is still a much more efficient laptop , with near battery aliveness , especially as you ramp up execution . It also has a better show , keyboard , and touchpad . It ’s more expensive , but in my experience , whole deserving it . Some other Copilot+ laptop get along good , such as the Surface Laptop 7th Edition , but in this matchup , the MacBook Air will make more mass happy .
