I wanted to love HP's gorgeous 2-in-1 laptop, but it couldn't keep up

Price When Reviewed

$1,659

Best Prices Today: HP Omnibook X Flip 16

$1049.99

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 follows up on the model’s 2024 re-launch of the OmniBook household, which coincided with the introduction of Windows Co-Pilot+ AI PCs. This new mannequin comes alongside a 14-inch model as properly, and each are supplied in Intel and AMD flavors.

The Omnibook X Flip 16 sits close to the excessive finish of the stack, although it isn’t fairly the highest of the road. That’s left to the OmniBook Ultra. Still, the OmniBook X Flip 16 comes with a steel construct, the most recent processors, sufficient RAM for on a regular basis use, and lots extra. This 2-in-1 has rather a lot to get enthusiastic about on paper, however as we’ll see, it may possibly fail to ship on expectations. It’s not a nasty PC, nevertheless it doesn’t fairly sustain with the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360.

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Specs and options

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V
• Display: 16-inch 2880×1800 OLED Touchscreen, Glossy
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 5MP
• Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
• Battery capability: 68 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.02 x 9.67 x 0.61 inches
• Weight: 4.17 kilos
• MSRP: $1,659 as-tested ($1,099 base)

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 is available in a wide range of configurations, together with each Intel- and AMD-powered setups. It has a base value of $899 for an AMD configuration with an AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB of reminiscence, 512GB of storage, and a 1920×1200 IPS show. Upgrade choices embody an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 24 or 32GB of reminiscence, 1 or 2TB of storage, and the 2880×1800 OLED show examined right here. 

We examined an Intel configuration, and whereas it needs to be broadly much like the AMD fashions, there are sufficient variations below the hood that you just shouldn’t anticipate the identical efficiency or battery life. The Intel configurations begin at $1,099 and embody an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V with 16GB of reminiscence, 512GB of storage, and a 1920×1200 IPS show. The Intel fashions supply the identical improve choices because the AMD fashions, besides they’ve a Core Ultra 7 256V with 16GB of reminiscence or a 258V with 32GB of reminiscence as choices. Our take a look at configuration consists of the highest CPU and reminiscence specs, 1TB of storage, and the upgraded show. The MSRP is $1,659 as configured. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Mark Knapp

HP doesn’t look like going for type factors right here. While my first encounter with an OmniBook final 12 months got here with a splash of shade within the type of a cool keyboard, the OmniBook X Flip 16  is a colorless affair. It has clear traces and a delightful construct, nevertheless it’s a bit lifeless.

The OmniBook X Flip 16  is an enormous laptop computer. It doesn’t fairly push the boundaries that gaming laptops do, however with the intention to accommodate a 16-inch show and the hinge design essential for pill mode, it finally ends up fairly sizable and a bit of heavy at 4.17 kilos. Thankfully, it’s nonetheless pretty slim. 

HP’s design makes for a modern laptop computer with plenty of subtly rounded edges and corners. This combines with the surprisingly light really feel of the sandblasted, anodized aluminum chassis for a machine that feels prefer it thought-about person consolation some. 

The underside of the system is curious. Rather than have huge, apparent rubber ft, the OmniBook X Flip 16  sits on lengthy skinny strips which you can nearly barely inform protrude from the underside as a result of the underside has a mild curve to it. This creates a really slim channel for air to drag in on the sides of the OmniBook X Flip 16  and make it to the consumption fan. Though the bottom of the laptop computer has an enormous grille stretching throughout it, most of that’s plugged up. Only two small areas across the fan truly function air intakes.

The system’s warmth is then exhausted by way of a vent tucked alongside the again of the bottom, just under the show. It’s doable HP has some air exhausting out the “speaker” grilles on the highest deck, however I discover that uncertain. 

Rather than situate audio system behind these huge grilles on the highest deck, HP has positioned two audio system in little slots alongside the entrance lip of the laptop computer. This might not be supreme for audio within the laptop computer place, nevertheless it helps make sure the audio system are constant in tent and pill positions as properly.

The show lid comes fairly near flush with the decrease deck, which might make it tough to discover a good grip for opening the lid, particularly since HP eliminated the small cutaway seen on the final era of OmniBook laptops to assist open the show. Thankfully, the bottom of the laptop computer is heavy sufficient to remain put, making the OmniBook X Flip 16  a lot simpler to get open than its equally designed, smaller sibling, the OmniBook X Flip 14. The show hinge is a bit of wiggly after any actions, however stays put properly sufficient as soon as it involves relaxation. It additionally holds open within the pill place with the assistance of some magnets, so it doesn’t flop round. 

Above the show, the OmniBook X Flip 16  squeezes in a small webcam and a bodily privateness shutter. Unfortunately, HP has continued to make use of a zebra-stripe sample on the shutter, which has persistently confirmed arduous to discern from a spot of glare. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Mark Knapp

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16’s keyboard may very well be significantly better. On the one hand, the keys have a bit of little bit of journey that makes for fast resetting, and so they’re surprisingly properly stabilized for the way huge they’re. But the factor is, they’re very huge and really flat, borrowing the regrettable design of Dell’s latest XPS laptops. This leaves little room between one key and its neighbors, and doesn’t present a lot in the way in which of tactile steerage. I discover my fingers are steadily roaming away from the middle of keys, hitting edges (and neighbors), and ending up with typos I’d have far more simply prevented with smaller keycaps and a little bit of contour to the keys.

While I’m not stunned to see no quantity pad on this type of laptop computer, it’s nonetheless disappointing to see no efforts to make use of all the additional area accessible to this dimension of laptop computer. It nonetheless has cramped arrow keys. It nonetheless crams the Delete key proper subsequent to the ability button — a nuisance for writers — although not less than the white backlighting clearly illuminates the keycap legends.

The trackpad on the OmniBook X Flip 16  stretches a great way. It’s not practically as giant because it may very well be with the area accessible to it, nevertheless it supplies a large, central area to mouse round and carry out multi-finger gestures with ease. It has a shallow bodily click on with a mild tactility that’s good to make use of. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Display, audio

IDG / Mark Knapp

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 has a fantastic show. It contains a vivid OLED panel that may attain 406.9 nits proper subsequent to good black pixels, and it covers 100 p.c of the DCI-P3 shade area. The show even had a shade correct most dE1976 of two.37. Top all that off with help for variable refresh charges from 48Hz to 120Hz, and also you’ve obtained a stable display. It is shiny, although, so it may possibly battle with glare in sure circumstances. 

The show additionally works as a touchscreen for simple management and pill use. On high of that, the OmniBook X Flip 16  comes with a stylus for nice, pressure-sensitive management that proves responsive and correct. Because of the scale of the show, doodling on sure areas with out additionally getting your hand on the display will be tough, and I’ve discovered contact rejection a bit troublesome. When not in use, the stylus can magnetically latch onto the fitting facet of the laptop computer, although it’s not a agency sufficient connection that I’d depend on it whereas storing and transporting the laptop computer. 

The audio system on the OmniBook X Flip 16  pack a punch, pumping out loads of quantity for a small room. They get a bit of harsh within the mids at max quantity, although. Despite the laptop computer’s dimension, it doesn’t profit from any extra-bassy speaker drivers, and due to this fact comes up missing in that space. The bass isn’t utterly absent, nevertheless it’s mellow sufficient that music doesn’t fairly really feel full and probably the most explosive moments of flicks will most likely fall flat. There’s a good little bit of stereo, although because of the broader spacing of the audio system. It is a bit awkward that HP has two enormous grilles on both facet of the keyboard that appear like they’d home audio system, however they don’t. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Mark Knapp

The webcam on the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 captures a pleasant and sharp image whereas additionally providing help for facial recognition. It can get a bit of awkward because the digital camera shifts publicity and white steadiness ranges whereas recording, seeing huge shifts within the shade and brightness of elements of the shot, nevertheless it nonetheless is fairly good for a built-in digital camera. 

The mics paired with the digital camera additionally do their job properly. They cancelled out the sound of a close-by fan working loudly, and managed to seize my voice loud and clear within the course of. They struggled a bit extra to cancel out clapping successfully. While they did erase the sound of the claps, additionally they erased a little bit of my voice and made it sound compressed within the course of. This was stunning after the laptop computer’s smaller sibling, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14, carried out nearly flawlessly in the identical take a look at. 

The OmniBook X Flip 16  additionally helps facial recognition for fast and straightforward sign-in, although Microsoft lately restricted this technique’s capacity to carry out in the dead of night, and the OmniBook X Flip 16  was affected. Thankfully it nonetheless works in dim environments. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Connectivity

IDG / Mark Knapp

You’ll get respectable connectivity from the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 , however like a lot of its contemporaries, it fails to take full benefit of its dimension. The left facet homes a USB-A port, two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port. The proper facet, regardless of having a great deal of area, solely features a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-A port. Both USB-A ports supply 10Gbps speeds, which is sweet to see. But solely one of many USB-C ports will get the Thunderbolt 4 therapy. The different is simply one other 10Gbps port, although fortunately each USB-C ports help DisplayPort output and charging. 

For wi-fi connections, you get Wi-Fi 7 by way of an Intel wi-fi adapter and Bluetooth 5.4. In my testing, each have confirmed steady and fast to attach. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Performance

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 isn’t kitted out to be a efficiency monster, nevertheless it nonetheless provides some robust elements. At $1,659, its priced like loads of different machines that additionally supply robust elements, although, and the premium price of at 2-in-1 truly makes it look a bit worse. 

The Acer Swift Go 16 brings alongside a extra highly effective processor and an equal quantity of storage and RAM for a lot much less at $1,149, nevertheless it’s not a 2-in-1. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16ILL10 has a barely weaker processor and half the RAM however prices a lot much less at $1,199. Meanwhile, Samsung provides each a 2-in-1 and a conventional model of its Galaxy Book5 Pro. The regular one prices $1,649 and has that very same weaker processor discovered within the Lenovo system alongside simply 16GB of reminiscence. Meanwhile, the 2-in-1 model we examined consists of the identical CPU as and as a lot reminiscence and RAM because the OmniBook X Flip 16.

To make issues a bit of tough, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 we examined isn’t one Samsung truly sells — moderately it has a $1,699 mannequin (at the moment $1,449) with the identical internals as its regular Galaxy Book5 Pro. Almost all of those programs even have a 2880×1800 OLED show besides Lenovo’s.

IDG / Mark Knapp

Even although the OmniBook X Flip 16  is sitting close to the highest of this group price-wise, it sits on the backside of the pack within the holistic efficiency take a look at, PCMark 10. This assessments a spread of actions, together with shopping, opening apps, modifying spreadsheets, manipulating picture and video, and having video calls. All of the programs carry out nice, readily maintaining with these sorts of frequent duties, however HP simply doesn’t fairly do as a lot. Sometimes, it may possibly simply be a barely slower SSD that may maintain a system again towards opponents with comparable specs, however the OmniBook X Flip 16  lagged behind throughout most of the sub-tests.

IDG / Mark Knapp

Cinebench helps us see one of many culprits of the OmniBook X Flip 16 ’s decrease efficiency in PCMark. Cinebench pushes targeted on the CPU particularly. Unsurprisingly, the Acer Swift Go 16 has a powerful lead throughout these assessments because of its stronger CPU. But the OmniBook X Flip 16  usually confirmed weaker single-core efficiency than its different opponents throughout Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and R24. For multi-core efficiency, it had a greater time main the Lenovo system and its weaker CPU, nevertheless it persistently tailed the 2 Samsung machines though certainly one of them additionally had the identical weaker CPU because the Lenovo. That remained constant even in Cinebench R24, which runs the take a look at longer to indicate the impacts of thermal throttling extra. 

IDG / Mark Knapp

Our Handbrake take a look at additionally pushes the CPU arduous and can present how properly the system can deal with warmth to carry out the duty shortly. After seeing the Cinebench outcomes, it’s clear the OmniBook X Flip 16 can not less than make higher use of its CPU in longer duties than the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1—possible because of its stronger CPU and higher cooling. But once more, each Samsung programs carry out noticeably higher, suggesting that both their energy modes ship extra juice or their cooling permits for greater sustained speeds.

IDG / Mark Knapp

Since all 5 programs are working on some type of Intel built-in graphics, it’s not stunning to see all of them providing largely comparable efficiency. But but once more, the OmniBook X Flip 16  lags behind. Lenovo has roughly 5 p.c higher efficiency within the 3DMark gaming benchmark Time Spy, and the Samsung programs step it up with roughly 10 p.c higher efficiency. It’s an identical story for 3DMark’s Night Raid, besides the variations are even additional in favor of the opposite programs. 

This all places the OmniBook X Flip 16  into a nasty spot. HP merely doesn’t appear to have performed sufficient to verify its system is working in addition to it may. Heat may very well be higher managed, and a customized efficiency profile may need let the CPU run higher than it’s right here. Considering how usually the OmniBook X Flip 16  is getting proven up by a machine with a lower-tier CPU (the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V), it’s clear optimization and settings can matter as a lot or greater than system specs. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Battery life

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 takes some benefit of its dimension to squeeze in a large battery with a 68 watt-hour pack, although it may have gone greater nonetheless. It manages to make use of that battery comparatively effectively. In our 4K native video playback take a look at, which runs the laptop computer in airplane mode with the display at 250-260 nits, the OmniBook X Flip 16  managed to run for nearly 18 hours. That’s pretty spectacular for an enormous, sharp show.

IDG / Mark Knapp

That battery longevity, whereas good, nonetheless isn’t thoughts blowing. It is much better than some, just like the Acer Swift Go 16 2025. But Lenovo’s competing mannequin went even additional, and each had been leagues behind both of Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro fashions. Both Samsung laptops topped 23 hours of battery life, regardless of that includes {hardware} fairly much like the OmniBook X Flip 16. Those are vital leads that may’t be chalked as much as barely bigger batteries alone. What’s extra stunning is that each Samsung programs managed this whereas additionally outperforming the OmniBook X Flip 16 in practically each efficiency take a look at.

In on a regular basis use, the OmniBook X Flip 16  additionally lasts fairly some time, usually making it by way of my workdays with out situation. 

HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Conclusion

The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 is a bit hit and a bit miss, nearly in equal measure. On the one hand, it feels properly constructed and has a pleasant, albeit plain look to it. It has an enormous, beautiful show as properly. But it additionally makes complicated decisions like having enormous grilles that do nearly nothing. Its keyboard prioritizes kind over perform. And a 16-inch pill over 4 kilos most likely received’t be sensible for most individuals, particularly with out dependable palm rejection. 

Then there’s the efficiency. It merely doesn’t take full benefit of the {hardware}, in lots of instances getting outperformed by lower-tier {hardware}. Perhaps it could have labored higher had HP used all of its grilles to get extra airflow and warmth dissipation. But it didn’t. And despite that, the OmniBook X Flip 16 is on the costly facet. Aside from the truth that Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 doesn’t truly come within the configuration we examined, I can see little purpose to decide on the OmniBook X Flip 16 over it. Even although the Samsung has much less reminiscence and a lower-tier processor, I’d anticipate it to carry out near its non-flipping sibling, which as we noticed in our benchmarks additionally completely beat up on the OmniBook X Flip 16.