HP's "Ultra" AMD AI PC is boring on the outside, but there's magic on the inside

In the wake of HP's total consumer rebranding, the 14-inch OmniBook Ultra arrives as one half of the company's two-pronged flagship strategy. A traditional clamshell design disguises this laptop's unwavering focus on performance above all else, rather than the versatile 2-in-2 design of its sibling, the OmniBook Ultra Flip.

The result is a solid and dependable Windows laptop that looks boring on the outside but contains magic on the inside. AMD's latest Ryzen AI chipsets are incredibly capable and the OmniBook Ultra 14 is well-equipped to take advantage, resulting in a beautiful combination of performance and battery life. On top of that, the OmniBook Ultra deviates from the crowd with full-fledged Thunderbolt ports on an AMD-powered device and the first arrival of HP's trusted Wolf Security suite on a consumer device.

All those positives may be enough to excuse the bland design and below-average display, which do little to convey this laptop's premium pricing. HP's investments in AI and an impending Copilot+ PC update are a little less convincing here than with HP's upcoming EliteBook X enterprise release, too. There's a lot to say about this HP laptop, even if it's far from the most exciting I've tested.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Pricing and specifications

The new OmniBook and AI branding is here, but the design doesn't feel as new. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Pricing highlights

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 starts at $1,350, with an AMD Ryzen AI 9, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. There are few configuration options for this laptop, with an upgraded Ryzen AI 9 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage being your max. This laptop clearly focuses more on its performance than anything else, and in some ways doesn't feel like its price. Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) sets the tone with its optional, powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 chipset, which differs from the HX 370 in laptops like the creator-focused ASUS ProArt P16 (2024) I reviewed only in that its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is slightly more capable for AI tasks. In general, the OmniBook Ultra 14 is highly focused on the performance it delivers in a compact form factor, with a side effect of AMD's recent gains in efficiency being shockingly long endurance.

You can configure the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 from $1,349.99 at HP. The base configuration drops down to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 365 with two fewer cores, though, and is limited to just 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. Your only options for upgrading are the processor, memory, and storage, with the top configuration boasting the aforementioned Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage for $1,689.99 at Best Buy, which is the model I reviewed (with Windows 11 Pro instead of Home, however).

Value-wise, the OmniBook Ultra 14 runs like a premium Windows laptop, but doesn't quite feel like it. The design, display, and extra features are identical across all configurations, though, so you only have to decide which processor you want and how much memory and storage you want to pair with it.

In the box, you'll find the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) and a 65W USB Type-C charger with a braided cable. This laptop is covered by HP's standard 1-year Limited Warranty.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Design and build quality

The build quality is solid, but this laptop certainly doesn't look like a 2024 flagship. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy) The OmniBook Ultra 14 takes design cues from the previous Spectre devices with an all-metal chassis and cut corners. While this laptop is decently thin and light with solid build quality, it just doesn't feel quite like its price suggests. It's a boring overall design with outdated display bezels, and the construction isn't as refined as prior HP flagship laptops. Design rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

I love many of HP's laptops, but it's undeniable (and rather unfortunate) that the company has become more conservative with its designs over the years. Bold metallic colors and gem-cut chassis designs are worn to nothing by the steady march of minimalism, resulting in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14.

At 16.5mm and 3.47lbs, this laptop isn't the most compact on the market but it certainly still makes a case for being a "thin-and-light Ultrabook." There's something lacking about this laptop's design, though, that simply makes it boring. The OmniBook Ultra blends into the crowd, and its cut rear corners do little to combat that in their current, watered-down state.

That's not to say this laptop is ugly, I just find it to be bland. The upcoming HP EliteBook X 14 (G1a) shares many similarities with the OmniBook Ultra 14, but despite being thicker its design is more compact, lighter, and more interesting to look at in so many ways than the OmniBook Ultra.

Build quality doesn't help the feeling that this laptop isn't quite worth what HP is asking for it, even if it's more than capable to justify that price tag. The display bezels are outdated by years compared to the average premium Windows laptop, the hinge creaks when opening it, the keyboard deck flexes, and the bottom panel sometimes makes a strange, sharp creaking noise whenever you pick up the laptop with any amount of force. The build quality is solid and I'd trust this laptop to stand the test of time, but it doesn't exude the sort of refinement you expect from a device that starts at over $1,300.

The port selection is a little bit of a mixed bag, too. It's true, this is one of the few AMD-powered laptops that boasts true Thunderbolt 4 ports, and you actually get two here. That's great! On the other side, though, you'll find nought but a 3.5mm audio jack and HP's finicky drop jaw USB Type-A port. T4 ports are awesome to have if you can make use of them, but I think most people would rather have another USB port or HDMI port (the EliteBook X has both of those, by the way).

OmniBook Ultra 14: Display quality

This display is my least favorite part of the OmniBook Ultra, but it does still get the job done. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Display highlights

The OmniBook Ultra's 14-inch IPS LCD display is decent, but that's all it is. Thick bezels, the feeling of a gap between the display and glass screen, and flat colors make it look bland. It's serviceable in terms of color accuracy, brightness, and resolution, but nothing about this display is exciting. Display rating: ⭐⭐⭐

I really don't like this display. No, it's not because HP opted for an IPS LCD panel instead of the OLED screens that are becoming more common in high-end laptops (although an option for it would've been nice). There are plenty of excellent IPS LCD displays in laptops — in fact, one of my favorite is the display in the HP ZBook Firefly 14 (G10) I reviewed, which was bright, color accurate, vibrant, and just so unbelievably pleasant and comfortable to look at.

In contrast, the OmniBook Ultra's display is flat and unappealing, giving the feeling of a sub-$800 Windows laptop from three years ago. The 14-inch, 2.2K IPS LCD display looks fine on paper, but in person it's just... Meh.

This display is average at best in every category, but it's at least energy efficient. (Image credit: Windows Central)

In benchmarks, this display's noteworthy qualities are its respectable contrast ratios for an IPS LCD panel and its remarkably consistent and neutral white balance. It's also a very power efficient display according to HP, and I believe it given this laptop's overall endurance. That's honestly where my positive comments end.

In terms of color accuracy, the OmniBook Ultra doesn't even reach the 100% of the sRGB color gamut that HP promises, and falls well short of the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts; colors in general lack punch. 400nits of max brightness is also unobtainable, and even at full brightness, the OmniBook Ultra appears dimmer than OLED displays that share the same on-paper brightness. This is partially because how we perceive brightness is simply different between backlit LCD and direct OLED displays, but it's more than that.

I can forgive the thicker-than-average bezels, especially since it does make room for a more capable front-facing camera, but the OmniBook Ultra 14 is the first laptop I've used in a while where there feels like a gap between the actual display and the glass screen. It gives the screen a sunken feel that's off-putting, especially when I'm so used to laminated displays in modern devices. The OmniBook Ultra's screen is more than fine for general productivity and web browsing and is decently sharp, but I've not once enjoyed using it — it's just functional.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Performance and thermals

AMD makes for a potent laptop foundation in 2024. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Performance highlights

The OmniBook Ultra is a prime example of just how good modern silicon has gotten between AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. The Ryzen AI 9 inside this laptop is a very strong and reliable performer in every category. This laptop can get quite warm, but still does a great job avoiding performance drops. Performance rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is running one of the most powerful mobile processors you can find in any laptop right now, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. This chipset is very similar to what you'll find in a lot of the other best AMD laptops, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, but boasts an NPU with an additional 5 TOPS of AI computational power.

What matters is that this 12-core chipset is an incredible performer that still runs cool and efficiently, the holy trifecta for any laptop. I'll admit that Intel Evo laptops are still a little better at consistently waking from sleep quickly, but in all other areas the OmniBook Ultra 14 can go toe-to-toe with the absolute best.

Any benchmark you run the OmniBook Ultra will reflect this performance, too. HP put in a blisteringly fast PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD inside this laptop to accompany the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and its Radeon 890M graphics. It's a potent combination that makes this one of the more responsive Ultrabooks I've used lately. The OmniBook Ultra is particularly adept at casual gaming and video encoding compared to a lot of other thin-and-light laptops.

Thermally, the OmniBook Ultra can absolutely get quite warm to the touch (especially above the keyboard deck) and you will hear the fans spin up, but those fans don't rattle or whine and are usually nearly silent. I never encountered any thermal throttling, although larger laptops with more thermal headroom like the ASUS ProArt P16 I mentioned earlier do get better sustained performance — that's just physics, and I imagine the EliteBook X coming later this year will be able to squeeze even more performance out of this chipset.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Software and AI experience

HP's software experience is decent and its AI investments are promising... I just wish the company would cut back on the bloatware. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Software highlights

The OmniBook Ultra runs either Windows 11 Home or Pro, and is a Copilot+ PC that'll support all Microsoft's AI features moving forward. This laptop also benefits from HP's AI features and Wolf Security platform, which genuinely add value. However, HP still loads its consumer laptops with an unreasonable amount of bloatware and fragmented software. Software rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This AMD chipset makes short work of basically anything you can throw at it, so running Windows 11 poses no problem. The OmniBook Ultra 14 is a smooth, reliable laptop for work and play, and the software experience is pleasant. That new AMD silicon also means this is a Copilot+ PC that'll steadily get new AI features through Windows to take advantage of that industry-leading NPU.

On top of that, HP is investing heavily in delivering useful AI features to its laptops like the HP AI Assistant, Print AI, Smart Sense, and more; the promise of AI in consumer laptops still hasn't been fulfilled, in my opinion, but HP stands a better chance than most to capitalize on the latest industry craze.

The OmniBook Ultra is also HP's first consumer device protected by its trusted Wolf Security platform, which is a huge value add that instantly makes this one of the most secure consumer laptops you can buy. HP is also moving more of the Wolf Security suite to the NPU, which greatly improves performance and efficiency so that there's little to no cost for that increased security.

That's all good stuff, but HP's consumer laptops are still unloaded with unwanted bloatware from third parties, and HP's own software still feels needlessly fragmented across a dozen different programs and links. It's annoying having to dive through settings and the File Explore just to enjoy a clean Windows experience on a brand-new laptop, and it simply shouldn't be an issue nowadays.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Battery experience

It takes a lot to make this laptop go dark. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Battery highlights

The OmniBook Ultra has endurance to revival the best ARM-powered Windows laptop, which is an impressive feat. Getting eight hours of real-world usage is a breeze with the OmniBook Ultra, even without compromising on features. An efficient processor and a low-power display certainly help with that endurance. Battery rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was fully expecting the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024) to impress me on the performance front, but was caught off guard by the endurance. Claims about the efficiency gains AMD made with the Ryzen AI family are very different from real-world evidence, but the OmniBook Ultra manages to be one of the longest-lasting laptops I've tested this year.

In Procyon, the OmniBook Ultra only dropped 6% while looping a general Office productivity workload for an hour, and only dropped 5% when looping an HD video at 50% volume. Those are impressive numbers, and are due partially to the one happy side effect of HP's choice of display. This IPS LCD panel is quite efficient, so the OmniBook Ultra's Ryzen AI 9 chipset can squeeze quite a lot of runtime out of this 68Whr battery.

Running a Windows Battery Report, the OmniBook Ultra has never failed to provide me a full day's worth of work, even with high display brightness, lots of tabs and programs open, music playing in the background, and plenty of Wi-Fi usage. Modern Windows laptops have come a long way in terms of endurance, and the OmniBook Ultra still manages to beat expectations. Charging is a breeze via either of the Thunderbolt 4 ports.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Keyboard and touchpad

I like this keyboard and touchpad, that's about all there is to it. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Keyboard highlights

HP is among my favorite Windows OEMs when it comes to quality keyboards, and the OmniBook Ultra does feature a very nice keyboard. It's certainly not my favorite from HP or other companies, but it's a responsive and comfortable keyboard with a great layout. This glass touchpad is also great, although it could be larger and it could be haptic.

It's amazing how complicated a great laptop keyboard really is, when you consider all the minute details that companies need to consider, and HP consistently counts among the best in this department the last few years. I will admit that the OmniBook Ultra 14 isn't my favorite, even just from HP (that honor goes to the HP Spectre x360 14), but this is still an excellent keyboard.

The layout is highly legible, spacious, and intuitive. The keys are comfortable and durable. The key action is responsive and consistent. All the qualities of a great keyboard are here, even if it's missing a little bit of magic to really push it over the top. The touchpad falls into the same category — it's smooth, glass, uses Microsoft Precision drivers, and is both responsive and accurate. It could be a little larger, though, and I will never stop wanting premium laptops to incorporate haptic touchpad technology.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Everything else

This is one of the better laptop webcams, but it still struggles with white balance and exposure. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Other features highlights

The OmniBook Ultra does hit all the fundamentals for a premium Windows laptop. The front-facing camera is better than most, the quad speakers are impressive, and wireless connectivity is excellent. A physical camera shutter, dedicated mic mute button, Windows Hello facial recognition, and the fingerprint sensor handle all your security and privacy needs. Other features rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Aside from the keyboard and touchpad, the rest of the HP OmniBook Ultra is befitting of this laptop's premium standing.

The 9MP front-facing webcam is far higher resolution than most Windows laptops, for example, and is supported by temporal noise reduction, an integrated dual-mic array, and Human Presence Detection (HPD) for those AI-powered privacy and convenience features. There's also a physical camera shutter and a dedicated mic mute switch on the keyboard. Quality-wise, this camera is slow to adjust its exposure and white balance, but once it has the image is clear, detailed, and colorful.

The quad speakers are also impressive. They get very loud, and don't suffer from distortion, loss of clarity, or tinniness at those higher volumes. ASUS still has HP beat in this category right now, but it's great to see Windows laptops more consistently get audio right. The speakers support DTS:X Ultra surround sound, and both the audio system and the webcam are tuned by Poly Studios. On that note, the camera is supported by the Poly Camera Pro app, which takes advantage of the OmniBook Ultra's NPU and uses AI to improve the image quality at the camera level (which means great efficiency, performance, and compatibility).

Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are here for wireless connectivity, and I experienced zero issues with performance or stability. Windows Hello is also here for biometric authentication, and you don't have to rely on the camera for facial recognition if you're concerned about privacy — a fingerprint sensor is built into the power button. The OmniBook Ultra doesn't have the most responsive biometric authentication, but it at least feels reliable.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Competition

I'm honestly more excited about the HP EliteBook X (an enterprise laptop) than the OmniBook Ultra. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

When it comes to comparing the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 to other Windows laptops, you have to consider what exactly you want. If you desire power in a slim and compact clamshell form factor, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) is one of my favorite laptops. If you want the epitome of luxury, the Dell XPS 14 (9440) we reviewed simply can't be beat.

In my opinion, though, one laptop in particular is the obvious alternative to the HP OmniBook Ultra right now, and that's the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. A slightly higher starting price nets you an Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chipset, a phenomenal OLED display, a more versatile 2-in-1 form factor, and some of the best laptop design in the business. I haven't reviewed this laptop (yet, I have it here in my office), but my early impressions immediately make it the more exciting laptop. However, it's not as powerful as the OmniBook Ultra 14.

If that's what you're aiming for, it may be worth waiting for the HP EliteBook X (G1a) coming later this year. The PRO variant of the same AMD Ryzen AI chipset, a more attractive and modern design, a superior display, and more ports make the EliteBook X a very interesting laptop.

OmniBook Ultra 14: Score card

OmniBook Ultra 14: Final thoughts

The HP OmniBook Ultra is a relatively easy recommendation, even if it's not an exciting laptop in any way. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

You should buy this if ...

✅You want an Ultrabook with above-average performance and endurance

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 sells itself on the lofty promises of AMD's latest Ryzen AI chipsets, but it actually delivers with smooth and reliable performance on top of true all-day endurance. Those two pillars are fulfilled, even if others are left a little lacking.

✅You prefer a laptop that doesn't stand out

In terms of design, display, and overall innovation, the OmniBook Ultra is conservative at best, but there are many who prefer a laptop that boasts the capabilities of a premium device without the obvious high-end design.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You want a laptop that justifies its price point on every front

The OmniBook Ultra is a great laptop in many ways, but while it performs like an ultra-premium device, it simply doesn't feel like one. If you're looking for a laptop that will constantly remind you it's worth what you paid for it, the OmniBook Ultra may not fill those shoes.

One of the reasons I've grown fonder of Lenovo and ASUS over the last few years is because of those companies' willingness to explore new designs and push the boundaries for what a modern Windows laptop can be. On the other hand, HP has increasingly grown more reserved with its overall approach to laptop design, resulting in the OmniBook Ultra 14.

The foundation upon which the OmniBook Ultra is built is rock solid. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is an absolutely fantastic chipset that is guaranteed to remain incredible for years into the AI PC revolution, and it lends a great deal of aid toward making this laptop long-lasting enough that you can rely on it to push through entire workdays without worry. The addition of Thunderbolt 4 ports soften one of the few remaining blows for those interested in an AMD-powered device, and the arrival of HP's Wolf Security platform on a consumer device is an underrated boon for everyone.

Even if you look to tertiary features like the touchpad, webcam, speakers, and beyond, the OmniBook Ultra at least delivers the bare minimum that you should expect from a $1,350+ laptop. That being said, I can't overlook this laptop's boring design and decidedly below-average display, which both heavily contribute to an overall experience that doesn't quite match the price tag attached to it. When your laptop starts from $1,349.99 at HP, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a greater level of refinement than what you'll find here.

My final verdict? This is a great laptop... But it's boring.