Prior to now, none of that mattered in a laptop computer this low-cost. The MacBook Neo modified the principles, proving that design issues, even at this value. To get to this value, nonetheless, HP and Apple made very totally different compromises. The OmniBook 3 takes the strategy of retaining 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage on the trade-off of utilizing a barely thicker, plastic chassis. For the correct individual, that is the correct selection.
The thicker chassis additionally makes room for some ports. On the left facet, you may discover an HDMI, a USB-A 2.0, and two USB-C 3.0 ports. The proper facet consists of an extra USB-A 2.0 port and a headphone jack. These USB-A ports are a bit gradual, solely able to 480 MB per second speeds, making it solely actually helpful for connecting peripherals.
I criticized the MacBook Neo for utilizing a USB-C 2.0 port on the time, so I’ve to hold that right here too. It is much less complicated for customers on this case because it’s USB-A, however I by no means like seeing a model new laptop computer utilizing a 25-year previous connectivity customary. Additionally, I might a lot somewhat have an extra USB-C port on the correct facet somewhat than the USB-A, if solely only for the flexibility to cost from either side of the machine.
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
HP has stated the touchpad has been improved on this 12 months’s mannequin, and it very effectively could also be, as I by no means truly examined the 2025 model of the Omnibook 3. I did check the Omnibook 5, nonetheless, a laptop computer I advisable rather a lot, and the standard of the touchpad feels kind of the identical. It isn’t the worst I’ve used, nevertheless it’s positively one of many cheapest-feeling elements of the laptop computer. The press is not overly loud, although, which I recognize.
The keyboard, alternatively, feels exact and clicky. It comes with a quantity pad to the correct, which implies the touchpad cannot be centered on the palm rests. That is typical, and as a lot as I might favor to not have the quantity pad in any respect, makes an attempt to heart the touchpad just like the Acer Swift 16 AI someway make it worse.
