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I loved gazing at the ultra-thin design of HP’s 2-in-1 OmniBook — but its OLED display captivated me even more

4:56 pm | March 23, 2026

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Two-minute review

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a 2-in-1 laptop designed with creators in mind, owing to its capable spec and bundled stylus.

It looks smart and sleek, especially in its dark blue guise, which adds more interest than the grey alternative. The angled back corners also distinguish it from the crowd, as well as serving a practical purpose that I’ll come to later.

The standout aspect of its form, though, is its thinness. It certainly cuts a slender figure, but more remarkable is the fact that this doesn’t come at the expense of sturdiness: the aluminum frame has no flex at all, and easily ranks among the best 2-in-1 laptops in terms of build quality.

The downside of this construction, though, is its weight. The Ultra Flip is heavier than you might expect, which makes it a little more onerous to carry around than its rivals. It’s still within acceptable bounds, however.

Oddly, it’s the included stylus, the HP MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen, that presents more of a portability issue. It’s stored on the side of the base, and since it’s quite large, it can easily snag when putting away or taking out the laptop from a bag. What’s more, the magnetic attraction isn’t strong enough to prevent it from detaching completely in such instances.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 — (Image credit: Future)

You don’t get many ports on the Ultra Flip, which is understandable given that thin base, not to mention the space needed for storing the Tilt Pen. However, the Ultra Flip makes clever use of its limited real estate, as those aforementioned rear corners house two of the laptop’s three USB-C ports. This is a practical location, although it’s a minor shame that only one of them supports the Thunderbolt 4 standard (the other Thunderbolt 4 port is on the right side of the base).

The all-round performance of the Ultra Flip is respectable. It dispatches most workaday tasks without issue, from general browsing and productivity to 4K streaming and light gaming.

Despite being marketed for creators, though, it’s a little disappointing that the Ultra Flip only features integrated graphics. It’s also a concern that it failed to complete Puget Bench’s video editing benchmark — something one its nearest rivals, the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, also failed, by the by.

Having said this, I found its graphical performance reasonably impressive for a machine without a dedicated GPU. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 in a playable state, offering just enough visual fidelity and performance for a casual session.

What’s more, the Ultra Flip stays cool and composed during such workloads. Any heat that is emitted is confined to the very rear of the base, where you won’t feel it. Fan noise can make itself known, but it’s impressively hushed compared to others.

Perhaps the best part of the Ultra Flip, though, is its display. It’s as deep and as rich as you’d expect from an OLED, while the 3K resolution offers a crystal clear image. It’s also very bright, which helps to nullify any pesky reflections. The touchscreen and Tilt Pen are responsive and easy to use as well.

Three-quarter view of HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 open on white desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

The keyboard allows for quick typing, thanks to the generous spacing of the keys, in addition to their light and shallow actuation. They can feel a little harsh when you hammer down hard, but otherwise they’re perfectly comfortable.

I found the touchpad occasionally encroached while typing, but this wasn’t egregious enough to disrupt productivity. In fact, its large size is actually a boon for such tasks, since it makes navigation that much easier. The pad also supports numerous gestures and functions, including the ability to adjust system brightness and volume by sliding up and down on either side. These ‘sliders’ feature haptic feedback that I didn’t find particularly engaging, but at least doesn’t make the controls unusable.

The battery life of the Ultra Flip is very impressive, lasting 18 hours when playing back a movie on a continuous loop. There aren’t many laptops that can beat this, although the Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is one of them; this lasted over 30 hours in the same test, which is quite astonishing.

In many ways, MSI’s 2-in-1 is a close rival to the Ultra Flip, but I believe the latter has the edge in key categories. Its display is superior and it lacks the same touchpad frustrations.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Price & availability

Starts from $1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399
Available now in two colorways
Reasonable price for the spec

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip starts from $1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399 and is available now in two colors: blue and grey. Various configurations are possible, with Intel Core Ultra 5, 7, and 9 CPUs available, while RAM ranges from 16GB to 32GB and storage options from 512GB to 2TB.

Considering the spec and design, the Ultra Flip is reasonably priced for a 2-in-1 laptop. The nearest equivalent model, the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, costs a similar amount, and likewise features an Intel Core Ultra 7 and a 1TB SSD. There are differences, though: the Prestige has a much lower display resolution, but double the RAM (32GB) and unparalleled battery life, outlasting the Ultra Flip and many of the best touchscreen laptops by a wide margin.

If you’re after a considerably less expensive 2-in-1 and don’t mind forgoing Windows, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is worth considering. This is among the best Chromebooks around for those on a tight budget, thanks to its build quality, compact form, and impressive display. You’ll have to provide your own stylus, though.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Specs

	Base	Review	Max
Price	$1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399	$1,629.99 / £1,499 / AU$3,699	$2,099.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,999
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 5 226V (up to 4.5 GHz, 8 cores)	Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (2.2GHz, 8 cores)	Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (up to 5.1GHz, 8 cores)
GPU	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)
RAM	16GB LPDDR5x	16GB LPDDR5x Aus: 32GB LPDDR5x	32GB LPDDR5x
Storage	512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen
Ports and Connectivity	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery	64Wh	64Wh	64Wh
Dimensions	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)
Weight	3lbs / 1.34kg	3lbs / 1.34kg	3lbs / 1.34kg

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Design

Super thin
Premium build quality
Incongruous stylus storage

The Ultra Flip exhibits an understated but fetching design. I especially liked the dark blue colorway of my review unit, departing from the monochromatic crowd (although a grey finish is also available). I also liked the angular back corners, which add interest and serve a practical purpose that I’ll explain later.

It feels more premium than many others in the space, too. The aluminum body is as sturdy as you’d expect, a feat that’s all the more remarkable given just how thin the whole unit is. Meanwhile, the lid is both easy to adjust and perfectly stable once in place.

The downside of this construction, though, is the weight. The Ultra Flip is noticeably heavier than some of its plastic rivals, and while it’s still perfectly fit for backpacks or suitcases, those who are fastidious about traveling light might feel let down — literally.

Other portability issues arise courtesy of the included stylus, HP’s MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen. It’s quite large and thick, which makes it cumbersome when stored on the side of the laptop, as it has a tendency to catch and fall off when you're depositing and retrieving the laptop from a bag. It can often fall off completely in such cases, since the magnets aren’t strong enough to keep the pen in place.

I also experienced times when the pen would rotate towards the underside of the base whenever I lifted the Ultra Flip up, resulting in it being crushed when I set it down again.

Having said all this, there’s plenty to like about the Tilt Pen’s design. That sizable form makes it easy to hold, while its two buttons are generously proportioned and well placed, which makes them easy to operate with your writing hand. And while the pen doesn’t support wireless charging, the USB-C port is at least discreetly locked away behind an elegant sliding mechanism.

For such a thin laptop, you mightn’t be surprised to learn that the Ultra Flip’s port selection is limited. There are no USB-A ports, which might cause peripheral-heavy users some headaches, since even the best mice and keyboards today still employ the standard in their dongles.

There are three USB-C ports, though, and the Ultra Flip deploys a clever space-saving trick with two of them, as they’re integrated within those aforementioned rear corners. What’s more, this placement helps to keep any connected cables out of the way, as well as making it easy to locate each port without having to crane your neck to see exactly where they are.

It’s a shame, though, that these two corner ports differ in their specification. The one in the right corner is Thunderbolt 4 — which supports 40Gbps transfer speeds, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1 — while the one on the left isn’t, only supporting 10Gbps transfer speeds, DisplayPort 1.4a, and lacks fast charging.

It would be more convenient if both corner ports were Thunderbolt 4 to accommodate a wider variety of locations of monitors and power sources that require it. Instead, the other Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port is located on the right side of the base, which is less practical.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Performance

Sharp and rich OLED display
Unintrusive yet noticeable fan noise
Responsive touchscreen and stylus

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 34,738; Fire Strike: 8,935; Steel Nomad: 602; Solar Bay: 16,161; Solar Bay Unlimited: 12,751; Solar Bay Extreme: 2,101; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 2,193
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 10,906; Single-core: 2,743
Cinebench R23: Multi Core: 8,806; Cinebench R24: Single Core: 118; Multi Core: 530
Crossmark: Overall: 1,705; Productivity: 1,642; Creativity: 1,935; Responsiveness: 1,305
Passmark Overall: 6,194; CPU: 21,831.3; 2D Graphics: 638.9; 3D Graphics: 5,038.6; Memory: 2,844.4; Disk: 47,357.1
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 3,543MB/s; Write: 3,707MB/s
HandBrake 4K to 1080p: 51.82fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1080p, Medium: 47fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1800p, Ultra: 12fps
PCMark Battery Test (Modern Office): 15 hours and 33 minutes
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 18 hours and 2 minutes

For everyday use, the Ultra Flip is highly capable. It can handle light productivity and entertainment with ease, including multi-tab browsing and 4K video streaming.

I was also surprised by how well it gamed, despite lacking a dedicated GPU. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 at the Ray Tracing: Low preset in a state that was playable, if very rough-and-ready. It’s certainly not going to trouble the best gaming laptops, but for some quick fun, it suffices.

However, it failed to complete Puget Bench’s benchmark for Adobe Premiere, due to a certain GPU effect being unable to render. I had this same problem when I tested the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, which also has no dedicated GPU, so I suspect this shared aspect is the culprit in both cases. Video editors, therefore, might want to look elsewhere.

At times, the fans can emit a noticeable amount of noise, even when moderate workloads are being conducted. However, the sound is low-pitched and more hushed than that of other laptop fans, which makes it less grating. Extreme temperatures are kept at bay, too, with any heat generated confined to the very rear of the base.

The widescreen OLED display is one of the Ultra Flip’s highlights. The 3K resolution is gloriously sharp, while colors are deep and rich, with that typical OLED contrast living up to its acclaim. Some reflections are revealed under suboptimal lighting conditions, but I found the high brightness levels available were often enough to combat them effectively. What’s more, the touchscreen is responsive and accurate, making it great to use with fingers or the Tilt Pen.

The keyboard of the Ultra Flip is very light and snappy, which makes for quick and easy typing. The ultra low profile of the keys also helps in this regard, although those who hammer away might find them a little harsh, due to their lack of dampening. There are plenty of useful shortcuts on the F row, but the lack of a number pad or even a navigation cluster hampers productivity.

There are no such issues with the touchpad, though. Its silky-smooth surface combined with its large surface area makes it easy to navigate with. What’s more, it supports plenty of gestures, although they’re somewhat hidden away, requiring the use of the preinstalled HP app to enable them.

There are even two ‘sliders’ either side of the touchpad, used to control volume and brightness respectively. They feature prominent haptic feedback that emulates notches as you make your adjustments, similar in feel to those of a scroll wheel. These can feel a little at odds with your actual finger movement, lacking the level of responsiveness I would’ve liked. The clicking sound produced is also quite loud and not particularly pleasant. However, these are minor quibbles, and the controls work well overall.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Battery life

Three-quarter view of ports on left-hand side of HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Ultra Flip is very impressive. HP claims it can last just over 16 hours unplugged, but this figure is something of an underestimate. When I played back a movie on a continuous loop, it actually managed to sustain itself for 18 hours.

This puts it in league with the most enduring laptops around. Very few can outlast it, but one that can is MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, another 2-in-1 machine. This managed over 30 hours, which is pretty much unbeatable in the laptop sphere.

Fully charging the Ultra Flip from empty took a little over two hours, which is also admirable.

Should I buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14?

Category	Notes	Rating
Value	Considering all the quality and specs on offer, the Ultra Flip is good value for money.	4 / 5
Design	The supreme build quality is certainly welcome, although the unexpected heaviness and stylus storage issues are not.	4 / 5
Performance	The Ultra Flip performs well in many areas, even light gaming, although video editors might be disappointed. The excellent OLED display is exceptional, though.	4 / 5
Battery Life	Among the best in class. Only a few can outlast it.	4.5 / 5
Final Score	The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is very well made and performs well in most areas, with the OLED display being the true highlight. Only a few minor flaws blemish this otherwise competent, convertible laptop.	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a great display
The 3K OLED display is every bit as sumptuous as you would hope. The touchscreen functions very well, too.

You want a premium build
The uber-thin design oozes class, while the formidable aluminum body is reminiscent of the best MacBooks, which is high praise indeed.

Don't buy it if…

You prize lightness
Despite the thin body, the Ultra Flip is actually quite hefty, so those who want to pack as light as possible might be a shade disappointed.

You want plenty of ports
With only three USB ports (all of which are Type-C) and a headset jack, you’ll need a hub if you’ve got plenty of connections to make.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: also consider

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is comparable in many ways to the Ultra Flip, including on price. There are some key differences, though. It has a much smaller stylus, and a much tidier storage solution for it — which also features wireless charging. However, I had a real issue with its touchpad ‘sliders’ misfiring, something I didn’t experience with those on the Ultra Flip. Read our full MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
A considerably cheaper 2-in-1, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is ideal for those on a budget. Granted, you won’t be getting the power and versatility of a Windows machine, but this compact Chromebook is great for basic tasking. Its display is crisp and its touchscreen perfectly usable, although you’ll have to provide your own stylus if you don’t want to use your fingers. Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14

Tested for several days
Used for a variety of tasks
Laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Ultra Flip for several days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks, from browsing and productivity to content streaming and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmarks, designed to reveal the true capabilities of a device. I tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop until it completely depleted.

I have plenty of experience reviewing laptops of all kinds, from small budget offerings to large and premium gaming machines.

First reviewed: March 2026
Read more about how we test

I loved gazing at the ultra-thin design of HP’s 2-in-1 OmniBook — but its OLED display captivated me even more

4:56 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin, CPU, OLED, Total War | Comments: Off

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Two-minute review

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a 2-in-1 laptop designed with creators in mind, owing to its capable spec and bundled stylus.

The all-round performance of the Ultra Flip is respectable. It dispatches most workaday tasks without issue, from general browsing and productivity to 4K streaming and light gaming.

In many ways, MSI’s 2-in-1 is a close rival to the Ultra Flip, but I believe the latter has the edge in key categories. Its display is superior and it lacks the same touchpad frustrations.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Price & availability

Starts from $1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399
Available now in two colorways
Reasonable price for the spec

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Specs

	Base	Review	Max
Price	$1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399	$1,629.99 / £1,499 / AU$3,699	$2,099.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,999
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 5 226V (up to 4.5 GHz, 8 cores)	Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (2.2GHz, 8 cores)	Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (up to 5.1GHz, 8 cores)
GPU	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)	Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)
RAM	16GB LPDDR5x	16GB LPDDR5x Aus: 32GB LPDDR5x	32GB LPDDR5x
Storage	512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen
Ports and Connectivity	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery	64Wh	64Wh	64Wh
Dimensions	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)	12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)
Weight	3lbs / 1.34kg	3lbs / 1.34kg	3lbs / 1.34kg

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Design

Super thin
Premium build quality
Incongruous stylus storage

I also experienced times when the pen would rotate towards the underside of the base whenever I lifted the Ultra Flip up, resulting in it being crushed when I set it down again.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Performance

Sharp and rich OLED display
Unintrusive yet noticeable fan noise
Responsive touchscreen and stylus

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 benchmarks

For everyday use, the Ultra Flip is highly capable. It can handle light productivity and entertainment with ease, including multi-tab browsing and 4K video streaming.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Battery life

Fully charging the Ultra Flip from empty took a little over two hours, which is also admirable.

Should I buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14?

Category	Notes	Rating
Value	Considering all the quality and specs on offer, the Ultra Flip is good value for money.	4 / 5
Design	The supreme build quality is certainly welcome, although the unexpected heaviness and stylus storage issues are not.	4 / 5
Performance	The Ultra Flip performs well in many areas, even light gaming, although video editors might be disappointed. The excellent OLED display is exceptional, though.	4 / 5
Battery Life	Among the best in class. Only a few can outlast it.	4.5 / 5
Final Score	The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is very well made and performs well in most areas, with the OLED display being the true highlight. Only a few minor flaws blemish this otherwise competent, convertible laptop.	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a great display
The 3K OLED display is every bit as sumptuous as you would hope. The touchscreen functions very well, too.

You want a premium build
The uber-thin design oozes class, while the formidable aluminum body is reminiscent of the best MacBooks, which is high praise indeed.

Don't buy it if…

You prize lightness
Despite the thin body, the Ultra Flip is actually quite hefty, so those who want to pack as light as possible might be a shade disappointed.

You want plenty of ports
With only three USB ports (all of which are Type-C) and a headset jack, you’ll need a hub if you’ve got plenty of connections to make.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: also consider

How I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14

Tested for several days
Used for a variety of tasks
Laptop reviewing experience

I have plenty of experience reviewing laptops of all kinds, from small budget offerings to large and premium gaming machines.

First reviewed: March 2026
Read more about how we test

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ review: a sleek business laptop with all-day battery life

7:12 am | March 18, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: AI, CPU, RAM | Comments: Off

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Two-minute review

The MSI Prestige 14 AI+ is a sleek business-focused laptop with a premium design that manages an interesting and useful mix of the features and performance you need, but skips a lot of the bloat.

As the name suggests, it’s a 14-inch laptop, and it’s aimed at users on the go who need a thin and light machine that still offers decent performance and battery life. The Prestige 14 measures in at 31.6 x 22.2 x 1.2 - 1.4cm (12.4 x 8.7 x 0.47 - 0.55 inches) and weighs 1.32kg (2.91 lbs) — an excellent size for portability without being too small. Compared to the non-Windows competition, it’s chunkier than a MacBook Air, but is slimmer and lighter than a MacBook Pro.

The Prestige 14 AI+ D3M configuration I tested uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 355 CPU with 32GB of onboard LPDDR5x memory and a 1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD — a popular spec in laptops launched in 2026. You can also get the Prestige 14 AI+ in the same spec but with a 512GB SSD, or with a more powerful Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU.

While the Prestige 14 AI+ is a classic clamshell laptop, there’s also a similar 2-in-1 model. If that’s more your style, check out our MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review.

On the left side, the Prestige 14 AI+ has two USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports (both supporting DisplayPort and 100W charging), plus an HDMI 2.1 output. The right side features dual USB-A ports and a 3.5mm headset jack.

The pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports makes it easy to connect the laptop up to a dock or monitor, and if also using HDMI, you can drive 3 external displays. I generally like having one USB-C port on each side, but the dual left ports plus HDMI setup does make it neat on a desk.

The 14-inch OLED display has a resolution of 1920 x 1200 (a pleasing 16:10 aspect ratio) with excellent 100% DCI-P3 color. MSI doesn't quote a specific NIT figure on the local spec sheet, but in use the glossy OLED panel is bright enough to overcome reflections in slightly glary office environments but struggles a little outdoors.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ with screen folded back — The Prestige 14 AI+ screen can fold back through 180 degrees (Image credit: Future)

Handily, the screen folds back through a full 180 degrees, which is great for sharing content across a table or using the laptop in a vertical stand. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is perfectly fine at this size but not quite as sharp as I prefer and you will need to look at the larger 16-inch Prestige 16 AI+ if you want a higher res screen, like 2880x1800.

The IR FHD webcam gives decent quality video when well-lit and is still acceptable in tougher lower-light conditions. It supports facial recognition unlocks, plus has a physical shutter for privacy. Speaker quality is better than expected, though as is normal in a thin laptop, the sound gets a little muddy at higher volumes.

The backlit keyboard has deep key travel, very little bounce and no distracting light bleed from under the keys. The large touchpad is nice and accurate and supports gestures, though its non-haptic click mechanism has unusually deep travel, especially on right click, and can feel a little awkward at times.

The new Intel Series 3 Core Ultra 7 355 CPU is a good fit for this kind of thin-and-light machine. In daily use the Prestige 14 AI+ feels very responsive for typical office work, photo editing and even heavier multitasking. This is thanks in part to the snappy CPU, but also due to the 32GB of RAM and fast SSD. The integrated graphics are a step down from Intel Arc iGPUs but performance is plenty for accelerating lighter creative work and even some casual gaming.

The battery has an 81Wh capacity — decently large for this class of machine — and the laptop lasted an excellent 14 hours and 42 minutes unplugged when doing office tasks. Video playback is even better at 16 hours and 21 minutes in testing, meaning the Prestige will happily make it through a day unplugged.

All in all, the combination of snappy everyday performance and excellent battery life in a stylish portable laptop makes the MSI Prestige 14 AI+ easy to recommend.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ close up of screen and keyboard — (Image credit: Future)

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $1,699 / £1,449 / AU$2,599
When is it available? Available now
Where is it available? Available in the US, UK and Australia

The MSI Prestige 14 AI+ is very new, so at the time of writing availability is not yet widespread and in the US, only the Ultra X7 385H variant is for sale.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 variant tested costs around £1,449 in the UK and AU$2,599 in Australia, though some retailers already have it a little cheaper. You can also save a little by opting for the 512GB SSD spec.

The pricing places the MSI Prestige 14 AI+ firmly in premium ultrabook territory rather than the more budget-friendly business-laptop space, but the spec and features do help justify the higher asking price — especially as the latest generation of laptops has experienced noticeable price rises compared to 2025 models. Still, I hope to see the price come down over time to help keep it competitive.

The Intel Ultra X7 358H variant is also sold in Australia and the UK with up to a 2TB SSD and is only slightly more expensive — so it’s well worth checking out if you need more storage or higher performance.

Value score: 4 / 5

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ half closed on a coffee table — The Prestige 14 AI+ has a sleek and premium design (Image credit: Future)

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Specs

The Prestige 14 AI+ family includes several variants, but the configuration tested here is straightforward: an Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 32GB of onboard LPDDR5x memory, a 1TB SSD and a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 OLED display.

The other common option is a model with a more powerful Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU and up to a 2TB SSD.

	MSI Prestige 14 AI+ (as tested)	MSI Prestige 14 AI+ (top spec)
Price	£1,449 / AU$2,599	£1,549 / AU$2,799
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 8 cores (4 P-cores + 4 Low Power E-cores), 8 threads, up to 4.7GHz, 12MB cache, up to 49 NPU TOPS	Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 16 cores (4 P-cores + 8 E-cores + 4 Low Power E-cores), 16 threads, up to 4.8GHz, 18MB cache, up to 50 NPU TOPS
GPU	Intel Graphics	Intel Arc B390 GPU
Screen	14-inch, 16:10, 1920 x 1200, OLED, glossy, non-touch	14-inch, 16:10, 1920 x 1200, OLED, glossy, non-touch
RAM	32GB / 64GB LPDDR5x	32GB / 64GB LPDDR5x
Storage	512GB - 2TB NVMe SSD	Up to 2TB NVMe SSD
Ports	Left side: 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with DisplayPort and 100W charging, HDMI 2.1 Right side: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 3.5mm headset jack	Left side: 2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C with DisplayPort and 100W charging, HDMI 2.1 Right side: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 3.5mm headset jack
Wireless	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1775, Bluetooth 6	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1775, Bluetooth 6
Camera	IR FHD (1080p) webcam with HDR, 3DNR+, 3-mic array	IR FHD (1080p) webcam with HDR, 3DNR+, 3-mic array
Weight	1.32 kg (2.91 lbs)	1.32 kg (2.91 lbs)
Dimensions	31.6 x 22.2 x 1.2–1.4cm (12.4 x 8.7 x 0.47–0.55 inches)	31.6 x 22.2 x 1.2–1.4cm (12.4 x 8.7 x 0.47–0.55 inches)

Specs score: 4 / 5

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ close up of left side ports — On the left — dual USB-C Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1Future

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ close up of right hand side ports — On the left — dual USB-C Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1Future

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Design

180-degree fold-flat screen
Dual Thunderbolt 4
16:10 OLED display

The Prestige 14 AI+ looks and feels like a proper premium laptop compared to MSI's more budget-friendly office machines, and it has a sleek, understated design that easily rivals the best from other brands.

The Prestige 14 measures in at 31.6 x 22.2 x 1.2–1.4cm (12.4 x 8.7 x 0.47–0.55 inches), and its 1.32kg (2.91 lbs) weight makes it a very manageable laptop to carry around every day. The curved edges of the aluminum alloy design make it feel pleasantly slim in hand (or when slipping it into a bag) but it’s strong enough to use without any undue flexing.

The port fitout and left/right split is pretty standard on laptops these days and has everything needed for most users. It would be nice to see little extras like an SD card reader, or another USB-C port on the right, but that’s increasingly rare.

MSI says the laptop can be equipped with 64GB of RAM, but for now I have only seen 32GB variants for sale. The RAM is soldered so can’t be upgraded, but the SSD uses a M.2 slot so can be swapped out in the future if you need more space.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ closed on a coffee table — Future

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ right hand side closed on a coffee table — Future

The keyboard is above average, with comfortable sizing (even for my large hands), deep travel and very little bounce during a vigorous deadline-induced writing session.

The trackpad is large and accurate to use and supports gestures like adjusting volume or brightness, and has a handy shortcut to the calculator and the MSI Center S management software. You do need to turn the gestures on manually and once you get used to them they work pretty well, and they aren't easy to accidentally trigger. You can also set up your own custom actions for gestures, like activating specific hotkeys or launching apps.

Overall I found the trackpad to be above average and my only complaint during my use was that right-clicking in the lower corner felt oddly deep, despite it working just fine.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ trackpad close up — The right click on the touchpad works fine but has very deep travelFuture

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ close up of keyboard — The right click on the touchpad works fine but has very deep travelFuture

The 16:10 display gives that little bit of extra screen real estate that you only realize is so helpful if ever going back to a 16:9 laptop. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is lower than I usually like, but considering the 14-inch footprint, it's quite sharp and usable day to day. That’s helped by the OLED panel with an excellent 100% DCI-P3 color rating, and while there’s no listed brightness, it’s good enough even in bright office environments, but the glossy surface shows a lot of reflections if outdoors at a cafe.

If you want a higher resolution display, then look at the larger Prestige 16 AI+ C3MG lineup. The spec is very similar overall, but you get a 16-inch 2880x1800 OLED display and the price is only slightly higher. Or for touchscreen support, the Prestige 14 Flip machines offer a comparable laptop but with a 2-in-1 design.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ open in a vertical stand — The fold back screen means the Prestige 14 works well in a vertical standFuture

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ screen folded back — The fold back screen means the Prestige 14 works well in a vertical standFuture

My favorite feature though is that the screen uses a hinge that allows it to fold back through 180 degrees. That is very useful for using the laptop in a vertical stand next to external monitors — in my testing I had it upright and flat next to dual vertically mounted 4K 27” panels, letting me use the laptop screen as an extra workspace for things like a Slack chat. The fold-back screen also makes it easy to share content across a table, and works well in one-on-one meetings.

The Prestige 14 AI+ includes an IR webcam and fingerprint reader, so secure logins are fast and easy. Many laptops only have one or the other, but having both means you can use whatever method you prefer, or turn off facial logins if needed without resorting to using a pin or password.

Design score: 4 / 5

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Performance

Great everyday performance
Very quiet in normal use
Fast 1TB SSD

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Benchmarks

Here's how the MSI Prestige 14 AI+ performed in the TechRadar suite of benchmark tests:

PCMark 10: 7,827

CrossMark: Overall 1,873

Geekbench 6 CPU: Single-core 2,745; Multi-core 11,494

Geekbench AI: Single precision 2,140; Half precision 1,083; Quantized 4,449

Cinebench 2024: CPU multi: 497 pts; CPU single: 109 pts

CrystalDiskMark: Read: 6,960.75 MB/s; Write: 6,334.84 MB/s

Blender Benchmark: Monster 63.35; Junkshop 39.15; Classroom 26.94

3DMark suite: Time Spy 3,296; Time Spy Extreme 1,511; Steel Nomad 616; Steel Nomad Light 2,496; Night Raid 28,914; Fire Strike 6,502; Fire Strike Ultra 1,597, Solar Bay 12,295; Solar Bay Extreme 1,792; Wild Life 21,587; Wild Life Extreme 5,729

Battery: Work battery 14 hours 42 minutes; Video battery 16 hours 21 minutes

The MSI Prestige 14 AI+ feels snappy in typical use, with top-notch single-core performance plus fast RAM and storage. The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 is aimed at being an efficient chip for thin and light laptops, so multicore performance is lower than you get with more powerful CPUs.

It’s still plenty for most tasks, but for anyone who runs more demanding apps, the Prestige 14 with the more powerful Intel Core Ultra X7 358H is well worth the slightly higher price. For most users though, the Ultra 7 355 is a good mix of performance and efficiency.

MSI has equipped the Prestige 14 with a very fast SSD that can approach the limits of the PCIe 4.0 interface. In my tests the drive managed 6,961 MB/s read and 6,335 MB/s writes in CrystalDiskMark, which helps ensure the laptop feels fast when launching apps and multitasking.

Of course, decent performance in a thin form factor means some fan noise is expected under heavy load. Like most laptops these days, MSI uses vapor chamber cooling and during normal office work the Prestige 14 AI+ is mostly inaudible, or very quiet when the fans do spool up a little.

It gets that characteristic laptop fan whine under heavy loads, but does ramp down quickly once the CPU isn’t working as hard. The chassis does get noticeably warm if you push the laptop for an extended period, but the keyboard, touchpad and underside never became uncomfortably hot in my testing.

Graphics performance is naturally limited by the integrated GPU, but it is still respectable for a thin business laptop. The Prestige 14 AI+ scored 3,296 in 3DMark Time Spy and 6,502 in Fire Strike, which is a bit less than last gen CPUs like the Intel Ultra 7 258V, but enough for lighter GPU work and some casual play with older or less demanding games.

If you need a laptop that can compete with low-end discrete graphics, then opting for the Prestige 14 with the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU is a good call, as it has a much more powerful Intel Arc B390 iGPU, which offers over 50% higher performance.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 includes an NPU with up to 49 TOPs performance, but we are still in that awkward phase where it’s underutilized most of the time. Still, it’s only going to get more useful, and already offers advantages such as efficiently handling webcam backgrounds and video effects in otherwise notorious resource-hogging apps like Teams.

If your workload consists of typical office tasks — writing, handling spreadsheets, multitasking across apps, image editing and other general productivity, the Prestige 14 AI+ has more than enough performance.

If you need to handle more creator-style workloads, then it’s definitely worth looking at other models, such as the MSI Prestige 16 AI+ C3M.

Performance score: 4 / 5

MSI Prestige 14 AI+ close up of included 65W charger next to laptop — The included 65W charger is fairly compact (Image credit: Future)

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Battery life

14 hours and 42 minutes work when unplugged
16 hours and 21 minutes of video playback

The Prestige 14 AI+ has an 81Wh battery — decently large considering the light weight and thin design meaning battery life is one of its key strengths. Connected to Wi-Fi, I managed 14 hours and 42 minutes of lighter office-style work (like writing reviews) on battery, which is more than enough to get through a long day.

If you add in some more demanding tasks like a lot of image editing, then battery life slips. But even then the CPU is efficient enough that you need to be working it pretty hard before you can’t make it through a day unplugged.

The Prestige 14 AI+ charges over USB-C using its included 65W adapter (though it supports 100W), and you can quickly add back 50% of charge in about 30 minutes, or be fully topped off in about 1.5 hours. The charger is not too bulky and you can change the AC end of the cable if going overseas.

For less demanding tasks such as video playback, the laptop lasts even longer. With Wi-Fi on and the screen at 50% brightness, it lasted 16 hours and 21 minutes.

Overall the Prestige 14 combines the large battery and efficient CPU well and is a solid choice if you need to get work done when on the go.

Battery life score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the MSI Prestige 14 AI+?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Higher end pricing, but still competitive against alternative options.	4 / 5
Specs	Well-rounded for productivity, plugged in or on the go.	4 / 5
Design	Sleek and lightweight, but without any problematic compromises.	4 / 5
Performance	Quite good for a slim laptop, and it has a more powerful CPU option available	4 / 5
Battery	Excellent endurance overall and happily lasts a day unplugged	4.5 / 5
Overall	A polished productivity focused laptop with the features you need but no extra bloat	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want long battery life
With 14 hours and 42 minutes of office productivity runtime, the Prestige 14 AI+ can comfortably get through a full workday when on the go.

You need a capable yet efficient travel workhorse
The Core Ultra 7 355, 32GB of RAM and fast SSD make it a good fit for multitasking, office work and lighter creative tasks.

You connect to external displays
Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort, plus HDMI 2.1, make the Prestige 14 AI+ easy to slot into a multi-monitor setup

Don't buy it if...

You love a high resolution display
The 1920 x 1200 OLED panel looks pretty good in the 14-inch frame, but if you want 2880 x 1800 or better you need to look at other models.

You are fussy about touchpads
The touchpad is large and is accurate, but its deep physical click feels a touch awkward at times.

You want 64GB of RAM
At the time of writing the variants with more RAM are not yet available.

MSI Prestige 14 AI+: Also consider

If my MSI Prestige 14 AI+ review has you considering other options, here are three alternatives to consider...

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
Want a more flexible take on the Prestige formula? The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a very similar laptop but uses a convertible 2-in-1 design and has a touchscreen and pen.

Check out our full MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review

HP OmniBook 7 Aero
The OmniBook 7 Aero is a great option if you are after a low weight laptop, and it offers a good balance of performance and portability.

Check out our full HP OmniBook 7 Aero review

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI
Another business laptop with portability in mind, the TravelMate P6 14 AI is worth a look for anyone on the go a lot.

Check out our full Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI laptop review

How I tested the MSI Prestige 14 AI+

I tested the MSI Prestige 14 AI+ for two weeks
I used it both at a desk and when working on the go
I tested it with benchmarking tools, battery testing and everyday workloads

I ran the MSI Prestige 14 AI+ through the usual comprehensive array of TechRadar benchmarks, as well as using it for actual day-to-day work.

I used it for office tasks, media playback, multitasking and general productivity work, while also checking battery life, thermals, noise and charging times.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+: Two-minute review

The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a convertible laptop marketed for business users, and includes a stylus to unlock its full creative potential.

It cuts a sophisticated figure, thanks to its dark grey finish and minimal aesthetic. The ultra thin chassis with its soft, curved edges also help to make this an easy laptop to live with, especially if you’re frequently on the move.

Build quality is also excellent. Every material feels premium, and while the hinges for the lid are a little incongruous, they provide a very smooth pivot, which ranks among the best 2-in-1 laptop actions.

The included Nano Pen is engineered to an equally high standard. Like the laptop itself, it’s very compact, and stows away neatly under the front edge of the base, where it also charges wirelessly. It’s easy enough to remove, but putting it back is a little more awkward, since its integrated magnets encourage it to orient incorrectly.

For a laptop this small, it’s impressive that the Flip AI+ manages to include four USB ports (two type-C and two type-A), an HDMI port, and a headset jack. It’s a small shame, though, that a productivity-focused laptop such as this doesn’t feature an SD card reader of any kind.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 in my Flip AI+ review unit handled productivity and entertainment workloads with aplomb, while the 32GB of RAM meant it had no problem multitasking. It even managed to run AAA games in a playable state — surprising given there’s no dedicated GPU on board. However, this absence was felt when the Flip AI+ failed to even complete a benchmark test for Adobe Premiere.

Front view of MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ open on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

A fair amount of noise is generated even when moderate workloads are undertaken. Some heat can be felt towards the rear as well, reaching the top rows of the keyboard, but thankfully temperatures remained comfortable.

The OLED display of the Flip AI+ is sharp and clear, although it lacks the brightness of the best monitors. Reflections and fingerprints are also visible at times. The touchscreen functions well, though, especially when used with the included Nano Pen; both combine to offer precise and responsive inputs.

MSI Center S is the utility app for the Flip AI+, housing system information and performance tweaks, as well as the ability to enable and customize the Action Touchpad. In the case of the latter, I had to manually update the app for these to work properly, even though I had automatic updates enabled.

The default quick controls for the touchpad are useful and operate smoothly for the most part. However, the brightness slider on the right edge would often trigger unintentionally when I typed, which was frustrating. Another frustration was the momentary freezes and jumps I sometimes experienced when attempting to navigate the cursor.

Fortunately, typing on the Flip AI+ is less fraught. The keys are snappy, although they’re perhaps a little heavier and harsher than I would’ve liked, resulting in the occasional press failing to register. Nonetheless, this is still a board suited to quick typing.

The battery life of the Flip AI+ easily ranks among the best in class. It lasted over 30 hours when I left it to playback a movie on a continuous loop, which is very impressive. It’s also quick to charge, making it a great laptop for those constantly on the move.

The Flip AI+ is undeniably expensive, but considering its premium design, powerful spec, and convertible capabilities, it represents good value. There are certainly cheaper 2-in-1 laptops that offer sufficient everyday performance, but the Flip AI+ is a more complete package. If its touchpad was less frustrating and it had a dedicated GPU, it’d be a hard laptop to beat at this price point.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: Price & availability

Close-up of webcam on MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

$1,699.99 / £1,349.99 / AU$$2,999
Available now
Good value for the spec

The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ costs $1,699.99 / £1,349.99 / AU$$2,999 and is available now. Various Intel Core Ultra processors are available depending on region, and in Australia, only the unit with 2TB of storage appears to be available.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly convertible laptop, the HP Pavilion x360 14 is a solid alternative. It has a weaker spec than the Flip AI+, and you’ll have to provide your own stylus, but it’s a great device for everyday tasking.

If you want to save even more money on a 2-in-1, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is one of the best Chromebooks in this class. Of course, you’ll have to forgo Windows, but if you don’t need the versatility of Microsoft’s OS, a Chromebook can be a useful companion for your studies and light entertainment.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: specs

Price	$1,699.99 / £1,349.99 / AU$$2,999
CPU	US: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (1.5GHz, 16 cores) UK: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (2.3GHz, 8 Cores) Aus: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (2.1GHz, 16 cores)
GPU	Intel Graphics (integrated)
RAM	32GB LPDDR5x
Storage	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD Aus: 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	14-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200), OLED, 16:10, Touchscreen, 100% DCI-P3 (Typical), Low Blue Light & Flicker-free certified by SGS, MSI Nano Pen support
Ports and Connectivity	2x USB-A (3.2 Gen2), 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort, PD 3.0), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
Battery	81Wh
Dimensions	12.4 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches (316 x 222 x 14mm)
Weight	3lbs / 1.37kg

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: Design

Close-up of touchpad on MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ — (Image credit: Future)

Thin and premium design
Plenty of USB ports
Discreet Nano Pen storage

Credit where credit’s due, MSI has done an admirable job of making the Flip AI+ a stylish machine. Its steely grey finish and minimal proportions impart an elegance not usually found in brand’s designs. What’s more, it’s impressively thin and free from extraneous bulges, even underneath (save from two full-width feet). All this helps to make it an easy device to travel with.

I also appreciated the rounded edges, which are curved more prominently than most. This makes it comfortable to hold and pick up. The thin bezel around the display is another facet of the laptop’s overall sleekness.

All the materials employed in the construction of the Flip AI+ feel premium, especially those of the keyboard and touchpad. They put me in mind of the best MacBooks, which are pretty much the standard bearers for laptop build quality.

Close-up of keyboard on MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ — (Image credit: Future)

However, the minimalist appearance of the Flip AI+ is somewhat upset by the lid hinges. They look a little cumbersome in relation to the rest of the unit, and create a somewhat unsightly gap between the lid and base. At least they operate smoothly, allowing for easy conversion when you want to use the touchscreen exclusively.

The included Nano Pen is just as compact as the laptop itself. It’s much smaller than many others, but no less upmarket in its design. It charges wirelessly, and the compartment to stow it is discreetly integrated into the underside of the Flip AI+, near the front edge.

This makes it easy to remove, requiring a slight tilt of the base of the Flip AI+ to access. You can even do this one-handed. However, it’s a little more awkward to put back: whenever I tried, the magnets inside the Nano Pen kept trying to flip it around from its correct orientation, requiring more encouragement than I would’ve liked to insert the right way up.

The Flip AI+ features all the essential outboard connections: there are two USB-A ports on the right and two USB-C on the left; the latter support charging of the Flip AI+ as well as external monitor signals. An HDMI port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack are also present, split across either side. Considering how thin and compact the unit is, including this many ports feels generous, although I always lament the omission of an SD card reader on a laptop designed for productivity.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: Performance

Hand holding MSI Nano Pen with MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ and pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Impressive general performance
Loud under load
Action Touchpad misfire issue

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 31,643; Fire Strike: 6,517; Steel Nomad: 607; Solar Bay:12,337; Solar Bay Unlimited: 12,434; Solar Bay Extreme: 1,793; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 1,793
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 11,670; Single-core: 2,752
Cinebench R23: Multi Core: 10,177; Cinebench R24: Single Core: 116; Multi Core: 628
Crossmark: Overall: 1,785; Productivity: 1,700; Creativity: 2,037; Responsiveness: 1,392
Passmark Overall: 6,809.7; CPU: 22,456.1; 2D Graphics: 780.2; 3D Graphics: 5,363; Memory: 3,581.1; Disk: 48,869.8
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 4,221MB/s; Write: 3,500MB/s
Total War: Warhammer III: 1080p, Medium: 30.2fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1440p, Ultra: 19.2fps

The Flip AI+ performed well in most of the tasks I conducted. It handled light productivity and entertainment – including 4K streaming – without issue. It also proved to be a capable multitasker, although this was hardly a surprise given the 32GB of RAM my review unit was crammed with.

Even though the Flip AI+ doesn’t have a dedicated GPU, I was impressed with its gaming prowess. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 on the Ray Tracing: Low preset remarkably well. Granted, the visuals were rough around the edges and frame rates were well short of those delivered by the best gaming laptops, but it was still enjoyable enough for casual play.

Video editors and creators will be more disappointed with the Flip AI+, though. It failed to even complete PugetBench’s Adobe Premiere benchmark, despite repeated attempts, due to a certain GPU effect failing to render.

The Flip AI+ also has a tendency to emit a fair amount of fan noise when undertaking workloads, even those that could be described as moderate. This is usually accompanied by some prominent heat at the rear of the unit and on the top row of the keyboard. Mercifully, the temperatures are far from being intolerable, but you’ll certainly notice them.

Hand holding MSI Nano Pen against display of MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

As for the display of the Flip AI+, its 1920 x 1200 resolution is clear and sharp, and the OLED technology helps with contrast. It reveals reflections and fingermarks a little too easily, and I wish the maximum brightness setting was higher, but thankfully these grievances aren’t ruinous to the overall visual experience.

Another important aspect of the Flip AI+’s display is its touchscreen functionality. It’s precise and responsive, if a little grabby when used with fingers. However, it handles the included Nano Pen much better. This glides smoothly across the surface, making it ideal for navigation, handwriting, and drawing.

However, the sheer slenderness of the Nano Pen makes using the two side buttons — which are used to erase content, take screenshots, and activate the inbuilt microphone — very awkward when adopting a writing position. Those with daintier digits might have an easier time, but I struggled.

Another standout feature of the Flip AI+ is its Action Touchpad. I found this useful for controlling various parameters, such as volume and screen brightness, quickly. You can also double-tap the left and right corners to open Windows’ Calculator app and the MSI Center S respectively.

However, my initial experience with these functions was beset by various bugs, from the aforementioned quick controls failing to register, to the three custom slots refusing their assignments.

Three-quarter view of MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ open on white desk with MSI Nano Pen leaning on it, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Thankfully, a manual download to update the MSI Center S to its latest version seemed to fix most of these issues. I was disappointed, though, that this update failed to initiate automatically, since I had this option toggled in the app settings.

I was also disappointed that there was still no way to customize the six default quick controls. But a bigger frustration was the frequent accidental triggering of the brightness quick control, caused by the palm of my thumb when typing. To prevent this I would have to disable all quick controls, since you can’t disable them individually.

This issue aside, typing with the Flip AI+ is mostly pleasant. The keyboard features plenty of useful shortcuts on the top row, including those for Bluetooth settings and Windows’ Snipping Tool. However, disappointingly for a productivity-focused machine, there’s no number pad or even a navigation cluster. There is backlighting, though, which is always cause for celebration in a laptop.

In action, the keys are snappy thanks to their short actuation, which makes for quick typing. However, they’re a little heavier than those in your average laptop, which, in my experience, results in the occasional hit failing to register. Dampening is minimal as well, which can make presses feel a little harsh. These are minor grievances, though, and only stand when compared to the best keyboards around.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: Battery life

Close-up of MSI Nano Pen in compartment underneath MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Phenomenal endurance
Quick to charge

The battery life of the Flip AI+ is truly spectacular. MSI quotes a longevity of 30 hours, but according to my testing — which involved playing a movie on a continuous loop — it actually exceeded this already remarkable figure by a couple of hours.

To put this into perspective, the most enduring laptop I ever tested was the HP OmniBook 7 14-inch, but even this fell someway short of the Flip AI+ in the same test, mustering just under 26 hours. The Flip AI+ is also quick to charge, taking about two hours to replenish from total depletion.

Should I buy the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+?

Scorecard

Category	Notes	Rating
Value	Aside from the lack of a dedicated GPU, the Flip AI+ offers a lot for the money.	4 / 5
Design	Super-thin and with a premium construction, the Flip AI+ ticks all the right boxes in terms of design. Port selection is also reasonable, given the compact form factor.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The Flip AI+ offers great all-round performance, although the absence of a dedicated GPU might disappoint creatives. The touchscreen and Nano Pen are both great, but the Action Touchpad can frustrate.	4 / 5
Battery Life	Pretty much unbeatable. It has a video playback time of over 30 hours, and it’s quick to charge, too.	5 / 5
Final Score	The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a very competent, convertible laptop that represents good value when you consider its build and performance. Only a few minor gripes hold it back from a full-throated recommendation.	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want an easy-to-use convertible laptop
Light, thin, and well made, the Flip AI+ is easy to use in its converted mode, and the touchscreen and pen function very well, too.

You want a strong spec
Integrated graphics aside, the spec of the Flip AI+ is certainly powerful enough for the needs of many productivity users.

You want to go all day unplugged
I haven’t come across a laptop with a better battery life: it comfortably lasts more than a full day’s worth of use.

Don't buy it if…

You want serious graphical power
Even though I was impressed by how well it ran AAA games, the Flip AI+ isn’t a patch on machines with dedicated GPUs.

You want a fuss-free touchpad
The Action Touchpad is most excellent, but the frequent misfiring of the brightness slider when typing was frustrating.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review: Also consider

HP Pavilion x360 14
Another 2-in-1 Windows laptop, the HP Pavilion x360 14 is a competent everyday machine with a premium design and a sharp display, but a much lower price tag than the Flip AI+. There are models without backlit keyboards, but I recommend steering clear of those, given how hard it is to make out the key symbols even in the light. Read our full HP Pavilion x360 14 review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If you want a seriously budget convertible option, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is a solid choice. Since it’s a Chromebook, you’ll have to forgo the versatility of Windows, but it’s still a strong-performer with a great display and a compact design that’s suited for travel. Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+

Close-up of ports on left-hand side of MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, on a white desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for several days
Ran our series of benchmarks

I tested the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ for several days, during which time I used it for all manner of tasks, from general browsing and productivity to streaming and gaming.

I also ran our extensive series of benchmarks, designed to assess every facet of a laptop’s performance. I also tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop while the Flip AI+ was unplugged until it died.

I’ve been using laptops for decades and have reviewed a large number of them, from budget affairs and Chromebooks to mid-range productivity machines and high-end gaming models.

First reviewed: March 2026
Read more about how we test

After a few weeks with the HP OmniBook 7 Aero, I was impressed by its performance and portability

6:08 pm | February 26, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: AI, Dell Inspiron, Indiana Jones | Comments: Off

HP OmniBook 7 Aero two-minute review

There’s a lot to like with the HP OmniBook 7 Aero, from its portability and somewhat unique look to its surprisingly robust performance. I would definitely recommend it as one of the best laptops out there for anyone wanting a lightweight Windows laptop to take on the road.

I also appreciate the port selection offered, as the best Ultrabooks typically come pretty limited in this department, usually limiting you to two USB-C ports. Digital nomads will like the quality of the webcam as well as the fact that it has a physical shutter. Really, it doesn’t feel like the thin and light nature of the HP OmniBook 7 Aero compromises on too much to get to its size or price point.

That said, there are a few things I'm not overly fond of. The keyboard is adequate, but with its low travel, it can get fatiguing during long writing sessions.

HP OmniBook 7 Aero laptop on a wooden desk — (Image credit: Future)

And even though the port selection is pretty good, HP decided to put both USB-C ports on one side, which is a little annoying when you need to plug into the wall on the other side. That might be a nitpick, but it's something that’s been a concern for many a laptop, including some iterations of the MacBook Air, and it’s a concern here.

Still, the pros make the HP OmniBook 7 Aero a good laptop to recommend for those looking for a lightweight, Windows laptop that works well, and it isn’t trying to look like a MacBook.

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Price and availability

How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 (about £710 / AU$1,420)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and Australia

The HP OmniBook 7 Aero’s price tag is reasonable, if a little high, for what’s on offer. If I weren’t impressed by its light weight and solid performance, I would think this would be more of a $600 computer, but a starting price of $949.99 (about £710 / AU$1,420) seems appropriate. Upgrading the CPU, RAM, storage, and screen ends up with a slightly harder to stomach $1,399.99 / AU$2,998 (about £1,040) price tag.

Looking at the competition, these prices aren’t outrageous, though it’s worth noting that, first, HP will regularly discount their laptops so it’s worth waiting for a sale (it’s 44% off the base configuration at the time of writing, for instance), and that, second, other comparable laptops are around the same price or even a little less, not to mention also regularly discount their laptops.

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, which impressed me with its solid performance and portability, starts at $949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470). That’s a laptop with a better battery life and higher resolution at the lowest configuration that I actually felt was a little overpriced.

And if you’re not married to the Windows ecosystem, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is not only a strong choice thanks to its strong performance and great battery life, but the fact that at its base configuration is just a better computer than the base configuration of the HP OmniBook 7 Aero. Apple, however, does not offer quite the same discounts that HP does.

Value: 4 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Specs

Internally, the HP OmniBook 7 Aero only offers a few options for customization. You get either a six core AMD AI 5 340 CPU with integrated AMD Radeon 840M graphics or an eight core AMD AI 7 350 CPU with integrated Radeon 860M graphics.

The choices for RAM are either 16 or 32 GB (and you can only choose the higher RAM with the higher CPU), while the storage also comes in just two flavors: 512GB and 1TB (though there are a few different choices in terms of specific type of SSD).

There’s also a choice between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E wireless configurations, though the latter, more expensive option comes with Bluetooth 5.3 instead of 5.4.

	HP OmniBook 7 Aero base configuration	HP OmniBook 7 Aero review / max configuration
Price:	$949.99 (about £710/ AU$1,420)	$1,399.99 / AU$2,998 (about £1,040)
CPU:	AMD AI 5 340	AMD AI 7 350
Graphics:	AMD Radeon 840M Integrated graphics	AMD Radeon 860M Integrated graphics
RAM:	16GB	32GB
Screen:	13.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 400 nits	13.3-inch diagonal, WQXGA (2560 x 1600), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 400 nits
Storage:	512GB M.2 SSD	1TB M.2 SSD
Ports:	1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate; 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate; 1 HDMI-out 2.1; 1 headphone/microphone combo; 2 USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1, HP Sleep and Charge)	1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate; 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate; 1 HDMI-out 2.1; 1 headphone/microphone combo; 2 USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1, HP Sleep and Charge)
Wireless:	Realtek Wi-Fi 6 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4	Realtek Wi-Fi 6E (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.3
Camera:	5MP IR camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones	5MP IR camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones
Weight:	<2.2 lb	<2.2 lb
Dimensions:	11.70 x 8.31 x 0.65 in (front); 11.70 x 8.31 x 0.69 in (rear)	11.70 x 8.31 x 0.65 in (front); 11.70 x 8.31 x 0.69 in (rear)

The only spec-related option externally comes in terms of two screen options. Both displays are 13.3-inch anti-glare 400 nit screens, but one has a 1920x1200p WUXGA resolution while the other has a sharper 2560x1600p WQXGA resolution. You can get this laptop in either Ceramic White or Glacier Silver.

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Design

Attractive, light, and petite
Keyboard has a pretty short travel
Good port selection, though placement could be better

I have to say… I really like the way the HP OmniBook7 Aero looks. The Ceramic White colorway of my test unit is attractive in a way that doesn’t automatically make it look like HP was trying to copy Apple.

While the material is not machined metal, it is a very durable-feeling plastic that is still sturdy, and probably helps with the cost of the laptop. I can’t comment on the silver colorway other than to mention that HP does not mention that it uses machined aluminum for it, so it might look a little more like a MacBook, but it will still feel different.

I also appreciate how absolutely petite this laptop is. It has a 13.3-inch screen, weighs in at just over two pounds, and is a little over half an inch thick at its thinnest. Throwing it in a backpack to cart around doesn’t put any pressure on my back, not to mention it’s often the lightest device in my backpack.

Speaking of the screen, it has a very impressive accuracy of 0.29 delta E (closer to zero is better and under 2 is considered accurate) as well as a 112% sRGB color coverage. Its 79% DCI-P3 color coverage is not quite as good, though, so keep that in mind if you plan on doing any photo editing with HDR.

As such a diminutive laptop, I do find that the keyboard is more serviceable than amazing. This is particularly true for the keyboard as it has a fairly short travel – short enough that I notice it when typing out more than just an email. The trackpad is at least a little better as it is as responsive as one could ask. It handles gestures well as well.

With a 5MP IR camera, I do find the webcam to reproduce a sharp, smooth image – I don’t get any choppiness as long as I have a strong internet connection – plus it has those useful effects on hand, such as blurring the background, reorienting the eyes so that they seem to look at the recipient and not the camera, and automatically reframing when one moves their head. More importantly, it comes with a physical privacy shutter.

One thing that smaller laptops like the HP OmniBook 7 Aero often sacrifice are the ports, usually offering just a handful of USB-C. Luckily, this laptop bucks that trend. There are, of course, two USB-C ports that support power delivery and DisplayPort 2.1, though they are unfortunately on just one side of the laptop. But there are also two regular USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and an HDMI port. Not bad for such a little guy.

Design: 4.5 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Performance

Surprisingly robust performance
Has enough power for AI
Audio quality is just okay

Despite the fact that the HP OmniBook 7 Aero fits more into the light and portable category of laptops, aka Ultrabooks, its performance is surprisingly robust. There’s no discrete graphics, but the integrated Radeon Graphics were enough to run some computer games, not that you should really consider this for a gaming laptop.

I managed to run Indiana Jones and the Great Circle off Game Pass at low settings without any latency, lags, or stutters. I also managed to run Cyberpunk 2077, though that got low enough frame rates to not want to use this laptop to play it.

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Benchmarks

Here's how the HP OmniBook 7 Aero performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Fire Strike: 6078; Time Spy: 2732; Night Raid: 24031; Steel Nomad: 396

GeekBench 6.5: 2825 (single-core); 12137 (multi-core)

25GB File Copy: 13.26

Handbrake 1.9.2: 6:08

CrossMark: Overall: 1837 Productivity: 1695 Creativity: 2141 Responsiveness: 1477

Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p high): 25.368 fps; (2560x1600p high) 15.895 fps; Storm (1080p medium): 42.843 fps; (2560x1600p medium) 26.997 fps

Web Surfing (Battery Informant): 8:51:07

Of course, the fans go full blast when running any demanding task, and the keyboard does pass on some of the internal heat. But again, this really isn’t a laptop meant for these kinds of heavy-duty tasks, even if there’s more power here than expected.

Also, be aware that it can get a little hot if pushed hard. This is a fairly thin laptop after all. We registered temperatures of up to 103.8F between the G and H keys when really pushed into overdrive.

For productivity work, this means that the HP OmniBook 7 Aero can keep up with internet hounds and research junkies. If you need 20 tabs open at once, you won’t have to worry about slowing this laptop down. I found it to switch tabs instantaneously even with that many tabs open.

On the AI side of things, whether you find CoPilot+ useful or not, it’s here and works relatively quickly. I was more limited by the speed of the server the laptop was engaging with more so than the laptop itself when generating an AI image thanks to the CPU’s 50 NPU TOPS.

Lastly, the audio quality is not bad for a lightweight laptop like this, though nothing to write home about. There’s no low-end so audio can come off as a little thin, but the detail is decent. I do recommend using some headphones for any serious listening.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 Aero: Battery life

Battery life is long enough for a full day’s work, but just barely
Fast charging capabilities make up for smaller battery

With a battery life of 8:51:07 (according to our battery benchmark), the HP OmniBook 7 Aero is both underwhelming compared to many of the light and thin laptops out there – some are reaching times of over 15 hours – and still more than enough battery life for most people.

Since it can reach almost nine hours on a single charge, it still has plenty of juice to get one through an entire day of work without needing to find an outlet.

Once you do find an outlet though, its fast charging capabilities make up for that small 3-cell, 43 Wh battery. If turned off, the laptop will recharge up to 50% of its battery in 30 minutes. That’s pretty impressive.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should I buy the HP OmniBook 7 Aero?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	The price is about what one would expect for this kind of laptop, though its value goes way up when on sale.	4 / 5
Design	It’s thin, light, comes with a privacy shutter, and, most importantly, looks a bit unique.	4.5 / 5
Performance	This lightweight laptop can somewhat overdeliver when it comes to performance.	4.5 / 5
Battery	The battery life is good enough, but underwhelming when compared to the competition.	4 / 5
Average rating	Its portability and performance set it apart from the more middle-of-the-road act-like-a-MacBook laptop that comprise its competition.	4.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a very portable laptop

The HP OmniBook 7 Aero is so light and thin that when I throw it in a backpack, I barely notice that it’s there. If you want a laptop that travels easily, this one will more than do.View Deal

You want robust performance in small package

While this isn’t going to go head-to-head with a gaming laptop for any kind of heavy-duty performance, it does better than one would expect on what looks to be a lightweight laptop (in terms of specs).View Deal

You want a laptop that looks a little different

The white version of this laptop at the very least is a somewhat unique-looking laptop, making it attractive for anyone tired of the machined metal laptops all trying to look like but not be a MacBook.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want a really long battery life

The almost nine hour battery life is enough to get through the day, but it’s underwhelming compared to the other options out there.View Deal

You type all day

The shallow keyboard does fine for basic use, but if you’re typing up reports or articles all day long, it can get fatiguing. There are other portable laptops with better keyboards.View Deal

Also Consider

If our HP OmniBook 7 Aero review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a little bigger than the OmniBook 7 Aero with its 14-inch screen, but it’s just as portable. It also comes with a 1600p screen, snappy performance thanks to its Snapdragon CPU, and quite the long battery life.

Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus reviewView Deal

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is, like just about every MacBook Air before it, the trendsetter for Ultrabooks, setting the standard in laptops trying to strike a balance between performance and portability. It also has a very long battery life and is cheaper than its previous iterations.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review View Deal

How I tested the HP OmniBook 7 Aero

Tested for a couple weeks
Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
Messed with its AI capabilities

I used the HP OmniBook 7 Aero for a couple weeks. I used it for work, including typing up this review (along with the requisite online research). I used it to stream video. I even did some semi-serious gaming. I played around with the AI as well.

After spending time with the HP OmniBook 7 Aero, it’s clear that this is meant for those that want a Windows laptop that works great on the road.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

First reviewed February 2026

The Galaxy Book6 Ultra proves Samsung can make a MacBook killer – it’s just a shame about the price

8:00 pm | February 11, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: Battery Life, Total War | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Two-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is the very latest premium laptop from the South Korean tech giant. While Samsung is better known for its TVs, smartphones, and home appliances, in recent years it’s been steadily releasing some of the best laptops we’ve ever tested through its Galaxy Book lineup, and the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra was launched at CES 2026 alongside the Book6 Pro and more affordable Galaxy Book6.

They all come with Intel’s brand-new Core Ultra Series 3 mobile processors (also known as Panther Lake), which have been seriously impressing us, as well as Samsung’s increasingly sophisticated ecosystem that allows these laptops to interact with other Samsung devices, especially smartphones and tablets, and gives, in my mind, the closest experience to Apple’s slick Mac/iPhone/iPad integration for Windows 11 and Android devices. More on that later.

As a Galaxy product, this is naturally a high-end flagship device, and with a price tag of £2,999 (around $4,000 / AU$6,000) for the base model, this isn't going to be a laptop for everyone.

However, if you can afford it, you should be pretty happy with what you get for your money. The latest hardware from Intel and Nvidia means this is a brilliant performer for basically any task you require, and Samsung has made sure this is a solidly-built laptop with excellent build quality - and comes with one of the best screens you can get.

But that high price and abundance of power mean a lot of people simply won't need the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, and a more affordable laptop (such as the standard Galaxy Book6) will be a much better choice.

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra laptop in an office environment — (Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Price & Availability

Starts at $2,449.99 / £2,999 (around AU$6,000)
Launch seems to have been delayed

As with Samsung’s other Galaxy products, the Galaxy Book6 series of laptops are premium devices with designs, specs, and price tags to match. The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, as the name suggests, is the highest-end model, and starts at $2,449.99 / £2,999 (around AU$6,000) for the model that comes with an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU and 1TB of storage.

That’s expensive for a laptop. Very expensive. It makes the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) from last year seem like a bargain at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,499, and while you can argue that the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a much more powerful laptop, mainly thanks to its high-end CPU, discrete GPU and more RAM, if you’re making a product that’s a more expensive rival to an Apple device, you’ll need to justify the extra cash.

Arguably, comparing the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra to the more powerful 16-inch MacBook Pro with either M4 Pro or M4 Max chips (which, despite being last-generation, are more powerful than the M5) is more fair. The MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro and 24GB of unified memory is $2,499 / £2,499 / AU$3,999, while the model with an M4 Max chip and 36GB of unified memory is $3,499 / £3,499 / AU$5,699.

Value: 2.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra review: Specs

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra Specs
	Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra Base Config	Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra Review Config	Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra High end Config
Price	$2,449.99 / £2,999 (around AU$6,000)	TBA	TBA
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 series 3	Intel Core Ultra 7 series 3	Intel Core Ultra 9 series 3
GPU	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070	Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
RAM	32GB LPDDR5X	32GB LPDDR5X	64GB LPDDR5X
Storage	1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)	1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)	1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)
Display	16-inch Touch AMOLED, Anti-Reflective, WQXGA+ (2880×1800), 1000nits	16-inch Touch AMOLED, Anti-Reflective, WQXGA+ (2880×1800), 1000nits	16-inch Touch AMOLED, Anti-Reflective, WQXGA+ (2880×1800), 1000nits
Ports and Connectivity	Thunderbolt 4 (2), USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1 port (Supports 8K@60, 5K@120), SD, Headphone/Microphone	Thunderbolt 4 (2), USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1 port (Supports 8K@60, 5K@120), SD, Headphone/Microphone	Thunderbolt 4 (2), USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1 port (Supports 8K@60, 5K@120), SD, Headphone/Microphone
Battery	80.20Wh	80.20Wh	80.20Wh
Dimensions	14.05 x 9.76 x 0.6 inches / 356.9 x 248 x 15.4mm	14.05 x 9.76 x 0.6 inches / 356.9 x 248 x 15.4mm	14.05 x 9.76 x 0.6 inches / 356.9 x 248 x 15.4mm
Weight	4.2lbs / 1.89kg	4.2lbs / 1.89kg	4.2lbs / 1.89kg

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra review: Design

Very smart looking
Excellent display
Manages to be slim

As with previous Galaxy Book laptops, the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a great-looking product, with a sleek, understated design in silver that is reminiscent of Apple’s Intel-based MacBook Pros (before they underwent noticeable redesigns with the switch to Apple’s own M-series processors). This won’t be the last time I’ll mention the Book6 Ultra’s similarities to a MacBook.

Unlike the Galaxy Book6 Pro and Galaxy Book6, which come in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra comes in a single 16-inch size. While this might mean that if portability is your biggest concern when buying a new laptop, you might not want a large-screen device like the Book6 Ultra, Samsung has done a good job of keeping this laptop feeling thin and relatively light.

It measures 14.05 x 9.76 x 0.6 inches (356.9 x 248 x 15.4mm) and weighs up to 4.2lbs (1.89kg). This means it’s slightly thinner than the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5), despite its larger screen and discrete GPU, although because this is a 16-inch laptop, the overall footprint is larger than the M5 MacBook Pro.

Despite the thin design, there’s a decent selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a standard USB Type-A port, HDMI 2.1, and an SD card reader. Thankfully, Samsung’s decision to drop the headphone jacks from its smartphones hasn’t made it to its laptop division, as the Galaxy Book6 Ultra comes with a port for plugging in headsets and microphones.

Fans of USB-C formats (come on, there must be some) will note that the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra’s two ports are Thunderbolt 4, rather than the newer (and faster) Thunderbolt 5. While this means the Book6 Ultra isn’t quite packed with the very latest components, it’s worth noting that its main competitor, the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 2025), also comes with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

The keyboard, which again invites comparisons with the MacBook Pro, is decent, and while the keys themselves are rather shallow, they still feel responsive and comfortable to use. As with Apple’s laptops, there’s a dedicated button on the top-right of the keyboard that’s used to scan your fingerprint. This allows you to securely log into Windows 11 with just a touch, and it also means you can use features such as the controversial Recall tool that require advanced biometric security.

The main appeal, design-wise, of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, however, is its screen. Samsung is known for using excellent screens for its devices, especially TVs and smartphones, and the Galaxy Book6 Ultra continues that tradition.

The 16-inch touchscreen comes with a sharp WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) resolution, and AMOLED screen technology that results in an incredibly vibrant and detailed image quality. That, combined with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, makes Windows 11, its apps, and pretty much any media you play on the Galaxy Book6 Ultra look absolutely fantastic.

The display is surrounded by a thin, modern bezel, which means Samsung can maximize the screen size without bulking up the rest of the laptop, and there’s no controversial ‘notch’ that modern MacBooks have around the webcam.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra review: Performance

Excellent Windows 11 performance
Can even play games
Gets very hot

Coming with Intel’s latest, and very impressive, Panther Lake processors, and able to be configured with up to an Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card, the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra offers an exemplary Windows 11 experience, with the operating system and apps all running smoothly.

Whilst testing the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, I had no problem at all running various apps, and with plenty of RAM, multitasking between apps is smooth and responsive.

The model I reviewed comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU, something that’s often found in the best gaming laptops. The inclusion of this high-end GPU doesn’t mean the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a gaming laptop, however, as it can be used for graphically-intensive workloads, such as ultra-high-definition video editing, 3D animation, and advanced AI tasks. So, this model of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a great choice for creative professionals, especially thanks to its gorgeous OLED screen.

The Galaxy Book6 Ultra certainly had no issues while I was editing a 4K movie in Adobe Premiere, with clips loading quickly, and scrubbing through the video’s timeline was instant. This was also while I had numerous apps and websites open at once, and Windows 11 felt incredibly fast and smooth.

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Benchmarks

Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Fire Strike: 26,767; Time Spy: 12,309; Steel Nomad: 2,758; Port Royal: 7,687
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 16,655; Single-core: 2,852
PCMark 10: 6,827
Crossmark: Overall: 1,880; Productivity: 1,669; Creativity: 2,275; Responsiveness: 1,514
Cyberpunk 2077: (1080p, High, DLSS Quality): 111.86fps
Assassin's Creed Shadows: 1080p, Medium: 54fps; 1080p, Ultra High: 32fps, 1080p, Medium, DLSS Quality: 65; 1080p, Ultra High, DLSS Quality: 39fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1080p, High: 101.3fps
Battery Life (TechRadar video test): 13 hours, 39 minutes
Battery Life (Battery Informant): 15 hours, 11 minutes

Also, while the RTX 5070-toting Galaxy Book6 Ultra is not a gaming laptop, it can still play games, though you’ll want to enable DLSS upscaling where possible. At 1080p with DLSS on and graphics set to ‘High’, I got Cyberpunk 2077 running at a very impressive 111.86fps. Meanwhile, Assassin's Creed Shadows at ‘Medium’ settings with DLSS switched on hit 65fps.

Sure, these aren’t the most mind-blowing numbers, and there will be plenty of PC gamers who turn their noses up at the need to use DLSS, but the fact that such a thin and light laptop can play these games at all, let alone at those kind of frame rates, is really impressive, and again thanks to the OLED screen, they look incredible.

The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra also remains impressively quiet. Even when performing intensive tasks, fan noise was kept to a minimum. The lack of distracting whirring is nice, but it does mean that at some points, primarily just above the keyboard, the laptop can get very hot to the touch. Using it for prolonged periods of heavy workloads (including gaming) could lead to the performance getting throttled to stop the Galaxy Book6 Ultra from overheating, though it didn’t happen during my tests. Packing such powerful components into such a slim chassis does mean that this is a risk, however.

One of the key features of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is how it can work with other Samsung devices, much like how MacBooks can work with iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices.

Screenshot showing Samsung's apps in Windows 11 on the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra — (Image credit: Microsoft / Samsung)

I connected the Galaxy Book6 Ultra to my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and with a bit of tweaking, I was able to easily share documents between the laptop and the smartphone. 'Multicontrol' is a particularly impressive feature, whereby dragging the mouse cursor to the edge of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra’s screen, the cursor will jump to the smartphone, and you can use the Galaxy Book6 Ultra’s trackpad and keyboard to interact with the phone.

I used this to type out some long messages that would have been a pain to write using the phone’s touchscreen. You can also use Samsung’s tablets as a second display for the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, a nice touch if you have invested in Samsung’s ecosystem.

If the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is going to be your first and only Samsung device, then sadly you won’t be able to make use of most of these features, though Windows 11’s Phone Link feature remains a great way to access your phone via your laptop, and it’ll work on the Galaxy Book6 Ultra without the phone needing to be a Samsung model.

You’re missing out on some really useful features, though, many of which make life easier – and Samsung has made it the furthest out of any of its rivals when it comes to providing an Apple-like experience with its ecosystem.

This is all the more impressive as Apple has complete control over its ecosystem: it builds both the hardware (including many components) in its Macs, iPhones, and tablets, as well as the software those devices run on. That means making everything interact with each other is a lot easier (relatively speaking, I mean. I’m certainly not downplaying the hard work and effort that’s still required).

Meanwhile, Samsung’s laptops and smartphones are mainly made of components made by other companies, such as Intel, and the software they run (Windows 11 for laptops, Android for smartphones and tablets) is also made by other companies (Microsoft and Google, respectively).

Samsung apps in Windows 11 — (Image credit: Microsoft / Samsung)

So, making its various products all work together is an impressive feat, and for the most part works well. It does mean that you need to use Samsung’s own apps for a lot of things, and you need to sign into your Samsung account (on top of your Microsoft account, Google account), so if you’re not a fan of extra apps (sometimes uncharitably called ‘bloatware’) on your laptop or smartphone, then you’ll be frustrated with Samsung’s penchant of preinstalling its own apps.

Also, it’s not quite as slick as Apple’s implementation, and there are a few performance niggles. While using Multcontrol to use the trackpad and keyboard of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra on my Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone was helpful, it prevented the onscreen keyboard on the phone from appearing when I moved control back over to the laptop. Not the end of the world, but a bit annoying if you forget and then wonder why you can’t type out a message. It’s easy to fix by reenabling the touch keyboard, but it’s an example of how Apple’s ecosystem works so much better.

As well as the excellent OLED screen, which offers beautifully dark blacks, high contrast, and vibrant colors, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra comes with six Dolby Atmos speakers with four force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters, which allows the laptop to handle both deep bases and high details. It can reach loud volumes without the audio distorting, and there are no annoying vibrations thanks to the speaker design.

As a Copilot+ PC, it’s also been designed with on-device AI in mind, but even though both Microsoft and Samsung seem fully committed to AI, I’ve yet to find a compelling case for it in a laptop. Sure, it’s nice to have and means this laptop is certainly future-proof, but it’s the least exciting part of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra review: Battery Life

Over 15 hours
Gaming drains it in 2 hours

Despite what many companies, including Microsoft, insist, AI is not the most interesting or exciting feature of this new generation of Copilot+ PC laptops (ugh, I hate that name) – but rather, it's the battery life.

The processors powering these laptops are getting ever more efficient, which means they can offer excellent performance as well as longer times between charging, and the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is an excellent example of this, managing over 15 hours in our benchmark tests. That’s not the longest we’ve seen, and the MacBook Pro comfortably beats it by about five hours in the same test. It’s still very good for a laptop that offers this kind of performance.

I was able to use it for multiple workdays without needing to plug it in, and when I did, the battery charged quickly. I used the included power adaptor, but any USB-C charger should do the trick – and it’s worth noting that in the UK and EU, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra does not come with a power adaptor, similar to the MacBook. This is supposed to help reduce e-waste, and while that’s an admirable goal, it does add to the expense if you’ve not got a spare charger already.

Battery Life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Aspire 16 AI?

Acer Aspire 16 AI Scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	This is a stylish and very powerful laptop that predictably comes at a very high price that will likely put off a lot of people.	2.5 / 5
Design	The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is one of the nicest-looking laptops on the market right now, and its AMOLED screen is a particular highlight.	4.5 / 5
Performance	Windows 11 is incredibly fast, and even the most intensive workloads are handled with ease. It can also play games.	4.5 / 5
Battery Life	Scoring over 15 hours in our tests, this is very impressive for a laptop that offers this level of performance.	4.5 / 5
Total	The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is one of the best laptops you can buy right now thanks to its awesome performance and stunning design. It's especially great if paired with a Samsung phone, though the high price means it won't be for everyone.	4.5 / 5

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra if...

You have other Samsung devices
The Galaxy Book6 Ultra really comes into its own when you pair it with a Samsung smartphone, tablet or headphones.

You want a thin and light creative workstation
Intel’s latest chips and the ability to configure the Galaxy Book6 Ultra with an RTX 5070 GPU mean this is an incredibly powerful laptop that’s ideal for creative workloads, all wrapped up in a thin and light chassis.

You want a fantastic screen to work on
The 16-inch AMOLED screen of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra is one of the best displays you can currently get in a laptop.

Don't buy it if...

You have a tight budget
The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a flagship laptop with cutting-edge components and features, which makes it very expensive.

You want a gaming laptop
Despite coming with an RTX 5070 GPU, this is not a gaming laptop, and while it certainly can play games, you’d be better off buying a machine specifically designed for gaming, as they will offer better cooling and other gaming features.

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra

Tested for several weeks
Used for various tasks
Connected it to my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone

I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra over the course of several weeks, using it for work and writing the bulk of this review on it. I also played a few games on it to see how the dedicated GPU copes.

I also edited a 4K video using Adobe Premiere Pro and streamed several movies and listened to music. I've been reviewing laptops for nearly 20 years, and I've used my extensive experience to rate this device.

First reviewed: February 2026
Read more about how we test

This HP laptop I tested has a sleek and compact form, but rivals offer better value for money

1:37 pm | February 4, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: Battery Life, CPU | Comments: Off

HP Laptop 14: Two-minute review

The HP Laptop 14 is a budget laptop that aims to combine a compact form factor with just enough performance for everyday use. Its appearance won’t exactly set the world alight, especially when it’s finished in the anodyne gray colorway. However, it looks smart enough, with the clean lines and unsullied contours lending a subtle elegance.

These aspects are complemented by a thin and light chassis, which makes the HP Laptop 14 easy to ferry around. However, the price paid for this lithesome build is the cheap-feeling construction, which falls short of the best laptop builds.

Having said that, I was pleased to find the lid hinge operated smoothly and provided plenty of stability. It also allows the display to recline quite far, but stops short of 180 degrees.

The HP Laptop 14 has a sparse selection of ports. The two USB-A ports are welcome, but there’s only one USB-C interface, and it doesn’t support power or display signals (there’s an HDMI port for the latter, at least).

Rear three-quarter view of HP Laptop 14 partially open on white desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

My unit was equipped with an Intel Core i5, which provided adequate performance. It could handle light browsing and productivity, as well as high-quality video streaming — but not much more. With 8GB of RAM on board, the HP Laptop 14 struggled to cope with multiple tabs open, especially when the content involved media, as I experienced frequent stutters and momentary freezes in such instances.

Given the lack of a dedicated GPU, it’s also no surprise that the HP Laptop 14 doesn’t handle games well, either. Cyberpunk 2077 was virtually unplayable, even on the lowest preset. Fortunately, there isn’t much heat or noise when heavy workloads such as this are conducted.

The 1080p display is just about sharp enough for UI elements and the like to appear crisp, but in truth the resolution is starting to feel its age on laptops. Worse, however, is the tendency for shadows or reflections to obscure the visuals if the viewing angle isn’t perfect, which is frustrating.

I was much less frustrated with the keyboard in the HP Laptop 14. The comfortable spacing and light actuation of the keys makes them ideal for quick typing, and although there’s less dampening than I would’ve liked, the resultant harshness wasn’t too detrimental.

The touchpad is also effective, providing a smooth surface and precise inputs. It’s not particularly large, which might hamper navigation somewhat, but for basic use it suffices.

Less effective is the battery life of the HP Laptop 14. It managed just under eight hours in our movie playback test, which puts it on the lower end of the spectrum for laptops of this class. There are many mid-range offerings capable of enduring for a full day and beyond.

The starting price of the HP Laptop 14 might seem very reasonable, but the base spec would struggle with even rudimentary tasks by modern standards. And the more powerful models are still too weak to truly compete with others in the mid-range, which leaves the HP Laptop 14 lagging behind the times.

HP Laptop 14 review: Price & Availability

Starts from $539.99 / £299 (about AU$585)
Base spec is cheap
Expensive higher-spec models

The HP Laptop 14 starts from $539.99 / £299 (about AU$585) and is available now. Interestingly, in the UK, it seems to be marketed under a different name — the HP Pavilion SE — and there doesn’t appear to be an equivalent model in Australia.

The base spec is undeniably cheap for a Windows laptop, especially in the UK, but the Intel Core i3 it’s equipped with is unlikely to offer smooth sailing for modern workloads. The spec I tested isn’t particularly cheap, either, dashing its hopes of being one of the best budget laptops around.

Value: 3 / 5

HP Laptop 14 review: Specs

	Base configuration	Review configuration
Price	$539.99 / £299 (about AU$585)	$629.99 / £599 (about AU$900)
CPU	US: Intel Core 3 100U (up to 4.7GHz, 6 cores) / UK: Intel Core i3-N305 (up to 3.8GHz, 8 cores)	US: Intel Core 5 120U (up to 5.0GHz, 10 cores) / UK: Intel Core i5-1334U (up to 4.6GHz, 10 cores)
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (integrated)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
RAM	8GB DDR4	8GB DDR4
Storage	US: 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD / UK: 128GB UFS	256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	US: 14-inch HD (1366 x 768), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare / UK: 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare
Ports and Connectivity	1x USB-C (5Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, US: Bluetooth 5.3 / UK: Bluetooth 5.4	1x USB-C (5Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), 1x HDMI 1.4b, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, US: Bluetooth 5.3 / UK: Bluetooth 5.4
Battery	41Wh	41Wh
Dimensions	12.7 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches (323.7 x 215 x 32.5mm)	12.7 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches (323.7 x 215 x 32.5mm)
Weight	3.1lbs / 1.41kg	3.1lbs / 1.41kg

HP Laptop 14 review: Design

Close-up of webcam on HP Laptop 14 — (Image credit: Future)

Minimal looks and weight
No keyboard backlighting
Limited USB-C functionality

The HP Laptop 14 has a sensible yet sleek style. It doesn’t inspire much excitement, with the dull gray colorway of my unit hardly helping matters, but the subtle elegance of the body becomes apparent the deeper you look. The clean lines and angles, coupled with the absence of any unnecessary contours, all help to elevate it beyond the utilitarian fare often found in this sector.

In keeping with its minimal appearance is the compact form factor. The base and lid are pleasingly thin, and the overall unit is quite light. The materials don’t feel particularly premium though; the plastics are smooth enough, but they lack solidity. Despite trying to look like some of the best MacBooks, the HP Laptop 14 fails to match their formidable construction.

That said, the hinge for the lid offers reassuring stability, preventing the display from wobbling when hammering away on the keyboard and touchpad. The recline angle is quite generous as well, although unfortunately, it doesn’t extend all the way to 180 degrees.

Close-up of keyboard on HP Laptop 14 — (Image credit: Future)

The keycaps feature prominently embossed lettering, so you really feel them under your fingertips. I’m not sure whether this is an intended design choice or merely unrefined design; regardless, I like their tactility, even if they don’t feel particularly premium. However, I was decidedly less impressed with the lack of backlighting, which is an egregious omission for any laptop keyboard in my view.

Despite the truncated layout, you get navigation keys on the right, which helps with productivity tasks. But the lack of a number pad, coupled with the shortened up and down arrow keys, are a hindrance for such work.

There aren’t many ports on the HP Laptop 14, but the essential ones are present. There are two USB-A ports, one either side, which is something I welcome. However, there’s only type-C, and it can’t deliver enough power to charge the HP Laptop 14, or support external monitor connections. At least you get an HDMI port for the latter purpose; it’s an interface that’s an increasingly rare sight on modern laptops.

Design: 3.5 / 5

HP Laptop 14 review: Performance

Close-up of touchpad on HP Laptop 14 — (Image credit: Future)

Shoddy multitasking abilities
Non-existent gaming capability
Poor display viewing angles

HP Laptop 14 benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 8,971; Fire Strike: 2,132
Geekbench 6.5 (Single Core): 2,230; (Multi Core): 5,468; GPU (Vulkan): 11,161; GPU (OpenCL): 9,169
Geekbench AI (Single Precision): 1,741; (Half Precision): 761; (Quantized): 3,583
Cinebench R23 (Multi Core): 5,580
Cinebench R24 (Single Core): 98; (Multi Core): 358
Crossmark: Overall: 1,295; Productivity: 1,373; Responsiveness: 1,132; Creativity: 1,279
Passmark: Overall: 2,904; CPU: 12,395; 2D Graphics: 509; 3D Graphics: 1,985; Memory: 2,217; Disk: 13,797
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 348MB/s; Write: 2,493MB/s
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 7 hours and 46 minutes

The HP Laptop 14 was a mediocre performer during much of my testing. It can handle light workloads, such as word processing and streaming video. However, it’s prone to slowdowns and momentary freezes when multiple browser tabs are open, so this isn’t the best machine for those seeking multitasking capabilities.

As expected given the modest spec of my unit, high-end gaming is out of the question for the HP Laptop 14. Even with the lowest graphical preset selected, it failed to run Cyberpunk 2077 in any sort of playable state, blighted by copious amounts of stutter and horrendous frame rates as it was. Suffice to say, it’s not going to trouble the best gaming laptop models, but at least there’s little heat or noise generated in the process.

What’s more, the 1080p resolution feels a little outdated on a laptop display this size. The UI elements are crisp enough, and I certainly wouldn’t say it was unpleasant to look at, but when you consider many mid-range laptops now have 2K resolutions and above, the HP Laptop 14 falls behind the competition. The worst aspect of the display, though, is its very limited viewing angles. If it’s not set perfectly, on-screen content will darken to the point of obscurity, or reveal prominent reflections.

Close-up of ports on left-hand side of HP Laptop 14, on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

On a more positive note, the keyboard of the HP Laptop 14 is largely pleasant to use. The keys have a very light actuation and react quickly, while at the same time having a generous amount of travel. Altogether, these aspects make for easy and snappy typing. The spacing of the keys is comfortable, too. There’s just about enough dampening to reduce harsh feedback, although I did feel the keyboard enclosure compressing inwards as I typed away – a constant reminder of the HP Laptop 14’s subpar construction. Fortunately, this didn’t negatively affect the typing experience.

The touchpad is sufficient, offering smooth and precise inputs for the most part. There were, however, occasions where stuttering seemed to occur, as the inputs of my swipes failed to register properly, which was mildly frustrating. It’s also a little on the small side, but I didn’t find this compromised basic navigation. And while my right thumb palm frequently made contact with the touchpad while typing, such instances didn’t result in any misplaced taps or cursor swipes.

Performance: 3 / 5

HP Laptop 14 review: Battery Life

Close-up of ports on right-hand side of HP Laptop 14, on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Middling battery life
Not very quick to charge

The battery life of the HP Laptop 14 is mediocre for this class of laptop. It lasted just under eight hours in our movie playback test – a score many of its rivals can beat. This includes other HP models, such as the OmniBook 7 14-inch, which achieved an astonishing 26 hours in the same test, showing just how high the bar is for modern laptop longevity – though, of course, that's a much more expensive laptop.

Charging isn’t as fast as other laptops, either. It took over three hours to fully recharge from empty; many of its rivals can achieve the same at least an hour quicker.

Battery Life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the HP Laptop 14?

HP Laptop 14 Scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	The base model is cheap, but I wouldn't recommend it. Higher spec models are too expensive.	3.5 / 5
Design	The compact form and tidy looks are commendable, but the cheap-feeling materials and limited connectivity options are drawbacks.	3.5 / 5
Performance	Disappointing for the price. The display is also poor at keeping reflections and shadows at bay.	3 / 5
Battery life	Not great; many rivals can outlast it by a long way.	3 / 5
Total Score	The small footprint and minimalist design of the HP Laptop 14 are strengths, but it's too expensive given the mediocre performance. Many rivals offer better value for money.	3 / 5

Buy it if...

You’ll be doing a lot of typing
The generous spacing, light actuation, and relatively deep travel of the keys make for an easy-going typing experience.

You want a sleek design
It won’t melt your heart, but the subtle elegance and compact form factor are sufficiently appealing.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best performance
Even light multitasking can cause the HP Laptop 14 to come unstuck, and any form of gaming is pretty much out of the question.

You want the best display
Many other laptop displays in this class have higher resolutions and don’t suffer from the same viewing angle problems.

HP Laptop 14 review: Also consider

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025)
It might have a higher starting price than the HP Laptop 14, but we’ve seen some serious discounts on this excellent laptop. It beats the HP Laptop 14 hands down in just about every category, making it one of the best mid-range laptops you can buy right now.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
If you’re looking for high-performance but don’t mind forgoing the Windows environment, then a Chromebook Plus model, such as this HP Chromebook Plus, might be ideal for you. It’s a great performer across many areas and has a decent display offering much better viewing angles than the HP Laptop 14. All these attributes make it not just one of the best Chromebooks, but also one of the best student laptop picks. Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review.

How I tested the HP Laptop 14

Rear three-quarter view of HP Laptop 14 open on white desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for several days
Used for a variety of tasks
Ran numerous benchmarks

I tested the HP Laptop 14 for several days, during which time I used it for general browsing, light productivity, and streaming videos.

I also put it through TechRadar’s series of benchmark tests, designed to assess every aspect of a laptop’s performance. I tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop until it shut down.

I have reviewed a large number of laptops across a wide range, from small budget-friendly models to large gaming-oriented behemoths. I’ve also reviewed other computing devices, including tablets, Chromebooks, and desktop PCs.

First reviewed: February 2026
Read more about how we test

I tested the HP OmniBook 7 and I don’t think there’s a better mid-range laptop — but it’s not exactly cheap

3:08 pm | February 2, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: Australia, Battery Life, UK, US | Comments: Off

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch: Two-minute review

The HP OmniBook 7 14-inch AI Laptop, to give it its full name, is an everyday workhorse with an elegant and upmarket design, setting it apart from much of the competition.

Its minimalist appearance is certainly fetching. The absence of any superfluous details makes it better-looking than your average workaday laptop, as does the light gray body, which contrasts well with the darker keycaps.

Not only does the OmniBook 7 look good, but it also feels good. The finish of both the entire unit and the keys is super smooth, and contributes to the laptop rivalling some of the best laptops out there.

Build quality is also impressive: both the base and the lid are sturdier than those on many other laptops I’ve tested. This feat is all the more impressive given just how light and thin the OmniBook 7 is — although it's a little thicker underneath than its slender sides might lead you to believe.

Most of the essential ports are present and correct. There are two USB-A and two USB-C ports. The latter are used for charging the OmniBook 7, and they also support external monitor connections. An HDMI port is also available for this purpose, and is an increasingly rare sight on modern laptops. However, I wasn’t thrilled with the ordering of many of the OmniBook 7’s ports, with the locations of the USB and HDMI ports being particularly inconvenient.

Three-quarter view of HP OmniBook 7 14-inch open on black desk with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

The general performance of the OmniBook 7 is impressive. It can handle light productivity and multi-tab browsing with ease, and can stream ultra-HD content without stuttering or buffering. I did notice a few minor slowdowns when performing certain media actions, but these were negligible.

For a laptop with no dedicated GPU, the OmniBook 7 surprised me with just how competent it is at gaming. You certainly won’t be getting high frame rates in AAA titles, even at modest settings, but Cyberpunk 2077 ran in a passable state that allowed for some casual playtime. I’ve certainly experienced my fair share laptops with similar integrated graphics that fail to reach even this low bar.

Some fan noise was apparent at times, even when moderate loads were undertaken. However, I didn’t find it loud to the point of distraction, and temperatures never exceeded lukewarm.

The display is also excellent. Its 1920 x 1200 resolution complements the 14-inch canvas very well, with the interface being clear and sharp. Colors are vibrantly rendered, too, and the deep contrast was very welcoming. I noticed some reflections on screen, but they didn’t obscure content prohibitively.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the OmniBook 7, though, is its battery life. It lasted an incredible 26 hours during our movie playback test, a time that ranks among the very best in the sector. It was also quick to fully recharge, taking just over two hours.

The starting price of the OmniBook 7 is high, in some territories more than others, but we’ve seen it on sale for significantly less (in UK markets, at least). And considering how it just about gets everything right, even exceeding expectations in some areas, the OmniBook 7 is one the best mid-range laptops around right now.

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch review: Price & Availability

Close-up of webcam on HP OmniBook 7 14-inch with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $949 / £699 / AU$2,499
Prices vary according to region
Expensive compared to some rivals

The HP OmniBook 7 14-inch starts from $949 / £699 / AU$2,499 and is available now. Configurability varies across regions, with the US seemingly only getting one model, which features an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

This certainly isn’t cheap; however, we’ve seen sizable reductions on variants in the UK and Australia which make them much better value. It’s more expensive than the HP OmniBook 5, but that model is significantly down on power compared to the 7.

It’s also cheaper, at least in some regions, than the Dell 16 Plus. This is another fine laptop, featuring a similarly lightweight yet sturdy design, as well as great performance and a high-quality display. It’s a larger device with a full-size keyboard, so it might be a better choice for those looking for more productivity pedigree. Like the OmniBook 7, though, it has integrated graphics, which means weak gaming and creative performance compared to laptops with dedicated GPUs.

Value: 4 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025) review: Specs

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025) Specs
HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025)	US	UK	Australia
Price:	$949	£699	AU$2,499
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 5 225U (up to 4.8GHz, 12 cores)	Intel Core 5 220H (up to 4.9GHz, 12 cores)	Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (up to 4.9GHz, 14 cores)
GPU:	Intel Graphics (integrated)	Intel Graphics (integrated)	Intel Arc 130T (integrated)
Memory:	16GB LPDDR5	24GB LPDDR5	32GB LPDDR5
Storage:	512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD	1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD	512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
Display:	14-inch 2K (1920 x 1200), IPS, anti-glare	14-inch 2K (1920 x 1200), IPS, anti-glare	14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800), UWVA
Ports:	2x USB-C (1x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, USB Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4a), 2x 1 USB-A (1x 10Gbps, 1x 5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio	2x USB-C (1x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, USB Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4a), 2x 1 USB-A (1x 10Gbps, 1x 5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio	2x USB-C (1x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, USB Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4a), 2x 1 USB-A (1x 10Gbps, 1x 5Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio
Battery (WHr):	68Wh	68Wh	68Wh
Wireless:	Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3	Intel Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:	5MP IR with privacy shutter	5MP IR with privacy shutter	5MP IR with privacy shutter
Weight:	3.12lbs (1.42kg)	3.12lbs (1.42kg)	3.12lbs (1.42kg)
Dimensions:	12.36 x 8.92 x 0.59in (314 x 226.6 x 15mm)	12.36 x 8.92 x 0.59in (314 x 226.6 x 15mm)	12.36 x 8.92 x 0.59in (314 x 226.6 x 15mm)

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch review: Design

Close-up of keyboard on HP OmniBook 7 14-inch with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Premium, elegant design
Strong build quality
Impractical port locations

In line with many of HP’s modern laptops, the design of the OmniBook 7 is best described as minimalist. The light silver colorway is sensible but less austere than other monochromatic rivals, while the darker keyboard shade provides a pleasing contrast. And like a great deal of Windows laptops in general, the OmniBook 7 emulates the pristine appeal of the best Macbooks — and I have to say, it’s largely successful on this front.

Complimenting its light colorway are its thin dimensions. This is especially evident on the sides of the unit, which help to disguise the somewhat thicker underside. Ultimately, though, the OmniBook 7 is still thinner and lighter than many other 14-inch laptops.

Strange as it is to say, I also admired the corners of the OmniBook 7, which are rounder than most. The same is true of the keycaps, and together these elements help to soften the OmniBook 7’s appearance even further.

Build quality is commendable, too. Despite the lightweight construction, both the body and the lid are remarkably sturdy. The hinge of the latter operates smoothly, and I experienced next to no wobbling when open. However, I wish it reclined a little further; the somewhat limited angle might be a problem for those wishing to place the OmniBook 7 on a stand.

Close-up of touchpad on HP OmniBook 7 14-inch — (Image credit: Future)

While the materials used in the OmniBook 7 aren’t as premium as those employed in high-end laptops, they don’t feel cheap; the body has a silky smooth finish, while the keycaps have a slightly grainy texture that enhances their tactility. They’re also backlit, which I pretty much consider an essential feature in a laptop keyboard.

You’ll find the usual connectivity options on the OmniBook 7. There’s a USB-A port on each side and two USB-C ports on the right. Also on the right is an HDMI port, while on the left you’ll find a 3.5mm combo audio jack as well.

The ordering of these ports is somewhat inconvenient. The USB-C ports are close to the middle of the unit — not an ideal place for the power cable to extend from. Also, the HDMI port is placed ahead of the USB-A port, which could result in crossing cables if both are occupied simultaneously.

It’s also a shame that the OmniBook 7 misses out on extra ports, such as an SD card reader, but given the compact nature of the unit, this is somewhat forgivable.

Design: 4.5 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch review: Performance

Close-up of left-side ports on HP OmniBook 7 14-inch, on a black desk with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Excellent general performance
Surprisingly capable for light gaming
Vivid, high-contrast display

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025) benchmarks:

3DMark Night Raid: 16,266; Fire Strike: 3,692; Steel Nomad: 345; Solar Bay 6,232; Solar Bay Unlimited: 6,281; Solar Bay Extreme: 748; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 753;
GeekBench 6.5 (Single-core): 2,324; (Multi-core): 10,247; GPU (Vulkan): 19,853; GPU (OpenCL): 19,874
Geekbench AI (Single Precision): 2,753; (Half Precision): 1,206; (Quantized): 5,732
Cinebench R23 (Multi Core): 9,305
Cinebench R24 (Single Core): 99; (Multi Core): 555
CrossMark: Overall: 1,604; Productivity: 1,536; Creativity: 1,779; Responsiveness: 1,341;
Passmark: Overall: 4,778; CPU: 21,287; 2D Graphics: 699; 3D Graphics: 3,443; Memory: 2,393; Disk: 35,104
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 3,927MB/s; Write: 3,311MB/s
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 25 hours and 57 minutes

The OmniBook 7 is a very capable all-round performer. It can handle the kinds of tasks you’d typically demand from a mid-range laptop. Light productivity is dispatched with aplomb, while the 16GB of RAM helps to facilitate browsing with multiple tabs open.

It streamed video at high resolutions with little buffering, although I did experience a small amount of lag when performing common actions, such as playing and pausing content, or when toggling full screen mode. However, such instances were too minor to cause frustration.

What surprised me most of all about the OmniBook 7 was its gaming performance. Despite lacking a dedicated GPU, it managed to run demanding titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077. Granted, it was far from the smoothest experience, hitting less than 30fps on average at the High preset with Ray Tracing disabled. But it sufficed for a quick and casual session. What’s more, it remained admirably cool and quiet throughout.

Close-up of right-side ports on HP OmniBook 7 14-inch, on a black desk with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

More impressive was the WUXGA display. It might fall short of many other laptops with sharper resolutions, but given the 14 inches of real estate on offer, is beautifully crisp and clear. Brightness and color reproduction are also excellent, as is the deep contrast. I did notice some reflections, but these were never prominent enough to disrupt the viewing experience.

The keyboard in the OmniBook 7 is mostly competent. The spacing between the keys is generous, while the short travel and light actuation allow for quick, snappy typing. However, while I found them satisfying to hit, they lack the dampening of some of the best keyboards around. Also, the lack of extra keys, such as a navigation cluster and a number pad, might hamper those looking for serious productivity pedigree.

I found no such drawbacks with the touchpad in the OmniBook 7. It feels superb and translates inputs precisely. I also found it to be the perfect size: small enough to avoid encroaching on wrist space when typing, yet large enough to make navigation and gesturing easy.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch review: Battery Life

Rear three-quarter view of HP OmniBook 7 14-inch open on black desk with white wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Best-in-class battery life
Quick to charge

The battery life of the OmniBook 7 is remarkable. When I ran a movie on a continuous loop unplugged, it lasted just shy of 26 hours. This is one of the best scores we’ve seen, and eclipses other laptops known for their longevity.

The charging time is also impressive, taking just over two hours to go from empty to full.

Battery Life: 5 / 5

Should I buy the HP OmniBook 7 14-inch?

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025) Scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Starting prices are high, especially in some regions. We have, however, seen some huge discounts.	4 / 5
Design	Super light and thin, with sleek looks and a premium feel. Port locations are a little impractical, though.	4.5 / 5
Performance	Brilliant general and multitasking performance, and the excellent display makes content pop. It's even capable of some light gaming.	4.5 / 5
Battery Life	Simply unbeatable; it can playback a video for over a full day. It's also quite quick to charge.	5 / 5
Total	The HP OmniBook 7 does everything you could want from a mid-range laptop, and more. If you find it on sale (as we have), it's hard to beat for value.	4.5 / 5

Buy the HP OmniBook 7 14-inch if...

You want great everyday performance
The OmniBook 7 is quick enough for all your general tasking and entertainment needs. It’s even capable of some light gaming, despite not having a dedicated GPU.

You want a great battery life
The OmniBook 7 can last for hours and hours before it runs out of juice. It’s among the most enduring laptops on the market.

Don't buy it if...

You want serious gaming performance
Although I was impressed by how well it ran AAA titles, its lack of dedicated graphics inevitably puts it leagues behind what the best gaming laptops can achieve.

You’re particular about cable management
The ordering of the ports along both sides of the OmniBook 7 is somewhat impractical, especially when the power adapter is connected to one of the USB-C ports.

HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025) review: Also Consider

HP OmniBook 5 14-inch (2025)
It might be a step down from the OmniBook 7, but we were very impressed with the OmniBook 5 when we reviewed it. In particular, we were enthralled by its display and battery life — two areas where the OmniBook 7 shines even brighter. Its overall performance was somewhat disappointing, but considering its very competitive pricing, these flaws are somewhat forgiven.

Read our full HP OmniBook 5 14-inch (2025) review.

Dell 16 Plus
The Dell 16 Plus shares many of the same traits with the OmniBook 7, including a lightweight yet solid design, great performance, and a pleasing display. However, since it's larger, it has the advantage of a full-size keyboard which includes a number pad, handy for those with productivity in mind. Again, like the OmniBook 7, it lacks graphical prowess due to the integrated graphics it’s saddled with, so avid gamers and creators should look elsewhere.

Read our full Dell 16 Plus review.

How I tested the HP OmniBook 7 14-inch (2025)

Top-down view of HP OmniBook 7 14-inch closed on black desk — (Image credit: Future)

Tested for several days
Used for productivity, entertainment, browsing
Plentiful laptop reviewing experience

I tested the HP OmniBook 7 for several days, during which time I used it for light productivity tasks, streaming content, gaming, and general browsing.

I ran our suite of benchmarks, which test every facet of a laptop's performance. I also ran a movie on a continuous loop to test battery life.

I have reviewed countless laptops in my time, ranging from budget and mid-range efforts to top-tier machines designed for high-end gaming and other intensive workloads. I've also reviewed a plethora of other computing devices, including desktops and tablets.

First reviewed: January 2026
Read more about how we test

I spent days testing Acer’s new 16-inch laptop — and sadly AI remains just a gimmick

12:50 pm | January 27, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: AI, Battery Life | Comments: Off

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Two-minute review

The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a large laptop promising powerful AI features in an elegant body. It certainly looks the part, thanks to the premium materials and finish, as well as the impressively thin chassis. It’s also surprisingly light for a laptop of this size, which further improves its portability.

However, the price paid for this litheness is the somewhat flimsy build quality, falling below the standards of the best laptop constructions. There’s a fair amount of flex to the chassis, while the lid hinge doesn’t offer the greatest stability – although it at least managed to stay planted while I typed.

There are a good number of ports on the Aspire 16 AI, including two USB-C and two USB-A ports. However, the former are located closest to you, a choice I usually lament since it means your power adapter has to cross over with any cable you have plugged in to the USB-A port. It’s also a shame that the card reader is only fit for microSDs.

For day-to-day use, the Aspire 16 AI is very capable. It can handle light productivity and 4K streaming without missing a beat. However, the included AI features are disappointing: they’re either too basic in their functionality or fail to work altogether.

Gaming also proved to be a lackluster experience. Its shared memory GPU can just about handle AAA titles on the lowest settings, and even then you won’t exactly be treated to the smoothest frame rates.

Close-up of camera on Acer Aspire 16 AI on pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Under these kinds of intensive workloads, the Aspire 16 AI can generate a fair amount of heat, but thankfully it’s concentrated underneath, towards the back. Coupled with the hushed fans, the Aspire 16 AI remains comfortable to use in such scenarios.

The display in my review unit, with its OLED technology and 2048 x 1280 resolution, provided a crystal-clear image, rendering colors vividly and delivering high brightness levels. This latter aspect is especially useful for combating reflections, which can be quite prominent.

Thanks to the spacing and satisfying feel of its keys, the keyboard on the Aspire 16 AI is easy to use. However, the number pad keys are too small for my liking, and I wished there was a right Control key, as I find this useful for productivity purposes.

The touchpad is smooth and large, which helps with navigation, but it can get in the way when typing. Also, the one in my review unit felt loose and rattled when clicking, making it awkward to use and suggests signs of poor quality control.

Battery life is somewhat disappointing, and isn’t a patch on that of the smaller 14 AI. In fact, many of its key rivals can outlast it. I only managed to get roughly nine hours from it when playing a movie on a continuous loop.

On the face of it, the Aspire 16 AI might look like good value, but it doesn’t deliver enough to justify its cost. Its slender form and mostly great display aren’t enough to make up for its drawbacks, while other laptops at this price point offer more complete packages.

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Price & Availability

$649.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,499
Available now in various configurations
Better value rivals exist

The Aspire 16 AI starts from $649.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,499 and is available now. It can be configured with various processors, including Intel and Qualcomm (ARM) chips, with a couple of storage and RAM options to choose from.

Unfortunately, there are better value laptops out there with more power and performance, better suited to heavier workloads. The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is one such example. Starting prices aren’t as low, but they’re similar to the higher spec models of the Aspire 16 AI. They also have excellent build quality, making them a better value proposition all things considered.

If you want to stick with Windows, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is another alternative. Again, it’s similarly priced to the higher-spec variants of the Aspire 16 AI, but offers much better gaming performance, chiefly thanks to its AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU. It’s no surprise we think it’s one of the best cheap gaming laptops around right now.

Value: 3 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Specs

Acer Aspire 16 AI Specs
	Acer Aspire 16 AI Base Config	Acer Aspire 16 AI Review Config
Price	$649.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,499	£949 (about $1,280, AU$1,960)
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 (8 cores), 3GHz	AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 2.0GHz (8 cores)
GPU	Qualcomm Adreno GPU (shared memory)	AMD Radeon 860M (shared memory)
RAM	16GB LPDDR5X	16GB LPDDR5X
Storage	512GB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)	1TB PCI Express NVMe 4.0 (M.2)
Display	16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 ComfyView (Matte) 120Hz, IPS	16-inch WUXGA+ (2048 x 1280) OLED, 16:10, 120Hz
Ports and Connectivity	2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x headset jack, 1x microSD, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x headset jack, 1x microSD, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery	65Wh	65Wh
Dimensions	14 x 9.8 x 0.6 inch / 355 x 250 x 16mm	14 x 9.8 x 0.6 inch / 355 x 250 x 16mm
Weight	3.4lbs / 1.55kg	3.4lbs / 1.55kg

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Design

Close-up of keyboard on Acer Aspire 16 AI — (Image credit: Future)

Brilliantly thin and light
Not the sturdiest
Touchpad issues

Thanks to its minimal design, the Aspire 16 AI has sleek looks. The low-shine metallic lid also adds to its elegance, befitting its premium price tag.

It’s pleasingly light and slender, too, making it more portable than you might expect for a 16-inch laptop. The bezel for the display is minuscule as well, which helps to maximize its full potential.

There’s a satisfying click when you close the lid on the Aspire 16 AI, something I haven’t encountered on any other laptop before. The hinge also allows for the screen to recline all the back by 180 degrees, something I’m always happy to see.

However, lid stability isn’t the best, as it’s prone to wobbling, although, thankfully, it remains stable while typing on the keyboard. The overall construction of the Aspire 16 AI isn’t especially impressive, either, with the chassis having a fair amount of flex.

Close-up of touchpad on Acer Aspire 16 AI — (Image credit: Future)

Worse still, the touchpad in my review unit had a horrible rattle, as if some part was loose at the bottom section. It’s possible this issue is confined to my review unit alone – perhaps it had been passed around several journalists before it got to me – but the issue still doesn’t speak highly of its build quality or Acer's quality control.

There’s a varied selection of ports on the Aspire 16 AI, spread evenly across both sides. On the left are two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and an HDMI port. However, I found it inconvenient that the USB-C ports are placed nearest to you, since one has to be used for the power adapter; I much prefer the thick cable for this to trail from the back of the laptop, rather than from the middle, as it does with the Aspire 16 AI.

On the right you’ll find another USB-A port, followed by a combo audio jack and a microSD card reader. It’s a shame the latter can’t accommodate standard SD card sizes, but this is a small grievance.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Performance

Close-up of left-side ports on Acer Aspire 16 AI, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Good productivity and streaming performance
Poor for gaming
Useless AI features

The Aspire 16 AI offers great general performance. It takes light productivity in its stride, from word processing to spreadsheet creation, and multiple browser tabs didn’t cause a problem for me, thanks to the 16GB of RAM in my review unit. Streaming 4K content is well within its grasp, too. I experienced little buffering or slow down, providing a seamless viewing experience in the main.

However, despite what Acer claims, the gaming performance of the Aspire 16 AI is quite poor. With its shared memory, the AMD Radeon GPU didn’t handle AAA titles very well. When I played Cyberpunk 2077 with the default Ray Tracing: Low preset and resolution scaling set to Performance mode, I was getting 20fps on average – not what you’d call playable.

The best I could achieve with the game was about 38fps, but that was at the lowest possible graphics preset and the resolution dropped to 1080p. This at least made it playable, but if you’re expecting to get even moderately close to the performance of the best gaming laptops, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

During my playtime, the Aspire 16 AI generated a fair amount of heat. Fortunately, this was heavily concentrated underneath and at the back, thus steering clear of any parts you might actually touch. Fan noise is also pleasantly subdued.

As when I tested the 14 AI, the AI features the Aspire 16 AI sports are disappointing. The centerpiece appears to be Acer LiveSense, a photo editing and webcam suite with very basic functionality, not to mention a poor UI and frequent glitches.

For more AI features, you’ll have to download Acer Intelligence Space, the brand’s hub. Contrary to when I tested the 14 AI, I managed to install it successfully. However, it didn’t get off to an auspicious start, as a dialog box warned me that I had insufficient memory resources, explaining that it needed 6.5GB free and a total of at least 16GB to execute smoothly.

Close-up of right-hand ports on Acer Aspire 16 AI on table — (Image credit: Future)

I proceeded anyway and was greeted with a clear user interface that revealed the various AI apps I could install. However, a large portion of them seem to be incompatible with the Aspire 16 AI, and those that are were once more very limited in their functionality.

On a more positive note, the 2K OLED display in my review unit was as clear and as vibrant as you might expect. The very shiny coating can cause prominent reflections, but these can be mitigated by the screen’s brightness values (especially if you disable the ‘change brightness based on content’ setting).

The keyboard feels premium, too, thanks to the subtle texture and tight fit of the keys themselves. They’re also light, tactile, and reasonably spaced, although perhaps not to the extent of other laptop keyboards. I didn’t find this aspect to be a problem when typing, but I did while gaming, as it made adopting the WASD more uncomfortable for me.

At least the number pad doesn’t eat into the layout space. However, contrary to many full-sized laptop keyboards I’ve experienced, it’s the number pad itself that feels cramped, with its keys being too narrow to be used easily. Another small but notable gripe I have with the keyboard is the absence of a right Control key, which can be frustrating when performing productivity tasks.

The touchpad performs well enough, with its large and smooth surface making for easy navigation. However, thanks to the aforementioned rattle in its bottom portion, clicks felt unpleasant. It can also get in the way while typing: on occasion, the palm of my thumbs would activate the cursor, although thankfully not clicks or taps.

Performance: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Battery Life

Back of Acer Aspire 16 AI open on table with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Average battery life
14 AI battery life much better
Other rivals are better, too

The battery life of the Aspire 16 AI isn’t particularly impressive. It lasted just over nine hours in our movie playback test, which is a middling result. This is a far cry from the time achieved by the 14 AI, which lasted over twice as long, making the Aspire 16 AI even more disappointing by comparison.

What’s more, plenty of its rivals can beat this score, including the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch, which managed over 17 hours, and the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition, which lasted 11 hours.

Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Aspire 16 AI?

Acer Aspire 16 AI Scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Starting prices are low, but climb up the specs and the value starts to diminish.	3 / 5
Design	Build quality isn’t the best, but it’s impressively thin and light. It looks good, too.	3.5 / 5
Performance	Everyday tasks are dispatched without a hitch, but it can’t cope well with heavier demands, such as gaming. The display is very good, though.	3.5 / 5
Battery Life	Only average, and the smaller 14 AI absolutely obliterates it on this front.	3 / 5
Total	The Aspire 16 AI is a capable workhorse, but its poor GPU, underwhelming AI features, and suspect build quality result in a middling machine.	3 / 5

Buy the Acer Aspire 16 AI if...

You want a large and bright display
The 16-inch OLED on my model looked great, its powerful backlight can overcome its reflective nature.

You want something portable
Despite its large size, the Aspire 16 AI is impressively light and thin, making it easy to carry around.

Don't buy it if...

You’ll be running graphics-intensive apps
The Aspire 16 AI could barely handle AAA gaming at modest settings, saddled as it is with a shared memory GPU.

You want a super-sturdy machine
There’s plenty of flex in the body, and the seemingly broken touchpad on my particular unit was disconcerting.

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Also Consider

Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
If you’re after more graphical power but don’t want to spend more for it, the TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition might be the solution. It comes equipped with an AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU, which is capable of handling AAA titles smoothly, although you may have to forgo Ray Tracing. Read our full Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review.

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
Unusually for an Apple product, this MacBook Air is actually a great budget pick if you’re after a powerful machine, being among the best laptops for video editing for this reason. Its sumptuous design and display are additional feathers in its creative cap. Read our full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review.

How I tested the Acer Aspire 16 AI

Tested for several days
Used for various tasks
Plentiful laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Aspire 16 AI for several days, during which time I used it for various tasks, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests to assess its all-round performance more concretely, and played a movie on a continuous loop while unplugged to see how long its battery lasted.

I have been using laptops for decades, and have reviewed a large and varied selection of them too, ranging in their form factors, price points, and intended purposes.

First reviewed: January 2026
Read more about how we test

This HP 2-in-1 laptop I tested might not be a powerhouse, but it’s well made and capable enough for everyday tasks

7:51 pm | January 21, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin, Battery Life, FPS | Comments: Off

HP Pavilion x360 14: Two-minute review

The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a compact 2-in-1 laptop that aims to offer both performance and versatility in a single package.

True to most of HP’s lineup, the Pavilion x360 14 has a smart and understated appearance. The light grey colorway and sleek contours imbue it with elegance, while its 14-inch size helps with portability.

However, this latter aspect is undermined somewhat by its relatively thick and heavy construction, so it’s not the best laptop for frequent travelers who want a device with as minimal a footprint as possible.

The upshot of this weight, though, is that it adds some reassuring solidity. Both the base and the display enclosure of the Pavilion x360 14 have very little give, while the materials used all over the unit feel premium. The hinge for the lid is also sturdy, if a little clunky in action when you're pushing the screen beyond 90 degrees, as I often do whenever I use a 2-in-1 laptop.

Despite its small size, there are a good number of ports on the Pavilion x360 14. Along with two USB-A and one USB-C port, there’s also an HDMI port, a microSD slot, and a combo audio jack, all of which I welcome. What’s more, they’re conveniently located.

The general performance of the Pavilion x360 14 is pretty good. It can handle light productivity and stream 4K content with ease. However, it can suffer from micro-stutters when moving quickly from task to task. Also, gaming performance is average-to-poor, owing to the absence of a dedicated GPU. Of course, this isn't a gaming laptop, so you shouldn't really expect impressive game performance.

Rear three-quarter view of HP Pavilion x360 14 open on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

I noticed that even under moderate loads, a fair amount of heat radiates from the left side of the Pavilion x360 14, as well as the top keyboard rows. Thankfully, temperatures aren’t alarmingly high. The fans generate some noise, but remain pleasingly quiet relative to many other laptops under stress.

The display is pleasingly sharp and vibrant, and although reflections are prominent at times, I usually found the maximum brightness setting could mitigate their presence to an acceptable degree.

Despite the small size of the Pavilion x360 14, its keyboard has a pleasingly spacious layout, which, combined with the snappiness of the keys themselves, makes it satisfying to type on. However, there was no backlighting in my particular review unit – a grave omission given how hard it was to make out the lettering most of the time.

The touchpad is usable, if a little small, and has a smooth surface. It’s also quite solid, although I did notice a slight rattle when tapping and clicking, which can hamper feel and feedback.

The touchscreen on the Pavilion x360 14 is responsive and accurate, however, those keen on illustration might be disappointed with the small – but still noticeable – levels of friction, which can lead to slightly rough swipes, whether a stylus or a finger is used.

The battery life of the Pavilion x360 14 is quite good. It lasted over 11 hours when I ran our movie playback test, which is similar to some of its more expensive rivals. However, it pales in comparison to the highest performing laptops on this front, which can endure twice as long in some cases.

All things considered, though, the Pavilion x360 14 is a strong option in the 2-in-1 sector, thanks to its decent everyday performance and impressive design. It’s a shame that it’s not as portable as other convertible models, and there may be better value alternatives depending on what you require from a laptop, but at the very least the Pavilion x360 14 deserves a place on your shortlist.

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Price & Availability

Close-up of right-hand ports on HP Pavilion x360 14, with desk and pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from £699 (about $920 / AU$1,400)
Available now
Expensive compared to some rivals

The HP Pavilion x360 14 is available now and starts from £699 (about $920 / AU$1,400). For that, you get an Intel Core i3, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. However, we have seen it on sale for half this price from HP’s own website, which obviously makes it much better value.

The unit I review here is the top-spec model and costs around £1,000. It features an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage (although you can upgrade to a 1TB drive instead). Again, we’ve seen a hefty discount on this variant, but its usual price is quite dear.

If you don't need a truly convertible laptop, but still want a touchscreen, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a fine alternative. It’s decidedly more expensive, but it’s a truly premium machine, featuring an OLED display and a pleasingly portable design.

However, if your heart is set on a 2-in-1 but you want a more budget-friendly option, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is worth considering. Thanks to its compact form factor, great display, and usable touchscreen, it’s one of the best Chromebooks currently around.

Value: 3.5 / 5

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Specs

HP Pavilion x360 14 Specs
	Base configuration	Review configuration
Price	£699 (about $920 / AU$1,400)	£1,000 (about $1,300 / AU$2,000)
CPU	Intel Core i3 1315U (1.2GHz, 6 cores)	Intel Core i7 1355U (1.7GHz, 10 cores)
GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (integrated)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)
RAM	8GB DDR4	16GB DDR4
Storage	256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD	512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Touch screen	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Touch screen
Ports and Connectivity	1x USB-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3	1x USB-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Battery	43Wh	43Wh
Dimensions	12.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in (322 x 210 x 20mm)	12.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in (322 x 210 x 20mm)
Weight	3.3lbs / 1.51kg	3.3lbs / 1.51kg

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Design

Three-quarter view of HP Pavilion x360 14 open on desk, flipped upside down in touchscreen mode, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Heavier and bulkier than expected
Solid construction
Impressive port selection

The Pavilion x360 14 looks smart, with its pristine light gray finish, rounded edges, and flat surfaces. All these aspects reflect HP’s desire to emulate the best MacBook designs.

Despite initial impressions, though, the Pavilion x360 14 is actually less slender and light than you might expect. Not only does this heft hamper portability, it’s doubly disappointing to see in a convertible laptop, since you’ll likely be picking it up and flipping it upside down frequently to use the touchscreen. The best 2-in-1 laptop options are all lighter than this.

On the plus side, the weight does contribute to the overall sturdiness of the HP Pavilion x360 14, as there’s virtually no flex to any of its panels. The materials employed seem quite premium as well, more akin to metal than plastic.

Also, the lid hinge is stable enough to prevent the display from wobbling under most circumstances. It operates smoothly, too, although I found it took a bit more effort to adjust the display angle compared to other laptops I’ve used.

More irksome, however, was the fact that once it’s reclined beyond 90 degrees, the rear of the base lifts clean off the underlying surface. This is a design choice some other laptops employ, but it’s not one I’m fond of. It always felt awkward adjusting the display to this point, and results in less stability when using the keyboard.

Close-up of webcam on HP Pavilion x360 14, with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, my review unit had no backlighting for the keyboard. I always lament this omission in any laptop, but it’s especially disappointing in the case of the Pavilion x360 14. The characters are dark and contrast marginally with the finish of the keys themselves, making them hard to see in many instances; at certain angles, they were totally invisible.

Even though the Pavilion x360 14 is a small laptop, it has an admirable selection of interfaces. There are two USB-A ports and one USB-C, the latter of which supports both Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 standards.

Additionally, there’s an HDMI port, a combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. It’s a small shame the latter isn’t fit for standard SD cards, but I can forgive this omission given the form factor of the Pavilion x360 14.

The ports are spread quite evenly across both sides, which improves convenience. They’re also ordered in a logical way: for instance, the power connector is furthest away from the user, while the microSD reader and combo audio jack are closest.

Design: 4 / 5

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Performance

Close-up of keyboard on HP Pavilion x360 14, with desk and pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Reasonable everyday performance
Heat and noise even under moderate loads
Responsive but uninspiring touchscreen

HP Pavilion x360 14 benchmarks:

3DMark Night Raid 13,367; Fire Strike: 3,646; Steel Nomad: 139
GeekBench 6.5 Single-core: 2,535; Multi-core: 7,729
CrossMark Overall: 1,480; Productivity: 1,517; Creativity: 1,528; Responsiveness: 1,247;
HandBrake - 4K to 1080p average FPS: 30.27

The general performance of the Pavilion x360 14 is reasonable, if not spectacular. It can handle light productivity and entertainment tasks well, even streaming 4K content without disruption.

However, despite my review unit having an Intel Core i7 installed, it wasn’t as swift as I was expecting. When switching between browser tabs or loading new web pages, it frequently stuttered. These stutters were momentary, so were minor infractions in the main, but they added up to become more disruptive when I tried to accomplish multiple (but not especially demanding) tasks in quick succession.

Being the top spec model, my review unit also had Intel Iris Xe Graphics. In theory, this offers improved performance over Intel UHD Graphics, but it’s still integrated to the CPU. This means that the Pavilion x360 14 is only capable of very light gaming. I managed to run Cyberpunk 2077 on Medium graphics, but it wasn’t a smooth experience, in terms of frame rate and visual fidelity.

A noticeable amount of heat emanated from the left vent of the Pavilion x360 14, as well as from the top keyboard rows and the section above. This was the case even when I conducted moderate workloads. Thankfully, the temperatures were never uncomfortable or concerning. Fan noise accompanied such moments, but it was pleasingly quiet relative to some other laptops under load.

Close-up of touchpad on HP Pavilion x360 14 — (Image credit: Future)

The 1080p resolution of the Pavilion x360 14 provides plenty of sharpness, which is doubtless helped by the compact 14-inch display. Colors also appear vibrant. It can be quite reflective at times, but thankfully there’s enough brightness to keep them from being distracting.

The touchscreen functions well, responding to inputs made by either a finger or a stylus quickly and accurately. However, the surface isn’t the smoothest, so more intricate usage, such as drawing or handwriting, can result in a dragging sensation. The effect isn’t as egregious as it is on some other touchscreens, but if you’re after one of the best touchscreen laptops, the Pavilion x360 14 might not cut it.

If you’ll mainly be typing, though, you’ll be pleased with the keyboard on the HP Pavilion x360 14. The keys are comfortably spaced despite the compact layout, and there’s a surprising amount of travel to presses, which makes them satisfying to use. They’re still snappy enough to type quickly, though.

The touchpad is less impressive. It operates well enough, but the small size and numb-feeling taps and clicks – in part due to the slight rattle I noticed – result in a less tactile experience.

Performance: 4 / 5

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Battery Life

Close-up of left-side ports on HP Pavilion x360 14, with desk and pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

Respectable by 2-in-1 standards
Some longer-lasting rivals
Quick to recharge

The Pavilion x360 14 has a decent battery life. It lasted about 11 hours in our movie playback test, which is close to the same score achieved by the Acer Chromebook Spin 312.

However, it can’t beat the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, another fantastic 2-in-1 laptop, which managed over 14 and a half hours. Also, more conventional laptops can last longer, sometimes up to 20 hours or more. The Pavilion x360 14 is quick to charge, though. It took about two hours to fully replenish.

Battery Life: 4 / 5

Should I buy the HP Pavilion x360 14?

HP Pavilion x360 14 Scorecard
	Notes	Rating
Value	The HP Pavilion x360 14 has a reasonable starting price, although prices rise steeply with higher-spec models. We’ve seen big discounts on it recently, though.	3.5 / 5
Design	The HP Pavilion x360 14 looks smart and is well made, but it’s heavier and bulkier than you might expect. My unit was crying out for keyboard backlighting, too.	4 / 5
Performance	Not blistering, but still efficient for workaday use. The 1080p display looks crisp, while the keyboard and touchscreen are effective.	4 / 5
Battery life	Decent for a convertible laptop, although some rivals can beat it. It’s quick to recharge, though.	4 / 5
Total Score	The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a premium-feeling machine with a compact form, but one that's less portable and maneuverable than you might expect. There are also some better-value rivals, but it still offers enough to deserve consideration.	4 / 5

Buy the HP Pavilion x360 14 if...

You’ll be doing a lot of typing
The keyboard is a joy to use, thanks to the comfortable and snappy keys.

You want a premium build
Not only does it look smart, the Pavilion x360 14 is solidly constructed, and the materials employed feel more upmarket than your usual flimsy plastics.

Don't buy it if...

You’ll be conducting demanding workloads
Since it lacks integrated graphics, more strenuous tasks, such as gaming, are a struggle for the Pavilion x360 14.

You want the best usability
Despite its small size, its thickness and weight hamper tablet-style use, as well as portability.

HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Also Consider

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i
It might not be convertible, but the Yoga Slim 9i still has a touchscreen. What’s more, if you want the ultimate in portability, you can’t do much better. It’s a far more premium option than the Pavilion x360 14, but we found that its build quality and performance lived up to its commanding price tag. Shame there’s no audio jack, though.

Read our full Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i review.View Deal

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If you’re on a tighter budget and can forgo the Windows operating system, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is a strong choice. It has a great display, keyboard, and touchscreen, all of which make it one of the best budget laptop picks. Its performance is also respectable – although it won’t handle heavy multitasking with the composure of more powerful machines.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the HP Pavilion x360 14

Tested for a few days
Used for a variety of tasks
Laptop testing experience

I tested the HP Pavilion x360 14 for a few days, during which time I used it for multiple tasks, including productivity, streaming, and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests for laptops, which are designed to assess every facet of performance. I also tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I have plenty of experience both using and reviewing laptops. I have covered many models, ranging in their form factors, use cases, and price points.

First reviewed: November 2025
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