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Samsung and BOE reach agreement over OLED display patent infringement
4:59 pm | November 19, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung Display had an ongoing three-year legal battle against BOE over trade secrets theft and patent infringements related to OLED tech, and according to a new report from Yonhap News, the two sides have settled their dispute. According to the report, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an official statement confirming that the case has been suspended. While details of the withdrawal were not disclosed, industry sources suggest that BOE has reached an out-of-court settlement with Samsung, which would see it paying royalties to use Samsung Display’s intellectual property...

Bloomberg: Apple iPad mini, iPad Air and MacBook Air to get OLED displays
8:05 am | October 29, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Apple’s iPad Air and mini lineup could receive big display upgrades soon, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company is also working on upgrading the display on the MacBook Air. The report states that the Cupertino giant is testing new iPad Air, mini, and MacBook Air models with OLED displays. As per the report, Apple plans to introduce the iPad mini with an OLED panel in 2026. While an OLED display would be a welcome upgrade for the iPad mini, it’s expected to come at a higher price. The report suggests that the OLED version could cost up to $100 more than the current...

HP OmniBook 5 14-inch (2025) review: Incredible battery life and a top-tier display at an affordable price
9:20 pm | October 16, 2025

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

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: One-minute review

The HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC (yes, that is its full name) has its flaws, but its strengths make those drawbacks easy to overlook. With over 16 hours of battery life, a stunning OLED display, an ultra-portable design, and an affordable starting price, it's hard not to recommend the OmniBook 5 14-inch, depending on what you're looking for in a laptop.

It starts at just $679 / £850 / AU$1,599 for a base configuration with a Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 14-inch (1920x1200) OLED display.

Somewhat frustratingly, the US base configuration only has 256GB of storage, while the UK and Australia's starting specs include 512GB of storage. Luckily, Best Buy has a middle-ground configuration for US users that offers great value for your money at just $20 more than the US base configuration.

Aside from a bit of pricing confusion, this OmniBook is a great pick for basic work and school-related tasks, especially if you want a laptop that's going to easily last all day, making it one of the best laptops for students and remote workers out there.

The lightweight design also makes this perfect for commuters. While the performance could be stronger, it's hard to complain at this price–and with such an impressive battery life.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Price & Availability

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • How much does it cost? Starting at $679 / £850 / AU$1,599
  • When is it available? It's available now
  • Where can you get it? Directly from HP in the US, UK, and Australia, or at various retailers like Best Buy

The OmniBook 5 14-inch is available now in the US, UK, and Australia starting at $679/£850/AU$1,599 on the HP website. The base configuration in all three regions includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 CPU, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 14-inch OLED display.

The one big difference is that the US base configuration includes 256GB of storage while the UK and Australia base models have 512GB of storage.

With that said, an upgraded in-between configuration is available in the US at Best Buy for just $20 more than the base model on HP's website. That configuration has 512GB of storage and even bumps you up to a Snapdragon X Plus processor. So if you're in the US, I would definitely suggest opting for that version.

The US and UK prices for the OmniBook 5 14-inch are pretty reasonable, but the top configuration in Australia is a bit pricey for the specs you're getting (more on that below).

  • Value: 4 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Specs

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Lower starting storage in the US base configuration
  • All configurations include an OLED display
  • Upgrades available for CPU, RAM, and storage

My review unit is the US top configuration of the OmniBook 5 14-inch, which is priced at $899, but the base configuration starts at $679/£850/AU$1,599. There is also a middle configuration in the US available at Best Buy for $699, which includes 512GB of storage and a Snapdragon X Plus processor.

All starting configurations include a Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 14-inch (1920x1200) OLED display, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. However, it's important to point out that the base model in the US only has 256GB of storage, half of what you would get in the UK and Australia, which is why I suggest going for the Best Buy configuration instead if you're in the US.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC starting configurations

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$679

£850

AU$1,599

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

GPU:

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Memory:

16GB

16GB

16GB

Storage:

256GB

512GB

512GB

Screen:

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

Ports:

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 5.3mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 5.3mm audio jack

Battery (WHr):

59 WHr

59 WHr

59 WHr

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Camera:

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

Weight:

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

Dimensions:

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

The top configurations of the OmniBook 5 14-inch bump you up to a Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 processor and 32GB of storage. The US and UK configurations also get 1TB of storage, which unfortunately isn't the case in Australia.

The top configurations in the US and the UK are a pretty good deal, especially if you can find them on sale, but the top specs in Australia are hard to recommend when you're not getting that storage upgrade. Even so, the improved processor and increased RAM could be worth paying extra for some users.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC Top Configurations

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$899

£1,049

AU$1,999

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

GPU:

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Memory:

32GB

32GB

32GB

Storage:

1TB

1TB

512GB

Screen:

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

Ports:

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

Battery (WHr):

59 WHr

59 WHr

59 WHr

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Camera:

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

Weight:

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

Dimensions:

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

  • Specs: 3.5 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Design

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Incredibly lightweight
  • Stellar OLED display
  • Build quality feels a bit low-end

The OmniBook 5 14-inch isn't pushing the envelope with its design, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very portable, weighing in at a mere 2.85 pounds. The chassis doesn't feel "premium", with its plastic-y keyboard deck and display bezels, but the low weight helps make up for that.

Plus, it's what's on the inside that counts, which in this case is a superbly snappy keyboard. HP's laptop keyboards can be pretty hit or miss for me, but I loved typing on this one. It has just the right amount of tactile feedback and key travel without being loud. However, I wish the power button was separated from the rest of the keyboard. It matches the rest of the function-row keys except for a little LED indicator.

The touchpad is also pretty good. Considering the price point on this OmniBook 5 14-inch, I was expecting a mushy touchpad, but I was pleasantly surprised. It might not be the best touchpad I've ever used, but it has a satisfying amount of travel and feedback just like the keyboard. The speakers are also surprisingly decent and got plenty loud enough for my needs.

The real star feature here is the OLED display. I love OLED, and this display did not disappoint. Colors really pop on it, more than you would expect from a sub-$1,000 laptop. It passed our display tests with flying colors, too, reproducing 194.5% of the sRGB color gamut and 138.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. I genuinely enjoyed watching shows and movies on the OmniBook 5 14-inch and even playing a few games on it because the display looks phenomenal.

  • Design: 4 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Performance

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Performance could be better, but isn't bad, either
  • Weak graphics performance
  • Keeps up fine with basic daily tasks like web browsing

If you're mainly looking for a laptop for things like web browsing, replying to emails, word processing, or studying, the OmniBook 5 14-inch is definitely up to the task. This little laptop is more than capable of handling basic work or school-related tasks. I had no trouble managing over a dozen tabs on Firefox while working on the Omnibook. However, if you want to use resource-intensive apps, like Adobe Photoshop and the like, you may want to spend a little more elsewhere.

The OmniBook 5 14-inch's performance falls far short of the MacBook Air, which only costs $100 more than the top configuration. It came in over 1,000 points behind the M4 MacBook Air on the Geekbench 6 single-core test and lagged by over 3,000 points on the multi-core test. Of course, there are plenty of reasons you might not want a Mac or might simply want to save money, especially if you can find the Omnibook at a discount.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC

MacBook Air M4 (13-inch)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 (2025)

Geekbench 6 single-core

2,414

£3,679

2,436

Geekbench 6 multi-core

11,309

14,430

11,321

Crossmark (Overall)

1,184

2,009

1,165

Crossmark (Productivity)

1,116

1,875

1,081

Crossmark (Creativity)

1,298

2,369

1,328

Crossmark (Responsiveness)

1,074

1,505

983

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)

If you're only doing lightweight or web-based tasks, the OmniBook 5 14-inch's more humble performance scores probably won't be an issue, it's just worth keeping in mind. Plus, considering the starting price, it's hard to complain.

It's also worth noting that the OmniBook 5 14-inch is by no means a gaming laptop. It managed to run lightweight, 2D games fine, but really struggles with anything more. Wildfrost ran very smoothly at 60 FPS with no issues, but I was only able to get about 20 FPS in Death's Door and about 30 FPS in Risk of Rain 2. These aren't particularly demanding games, so definitely don't expect to be playing any AAA titles on the Omnibook, but games like Stardew Valley or Slay the Spire should run fine.

  • Performance: 3.5 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Battery Life

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • How long does it last before the battery dies? Just over 16 hours.
  • How long does it take to charge to 50%? About 30 minutes.

Battery life is by far the OmniBook 5 14-inch's biggest strength. It lasted a staggering 16 hours and 2 minutes in our battery test, which, for context, is 2 hours longer than the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air. While you're getting a notably less powerful processor in the Omnibook, you get really impressive battery life in exchange. For some, that could be a worthy trade-off.

My only complaint here is that the left side of the keyboard deck gets noticeably warm when the OmniBook 5 14-inch is charging. It's not uncomfortable, and you won't have to charge it often, but when you do, you can't miss how one side of your keyboard is warmer than the other.

  • Battery Life: 5 / 5

Should you buy the HP Omnibook 5 14 inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC?

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
HP Omnibook 5 14 inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC scorecard

Category

Notes

Rating

Value

Aside from a couple of quirky configuration differences, this laptop offers great value for your money, especially when it comes to battery life and display quality.

4 / 5

Specs

The base specs are a bit weak for the price, but every configuration includes a really impressive OLED display.

3.5 / 5

Design

While the build quality could be a bit better, the keyboard, touchpad, low weight, and stellar display easily make up for it.

4 / 5

Performance

Overall performance is somewhat lackluster, but good enough for basic daily tasks and lightweight games.

3.5 / 5

Battery Life

With over 16 hours of battery life, the OmniBook 5 14-inch can easily last you all day.

5 / 5

Final Score

Despite a few flaws, this OmniBook 5 14-inch offers great value with incredible battery life and a stunning display at a relatively low price.

4 / 5

Buy the HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC if…

Battery life is your top priority
The battery life on the OmniBook 5 14-inch is genuinely impressive. Depending on your usage, you can easily go a full day or possibly even two without charging.

You want an OLED display at a budget-friendly price
The OmniBook 5 14-inch's OLED display is one of the best I've tested, which is surprising given this laptop's relatively low price, even for the top configuration.

Don't buy it if...

Performance is your top priority
The Omnibook 5 14-inch is great for students, casual users, and lightweight work tasks, but it doesn't have the processing power for gaming or resource-intensive creative apps.

You want premium build quality
This laptop's design isn't bad, but it does feel like a budget-friendly laptop, with plastic bezels and a plastic keyboard deck that gets pretty warm while charging.

How I tested the HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC

  • I spent about a week using the Omnibook
  • I mainly used it for web browsing and work-related tasks, with some light gaming
  • The OmniBook 5 14-inch went through our extensive battery of benchmark tests

I spent about a week using the OmniBook 5 14-inch mainly for web browsing and work-related tasks like answering emails and writing (this review included).

I also used it for watching movies and doing a bit of casual gaming. All the games I tried on the OmniBook 5 14-inch were played through Steam at native resolution with no FPS cap. With automatic graphics presets turned on, most games defaulted to low or medium graphics quality.

I've reviewed dozens of mainstream laptops, including other HP Omnibooks and budget-friendly laptops like this one. When I test these kinds of laptops, I'm looking for a good balance of price, performance, and features and considering who each laptop would be best for (or not best for) based on that price-to-performance ratio.

  • Originally reviewed October 2025
HP OmniBook 5 14-inch (2025) review: Incredible battery life and a top-tier display at an affordable price
9:20 pm |

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

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: One-minute review

The HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC (yes, that is its full name) has its flaws, but its strengths make those drawbacks easy to overlook. With over 16 hours of battery life, a stunning OLED display, an ultra-portable design, and an affordable starting price, it's hard not to recommend the OmniBook 5 14-inch, depending on what you're looking for in a laptop.

It starts at just $679 / £850 / AU$1,599 for a base configuration with a Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 14-inch (1920x1200) OLED display.

Somewhat frustratingly, the US base configuration only has 256GB of storage, while the UK and Australia's starting specs include 512GB of storage. Luckily, Best Buy has a middle-ground configuration for US users that offers great value for your money at just $20 more than the US base configuration.

Aside from a bit of pricing confusion, this OmniBook is a great pick for basic work and school-related tasks, especially if you want a laptop that's going to easily last all day, making it one of the best laptops for students and remote workers out there.

The lightweight design also makes this perfect for commuters. While the performance could be stronger, it's hard to complain at this price–and with such an impressive battery life.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Price & Availability

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • How much does it cost? Starting at $679 / £850 / AU$1,599
  • When is it available? It's available now
  • Where can you get it? Directly from HP in the US, UK, and Australia, or at various retailers like Best Buy

The OmniBook 5 14-inch is available now in the US, UK, and Australia starting at $679/£850/AU$1,599 on the HP website. The base configuration in all three regions includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 CPU, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 14-inch OLED display.

The one big difference is that the US base configuration includes 256GB of storage while the UK and Australia base models have 512GB of storage.

With that said, an upgraded in-between configuration is available in the US at Best Buy for just $20 more than the base model on HP's website. That configuration has 512GB of storage and even bumps you up to a Snapdragon X Plus processor. So if you're in the US, I would definitely suggest opting for that version.

The US and UK prices for the OmniBook 5 14-inch are pretty reasonable, but the top configuration in Australia is a bit pricey for the specs you're getting (more on that below).

  • Value: 4 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Specs

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Lower starting storage in the US base configuration
  • All configurations include an OLED display
  • Upgrades available for CPU, RAM, and storage

My review unit is the US top configuration of the OmniBook 5 14-inch, which is priced at $899, but the base configuration starts at $679/£850/AU$1,599. There is also a middle configuration in the US available at Best Buy for $699, which includes 512GB of storage and a Snapdragon X Plus processor.

All starting configurations include a Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 14-inch (1920x1200) OLED display, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. However, it's important to point out that the base model in the US only has 256GB of storage, half of what you would get in the UK and Australia, which is why I suggest going for the Best Buy configuration instead if you're in the US.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC starting configurations

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$679

£850

AU$1,599

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100

GPU:

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Memory:

16GB

16GB

16GB

Storage:

256GB

512GB

512GB

Screen:

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

Ports:

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 5.3mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 5.3mm audio jack

Battery (WHr):

59 WHr

59 WHr

59 WHr

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Camera:

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

Weight:

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

Dimensions:

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

The top configurations of the OmniBook 5 14-inch bump you up to a Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 processor and 32GB of storage. The US and UK configurations also get 1TB of storage, which unfortunately isn't the case in Australia.

The top configurations in the US and the UK are a pretty good deal, especially if you can find them on sale, but the top specs in Australia are hard to recommend when you're not getting that storage upgrade. Even so, the improved processor and increased RAM could be worth paying extra for some users.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC Top Configurations

Region

US

UK

Australia

Price:

$899

£1,049

AU$1,999

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100

GPU:

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics

Memory:

32GB

32GB

32GB

Storage:

1TB

1TB

512GB

Screen:

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

14-inch (1920x1200) OLED

Ports:

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

1 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB Type-C, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack

Battery (WHr):

59 WHr

59 WHr

59 WHr

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Camera:

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

1080p FHD IR webcam with privacy shutter

Weight:

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

2.85 lbs (1.29 kg)

Dimensions:

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 ins | (311.9 x 217.4 x 12.7 mm)

  • Specs: 3.5 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Design

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Incredibly lightweight
  • Stellar OLED display
  • Build quality feels a bit low-end

The OmniBook 5 14-inch isn't pushing the envelope with its design, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's very portable, weighing in at a mere 2.85 pounds. The chassis doesn't feel "premium", with its plastic-y keyboard deck and display bezels, but the low weight helps make up for that.

Plus, it's what's on the inside that counts, which in this case is a superbly snappy keyboard. HP's laptop keyboards can be pretty hit or miss for me, but I loved typing on this one. It has just the right amount of tactile feedback and key travel without being loud. However, I wish the power button was separated from the rest of the keyboard. It matches the rest of the function-row keys except for a little LED indicator.

The touchpad is also pretty good. Considering the price point on this OmniBook 5 14-inch, I was expecting a mushy touchpad, but I was pleasantly surprised. It might not be the best touchpad I've ever used, but it has a satisfying amount of travel and feedback just like the keyboard. The speakers are also surprisingly decent and got plenty loud enough for my needs.

The real star feature here is the OLED display. I love OLED, and this display did not disappoint. Colors really pop on it, more than you would expect from a sub-$1,000 laptop. It passed our display tests with flying colors, too, reproducing 194.5% of the sRGB color gamut and 138.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. I genuinely enjoyed watching shows and movies on the OmniBook 5 14-inch and even playing a few games on it because the display looks phenomenal.

  • Design: 4 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Performance

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • Performance could be better, but isn't bad, either
  • Weak graphics performance
  • Keeps up fine with basic daily tasks like web browsing

If you're mainly looking for a laptop for things like web browsing, replying to emails, word processing, or studying, the OmniBook 5 14-inch is definitely up to the task. This little laptop is more than capable of handling basic work or school-related tasks. I had no trouble managing over a dozen tabs on Firefox while working on the Omnibook. However, if you want to use resource-intensive apps, like Adobe Photoshop and the like, you may want to spend a little more elsewhere.

The OmniBook 5 14-inch's performance falls far short of the MacBook Air, which only costs $100 more than the top configuration. It came in over 1,000 points behind the M4 MacBook Air on the Geekbench 6 single-core test and lagged by over 3,000 points on the multi-core test. Of course, there are plenty of reasons you might not want a Mac or might simply want to save money, especially if you can find the Omnibook at a discount.

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC

MacBook Air M4 (13-inch)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 13 (2025)

Geekbench 6 single-core

2,414

£3,679

2,436

Geekbench 6 multi-core

11,309

14,430

11,321

Crossmark (Overall)

1,184

2,009

1,165

Crossmark (Productivity)

1,116

1,875

1,081

Crossmark (Creativity)

1,298

2,369

1,328

Crossmark (Responsiveness)

1,074

1,505

983

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)

If you're only doing lightweight or web-based tasks, the OmniBook 5 14-inch's more humble performance scores probably won't be an issue, it's just worth keeping in mind. Plus, considering the starting price, it's hard to complain.

It's also worth noting that the OmniBook 5 14-inch is by no means a gaming laptop. It managed to run lightweight, 2D games fine, but really struggles with anything more. Wildfrost ran very smoothly at 60 FPS with no issues, but I was only able to get about 20 FPS in Death's Door and about 30 FPS in Risk of Rain 2. These aren't particularly demanding games, so definitely don't expect to be playing any AAA titles on the Omnibook, but games like Stardew Valley or Slay the Spire should run fine.

  • Performance: 3.5 / 5

HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC: Battery Life

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
  • How long does it last before the battery dies? Just over 16 hours.
  • How long does it take to charge to 50%? About 30 minutes.

Battery life is by far the OmniBook 5 14-inch's biggest strength. It lasted a staggering 16 hours and 2 minutes in our battery test, which, for context, is 2 hours longer than the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air. While you're getting a notably less powerful processor in the Omnibook, you get really impressive battery life in exchange. For some, that could be a worthy trade-off.

My only complaint here is that the left side of the keyboard deck gets noticeably warm when the OmniBook 5 14-inch is charging. It's not uncomfortable, and you won't have to charge it often, but when you do, you can't miss how one side of your keyboard is warmer than the other.

  • Battery Life: 5 / 5

Should you buy the HP Omnibook 5 14 inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC?

An HP OmniBook 5 14 Inch Next Gen AI PC on a desk

(Image credit: Future / Stevie Bonifield)
HP Omnibook 5 14 inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC scorecard

Category

Notes

Rating

Value

Aside from a couple of quirky configuration differences, this laptop offers great value for your money, especially when it comes to battery life and display quality.

4 / 5

Specs

The base specs are a bit weak for the price, but every configuration includes a really impressive OLED display.

3.5 / 5

Design

While the build quality could be a bit better, the keyboard, touchpad, low weight, and stellar display easily make up for it.

4 / 5

Performance

Overall performance is somewhat lackluster, but good enough for basic daily tasks and lightweight games.

3.5 / 5

Battery Life

With over 16 hours of battery life, the OmniBook 5 14-inch can easily last you all day.

5 / 5

Final Score

Despite a few flaws, this OmniBook 5 14-inch offers great value with incredible battery life and a stunning display at a relatively low price.

4 / 5

Buy the HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC if…

Battery life is your top priority
The battery life on the OmniBook 5 14-inch is genuinely impressive. Depending on your usage, you can easily go a full day or possibly even two without charging.

You want an OLED display at a budget-friendly price
The OmniBook 5 14-inch's OLED display is one of the best I've tested, which is surprising given this laptop's relatively low price, even for the top configuration.

Don't buy it if...

Performance is your top priority
The Omnibook 5 14-inch is great for students, casual users, and lightweight work tasks, but it doesn't have the processing power for gaming or resource-intensive creative apps.

You want premium build quality
This laptop's design isn't bad, but it does feel like a budget-friendly laptop, with plastic bezels and a plastic keyboard deck that gets pretty warm while charging.

How I tested the HP Omnibook 5 14 Inch Laptop Next Gen AI PC

  • I spent about a week using the Omnibook
  • I mainly used it for web browsing and work-related tasks, with some light gaming
  • The OmniBook 5 14-inch went through our extensive battery of benchmark tests

I spent about a week using the OmniBook 5 14-inch mainly for web browsing and work-related tasks like answering emails and writing (this review included).

I also used it for watching movies and doing a bit of casual gaming. All the games I tried on the OmniBook 5 14-inch were played through Steam at native resolution with no FPS cap. With automatic graphics presets turned on, most games defaulted to low or medium graphics quality.

I've reviewed dozens of mainstream laptops, including other HP Omnibooks and budget-friendly laptops like this one. When I test these kinds of laptops, I'm looking for a good balance of price, performance, and features and considering who each laptop would be best for (or not best for) based on that price-to-performance ratio.

  • Originally reviewed October 2025
Samsung to start making foldable OLED panels for US client, says report
3:45 pm | September 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: , | Comments: Off

If rumors hold true, Apple could unveil a foldable iPhone, aka iPhone Fold, next year. The foldable is expected to use a flexible OLED panel made by Samsung Display. Lee Cheong, president of Samsung Display, has now reportedly confirmed mass production of OLED panels for foldable phones, set to be supplied to a North American client. Although Cheong didn’t disclose the company’s name, it is widely believed to be Apple. Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold is said to offer a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch folding screen on the inside. The foldable is rumored to feature a side-mounted...

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ review: thin, light, and hot
6:27 pm | September 29, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming Laptops | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Two-minute review

Some of the best gaming laptops are those that are portable enough for you to take on the go with you, whether it's because you’re a commuter or just because you want to use your laptop in various places - and love to game.

With more options hitting the market over the past year thanks to the release of Nvidia’s 50 series graphics cards, we've been eagerly awaiting MSI's new edition of its Stealth series, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+.

The good news is that the new MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is once again a formidable gaming laptop, deftly balancing powerful performance with a sleek design, making it a candidate for our best thin and lightweight gaming laptops buying guide.

While its battery life leaves something to be desired and it can run hot under pressure, its vibrant OLED screen, robust build, and exceptional gaming capabilities make it a compelling choice for those looking for a portable powerhouse.

It's a strong contender in the competitive gaming laptop market, offering a premium experience for both work and play, but it comes at a (high) price: $2,899 / £2,199. While this is the average price for laptops featuring these specifications, that doesn’t take away from the dent it leaves in your wallet.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $2,899 / £2,199
  • When is it available? Now
  • Where can you get it? US, UK, and some European regions

You can pick up the Stealth A16 AI+ for $2,899 / £2,199 which is an average price for laptops which feature the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. You can customize the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ to come with the more powerful RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs, but this will increase the price by quite a bit - however, even then, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ remains reasonably priced compared to the competition.

Currently, you can purchase the Stealth A16 AI+ in the US, UK, and select European countries.

While there’s currently no confirmation as to when the device will be coming to other markets, MSI does typically release its products in other regions later down the line.

  • Value: 3 / 5

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Specs

The Stealth A16 AI+ impresses with its potent specs: an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, 64GB LPDDR5X memory, and a 2TB SSD, making it a future-proof powerhouse for demanding tasks and gaming.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ 5070 Ti

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ 5080

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ 5090

Price:

$2,899 / £2,199

$3,299 / £2,249

$3,999 / £3,399

CPU:

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

Graphics:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

RAM:

64GB LPDDR5X

64GB LPDDR5X

64GB LPDDR5X

Screen:

16-inch Widescreen Display - QHD+ (2560 x 1600) - OLED - 240Hz

16-inch Widescreen Display - QHD+ (2560 x 1600) - OLED - 240Hz

16-inch Widescreen Display - QHD+ (2560 x 1600) - OLED - 240Hz

Storage:

2TB SSD

2TB SSD

2TB SSD

Ports:

2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet port, 1x Audio jack

2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet port, 1x Audio jack

2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet port, 1x Audio jack

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Camera:

HD Webcam

HD Webcam

HD Webcam

Weight:

2.1kg

2.1kg

2.1kg

Dimensions:

355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm

355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm

355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Design

  • Thin and light for its size
  • OLED display is fantastic
  • Good selection of ports

The Stealth A16 AI+ features a sleek and understated design, perfect for both professional environments and gaming setups. Its chassis feels robust yet surprisingly lightweight, making it an excellent companion for those who need to work or play on the go.

The narrow bezels around the display add to its modern aesthetic and maximize screen real estate, drawing you deeper into your content.

MSI has been generous with port selection, ensuring you're well-connected without the constant need for adapters.

You'll find a versatile array of ports, including multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, an HDMI output for external displays, and an Ethernet port for reliable wired internet.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

This comprehensive connectivity is a significant advantage, especially for gamers who need a load of peripherals or frequently switch between setups. However, if you’re hoping to run a streaming setup from this laptop you may need a USB adaptor so you can hook up a webcam and microphone too (though the included webcam and mic array do a fine job if you're not planning on doing professional-level streaming).

The OLED screen itself is a highlight, offering vibrant colors and sharp detail that enhance everything from those AAA story games to high-definition movies. Its ample size provides an immersive viewing experience, whether you're deep into a creative project or enjoying a casual browsing session. The more I use OLED screens, the more I wish they would become the industry standard.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

Despite its large screen, the overall size and weight of the Stealth A16 AI+ remain impressively manageable for a gaming laptop at less than 2cm thick. It’s also relatively lightweight when compared to alternative gaming laptops on the market at 2.1kg - for example, the MSI Raider A18 HX comes in at 3.6kg.

  • Design score: 5 / 5

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Performance

  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Good at multitasking
  • Can get hot
Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the MSI Stealth A16 AI+:

3DMark: Night Raid: 38,762; Fire Strike: 30,723; Time Spy: 13,384
GeekBench 6: 2,930 (single-core); 15,398 (multi-core)
CrossMark: Overall: 1,897 Productivity: 1,982 Creativity: 1,765 Responsiveness: 1,729
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 176fps ; (1080p, Low): 380fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 105fps ; (1080p, Low): 176fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 206fps ; (1080p, Low): 287fps
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 4 hours 57 mins
TechRadar movie test: 4 hours 45 mins

During our testing, this laptop consistently delivered exceptional performance across a variety of demanding applications and, crucially, in the latest AAA gaming titles.

Whether it was playing Cyberpunk 2077 at ultra settings or engaging in fast-paced combat in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, the Stealth A16 AI+ maintained impressively high frame rates, ensuring a smooth and immersive experience.

This was with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti inside, so if you buy a model with the more powerful RTX 5080 or 5090 GPUs, then you're going to get even better gaming performance.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

I was able to render breathtaking visuals without a hitch. Even with ray tracing enabled, the laptop held its own, providing a stunning level of graphical fidelity that truly elevates the gaming experience.

Beyond gaming, the processor handled intensive multitasking and content creation with ease, making it a truly versatile machine for power users.

One thing to note is that the laptop did get quite hot and loud when running games at ultra, opening a lot of intensive programmes at once, or when benchmarking. While it wasn’t too hot to use the keyboard - an issue I’m seeming to face more and more in the world of gaming laptops, it was certainly worth noting.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

The speakers on the laptop are decent - they certainly get the job done - but you won’t be able to take advantage of directional audio within games.

  • Performance score: 4 / 5

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Battery life

  • Not brilliant battery life
  • Very short when gaming

While MSI promised up to 13 hours of video playback, I found that the Stealth A16 AI+ just didn’t deliver anywhere near this.

During my time testing the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, I noticed that the battery life was closer to around six hours when using the laptop for general browsing or watching videos, which came down to about an hour when playing intensive games.

In our battery life benchmark, we got just shy of five hours in both the PCMark 10 edition and our own TechRadar movie test.

  • Battery life: 2 / 5

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ on wooden surface

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the MSI Stealth A16 AI+?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

The value of the laptop is pretty average when compared to alternatives on the market with the same specs.

3 / 5

Design

This laptop has an immaculate design featuring a decent array of ports and remaining light when compared to alternatives.

5 / 5

Performance

You get exceptional performance from this laptop but it does get quite hot and loud.

4 / 5

Battery life

The battery is significantly below the promised lifespan which is very disappointing.

2 / 5

Total Score

This is a well-priced thin and light laptop with some excellent components that means it offers fantastic gaming performance. However, it can get quite hot, and battery life isn't the best.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You need a sleek gaming device
You want a gaming laptop that's also highly portable and can be used for work on the go.

Screen quality is important to you
If you want a vibrant OLED screen for an immersive visual experience, then this could be the laptop for you.

You want a powerful device
This is a powerful machine that can handle demanding AAA gaming titles and intensive multitasking with high frame rates.

Don't buy it if...

You want to go all day without charging
If you want a long battery life for extended use away from a power source then this isn’t the laptop for you.

You are on a tight budget
While this laptop is priced fairly compared to alternatives, this doesn’t mean it won’t put a dent in your wallet.

You are sensitive to laptop heat and fan noise
This laptop gets very hot and loud when you’re using intensive software or playing demanding games.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ review: Also consider

MSI Stealth A16 AI+

Asus Zenbook A14

Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)

Price:

$2,899 / £2,199

$1,399.99 / £1,099.99 / AU$2,899

$2,499 / £2,499 / AU$3,999

CPU:

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

Snapdragon X X1 26 100 Processor with Qualcomm Hexagon NPU up to 45TOPS

Apple M4 Pro (14-core)

Graphics:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti

Qualcomm Adreno GPU

Integrated 20-core GPU

RAM:

64GB LPDDR5X

4GB DDR4

24GB unified memory

Screen:

16-inch Widescreen Display - QHD+ (2560 x 1600) - OLED - 240Hz

14.0-inch, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio, LED Backlit, 0.2ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate, 400 nits

16-inch, 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR display (mini-LED, 1,000 nits sustained brightness, wide color P3 gamut, ProMotion technology)

Storage:

2TB SSD

16GB LPDDR5X on board

512GB SSD

Ports:

2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet port, 1x Audio jack

1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm Audio Jack

3x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3

Camera:

HD Webcam

FHD camera with IR function to support Windows Hello

12MP Center Stage camera with support for Desk View

Weight:

4.6 lbs (2.1kg)

2.16 lbs (0.98kg)

4.7 lbs (2.2kg)

Dimensions:

355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm

31.07 x 21.39 x 1.34 ~ 1.59 cm (12.23 x 8.42 x 0.53in ~ 0.63in)

14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (356 x 248 x 17mm)

If you're in the market for a new laptop, here are some alternatives to the MSI Stealth A16 AI+...

Asus Zenbook A14
For those seeking a premium, ultra-lightweight, and highly portable laptop, the Asus Zenbook A14 is an excellent choice. It offers a powerful processor and a stunning OLED display, all within a design optimized for superior portability.

Read our Asus Zenbook A14 review

Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)
For intensive tasks such as 3D animation or demanding video rendering, the Apple MacBook Pro, with its M4 Pro processor, offers superior performance. Read our Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) review.

How I tested the MSI Stealth A16 AI+

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Used in a variety of scenarios
  • Ran benchmarks and played games

For two weeks, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ served as my primary laptop for both work and leisure.

I thoroughly integrated it into my daily routine, using it for typical workdays, evenings spent gaming and watching movies, and even general browsing. To assess its portability and performance outside my usual setup, I also brought it to various remote work locations.

Beyond everyday use, I conducted comprehensive benchmark tests using software like 3D Mark and in-game tools to evaluate its performance.

The Honor MagicPad 3 would be the iPad Air killer, if it wasn’t for one fatal flaw
4:26 pm | September 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Tablets | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Honor MagicPad 3: One-minute review

The Honor MagicPad 3 is almost the perfect large tablet. With a bright and colorful 13.3 inch 3.2K display, complete with IMAX Enhanced certification, kicking back with a movie or TV show is an absolute joy. Even simply scrolling the home menu or your favorite social media website impresses thanks to a smooth 165Hz refresh rate.

The tablet’s eight speakers perform well, though lack bass overall; especially in comparison to the superior sound systems found on the likes of the cheaper Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. I think you should immediately disable the Honor Spatial Audio option in the settings menu for the best performance though. It’s on by default and gives a solid impression of depth, but makes everything sound artificial, tinny, and a little hollow.

Still, these minor audio quibbles are easy to overlook considering the tablet's impressively slim and lightweight build. At just 5.79mm thick and coming in at 595g, it's thinner and lighter than even the iPad Air. Honor has managed to cram in a truly massive 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery too, delivering incredible battery life. Seriously, this tablet can power through a full day of rigorous use and then some without breaking a sweat.

I was shocked when half a day editing Google Docs files in a café followed by two hours of 4K video viewing on the train, all at max brightness, ended with the battery barely below 80%. On top of that, the tablet holds charge between uses effortlessly - I often left it on standby stashed down the side of my bed after a night binge-watching Amazon Prime Video and picked it up a few days later to discover that it lost no charge at all in that time.

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re the kind of person that likes to leave a tablet around the house to use as needed, you never have to worry about finding it out of electrical juice. Some of this is likely due to the rather aggressive AI Power Management System, which might be worth tweaking if you need certain apps to continually refresh in the background, but it’s hard to complain when the resulting battery performance is this strong.

So what stops the Honor MagicPad 3 from being a best-in-class product? Sure, it's a shame that the gorgeous screen isn't an OLED panel and that there's no fingerprint reader, but above all else it's down to the patchy update support.

When quizzed, Honor told us that it plans “at least one major Android version update” and just “two years of security patches”, which is a depressingly short timeframe. In my eyes, the lack of Android version updates isn’t a dealbreaker, as you’re only really missing out on software features, but the two years of security patches is. You generally should avoid using devices once that timeframe is up, so the tablet effectively has a looming expiration date out of the box.

It’s a shame, especially when you can easily find tablets under $200 / £150 with more years of security update support. The brand did at least note that it will “constantly evaluate” its plans and “deploy software upgrades accordingly” which hopefully means there’s scope for this to change in the future.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: price and availability

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • £599 retail price
  • Expect frequent discounts
  • It’s available in the UK, but not the US or Australia

The Honor MagicPad 3 comes in at £599 (around $800) for a model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is a very fair price for what you get, especially in comparison to the $799 / £799 iPad Air 13-inch that starts with a pitiful 128GB of storage. Sadly, there's no Australian release.

Honor frequently runs promotions that slash that price, however, so expect it to be readily available for at least £100 less. In fact, it has already seen its price fall to £499 in the build up to release. Also be on the lookout for various free gifts, including the excellent Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard, which I tested alongside the tablet for this review, or Honor Magic Pencil 3 stylus. These promotions turn an already good deal into a great one.

The one thing to bear in mind here is that limited update plan. If you’re particularly concerned about getting the latest and greatest version of Android, or worry about using a device that’s no longer receiving security updates, then that otherwise showstopping price tag is a little less tempting.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: specs

Starting price

£599

Operating system

Android (MagicOS 9.0.1)

Chipset

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Memory (RAM)

16GB

Storage

512GB

Display

13.3 inch 3200 x 2136 (3K) LCD

Cameras

13MP, 2MP rear / 9MP front

Battery

12,450mAh

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

595g

Dimensions

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Design

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • iPad Air-beating slimness
  • Surprisingly lightweight
  • The back cover might be divisive

The Honor MagicPad 3 puts the 13-inch iPad Air to shame with a design that’s both thinner and lighter. It has a 13.3-inch screen with roughly 0.7cm bezels, flanked by a metallic body where you’ll find four large speaker grilles (that’s two along each short edge), a standard volume rocker and power button, a USB Type-C 3.2 port (with support for 66W fast charging) for topping up the battery or connecting an external display, and a small magnetised area where you can affix the compatible Honor Magic Pencil 3 for charging.

The only thing that I would add is a fingerprint reader, which is unfortunately absent. Luckily the face unlocking is quick and responsive and works well even in low light conditions, so it never feels like you’re really missing out on too much.

The back is relatively plain, aside from a camera module with a flash, a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP macro lens, and a row of small electronic contacts for the keyboard case. According to the Honor website, only one colour is available in the UK: a rather basic Grey.

I tested a White model, however, which is available in some other markets, and has an almost bumpy, textured back. It’s certainly a unique feeling, like having a third-party skin applied out of the box, which makes me think that it’s some kind of vinyl sticker.

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)

I'm in two minds about this. On one hand, I really appreciate the added grip that this material brings, making it far easier to hold the tablet one handed. It’s impressively resistant to fingerprints and, if it came down to it, would probably offer a fair amount of protection from scratches.

It also looks great from a distance, helping the Honor MagicPad 3 stand out in a sea of plain slabs. On the other hand, the strange feel initially made me think that the back of the tablet was constructed entirely from plastic; this somewhat dampened my excitement out of the box.

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 with the Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard and was very impressed with its performance. The case attaches to the back of the tablet magnetically, with the top half folding down to create a very distinct looking stand that shows off that snazzy back design. The keys are stable with plenty of travel and are very satisfying to press. It also has a large and responsive touchpad, with pronounced mechanical clicks and minimal flex.

It’s a really excellent keyboard and a massive upgrade compared to the Bluetooth model for the Honor MagicPad 2. My only possible complaint is that it seems to only be offered in the US English layout, which took a little getting used to and seems odd given the lack of availability in that region.

  • Design score: 4.5 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Display

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Not an OLED, unlike the MagicPad 2
  • Still bright and vibrant however
  • Impressive 165Hz refresh rate

The Honor MagicPad 3 has an impressive 3.2K (3200 x 2136) IPS LCD screen. With up to 1,000 nits of brightness it's perfect for indoor use and can hold its own outside on a sunny day.

A variety of media looks absolutely gorgeous on it with cheerful and vibrant colors and plenty of fine detail. At 13.3 inches, the tablet might as well be a portable TV and I love using it to catch up on everything from Amazon Prime Video shows to Netflix movies and YouTube videos.

Honor offers two interesting display features too: Super Dynamic Display and Vivid Display. Super Dynamic Display uses AI to ‘enhance HD video brightness and contrast’ while Vivid Display aims to ‘enhance video clarity and colors’ with the same technology. With both of these features enabled, videos look a tad brighter and slightly clearer but lose a little color accuracy.

The tablet’s display is IMAX Enhanced certified too, which is good news if you want to consume compatible content on services like Disney+ or Rakuten TV. Outside of video watching, the 165Hz refresh rate also makes browsing apps, system menus and websites feel especially smooth.

You should note that this isn't an OLED panel though. I don’t think that this is unreasonable given the tablet's cost, but it is significant when its predecessor, the Honor MagicPad 2, did have an OLED display at a similar price point, which had a significantly brighter screen that offered slightly better colors.

  • Design score: 4/5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Cameras

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Decent front camera
  • Serviceable rear camera
  • Abysmal macro lens

The Honor MagicPad 3 isn’t going to win any prizes for its camera setup, though that's the case for almost any tablet.

The 13MP front camera is crisp and clear enough for an impromptu video meeting, but not something that you're going to want to be taking your Instagram selfies with.

As for the rear, you're getting a 13MP main shooter that suffers from aggressive post processing that smudges over most of the finer details in almost any shot. It's fine for scanning documents or taking a quick snap of something right in front of you, but gets dicey if you're photographing from a distance or with the 2x digital zoom.

There's also a 2MP macro lens that takes images so blurry that it might as well not be there at all.

  • Camera score: 2.5/5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: software

  • MagicOS might not be your cup of tea...
  • But it’s easy to use, with lots of features
  • The desktop mode needs work

The Honor MagicPad 3 runs the brand's MagicOS 9.0.1 operating system; a version of Android 15. It has minimal bloat, at least compared to alternatives like Xiaomi HyperOS, and offers a surprising number of genuinely useful features.

As a former iPhone 15 Plus user that now daily drives the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RAR, I think its interface is incredibly intuitive. Its overall design is obviously more than a little ‘inspired’ by Apple, which could upset the Android purists out there, but it's smooth, easy to use, and extremely responsive.

I might be a little biased here, as it's my current favorite mobile operating system, but I find that it delivers the perfect balance between the slick aesthetics of iOS and the freedom and customization of Android. There are loads of options to tweak, from app icon shapes and sizes to home screen and charging animations.

A handful of quirky extras give the operating system plenty of its own personality. One of my favorites is the ability to create a humanoid ‘3D Avatar’ for your live wallpaper. When you unlock the device, you're greeted with a short moving scene of the character going for a stroll through a park, chilling in a cafe, petting a fluffy cat, or a plethora of other possible situations.

Videos of new scenarios are automatically generated when the device is charging and, while undeniably a little unsettling at first, I've grown to love seeing what my little homunculus is up to every time I turn the tablet on.

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, being 2025 the software of the Honor MagicPad 3 also has a suite of AI features including AI-powered widgets that do a surprisingly good job of recommending installed apps based on your usage habits, real-time AI subtitle generation, AI writing tools that help you polish or rephrase your text, and automatic on-device AI deepfake detection for video calls.

This is on top of the Magic Portal - effectively the brand’s take on Google's Circle to Search feature. As with most Android devices, Gemini assistant is also built in and can be summoned by holding the power button for a few seconds.

The only part of the software that I think needs work is the tablet’s desktop mode equivalent: Floating Window mode. It causes each to run in a little window on your screen that you can drag around like a PC desktop environment, but it’s unfortunately quite unresponsive at times.

Filling the screen with two side-by-side apps is awkward and as far as I can tell there’s no way to have a taskbar on screen at all times. It’s not completely unusable, as I still manage to get work done with some fiddling, but is nowhere near as slick or easy to use as the offerings from market leaders in this field like Samsung and Lenovo.

  • Software score: 4 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: performance

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Robust performance thanks to powerful specs
  • Zero noticeable slowdown in general use
  • More than enough for gaming

Powered by the 2023 flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the Honor MagicPad 3 might not have the very latest chip but it’s certainly plenty powerful.

In general use, be that visiting your favorite websites or watching shows, you’re not going to notice any slowdown at all. Even when switching between multiple apps, the 16GB of RAM keeps everything cached and ready to go.

It supports Wi-Fi 7 for speedy downloads if you have a compatible router, plus Bluetooth 5.4. The 512GB of storage space is generous, especially at this price, so you’ll likely have room for all your favorite apps and plenty of spare space for downloaded videos. I keep multiple full series downloaded on the tablet at a time and haven’t come close to filling it up.

With specs like these, the Honor MagicPad 3 is also a surprisingly capable gaming device. Call of Duty Mobile runs flawlessly on the highest settings. More demanding games like Zenless Zone Zero impress too, with a rock solid 60 frames per second on high settings. With everything cranked up to the max, I found the very top middle portion of the tablet tends to get a little hot to the touch, but it thankfully never overheated or slowed down to a noticeable degree in my testing.

That said, if you intend to use the Honor MagicPad 3 for gaming I would highly recommend investing in a compatible Bluetooth controller as the large size of the tablet makes it very awkward to hold in your hands when you’re using touch controls.

  • Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: battery

The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery
  • Incredible battery life, beating all competition
  • Features the Honor E2 power management chip

Truthfully, it’s difficult to fully test the Honor MagicPad 3’s battery life because it almost never runs out of charge. With a gigantic 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery this thing is practically everlasting, easily powering through a whole week of on and off use without dipping below the 60% mark. We’re talking well above 20 hours of screen on time, absolutely decimating the battery performance of any other tablet that I have ever used.

It offers comfortably double the battery life of the latest iPad Air and is a dream for taking on long trips or flights. You can even use the tablet as an impromptu power bank in a pinch and still have more than enough left over for the rest of your day’s use. It’s incredible frankly, so serious props to Honor here.

In addition to its large size, the battery features Honor’s proprietary E2 power management chip. There’s also an AI power management system built into the OS. How much of a difference does all this tech actually make? It’s hard to say, but the results are impossible to argue with.

  • Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Honor MagicPad 3?

Honor MagicPad 3 report card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Honor MagicPad 3 is incredible value - if you can overlook the patchy update plan.

4/5

Design

Thin, lightweight, and visually attractive. The unusual rear design might prove divisive though, and it lacks a fingerprint reader.

4.5/5

Display

A bright and colorful display that’s perfect for watching movies or TV. It’s 165Hz, though the fact it’s not OLED is a downgrade compared to the previous MagicPad.

4/5

Cameras

Your average tablet camera setup. It gets the job done, but you should just use your phone instead.

2.5/5

Software

MagicOS isn’t for everyone, but it’s easy to use and brimming with quirky charm.

4/5

Performance

Great performance across the board. This tablet is more than powerful enough for general use, and excels at gaming too.

4.5

Battery

Some of the best battery performance of any tablet, period.

5/5

Buy it if…

You want a tablet with serious battery life
The battery life of the Honor MagicPad 3 is incredible. It offers more than enough juice for well over a week of use and means the tablet can even come in handy as a power bank for your phone in a pinch.

You crave good value
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, you’ll struggle to find a better value tablet at this price point. It becomes an even better deal when you factor in the frequent discounts and free goodies too.

You want a tablet that really stands out
The super thin and stylish design of the Honor MagicPad 3 really stands out in a sea of grey slabs. Pick one up if you love the unique look.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re worried about long-term support
Unfortunately, Honor has only confirmed one planned Android upgrade and two years of security patches which is a huge disappointment. Unless this changes, you should avoid this tablet if you’re concerned by the lack of support.

Also consider

Not keen on what the Honor MagicPad 3 brings to the table? Here are two compelling alternatives to consider:

Honor Magic Pad 3

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

iPad Air 13-inch

Price

£599

$349.99 / £379.99

$799 / £799 / AU$1,299

Weight

595g

1.36lbs / 620g

617g

Size

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

189.1mm x 291.8mm x 6.9mm / 7.44″ x 11.49″ x 0.27”

280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm

Screen size

13.3 inches

12 inches

13 inches

Processor

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Mediatek Dimensity 8300

M2

Speakers

8 stereo speakers

Quad JBL-tuned speakers

Stereo speakers

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4


USB-C, MicroSD card, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS

USB-C

Battery

12,450mAh

10,200mAh

9,705 mAh

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro
The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is less powerful than the Honor Magic Pad 3 and a bit heavier, but it’s also compatible with a great keyboard and offers a better desktop mode so it’s a good alternative if you’re after a pure productivity device.

Read our full Lenovo Idea Tab Pro review

iPad Air 13-inch
The iPad Air 13-inch is slightly thicker and heavier than the Honor MagicPad 3, but offers significantly better long-term software support. It has worse battery life and is massively more expensive though, especially for that 512GB version.

Read our full iPad Air 13-inch review

How I tested the Honor MagicPad 3

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 over the course of multiple weeks in the build up to its announcement and release. It’s become my go-to tablet and has accompanied me on a number of trips.

It’s also seen plenty of use at home, where I’ve been using it for a mix of media consumption and gaming. I tested the tablet in its standard 16GB + 512GB configuration, though in a White colorway that is not currently available.

I used it alongside the compatible Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard which was supplied alongside the tablet. The tablet even replaced my usual work laptop on a handful of occasions, where I evaluated the keyboard’s performance and its overall potential as a productivity device.

First reviewed September 2025

Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple will add a touchscreen to the upcoming MacBook Pro with OLED display
10:21 pm | September 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

High-end laptops from the likes of Samsung and Microsoft often feature touchscreens – however, Apple has so far rejected this design. Until now, anyway, as Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Cupertino has finally warmed up to the idea. Apparently, the first MacBook Pro with an OLED display, which is rumored to be coming next year, will become the first MacBook Pro to have a touchscreen as well. The panel will be manufactured by Samsung and will use on-cell touch technology. Mass production of this model will start by late 2026, according to the analyst. Kuo writes that this “shift appears to...

Ming-Chi Kuo: Apple will add a touchscreen to the upcoming MacBook Pro with OLED display
10:21 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

High-end laptops from the likes of Samsung and Microsoft often feature touchscreens – however, Apple has so far rejected this design. Until now, anyway, as Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Cupertino has finally warmed up to the idea. Apparently, the first MacBook Pro with an OLED display, which is rumored to be coming next year, will become the first MacBook Pro to have a touchscreen as well. The panel will be manufactured by Samsung and will use on-cell touch technology. Mass production of this model will start by late 2026, according to the analyst. Kuo writes that this “shift appears to...

I tested the Samsung S85F and it’s a great, feature-packed OLED TV at a more affordable price
5:00 pm | September 14, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung S85F review: two minute review

The Samsung S85F, the company’s entry-level OLED TV for 2025, could easily get overshadowed by its step-up siblings and more premium OLED competition. However, the S85F offers a good range of features and great performance at a more affordable price, with the 65-inch model I tested available for $1,499.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$1,999.99 several months after its release.

One thing to note in this review: I tested the 65-inch Samsung S85F, which in the UK, where I am based, uses a W-OLED panel. In the US, the 55- and 65-inch models instead use a QD-OLED panel.

The S85F boasts a feature list that rivals the best TVs, particularly in terms of smart TV and gaming capabilities. That list also includes AI-based picture enhancement tools such as 4K AI Upscaling and Real Depth Enhancer, as well as an improved Tizen 9.0 smart TV platform.

Picture quality on the S85F comes close to rivaling the best OLED TVs. Colors are vibrant, and it delivers strong contrast with deep blacks and refined shadow detail. Textures are realistic with both 4K and HD sources, giving people and objects a 3D-like quality. Motion does require some setup, but once this is done, the picture is smooth and responsive. Brightness is lower than that of flagship OLEDs such as the Samsung S95F and LG G5, and even mid-range OLEDs like the LG C5, but that’s the one area where it falls short.

The S85F’s two 2-channel, 20W speaker array delivers decent bass and clear speech, and it accurately maps sound effects to the action on screen, but is otherwise just average. Some may find the S85F’s sound fine for day-to-day viewing, but I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars.

The S85F carries a gaming feature set to match the best gaming TVs, and it has the performance to match. Its four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, ALLM, and HDR10+ gaming. Samsung’s Gaming Hub has access to tons of cloud gaming apps, and an ultra-low 9.4ms input lag time ensures responsive performance, regardless of the game.

Tizen 9.0, the latest version of Samsung’s smart TV platform, is arguably the best one to date. Navigation is smooth, there are AI-based tools for content recommendation, and there are plenty of settings to adjust the picture. Those settings can be a pain to find at times, but that doesn’t make Tizen 9.0 any less of a success.

The S85F is great value for money. It has a comprehensive list of features, strong performance for gaming and movies, and is affordably priced for an OLED TV. While step-up models such as the Samsung S90F and LG C5 can be had for a bit more money, the S85F is still a great value overall.

Samsung S85F review: Prices & release date

Samsung S85F with canyon on screen

(Image credit: Future)
  • Release date: May 2025
  • 55-inch: $1,399.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,499
  • 65-inch: $1,999.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,299
  • 77-inch: $2,799.99 / £2,799.99 / AU$4,999
  • 83-inch: $4,499.99 / £3,799.99 / AU$6,999

The Samsung S85F is the entry-level OLED model in Samsung’s 2025 TV lineup, sitting below the mid-range Samsung S90F and flagship Samsung S95F. It is available in sizes ranging from 55 to 83 inches. The 65-inch model I tested launched at $1,999.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,299.

All models have dropped in price since launch. At the time of writing, the 65-inch model is selling for as low as $1,499.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$1,999.99, putting it in the same region as its closest rival, the LG B5 (65-inch priced at $1,399.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$2,695). I expect those prices to continue dropping throughout 2025.

Samsung S85F review: Specs

Screen type:

OLED

Refresh rate:

Up to 120Hz

HDR support:

HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Tizen

HDMI ports:

4 x HDMI 2.1

Built-in tuner (US):

ATSC 1.0

Samsung S85F review: Benchmark results

Samsung S85F review: Features

Samsung S85F with Gaming Hub on screen

The Samsung Gaming Hub (pictured) is one of the Samsung S85F's strongest features (Image credit: Future)
  • NQ4 AI Gen 2 Processor and W-OLED panel
  • 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync
  • Vision AI tools

US models of the S85F use QD-OLED panels exclusively in the 55-inch and 65-inch screen sizes. In every other region, the S85F uses standard W-OLED panels across all sizes. Since I’m in the UK, I tested a 65-inch model with a W-OLED panel.

The S85F features Samsung’s NQ4 AI Gen 2 processor, which has picture enhancements such as 4K AI Upscaling and Real Depth Enhancer. Like all Samsung TVs, there is support for HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats, but not Dolby Vision.

A two-channel, 20W speaker array on the S85F supports Dolby Atmos, and there are sound-based AI tools such as Adaptive Sound and Active Voice Amplifier Pro. The S85F also supports Q-Symphony, which enables its speakers to be used in conjunction with compatible Samsung soundbars when connected.

Gaming is well supported on the S85F. The TV’s four HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz, ALLM, HDR10+ gaming, and both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync. The S85F also features the Samsung Gaming Hub, a portal for cloud-based gaming services.

The S85F features Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, now on version 9.0. This provides AI tools for picture and sound enhancement, plus other features such as click to search and AI content recommendations. Tizen provides access to pretty much all major streaming apps, such as Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and, in the UK, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and other major UK-based streaming apps.

  • Features score: 5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Picture quality

Samsung S85F with Elphaba from Wicked on screen

Colors and textures look great on the Samsung S85F, as shown here with Wicked (Image credit: Universal Pictures / Future)
  • Rich colors
  • Strong contrast and shadow detail
  • Middling brightness compared to other OLEDs

Measuring the S85F’s peak HDR brightness on a 10% white window pattern, it hit 777 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 818 nits in Standard mode. While that result is lower than mid-range OLED TVs such as the Samsung S90F, it was higher than the LG B5 (668 nits in Movie mode and 637 nits in Standard mode), which uses a similar panel.

The S85F’s fullscreen HDR brightness was just average, topping at 147 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 150 nits in Standard mode. This is again in the same region as the B5 (170 nits in Standard and 131 nits in Filmmaker), but much lower than what you’ll get with recent flagship OLEDs, which average around 300-plus nits on this test.

The S85F does an impressive job upscaling HD-quality movies and TV shows. A stream of Fight Club on Disney+ benefited from upscaled textures and showed good contrast. The same can’t be said for standard-definition content from apps like Samsung TV Plus and YouTube, however.

Color was among the S85F’s strong points. Viewed in the Movie picture mode, a scene from the 4K Blu-ray of Wicked, in which Elphaba stands under a pink tree, revealed vibrant pink flowers and a vivid green hue to Elphaba’s skin. Filmmaker Mode looked more natural, but picture highlights had more punch in Movie mode. A 4K stream of Elemental also demonstrated the S85F’s superb color, particularly in a scene where Ember repairs a broken vase.

Measuring the S85F’s HDR color gamut, it covered 98.1% of the DCI-P3 and 71.5% of the BT.2020 color spaces. While the former is a great result, the latter is lacking compared to other recent OLEDs, which have ranged from 74-81% in our tests.

Samsung S85F with pocket watch on screen

The S85F delivers rich black levels and great contrast (Image credit: Future)

The S85F exhibited excellent contrast and shadow detail. Watching The Batman, specifically the opening crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s house, there was a powerful balance between the light areas of torches and lamps and the dark floors and walls. Paintings were still visible on the walls in the darkest points of the scene, and so was Batman’s eye as he turned away from the camera. Shadows here were deep and rich throughout, with no signs of black crush.

Due to the S85F’s limited brightness and glossy screen, darker movies like The Batman were harder to watch in brighter viewing conditions, and were best saved for dim or pitch black viewing.

Black and white scenes from Oppenheimer also demonstrated the S85F’s excellent screen uniformity, displaying a good range of black, white and gray tones evenly across the screen.

Motion handling required some setup on the S85F. For sports, I found Standard mode with judder reduction set to 3-5 and blur redirection set to 2 to be the best settings, resulting in a smooth, but not overly smooth, picture. There was still some ghosting of the ball during a soccer game on Prime Video with these settings, but it was minimal. As for movies, a scene in No Time to Die where a camera pans across a hillside required the same motion settings to reduce judder.

Detail was one of the S85F’s other picture quality strengths. Almost everything I watched looked crisp and refined, taking on a realistic look without being too sharp. This gave people and objects a 3D-like quality, something helped along by the TV’s Real Depth Enhancer feature.

  • Picture quality score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Sound quality

Samsung S85F with multi-colored bottles on screen

The S85F features Samsung's Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite system for a more spatially accurate sound presentation (Image credit: Future)
  • Two-channel, 20W speaker array
  • Good accuracy and solid bass
  • Narrow soundstage

The S85F has a two-channel, 20W speaker system with Dolby Atmos support. There are two audio presets, Standard and Amplify, along with AI sound tools such as Adaptive Sound and Voice Amplifier Pro, both of which analyze the viewing environment and content on screen to adapt the sound.

Despite having a limited two-channel sound system, the S85F demonstrated solid bass. In the Batmobile/Penguin car chase from The Batman, it delivered the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine and the crunch of collisions with good impact and weight. The Object Tracking Sound (OTS) Lite system also did a great job of connecting sound with the action on screen, accurately mapping swerving tires, bullet sprays and blaring car horns. Speech was generally clear throughout my testing.

The S85F’s soundstage felt very narrow, however, with sound effects never really extending beyond the screen. While the S85F’s sound will be fine for day-to-day viewing, it deserves a soundbar to match its picture quality.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Design

Samsung S85F feet

The S85F's support feet can be installed in two positions: wide or narrow (Image credit: Future)
  • Sleek design with trim frame
  • Wide and narrow support feet options
  • SolarCell remote

Like many Samsung TVs, the S85F has an appealing design, with its extra-slim build and bezel-less screen giving it a sleek, modern look. Its rear panel even has a navy/gray color that helps differentiate it from other TVs on the market.

There are wide and narrow installation options for the TV’s support feet. Wide is perfect for accommodating a soundbar, and the narrow position is for those who have a particularly small TV stand.

The S85F comes with Samsung’s SolarCell remote, which features both a USB-C port and a solar cell on the rear as charging options. A new addition is the AI button, which provides access to Vision AI settings, such as click to search when pressed. If you’re in the UK, you’ll get Samsung’s older remote with a numeric keypad as well.

  • Design score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Smart TV & menus

Samsung S85F with Tizen home page on screen

Tizen 9.0, the latest version of Samsung's smart TV platform, is the best one to date (Image credit: Future)
  • Tizen 9.0 platform
  • Responsive performance and clean layout
  • Some settings are buried in menus

Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform has gone through several big changes over the last few years, and the new Tizen 9.0 is the best version to date. A quick menu provides easy access to settings such as picture mode, brightness, and sound output. There are also four useful hubs: Home, for streaming apps and content recommendations; Game, for gaming apps and settings; Daily+, for lifestyle apps such as office and health; and Ambient, which gives access to artwork, photos and videos that can be displayed in a low power mode.

Tizen 9.0 offers AI content recommendations based on your watch history, and its Samsung TV Plus app houses hundreds of free channels. For UK users, Samsung TV Plus serves as an alternative to Freeview. There is the option to create custom profiles for different users as well.

Tizen 9.0 may be a marked improvement over previous versions, but it’s still not perfect. While there are plenty of settings to adjust the picture, these can be tough to navigate. For instance, I was frustrated to find that settings I regularly use, such as Motion, were buried deep in sub-menus.

Tizen doesn’t quite beat LG’s webOS as the best smart TV platform, but it comes in a very close second.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Gaming

Samsung S85F with Battlefield V on screen

The S85F has a stacked list of gaming features and delivers great performance. (Image credit: Future)
  • Four HDMI 2.1 ports
  • 4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync
  • 9.4ms input lag time

The S85F carries a near-full stock of gaming features across its four HDMI 2.1 ports. These include support for 4K 120Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync (the latter a first for Samsung TVs), HDR10+ gaming and ALLM.

Samsung’s Gaming Hub offers cloud-based gaming services such as Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Luna, along with gaming-related content. It also allows for quick access to connected gaming devices such as consoles.

With an ultra-low 9.4ms measured input lag, gaming performance on the S85F is smooth and responsive. In even the most chaotic battle sequences in Battlefield V, I found it was snappy and responded to my inputs quickly with no signs of stutter or screen tearing.

  • Gaming score: 5 / 5

Samsung S85F review: Value

Samsung 2025 SolarCell remote

The S85F comes with Samsung's SolarCell remote (Image credit: Future)
  • Competitively priced for an entry-level OLED
  • Strong features and performance for price
  • Better value in US due to QD-OLED panel

I’ve seen the 65-inch S85F I tested selling for $1,499.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$1,999.99. While this is good value for an OLED TV of this size in the UK and Australia, it’s even better value in the US, since that size uses a QD-OLED panel that can potentially provide even better performance.

The S85F is competitively priced with its main rival, the LG B5, which costs $1,399.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$2,695 for the 65-inch model. I expect these two will compete on price for the remainder of the year, particularly during Black Friday.

The step-up Samsung S90F (which also uses a QD-OLED panel in the 65-inch size in both the US and the UK) is available for $1,699.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$4,295, meaning it’s a good value. And at $1,699.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$4,295, the LG C5, LG’s mid-range OLED, is priced the same as the S90F. For a bit more money, both these models offer better performance, with higher picture brightness.

  • Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung S85F?

Samsung S85F with orange butterfly on screen

(Image credit: Future)
Samsung S85F

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

A strong array of features for both gaming and smart TV

5/5

Picture quality

Excellent color and contrast plus realistic textures, but lacks brightness of more premium OLEDs

4.5/5

Sound quality

Solid bass performance and accurate mapping, but a narrow soundstage

3.5/5

Design

Slim, sleek design with two-position stand gives TV a more premium look than its price would suggest

4.5/5

Smart TV and menus

Best iteration of Tizen to date, with useful menus and settings and smooth performance, but some settings are buried in menus

4.5/5

Gaming

4K 120Hz and full VRR support plus ultra-responsive performance and Samsung Gaming Hub

5/5

Value

A great value TV that has all the features and performance most people will want

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a great OLED picture for less
The S85F delivers bold colors, crisp textures and strong contrast for a cheaper price than most other 2025 OLED TVs.

You want a great TV for gaming
The S85F has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync, and it delivers ultra-smooth performance.

You want value for money
An impressive picture, a full list of gaming features and plenty of smart tools and features make the S85F great value for money.

Don't buy it if…

You want to watch in a bright room
The S85F doesn't have the high brightness of premium OLEDs, and its screen is reflective in brighter viewing conditions.

You want Dolby Vision support
Samsung TVs don't support Dolby Vision for movies or gaming, and the S85F is no exception. It does support HDR10+, however.

You want the best built-in sound
While fine for day-to-day viewing, the S85F's built-in sound can't compare with a soundbar, with even affordable models beating it.

Also consider

Samsung S85F

LG B5

LG C5

Samsung S90F

Price (65-inch)

$1,999.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,299

$1,999.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,299

$2,699 / £2,699 / AU$4,299

$2,499 / £2,699 / AU$4,299

Screen type

OLED (QD-OLED on 55- and 65-inch models in the US)

OLED

OLED

QD-OLED (65-inch only)

Refresh rate

120Hz

120Hz

144Hz

144Hz

HDR support

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Dolby Vision/HDR10/HLG

Dolby Vision/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Tizen

webOS 25

webOS25

Tizen

HDMI ports

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

LG B5
The Samsung S85F's closest rival, the LG B5 offers similar brightness, features, performance, and even price. The B5 does support Dolby Vision HDR, but not the HDR10+ format.

Read our full LG B5 review

LG C5
The LG C5 is brighter than the S85F, so it's better suited to watching in well-lit rooms. It also has better processing speed and built-in sound. It is, however, a step-up in price, and the S85F carries many of the same gaming features and performance.

Read our full LG C5 review

Samsung 65-inch S90F
The step-up model over the S85F, the Samsung S90F uses a QD-OLED panel in its 65-inch model, and that gives higher brightness, along with better contrast and color detail. It also supports a 144Hz refresh rate for gaming.

Read our full 65-inch Samsung S90F review

How I tested the Samsung S85F

Samsung S85F with testing equipment attached

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested in our testing room in varying lighting conditions
  • Tested using HDR and SDR sources
  • Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

Before conducting my testing, I spent some time casually viewing the S85F to establish its best picture modes, settling on a mix of Filmmaker Mode and Movie mode, with Standard for sports.

I conducted subjective testing by watching reference SDR (DVD, Blu-ray) and HDR (4K Blu-ray and streaming) sources to test the S85F's picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, textures, upscaling, shadow detail and motion handling.

For 4K Blu-rays and other discs, I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, and I also used an Xbox Series X to analyze gaming performance.

I next conducted objective testing, taking measurements using specialized equipment: a Klein K-10 A colorimeter, with a Jeti Spectraval 1501 used to profile it and a Murideo 8K Six G Metal test pattern generator, with Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software to record the results.

I measured the S85F's HDR and SDR brightness on 1-100% white window patterns, focusing on 10% (peak) and 100% (fullscreen) brightness.

Next, I measured the S85F's color and grayscale accuracy, looking for a Delta-E (the margin for error between the test pattern and what's displayed on screen) average below 3. I also measured the S85F's DCI-P3 and BT.2020 HDR color gamut coverage.

Finally, I measured the S85F's input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag tester.

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