HP’s MacBook Neo competitor is $699 with an OLED display and plenty of catches

Apple's MacBook Neo launch earlier this year caught the PC market off guard, leading Windows-based competitors to announce their own rivals. HP has entered the fray with its new OLED-equipped laptop, priced at $699, but it comes with several caveats. The HP OmniBook 5 14 sports a design reminiscent of both the low-cost, colorful chassis of the MacBook Neo and the more refined, understated color scheme found in the iPad Air.

At 11.77mm thin and weighing only 2.56 pounds, this device seems ideal for the upcoming back-to-school season.

The 14-inch OLED display is the star of the show, featuring either a 2K or 2.5K panel, a significant improvement over the IPS panels typically found in this price range. HP has included two "full-function" USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the laptop's frame, along with a Full HD camera with Windows Hello support. Under the hood, the laptop supports up to an Intel Core 7 processor, though the specific model for the $700 variant remains unclear.

Battery life is claimed to last up to 42 hours of local video playback, though this metric may not accurately reflect real-world usage. The laptop is expected to be compatible with HP's 65W mini GaN charger, which may be included with the purchase.

Despite the promising features, several questions remain unanswered. The specific Intel processor that will be included in the $700 variant is unknown, making direct comparisons with Apple's latest models difficult. Additionally, HP has not provided any details regarding storage and memory configurations. The highlight of this laptop, the OLED display, won't be available until March 2027, while the version hitting Best Buy later this month will feature a 2K OLED panel with reduced brightness at just 300 nits.

With numerous unanswered questions and some disappointing details, HP's latest offering may leave potential buyers with more queries than answers. Keep an eye out for further updates ahead of the laptop's retail release.