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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- HP is giving its OmniBook laptops a Snapdragon X2 chipset and OLED displays.
- The revamp aims to emphasize stronger overall performance and longer battery lives — up to as much as 45 hours.
- HP will roll out the updates in phases, starting with the premium OmniBook Ultra 14.
CES 2026 is nearing its end, yet I can’t stop thinking about HP’s announcements earlier this week. A lot was shared, so to keep things focused, I’m homing in on what I believe is the most interesting computing news from the PC maker.
Chief among them is HP’s decision to upgrade its entire OmniBook portfolio with Qualcomm’s latest chip, the Snapdragon X2 and OLED displays across the board. It’s a bold move, considering the Snapdragon X2 is expected to outperform Apple’s M4 chip.
Also: The best HP laptops you can buy
Qualcomm first unveiled the Snapdragon X2 back in September 2025, positioning it against the M4, and proving it had what it takes to deliver all-day battery life. Based on early benchmark tests shared at the time, the X2 reportedly outpaces the Apple chip by a wide margin.
If those claims hold up, HP’s upcoming OmniBook could rival, or even surpass, some of Apple’s best laptops. And simultaneously, pairing that top-notch performance with vibrant OLED screens and a thin and light (2.8-pound) form factor, make for some serious competition.
The OmniBook lineup levels up
HP OmniBook X
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
One of the first revealed laptops to showcase these upgrades is the OmniBook Ultra 14, HP’s premium consumer notebook with a 3K OLED display and either the new Snapdragon X2 Elite or Intel Panther Lake processor.
The 2026 OmniBook Ultra 14 features an all-new slim design — 5% thinner than the M4 MacBook Air 13, HP says, while weighing only 2.81 pounds. It’s also loaded with pro-level connectivity, such as three Thunderbolt 4 ports, support for an external monitor at 8K, and up to 64GB of RAM.
Also: How much RAM do you really need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert explains
The OmniBook Ultra 14 might be the most flashy one of the series, but the rest of the OmniBook X models are getting upgraded with OLED displays across the board. This means both the 14- and 16-inch versions (as well as their “Flip” 2-in-1 counterparts).
If you’re confused about the lineup, there are four primary categories. You have the entry-level OmniBook 3 series, followed by the OmniBook 5 and OmniBook 7 lines, and finally the high-end OmniBook X series.
OmniBook X Flip 14
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
Battery life is also shaping up to be a standout feature. HP claims the 16-inch OmniBook 3 will last up to 45 hours on a single charge. That number may sound overly ambitious, but I believe it. I tested the 2025 OmniBook 5 back in August, and it lasted an impressive 25 hours. In comparison, 45 hours doesn’t seem all that far-fetched, but we’ll have to go hands-on to know for sure.
The OmniBook Ultra 14 is set to launch later this month, with a starting price of $1,550. The OmniBook 3 and OmniBook 5 series will follow in February, with prices starting at $500 and $850, respectively.
HP plans to release the OmniBook 7 and OmniBook X models later in the spring. Pricing for those higher-end systems will be shared closer to launch.