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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the HP Omen 17, consider your primary use case. If you need a highly portable device with a longer battery life and top-notch display for general use, the MacBook Pro is superior. It also offers better build quality and keyboard, comes with macOS, and is well-suited for various professional tasks. Conversely, if your focus is on gaming, 3D rendering, or intensive engineering applications, the HP Omen 17, with its powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics, will provide better performance in these domains, but it is significantly heavier and has a lower battery life implying less portability. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Omen 17
- Excellent for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.8
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the HP Omen 17 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) stands out for general use due to its high-quality Mini LED screen, exceptional battery life, and portability, with a lightweight design and a powerful Apple M1 Pro CPU that runs efficiently for everyday tasks. In contrast, the HP Omen 17 is preferred for its larger screen and superior gaming capabilities but is less portable due to its heavier weight and has a shorter battery life, although it does come with a powerful Intel CPU and ample RAM for multitasking.
Gaming and AI
6.8
9.0
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its Apple M1 Pro GPU performs well for 3D applications, benefiting from a high-quality Mini LED screen with a refresh rate that supports smooth visuals. Meanwhile, the HP Omen 17 boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a higher refresh rate, making it better suited for gaming, especially since it runs Windows which is compatible with a wider range of games compared to macOS.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.8
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design, though the HP Omen 17 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its powerful M1 Pro chip and high-quality Mini LED screen is excellent for tasks in engineering and design due to its CPU, GPU, and screen quality, while also offering the best keyboard quality and high portability.
Software Development
8.3
7.7
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the HP Omen 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
9.2
7.9
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the HP Omen 17 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's Retina display combines high resolution and brightness with broad color gamuts, offering precise color representation crucial for engineering and design tasks, but its standard refresh rate limits its 3D capabilities. The HP Omen 17, with its high-resolution screen, is suitable for general use and offers a reasonable color accuracy for design work, but its less-than-optimal refresh rate may not deliver the smooth visuals demanded by gaming and 3D applications. Both laptops possess qualities for specific tasks, so choose based on whether your priority is professional creative work or entertainment that requires high frame rates.
Battery
13.5 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The HP Omen 17 has 3.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the HP Omen 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the HP Omen 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$2,099
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the HP Omen 17 costs $2,099.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
8.4
8.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and HP Omen 17 are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the HP Omen 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) | HP Omen 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,905 | $2,099 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 15.6'' x 10.3'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 6.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 15.64" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 10.32" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | Intel i7-13700HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 83 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
HP Omen 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter | September 2022
"The HP Omen 17 (2022) gaming laptop has a stylish case and hardware with lots of potential. The HP Omen 17 is a fairly unobtrusive gaming laptop. A material combination of plastic and metal gives the case a high stability and a quality surface feel. The unspectacular design is pleasing and is hardly indicative of the laptop's high performance potential. The Intel Core i7-12700H in particular is able to perform well once again. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is also strong in the gaming notebook. Demanding games run smoothly in Full HD resolution. The HP Omen 17 is a good gaming laptop that delivers partly excellent performance. But even at this performance level, cheaper alternatives are available."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the HP Omen 17
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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