The HP Omen 15 offers a higher gaming and graphics performance due to its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, which makes it suitable for gaming and resource-intensive tasks. However, it's heavier and thicker, making it less portable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5. The Surface Laptop 5, on the other hand, is lighter and has a higher resolution screen with a unique 3:2 aspect ratio that's good for productivity tasks, it's more portable but it's not as powerful for high-end gaming or demanding applications. Both laptops have similar storage and memory, but the HP has a larger screen size. If gaming or heavy graphics tasks are important, go with the HP Omen 15; for general use with an emphasis on portability and a sharp display, the Surface Laptop 5 would be a better fit. 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 HP Omen 15
Good for gaming and AI
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design, though the HP Omen 15 is somewhat better.
The HP Omen 15 offers a high-performing AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, coupled with a large, high-refresh-rate screen, making it a preferred choice for performance-intensive applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 focuses on portability and screen quality, with a lighter build and high-resolution display, making it an attractive option for engineering and design professionals who prioritize mobility and screen clarity over raw computing power.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
318.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The HP Omen 15 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop like the HP Omen 15 meets your needs with a display that offers clarity and brightness, making text and images easy to see in various lighting conditions; and a Microsoft Surface Laptop is similarly equipped, giving you a pleasant viewing experience for everyday tasks. When working on engineering and design, both these laptops provide a wide range of colors, essential for accurate and detailed work, but they may lack some of the advanced color specifications desired by professional designers. However, for gaming and 3D applications, they fall short as they don't have the high refresh rates required for smooth motion and may not offer the best combination of resolution and panel technology for the most immersive visual experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Omen 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the HP Omen 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and HP Omen 15 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$993
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The HP Omen 15 has a price of $993 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The HP Omen 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The HP Omen 15 is well-suited for general use because it features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and abundant storage, complemented by a quality IPS screen and a decent battery life; however, it's less portable given its weight. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is highly portable with a lighter design, boasts an excellent keyboard, and its high-resolution touchscreen offers vibrant colors, but it has less storage and its sleek form factor comes with a shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both 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.
Software Development
7.6/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development.
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.
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How the HP Omen 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"We consider around 1,260 Euros (~$1530) for a Ryzen 7 4800H, a GeForce RTX 2060, a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB dual-channel RAM to be a good offer that appeals to price-conscious gamers. Very high details are rarely a problem in the native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. Buyers will also be spoiled with a top-notch battery life that even beats most other notebook classes. If HP now improves the speed of the WLAN module, the stability of the case and the repeatedly criticized picture quality, the competition will have to dress extra warmly."
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the HP Omen 15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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