If budget is a priority and you prefer a larger screen for gaming or productivity, the HP Omen 16 might be the better choice, offering good performance at a lower cost. However, if you're looking for something more lightweight and portable that can still handle demanding applications, the HP Omen Transcend 14, while more expensive, could suit your needs for on-the-go use, despite the smaller screen size. Keep in mind that a more compact design often comes with less upgradeability and can mean a tradeoff in terms of cooling efficiency, which affects performance during extended heavy use. 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 16
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good speakers
Advantages of the HP Omen Transcend 14
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
338.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for general use, while the HP Omen 16 is good.
The HP Omen 16, with a powerful CPU and ample RAM, delivers solid performance for everyday tasks, but its larger screen and consequent weight reduction portability and may impact battery life compared to the smaller HP Omen Transcend 14, which offers increased mobility and potentially longer battery life without significantly compromising on screen quality and performance, making it more suitable for on-the-go use while still handling general computing needs effectively.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for content creation, while the HP Omen 16 is good.
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
8.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for software development, while the HP Omen 16 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
7.6/10
8.6/10
16.1in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
338.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen than the HP Omen 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the panel type, resolution, and brightness are pivotal factors; the HP Omen 16 offers a good balance of these features at a comfortable price point, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 adds superior resolution and brightness, enhancing clarity and visibility. For engineering and design tasks which demand accurate color reproduction, both models provide commendable results, with the Transcend 14 delivering slightly better coverage of professional color spaces. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D work, where a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth visuals, both the Omen 16 and Transcend 14 may fall short of expectations, prioritizing resolution and color over frame rates.
Battery
6.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The HP Omen 16 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
Fair
Good
16.1in
SIZE
14.0in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability, while the HP Omen 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen 16 has a price of $1,100 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 16 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 is good.
The HP Omen 16 offers a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are essential for smooth, high-quality gaming and 3D rendering experiences. While the HP Omen Transcend 14 also provides suitable GPU performance and screen quality, its capabilities are a notch below the 16's, making it a better fit for those who prioritize a balance between solid gaming performance and portability.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and HP Omen 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The HP Omen 16 and HP Omen Transcend 14 are well-suited for engineering and design tasks due to their powerful CPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality GPUs, which facilitate smooth handling of demanding software applications and intricate graphics work. While both have excellent screen quality for precise visual work, the Omen 16 offers a larger display and typically more robust performance, whereas the Transcend 14 is more portable and quieter, with a more compact design and potentially higher keyboard and speaker quality.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The HP Omen 16 and HP Omen Transcend 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Omen 16 and the HP Omen Transcend 14 compare to other laptops
"The Omen 16 has proven to be a fairly good mid-range gaming laptop with all-around improvements compared to the Omen 15. The high overall performance level across all use cases, the long battery life, and the good FHD display constitute the main advantages of this HP laptop. The main drawbacks are the faulty touchpad (one-off?) and the high latencies that can be observed even after just opening the browser. Furthermore, the useless, preinstalled 30-day trial versions of various software also fall under the category "unnecessary"."
Get a great deal on the HP Omen 16 or the HP Omen Transcend 14
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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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