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Updated January 12, 2024·
For better performance, especially in gaming or engineering tasks that require considerable graphics power and processing, the HP Omen 16 offers a high-end CPU and dedicated graphics card, but it's heavy, less portable and has lower battery duration. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more affordable, very portable, and offers longer battery life, but it's less suited for performance-intensive tasks due to its lower-spec CPU and integrated graphics, and has a smaller screen ideal for general use rather than specialized work. Choose the HP Omen 16 for demanding applications or the Surface Laptop Go 3 for portability and everyday tasks. 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 engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.0
6.1
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The HP Omen 16 excels in gaming and 3D applications because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are very important for smooth visuals and fast-paced action in games. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and lower screen refresh rate, offers a more modest performance, suitable for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Omen 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The HP Omen 16, with its higher-end CPU, double the RAM, and dedicated high-performance GPU, provides the necessary power and responsiveness for demanding engineering and design applications, supplemented by a better quality screen. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers increased portability and a higher-quality keyboard, but with a less powerful CPU, integrated graphics, and less RAM, it cannot handle intensive tasks as effectively.
Screen Quality
7.6
6.8
16.1in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
338.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The HP Omen 16 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the HP Omen 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness, ensuring a clear and vibrant viewing experience for daily tasks and media consumption. In the realm of engineering and design, these laptops provide good color accuracy and a wide range of colors, which is essential for professionals who need to see their work exactly as it will appear in the final product. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D, the lower refresh rates on both the HP Omen 16 and Surface Laptop Go 3 mean less smooth visuals, which can be a drawback for fast-paced games and fluid 3D rendering.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP Omen 16 has 6 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 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
Excellent
16.1in
SIZE
12.4in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the HP Omen 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$800
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The HP Omen 16 has a price of $1,100 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $800.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
338.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The HP Omen 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The HP Omen 16 stands out for general use with a strong CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen, contributing to better performance and visuals, albeit it's less portable and has limited battery life. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers excellent portability and longer battery life, but its CPU and RAM are less capable, and the screen, while good for its size, doesn't match the clarity and refresh rate provided by the HP Omen 16.
Content Creation
7.8
7.3
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and HP Omen 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the HP Omen 16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Omen 16 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.5'' x 10.2'' x 0.93'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.4 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.53" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.21" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 83 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.1" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 338 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Omen 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | October 2021
"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"."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the HP Omen 16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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.
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