The HP Omen 17 offers higher performance, suitable for intensive engineering tasks, 3D work, machine learning, and gaming because of its powerful processor and advanced graphics card. It has a larger screen and higher refresh rate, but is more expensive and less portable due to its size and weight. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is more affordable, much lighter, and offers better portability, making it ideal for general use and on-the-go productivity. It has a smaller, sharper screen with a unique aspect ratio favorable for documents and web browsing, but it's not built for heavy-duty tasks. The Surface Laptop's battery will likely last longer, making it a good choice for those who need to work away from power outlets. Choose the Omen 17 if performance is paramount and you're less concerned about cost and mobility, otherwise, the Surface Laptop 5 might be your pick for everyday tasks and easier travel. 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 17
Very good for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.0/10
6.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
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 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The HP Omen 17 is excellent for gaming and 3D due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a screen with a high refresh rate, making it well-suited for fast-paced and visually demanding tasks. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, which are fair for casual gaming but do not offer the same performance or smooth visuals for intense gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The HP Omen 17 is preferred for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, making it capable of handling demanding software and rendering tasks, and its larger screen with good display quality enhances visual clarity which is vital for design works, but its bulk and weight reduce portability. Whereas, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a balance of performance suitable for less intensive engineering tasks and greater portability with a high-quality screen, alongside a more compact build and lighter weight, making it more convenient for on-the-go use despite having a less powerful GPU and a smaller display.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 17 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
7.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The HP Omen 17 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize watching movies, browsing, or working on documents, the HP Omen 17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 both have vibrant displays with sharp resolution and good brightness. For engineering and design tasks where color accuracy is crucial, both laptops offer displays that cover a broad range of colors, ensuring your work appears precise and true to life. However, if gaming or 3D modeling is a priority, you might find these laptops lacking, as they don't have high refresh rates required for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
3.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Omen 17 has 3.5 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
Fair
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.5in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the HP Omen 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen 17 has a price of $1,700 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
The HP Omen 17 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The HP Omen 17 offers strong performance with a high-end CPU and GPU, making it great for demanding tasks, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life, which can limit portability. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a more portable design with longer battery life and a high-quality screen, suitable for on-the-go use, but with less powerful internal hardware, it's not as suited for intensive applications.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.2/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 17 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and HP Omen 17 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 17 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 17 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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