The HP Omen Transcend is a high-performance laptop well-suited for gaming, 3D design, and engineering software; however, it's heavier and costlier, impacting portability and budget. The HP Stream, on the other hand, is more affordable and lighter, suitable for general use like web browsing and office applications, with the tradeoff being lower performance and limited capabilities for demanding tasks. Consider the HP Omen if performance is a priority and you're okay with the higher price and less portability; choose the HP Stream for everyday tasks and a more budget-friendly, portable option. 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 Transcend 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 packs a more powerful CPU and more RAM, enhancing its ability to handle demanding tasks and multitasking, along with a higher-quality screen that offers better visuals which makes it very good for general use; additionally, it usually provides solid battery life while maintaining portability. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has modest specs, suitable for basic tasks with less computing power and screen quality but gains an edge in being lighter and possibly offering longer battery life, positioning it as fair for general use where the performance demands are not as stringent.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
5.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate which are crucial for smooth and immersive gaming and 3D experiences, while the HP Stream 14's GPU is less capable and its screen refresh rate is lower, making it less suitable for those tasks even though it has an adequate CPU and screen quality for everyday use.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
5.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Omen Transcend 14, with a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, excels in demanding engineering tasks and running complex design software, and also features a crisp screen for fine detail work. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" may fall short for intensive engineering due to its modest CPU and RAM, less sophisticated GPU, and lower screen quality, but its lightweight design and quieter operation make it more suited for basic tasks and on-the-go use.
Content Creation
8.3/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
8.1/10
6.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
8.6/10
5.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Omen Transcend 14, with its superior resolution and brightness, provides a pleasing visual experience for general use and precise color representation vital for engineering and design tasks, but its lower refresh rate hampers the smooth visuals crucial for gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" falls short in delivering the sharpness and clarity desired for everyday tasks due to its lower resolution and brightness, and it also lacks the comprehensive color range needed for professional design work. Furthermore, its refresh rate does not meet the demanding standards for 3D content creation or a fluid gaming experience.
Battery
11.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
5.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,699
$299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a price of $1,699 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Stream 14" to have very good portability, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Omen Transcend 14 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the HP Omen Transcend 14 or the HP Stream 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,395
Recommendations made
21,753
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.