When choosing between the HP Omen Transcend and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go, consider that the Omen will deliver superior performance suitable for gaming, 3D applications, and demanding engineering software, but it will come at a higher cost and may be bulkier, affecting portability. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Go offers greater portability and is more budget-friendly but may not handle intensive tasks as well. It's ideal for general use like web browsing, office work, and media consumption. The Omen will likely have shorter battery life due to more powerful components, while the Surface should last longer on a single charge. 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
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The HP Omen Transcend 14, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, excels in performance for demanding tasks and offers a high-quality screen, but it may be less portable and have shorter battery life compared to lighter options. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while not as powerful, provides sufficient performance for everyday tasks, better portability, and longer battery life, though screen quality and multitasking capabilities are not as strong as those of the HP.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
6.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
120Hz
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 Transcend 14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a powerful GPU and high screen refresh rate, enhancing gaming with smoother visuals and better performance; whereas the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has modest GPU capabilities and a standard refresh rate, which is adequate for less demanding games and content but may not deliver the same level of gaming or 3D experiences. Despite its lower gaming performance, the Surface Laptop Go 3's CPU and screen quality are suitable for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
6.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 comes with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a dedicated GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software, ensuring smoother performance and better screen quality for detailed work. While the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers better portability and a high-quality keyboard, its less powerful internals may struggle with more intensive engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.1/10
7.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
8.6/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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, the HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness which makes for a enjoyable browsing and media consumption experience. In engineering and design, its wider color gamut ensures accurate color representation that is crucial for detailed graphic work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate could lead to less fluid motion and potentially a less immersive experience compared to laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and HP Omen Transcend 14 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,699
$791
$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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $791.
"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 Transcend 14 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.
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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