I switched to the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 for 30 days — and I'm shocked how good this laptop is for $599

A few months ago, I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 and felt it was more style over substance — especially for the asking price of it. Turning my attention to the HP OmniBook X Flip 14, the moment I felt its sturdy, premium metal build in my hand, I feared more of the same.

Don’t get me wrong, this 2-in-1 is quite the looker. That meteor silver finish and all-metal casing is a stylishly utilitarian frame; that Gorilla Glass-fronted display looks great' and the ergonomics have a nice tactile feel to them, from the snappy touchpad to the keyboard.

Inside, you’re getting Intel Core Ultra 5 226V — definitely enough for casual productivity and some short bursts of prosumer tasks and intense multitasking (it can get a little hot under that kind of pressure). Though, this chip choice does lend itself to a decent all day-ish battery life of 8 ½ hours.

And as I went to check the price, I feared the worst. But no. This particular HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is $599… Yes, the MSRP is technically $999, but since July, this system has been regularly on sale at around the $600 mark. I’m willing to safely say this is the actual retail price — you see a lot of brands do this to make their prices look even more alluring.

However, I don’t think HP even needed to do that! At this price, the OmniBook X Flip 14 is a mightily enticing notebook for working professionals, students, and those who are looking for something that keeps up with them all-day.

HP OmniBook X Flip 14: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? This is a premium 2-in-1 Windows laptop
• Who is it for? It’s an ideal 2-in-1 for workers on-the-go, students, and for those who want to have a reliable, durable system wherever they are
• What does it cost? MSRP is technically $999 (boo) but it’s almost always been $599 (yay)
• What do we like? I’m a big fan of the durable, premium and utilitarian design here, the performance is strong in a mid-range kinda way, and for the price you’re actually paying, it’s worthwhile.
• What don’t we like? It’s HP, so expect plenty of bloatware, and that gapless keyboard may have a nice haptic feel to it, but no gaps will take a while to get used to for touch typing.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Specs

HP OmniBook X Flip 14: The ups

For $599, you’re getting a mightily good-looking and feeling system here with strong mid-range performance and good all-day stamina.

Strong utilitarian looks, nice display

Yes, the Omnibook X Flip 14 isn’t the thinnest or lightest machine out there, but it’s quite the premium utilitarian workhorse in aesthetic and durability. The all-metal chassis gives off a confidence while that subtle wedge shape is at a nice angle for your wrists to type away.

The hinge feels impressively smooth yet rigid at the same time to flip into full tent or tablet mode, while staying strong in traditional laptop mode. And when you do open it up, you’re welcomed to an impressively color accurate display that is quite the looker whether for work and play.

Granted, it's IPS — you're not getting the super vivid likes of OLED, but this panel does a good job with decent brightness (even in direct light) and has a decent color accuracy for the times I dipped into Photoshop.

Throw in impressively zippy touch sensitivity and a touchpad that has a nice snappy response, and this is a seriously well put-together laptop that can withstand the elements.

Strong performance and power efficiency

Now, let’s turn our attention to what’s inside here. You’re getting an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V, 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Some of our sister publications have tested the AMD model (identical in all ways but without the Intel CPU), so I can use these both as a frame of comparison.

Put simply, whichever way you go, you’re in for a great mid-range workhorse for your productivity tasks and multitasking.

These kinds of numbers are enough for 15-20 Chrome tabs on-the-go with a couple of videos running in the background, though the bottom does get a little hot under strenuous pressure. But while AMD does get a lead in some of the processing tasks, the one place where Intel pulls ahead is in power efficiency.

Of course, we’re only talking about a few minutes extra, but every minute counts if you’re working away from the outlet. And to say you this capability (and great design) for $599 makes these kinds of numbers all the sweeter.

HP OmniBook X Flip 14: The downs

For all the strengths the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 has, not everything is great. One thing is an annoyance, and one will take some getting used to.

That keyboard will not be for everyone

I’ve dabbled with a few laptops that sport keyboards without gaps between the keys, and every time it takes me a while to get used to it for touch typing. Put simply, this won’t be a good choice for everyone.

That’s not to say it’s a bad keyboard — there’s a solid tactile feel to each key with a cushioned landing with a soft clickiness. It feels purposeful, but it’s an awkward learning curve.

Stop with the bloatware!

I won’t subject you to a long-winded rant about bloatware, because we all know it’s the digital equivalent of finding uninvited houseguests in your spare room. But it’s usually the result of a corporate "partnership" bribe.

The moment I hit the power button, the laptop erupted into a frantic chorus of McAfee alerts and HP Smart pop-ups, like a needy ex who refuses to take the hint.

My first "bonding moment" with this machine wasn't testing the hardware; it was a ruthless trip to the “Add or Remove Programs” menu to perform a total purge.

While Windows 11 makes the eviction process snappy, it doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn't have to clean your house the second you move in.

HP OmniBook X Flip 14: Verdict

HP did the OmniBook X Flip 14 an injustice when the company told me the MSRP is $999. Just tell me the real price, because at $600, this is a great system for students and professionals alike.

This is a premium, durable 2-in-1 with a solid display, good mid-range performance and decent all-day battery life.

And provided you're up for learning to get used to that keyboard and remove all that bloatware, you've got a good value for money option on your hands.