Convertible laptops continue to grow in popularity, likely because of the exceptional flexibility they offer to folks who want to switch up their use—shape-shifting among traditional notebook, tablet, and tappable entertainment device forms. The latest device to enter this fray is HP’s OmniBook X Flip, available in both 16-inch and 14-inch versions, the latter of which is what I was sent to review.
Its poor battery life and awkward design, however, make it fall short of being among the best 2-in-1 laptops I’ve tested, even if the price is quite attractive.
Questionable Choices
Photograph: Chris Null
At first glance, it’s an unremarkable device, completely clad in silvery aluminum, interrupted only by understated HP branding on the lid. But look closer and you’ll soon see some design elements that might raise an eyebrow.
It starts, oddly enough, with the underside of the laptop, which looks like an angled pedestal upon which the keyboard rests. It also makes the laptop appear thicker than it is, though at 19 mm (0.75 inches) thick, it’s actually about average for the 14-inch category. (The 3.1-pound weight, however, is comparatively heavy, and it feels as such in the hand.)
The other big twist is the keyboard. Rather than featuring the island-style keys ubiquitous today, the OmniBook X Flip has its keys all run together, with just a sliver of space between each of them. This makes each key just a bit larger than normal, and while that may sound helpful, I found it made for a slightly more difficult touch-typing experience as I accidentally hit two keys at once more often than expected. It also looks decidedly weird, a surefire love-it-or-hate-it retro appearance that distinctly reminded me of some computers from the 1980s.
A Poor Performer
Photograph: Chris Null
HP swaps Intel for AMD on the 14-inch OmniBook X Flip (though the 16-inch model uses Intel CPUs), and the model reviewed is one of the higher-end configurations available, including an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU with AMD Radeon 860M graphics, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1-terabyte SSD.
