The Surprising MacBook Neo Competitor You’ve Never Heard Of
The MacBook Neo caused a sensation when it landed in March. $599 for a MacBook seemed revolutionary, and it was easy for casual onlookers to declare that Windows laptops had no real answer to that question.
But what if I told you there’s a Windows option that’s better in almost every way? It’s the HP OmniBook 5, a laptop you’ve probably never heard of unless you’re keeping a close eye on the space. I recommend it since I tested it last month. The price fluctuated, but more often than not the 14-inch model sold for $500. You read that right: $500. Today, the cheapest and most consistent price you’ll find it for is $730 more at Walmart, but I’ve seen HP drop the price frequently from $1,050 to around $500.
And just take a look at what you’re getting for the price, because it’s absolutely stacked. It comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, double what you get on the $599 MacBook Neo. There’s also a 16-inch version, if you like the idea of having a little more screen real estate.
The HP OmniBook 5 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon If you haven’t used Windows laptops in a few years and still think they can’t compete with MacBooks in terms of battery life, you’re sorely mistaken.
The OmniBook 5’s 16GB of memory is particularly important to note, as it’s one of the big points of contention with the MacBook Neo. Being stuck at 8GB in 2026 seems cruel in principle, and in testing it I was able to charge the MacBook Neo and easily find its breaking point. The HP OmniBook 5’s 16GB of memory is enough so you never have to worry about how many tabs, apps, installs, or downloads you have going on at once. Combined with the Snapdragon Make no mistake: The MacBook Neo has its place, but calling it the undisputed king of budget laptops just isn’t fair.
The HP OmniBook 5 costs just $500
Now I know what you’re thinking. Specs and performance don’t tell the whole story, and Apple has never been known for offering tons of specs at a low price. But the OmniBook 5 14 is also an attractive design in a highly portable package. At 0.5 inches, it’s exactly the same thickness as the MacBook Neo and about the same weight, too. Does the MacBook Neo have a little more style and personality? Absolutely, especially if you want one of the bolder color options. But I would say that the OmniBook 5 is a very nice laptop in its own right. It is also made of aluminum, sturdy and well-built in your hands. The hinge is well balanced, allowing you to open the lid with just one finger. This is not the case feel cheap.
