HP Omen Transcend 14 Review

Have you ever imagined a gaming laptop? If you picture it as a large, bulky device with aggressive design elements and RGB colors here and there, you’re not far off from what most laptops look like today. 

However, HP is seeking to change that by offering a refreshing alternative. While many manufacturers prioritize power over portability, HP’s Omen Transcend 14 offers a compact and lightweight option that doesn’t compromise performance.

HP Omen Transcend 14 is a gaming laptop that doesn’t look like one. It’s slim, compact, and elegant, targeting gamers who want both power and convenience.

Let’s have a look at how the gaming laptop from HP is overall.

HP OMEN Transcend 14 specifications:
  • 14″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800 pixels), OLED screen, 48-120 Hz, 0.2 ms response time, UWVA, edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, Low Blue Light, SDR 400 nits, HDR 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (up to 4.8 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 24 MB L3 cache, 16 cores, 22 threads)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8 GB GDDR6 dedicated)
  • 16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz RAM; 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
  • Windows 11 Home
  • Webcam: HP True Vision 1080p FHD IR camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual array digital microphones
  • DTS:X Ultra; Dual speakers; HP Audio Boost; HyperX
  • Ports: 1 Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C 40Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate (HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate; 1 HDMI 2.1; 1 headphone/microphone combo
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
  • Full-size, 4-zone RGB backlit, shadow black keyboard with numeric keypad and 26-key Rollover Anti-Ghosting Key technology
  • Weight: 1.75 kg
  • 6-cell,71 Wh battery with 140 W charging

The HP Omen 14 boasts a visually striking design featuring a classy and compact form factor. Unlike many gaming laptops that flaunt aggressive logos, the HP Omen opts for a minimal approach, with just the word “OMEN” on its back.

However, the LED keyboard lights add a touch of gamer flair when switched on. Made of metal, the laptop feels sturdy and durable, weighing a manageable 1.6 kg. The hinge mechanism is robust, and the cooling system effectively dissipates heat, ensuring comfortable gaming sessions.

The Omen 14’s keyboard features multi-color LED lighting, enhancing its visual appeal. While the keys offer a satisfying typing experience, they may feel slightly mushy compared to other gaming laptops. Regardless, the keyboard remains perfectly serviceable for gaming and everyday tasks.

The trackpad is spacious and responsive, though it lacks the premium touch of a laptop that costs north of Rs. 1.5L.

The highlight of the HP Omen 14 is its OLED display, which boasts vibrant colors and HDR support. With a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, it offers smooth and immersive visuals for gaming and multimedia consumption. However, it lacks support for variable refresh rates, which may disappoint some gamers.

The bottom-firing speakers deliver clear audio. However, they lack depth and richness, resulting in a disappointing experience across various media types, including films, games, and music.

In terms of connectivity, the laptop offers a decent selection of ports, including HDMI 2.1 and Thunderbolt 4 for external displays and peripherals.

While it lacks an SD card reader or Ethernet jack, it compensates with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

The HP Omen Transcend 14 that we had come equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, belonging to Intel’s latest Meteor Lake lineup.

These new processors prioritize power efficiency over raw performance, resulting in a notable balance rather than a significant leap in performance. Additionally, the laptop featured Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, which are the successor to the RTX 4050.

While the laptop doesn’t have the best of the new Intel Core Ultra SoCs, it still packs a punch. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is decent enough for all kinds of tasks and even some heavy gaming.

Based on my personal experience, playing games like God Of War on the HP Omen Transcend 14 was smooth, with no noticeable drop in frame rates.

Designed for portability, the Omen Transcend 14 is an excellent choice for gamers who are frequently on the move.

However, it’s worth noting that the laptop tends to heat up during gaming sessions. Thankfully, the built-in fans quickly kick in to dissipate the heat, ensuring that the keyboard remains comfortable to use.

As we all know, gaming laptops often struggle when it comes to the battery life department.

While non-gaming notebooks can typically endure several hours of continuous usage, gaming laptops tend to fall short. The same holds for the Omen 14.

Since you are in for some intense gaming, you cannot expect anywhere more than two to two and a half hours of battery life during gaming sessions.

The HP Omen Transcend 14 excels in combining gaming performance with a sleek design and solid build quality.

While its keyboard and battery life may not be the best in class, its vibrant OLED display and its compact form factor make it a compelling choice for gamers seeking both style and portability. Overall, the HP Omen 14 stands out as a versatile gaming laptop that doesn’t compromise on aesthetics or performance.

The HP OMEN Transcend gaming laptop’s black variant with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM costs Rs. 1,74,999, while the white variant with 16GB LPDDR6x RAM costs Rs. 1,75,999. Both models will be available on the HP website.


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