HP’s OmniBook X is the company’s most ambitious laptop in years. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, it promises the holy grail of Windows laptops: MacBook-level battery life with a premium design and AI features that Windows has been promising for years.
The MacBook Air M4 needs no introduction. It is the laptop against which every thin-and-light is measured. After using both for productivity, content creation, and daily life, here is how HP’s contender stacks up.
Design and Build
The HP OmniBook X is impressively thin at 0.57 inches and light at 2.97 pounds. The aluminum chassis is solid with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. The thin bezels and 14-inch display in a body that feels like a 13-inch laptop make it feel modern and premium. Available in white or silver.
The MacBook Air M4 is thinner at 0.44 inches and lighter at 2.7 pounds. The aluminum unibody construction remains the benchmark. The midnight finish looks great but still collects fingerprints. The wedge-shaped design has been replaced with a flat profile that is more practical.
Both are beautiful, well-built laptops. The MacBook Air has a slight edge in weight and thinness. The HP feels more substantial and premium than most Windows ultrabooks.
Display
The OmniBook X has a 14-inch 2.2K IPS touchscreen (2240 x 1400) with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 300 nits brightness. The touchscreen is responsive, and the 16:10 ratio is good for productivity. But the brightness is disappointing — 300 nits is adequate for indoor use but struggles near windows. The IPS panel cannot match OLED or mini-LED contrast.
The MacBook Air M4 has a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits brightness. No touchscreen, but the brightness, color accuracy, and viewing angles are better than the HP’s.
The MacBook Air has the better display. The HP’s touchscreen is useful, but the brightness limitation is a real compromise for a premium laptop.
Performance
The OmniBook X’s Snapdragon X Elite is a legitimate competitor to Apple Silicon. Native ARM apps — Office, Edge, Photoshop, most development tools — run smoothly and quickly. The NPU handles Windows Copilot+ features locally. Emulated x86 apps work but with a performance penalty. App compatibility has improved significantly since launch, but you should still verify that your essential software runs natively.
The MacBook Air M4 is a known quantity — excellent single-core performance, capable multi-core, and complete app compatibility. The fanless design is silent, and sustained performance holds up well without throttling.
Both are fast for everyday tasks. The M4 has a slight raw performance edge and zero compatibility concerns. The Snapdragon has closed the gap to the point where most users will not notice.
Battery Life
The OmniBook X delivers 15-16 hours of real-world mixed use. This is the best battery life HP has ever achieved in an ultrabook, and it genuinely matches Apple Silicon. You can leave the charger at home for a full workday.
The MacBook Air M4 delivers 15-18 hours. The difference is close enough that your specific usage — screen brightness, browser choice, background apps — will determine which lasts longer.
After years of Windows laptops trailing badly on battery, the OmniBook X finally achieves parity. This is a significant accomplishment.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The HP OmniBook X keyboard is comfortable with 1.3mm of travel and a satisfying click. The layout is standard with good key spacing. The trackpad is large, smooth, and responsive.
The MacBook Air M4 keyboard is slightly better with the signature Apple key feel. The Force Touch trackpad remains the industry benchmark.
Both are excellent input devices. The MacBook’s trackpad is still the best.
Verdict
The HP OmniBook X is the best Windows ultrabook for battery life and AI features. If you prefer Windows and have been waiting for a laptop that matches MacBook endurance without sacrificing performance, this is it. The display brightness is the main compromise.
The MacBook Air M4 is still the safer recommendation for most people. Better display, proven performance, zero compatibility concerns, and Apple’s ecosystem integration. It costs the same and involves fewer unknowns.
If you are Windows-committed and battery life matters most: the OmniBook X. If you want the safest ultrabook purchase: the MacBook Air.