Gaming laptops are often associated with bulk and weight, but the HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a streamlined alternative. Launched at CES 2024 and now available in India, this laptop stands out for its slim design while maintaining the capability to handle AAA titles effortlessly. Unlike many gaming companions, it opts for subtlety over flashy RGB accents, presenting a stealthy aesthetic that does not scream “gaming machine”. Besides gaming, it proves versatile enough for tasks like video editing and running numerous browser tabs without a hitch.
According to HP, the Omen Transcend 14 ranks as the lightest and slimmest offering in their lineup. After testing the device for a week, I can attest to its impressive performance.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Pricing in India
The starting price for the HP Omen Transcend 14 in India is set at ₹1,74,999, available in two color variations. There is only one model in India, which features the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU alongside the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.
The matte finish tends to collect fingerprints easily.
You will find the laptop, documentation, and a 140W charger included in the packaging.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Design and Display
Design-wise, HP has excelled with the Omen Transcend 14. Upon initial inspection, it barely resembles a gaming laptop. With a thickness of just 0.79 inches and a weight of around 1.6 kg, it feels compact and robust. The machine lacks any excessive embellishments or RGB lighting; we received the Shadow Black variant featuring an aluminum chassis that is both solid and slightly finger-print prone.
Minimal branding enhances the laptop’s sleek look.
The laptop showcases rounded edges and is equipped with a variety of ports. The Omen logo graces the lid, accompanied by a ‘Designed and built for winning’ tagline positioned behind the display hinges.
Underneath, large intake vents allow for optimal cooling via dual fans. With bottom-firing speakers located at the base, the sound output grilles are strategically placed at the front. The exhaust is designed at the back, ensuring that heat stays away from the display and keyboard area.
A rear HDMI 2.1 port and a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen 2) port provide additional functionality, accommodating charging and display connections.
The positioning of ports on the rear is practical for gaming.
On the sides, you’ll find more connectivity options, including dual USB Type-A 10Gbps ports on the right edge, a Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C port, and a combo audio jack on the left.
The top bezel accommodates a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor for facial recognition. The display features slim side bezels but has a noticeable chin at the bottom, marked by the Omen logo.
The display supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 features a remarkable 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and HDR capabilities with a peak brightness of 500 nits in HDR mode. The vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast make for a visually stunning experience. The display is said to cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, and while the glossy finish can reflect light, it does not detract significantly from the overall quality.
Viewing content, especially HDR videos, was a joy. Gaming on this display is equally enjoyable, with a response time of just 0.2ms. However, using this laptop outside or in bright environments can lead to glare issues.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Keyboard, Speakers, Touchpad, and Camera
The keyboard design draws inspiration from HyperX’s offerings.
The keys feature a unique zero-lattice translucent sky printing, which allows RGB lighting to radiate around the keys. HP claims it’s the world’s first gaming laptop to feature such a design, providing comfort and adequate travel despite the tight spacing between keys. Users can configure the RGB lighting via the Omen app.
The keyboard occurs alongside branding from HyperX, who also contributed to tuning the audio. The speakers produce solid sound characterized by decent bass, though louder audio would have been preferable for a richer experience.
Sound quality is good, but there’s room for improvement.
The touchpad, located below the keyboard, is relatively large and responsive, supporting various multitouch gestures.
The trackpad ensures seamless navigation with multitouch support.
The Omen Transcend 14 includes a 1080p web camera, effective in varied lighting conditions.
The camera performs well, offering clear imagery in bright conditions.
Enhancements are offered through its built-in NPU, optimized further by Intel’s AI Boost for applications like OBS Studio.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Specifications and Software
The Omen Transcend 14 may not boast the highest-end components, but it combines a capable setup for a portable machine. It is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor with clock speeds reaching up to 4.8 GHz and a TDP of 15W. This is coupled with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, benefiting from a maximum TGP of 65W. This configuration includes 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM (soldered), and 1TB of PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 storage.
HP has incorporated a 71 Wh 6-cell battery that allows for rapid charging via the 140W USB Type-C adapter. The company claims the charger can achieve a 50 percent charge in about 30 minutes, and testing confirmed similar performance. Wireless connectivity is facilitated via Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
In terms of software, the device runs on Windows 11 Home with HP’s Omen Gaming Hub, which allows users to manage keyboard lighting, power modes, and more.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Performance and Gaming
While it may lack the absolute performance of high-end gaming laptops, the HP Omen Transcend 14 surprises with its capabilities. It is well-suited for both gamers and creators who seek a lighter, portable option.
Achieving 60fps in most games was a consistent experience.
Despite not being the latest in Intel’s lineup, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H performs admirably across various tasks and gaming scenarios. Benchmark tests yielded impressive scores. The HP Omen Transcend 14 scored 6262 overall in PCMark 10, excelling in the Essentials, Productivity, and Content Creation tests.
In Cinebench R23, it garnered a single-core score of 1684 and a multi-core score of 13997, showcasing its robust performance. Although time constraints prevented testing with 3DMark, performance results suggest it would have rated well.
Playing titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man was smooth, providing consistent frame rates above 60 fps. For those who travel frequently, this compact laptop is an excellent choice for gaming on the go. While it does generate heat during gameplay, the dual fans effectively mitigate this issue. Users should keep in mind that the rear section can become quite warm and may require cooling downtime post-gaming.
The rear exhaust vents effectively manage heat away from the keyboard.
The display also elevates the gaming experience. Titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man looked stunning on the vibrant screen. However, most gaming may need to be run at Full HD+ resolution, enabling the laptop to maintain over 60 fps, even with maximum graphical settings enabled.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Battery Life
Gaming laptops are notorious for their subpar battery lives, but the HP Omen Transcend 14 provides a varied experience. During battery-powered gaming, one can expect around 1 to 2 hours of use; hence, it’s advisable to plug in for extended gameplay. Under regular usage such as web browsing and streaming, the laptop offers around 5 hours of battery life. Further optimization is possible by adjusting settings such as brightness, turning off RGB lighting, switching to 60Hz, and enabling Balanced power settings in Windows 11.
HP Omen Transcend 14 Review: Verdict
The HP Omen Transcend 14 stands out as a formidable gaming laptop for its compact size. With enough power to support most modern gaming requirements, it also serves well for creative work such as video editing and content creation. Coupled with a fantastic IMAX-certified 2.8K OLED display and an acceptable battery life, it provides good utility. The keyboard and touchpad performance add to its appeal.
For those in search of a lightweight gaming laptop that seamlessly doubles as a creative work device, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is a worthy investment. It truly redefines the capabilities of a slender laptop.
