4 reasons to buy the MacBook Neo over the HP OmniBook 5

Ever since Apple introduced the MacBook Neo, Windows competitors have been working hard to offer competitive laptops in the same price range. Even though the memory crisis caused Apple to increase prices of the MacBook Neo from $599 to $699, this laptop remains very attractive to ordinary users, and that’s why we wonder if the HP OmniBook 5 could be the Windows equivalent of the MacBook Neo. Released in October, the OmniBook 5 shares somewhat similar specifications with the Neo, which could make choosing between these laptops difficult. However, if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, macOS integration, the efficiency of Apple Silicon, and even a superior display might tempt you to choose the MacBook Neo over the HP OmniBook 5.

While it’s important to note that the MacBook Neo isn’t for everyone, it may be the most budget-friendly option for those looking to experiment with macOS. Even though Apple continues to promote more powerful machines, like the recently released Mac Studio with the M5 Ultra processor, or even the high-end MacBook Pro models, there is also a wide range of users who don’t need that much power. They settle for a computer that’s comfortable enough to type for long periods of time, has great battery life, and can easily integrate with other devices they have, like a smartphone or tablet. With that in mind, here are some of the reasons why you might want to buy the MacBook Neo over the HP OmniBook 5.

Apple chips are known to be effective. Although the OmniBook 5 processor may theoretically be faster than the one available in the MacBook Neo, reality shows other important details. For example, this Windows laptop uses the Intel Core 5 320 chip, while the MacBook Neo uses Apple’s A18 Pro. In multithreaded tests, the OmniBook outperforms the MacBook Neo, meaning it’s slightly better at multitasking, although at least some tests have shown the Neo outperforms the HP laptop in single-threaded tests. However, there is something important to consider: Apple’s A18 Pro is much more efficient, meaning it consumes less battery to perform its actions compared to its Intel counterpart.

With this, HP installs a fan inside the OmniBook 5 to ensure that the laptop runs cool. Still, depending on the workload you’re trying to run, you may be able to hear fan noise, which was common with Apple’s Intel MacBook models. With the MacBook Neo, a fanless design means you’ll never hear any noise coming from the computer. Clearly, Apple has so much confidence in its laptop that while it offers similar credentials to its HP counterpart, it doesn’t even need a fan to keep the device running smoothly. Still, it’s important to note that if you try to push the MacBook Neo to its limits and it starts to heat up, the laptop will simply start to slow down until it cools down on its own, while its HP counterpart might maintain peak performance for longer.

If you’re an Apple user, which means you might own an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and/or AirPods, there’s no better option than the MacBook Neo. After all, this laptop was designed to be deeply integrated into the Apple platform, and since iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, the company has managed to unify the design language between these products and offer even more features combined. This means, for example, that Mac users can control their iPhone using iPhone Mirroring, unlock the Mac whenever they have their Apple Watch on their wrist, use Sidecar to activate the iPad as a second screen for the Mac, and much more.

Overall, the ecosystem integration between Apple devices is unbeatable. Users can copy text to the iPhone and, as long as they have their Mac on the same Wi-Fi network, with Bluetooth enabled and using the same Apple account, they can paste the information onto their computer. iCloud also helps sync everything in real time, including photos, messages, music, etc., while users can also instantly switch audio output from iPhone to Mac using AirPods by simply starting to listen to a song on the Mac or starting to watch a YouTube video.

Even though Windows and Android competitors have tried to close the gap between their devices to ensure an experience similar to that offered by Apple, they haven’t really succeeded yet. If you’re looking for the kind of integration you get with Apple products, a Windows laptop just won’t offer the same kind of seamless experience.

When a laptop manufacturer adds an OLED display to its product, it usually means we’re talking about a high-end device, as an OLED panel can deliver vibrant colors, deep black, and rich contrast. In other words, if we were to compare just the processing technology behind the OmniBook 5 and MacBook Neo displays, it might be easier to go with the OmniBook 5. However, the 14-inch 2K panel that comes with it does have some drawbacks. For example, a better and brighter screen (up to 2.5K resolution and 620 nits) is coming, but you’ll have to wait until March 2027 – and it will most likely be priced higher.

Meanwhile, the LED-backlit display available with the MacBook Neo not only offers a higher resolution (2,408 x 1,506 pixels versus 1,920 x 1,200 pixels for the OmniBook 5), but the Neo’s peak brightness is 500 nits. While 500 nits isn’t much, it’s significantly more than the brightness available with its HP counterpart (300 nits), that is, if you’re constantly using your laptop in outdoor environments. If you have a light source (like a window) that is constantly reflecting off your laptop’s screen, the HP may have trouble seeing clearly.

With improved brightness and resolution, icons, text, and other information on the MacBook Neo’s screen appear sharper, as Apple’s Retina display requires a certain standard to run macOS. A Windows user might not exactly call the OmniBook 5’s screen bad, but it will be relatively blurry compared to the Neo’s.

Apple devices, in general, have a higher resale value than their Windows and Android counterparts. Various studies, as well as consumer experiences, show that MacBooks tend to retain much of their value even a few years after launch. Even if you sell your MacBook after years and years of use, you’ll likely get a higher resale value than if you sold a Windows laptop with similar specifications.

Of course, since the MacBook Neo launched just a few months ago, it’s unclear how its resale market will hold up. Much will depend on what Apple could offer for the first generation in a trade-in for a second-generation model. The current official refurbished MacBook Neo marketplace only shows that a model retailing at $799 sells for $679 in refurbished condition.

That puts a refurbished model at about 85 percent of the new sticker price, meaning depreciation shouldn’t be much of an issue for the Neo. It remains to be seen how the OmniBook 5’s value will hold up over time, but it’s a difficult standard to measure.