Customer Ratings & Reviews

Out of the box, we are getting a 140W USB-C charger. Out of the box my laptop had no charge, but I would say I was able to get 50%ish in 30-40 minutes, which is not bad. The body itself is aluminum, which is not to look at, but it does attract fingerprints easily, but tbh, to me its not that big a deal. Some it is. On the front we have a simple OMEN logo. Overall, it does not look like a gaming laptop on the outside, but when you open it up, the keyboard is a nice bright RGB setup, which I enjoy. So, you are getting simply on the outside, gaming on the inside. The screen itself is a beautiful OLED screen, which if you have not played on OLED yet, this is a great first OLED laptop. You get 16GB of RAM (bare minimum these days, but it will suffice for most games) and a 4060. In my testing, I was able to get 60-90 frames med-high setting on most games I played. The trackpad is average. I feel a bit of a wobble on my unit when utilizing the trackpad, which I am not a huge fan of, but most people now a days have a mouse, so its not THAT big a deal. Overall, I have had no issues with the laptop. I would like to be able to pick if I want to use the integrated graphics or dedicated 4060, but currently the OMEN software does not allow this. The laptop is built well for the most part, and gaming wise (which is what it was built for), I have had no issues.

I got my hands on the HP OMEN Transcend 14″, and right out of the box the 3K OLED screen grabbed my attention—colors pop and everything feels incredibly sharp, whether I’m gaming or just browsing. The Intel Core Ultra 7-155H keeps everything snappy, and paired with the RTX 4060, I’ve been running modern titles smoothly at high settings without any stuttering. I also appreciate the compact design: it’s surprisingly light for a gaming laptop, yet the keyboard still has satisfying travel and customizable RGB lighting that makes late-night sessions fun. Battery life isn’t record-breaking, but I can get a few hours of lighter work in unplugged, and when I’m back at my desk, the 1 TB SSD loads apps and games in a flash. Overall, it’s a sleek, powerful machine that balances portability and performance without feeling like a bulky compromise.

The HP OMEN Transcend 14 laptop is a total game-changer for me. It's super sleek, light weight, and compact, which makes it perfect for gaming on the go. Not only that, but it's also great for digital artists and content creators who need a powerful laptop that's easy to carry around. In a world where gaming laptops are large, heavy and often sporting flashy designs, this particular laptop stands out by exuding a sleek and understated appearance, opting for a more professional and minimalist look. This design choice makes it suitable for a wide range of users, from hardcore gamers to professionals who want a powerful laptop for work and play. Equipped with the latest generation Intel Core Ultra processors, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 delivers exceptional processing power for demanding games and applications. The NVIDIA GeForce graphics card provides stunning visuals and smooth gameplay, handling even the most graphically intensive titles with ease. This laptop includes a free month of Xbox Game Pass which is awesome! The first application I installed was Starfield. I paired my Xbox controller and jumped right in. During setup I made sure that every graphics category was set to max and started the game with massive anticipation. Needless to say, everything runs flawlessly at max settings and looks simply incredible on the 2.8K OLED display. The display is stunning. Easily the best laptop display I have ever had on a Windows machine. Long gone are the days of blocky text. Even the smallest letters are super sharp which is so welcome on Windows laptops. In my opinion I believe all gaming laptops should be, at minimum, 2.8K displays. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are deep. I’ve been having a lot of fun creating my own wallpapers with AI (see review photos). When at home, I usually hook my laptop up to an external monitor. Not with this one as this could actually be a downgrade in quality depending on the external display since the display on this laptop is so beautiful to look at. Bigger isn’t always better. The keyboard is a joy to use. The keys have minimal travel and are very quiet and responsive, making it a great typing experience. The RGB lighting effects are pretty unique on this keyboard. The colors surround the keys and the font selection used for the lettering is also bold and easy to read which is great in low light settings (see review photos). The laptop's exterior features clean lines, a subtle logo, and a dark, matte finish. The overall effect is one of sophistication and elegance, making it a suitable companion for any environment, whether it's a coffee shop, a lecture hall, or a corporate meeting room. The understated design allows users to seamlessly transition from gaming sessions to professional settings without drawing unwanted attention. The seamless blend of performance and aesthetics in this laptop empowers users to enjoy immersive gaming experiences without compromising on professional style. It's a testament to the idea that gaming laptops can be both powerful and elegant, defying the conventional stereotypes associated with the category. As expected, The laptop comes pre-installed with the OMEN Gaming Hub, which offers a centralized platform for game optimization, performance monitoring, and customization options. The Gaming Hub application is well thought out and includes everything you need to play games and monitor, customize, or boost your system. There is even a Camera and Voice enhancer which allows you to minimize unwanted noise from your room if needed. You can also customize the background if you are on a video call and the software does an excellent job of cutting you out and placing you on the new background. I found myself spending quite a bit of time just playing around in the Gaming Hub software and checking out all that it can do. While I have only had it a short time and I have only scratched the surface of what this thing can do, I can confidently say that I am already head over heels in love with it. Honestly, it’s the perfect size for everyday use. In the past, I have debated on whether to bring a large, heavy laptop with me out of the house. This one is a no brainer. I found a great backpack I can load up with extra stuff now that I am not even slightly worried about the weight. In conclusion, I haven’t found a single thing I don’t like about this computer. It handles any task I throw at it with ease and looks amazing while doing it all. HP hit it out of the park with this one.

The 14” gaming laptop market presents OEMs with a difficult design challenge - putting desktop-grade performance into a machine smaller than most desktop motherboards. Those seeking portability without compromise now have multiple options to choose from in this segment, and HP’s newest chassis in the Transcend line of OMEN gaming laptops introduces what’s arguably one of the sleekest, most understated visual designs among them, and while it hits the mark for a premium-feeling machine, a few small foibles in its first outing keep it just shy of perfection. - Unboxing & Setup Bereft of unnecessary accessories or documentation, there’s little to unpack besides a sleek, premium-feeling laptop and its AC adapter. An aluminum (possibly magnesium?) finish and simple chassis design keeps the clutter and branding to a minimum, leaving a device that was clearly made in Cupertino’s image. I was thrilled to find that the AC adapter is 140W USB-C PD, and indeed there are no DC barrel jacks to be found on the Transcend 14. Reduced e-waste is always a good thing. Setup was no more or less annoying as it is for any new device with Windows 11 preinstalled - you’ll have to navigate the command line to skip the Microsoft account requirement, but aside from a few HP-specific customizations (warranty registration, namely) you’ll be up and running fairly quick. Unfortunately there is some preinstalled bloatware and myriad trial offers to contend with…old HP tactics die hard. - Build Quality & Connectivity With an all-metal chassis and a surprising amount of heft for its size, the Transcend 14 feels like no HP laptop I’ve used before. The lid hinge holds tight but is easy to operate, the keyboard tray and generously oversized touchpad exhibit no noticeable flex unless you really try and force the issue, and every edge of the device is rounded and machined to precision. Nothing feels like it was designed in a haphazard or cost-cutting manner; it feels like HP put the effort in and it shows. Physical connectivity is limited to a pair of USB 3.0 Type-A ports, two USB-C ports (both of which support charging - though the one on the rear accepts the full power of the AC adapter), a combination 3.5mm headphone & mic port, and a full-size HDMI port. The USB-C ports offer the most versatility, featuring DisplayPort output and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. I would have liked to see a microSD slot, but since this is a gaming-focused laptop I’m not terribly surprised nor disappointed by its omission. - Performance Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155h in the Transcend 14 is an efficient and powerful processor. Featuring 6 “performance” cores with hyperthreading, and 10 “efficient” single-thread cores, this 16-core, 22-thread CPU handled everything I threw at it with aplomb. The efficient cores handle background tasks during gaming, leaving the performance cores to tackle games and other foreground tasks. Aiding the CPU is LPDDR5 memory running at an astonishing 7,467MHz, keeping bandwidth plentiful so processor scheduling in Windows 11 can work to its full potential. I am disappointed that there’s only 16GB of it to go around on a device this expensive…most modern AAA games require that much system RAM at minimum, and it won’t be long before that presents a significant bottleneck. More on this later. The [mobile] NVidia RTX 4060 is a potent graphics chip for any laptop, and it feels at home in a 14” chassis. Don’t expect performance matching the desktop RTX 4060 - this is firmly a 1080p/1440p GPU that will struggle to push high or even medium details at native 4K. The added benefit of NVidia’s RTX GPUs is their suite of performance enhancements that can boost framerates with a minimal hit to visual quality - namely, deep learning super sampling (DLSS). With DLSS enabled I could push high and ultra details at the laptop’s max resolution while maintaining a floor of 60fps (often much higher than that). I could see a slight reduction in resolution and detail from DLSS in calm, still scenes, but with even the slightest bit of motion it was hard to notice any drop in quality when using quality or balanced DLSS. Definitely a feature to lean on here. - Thermals & Noise At full bore, the machine does get toasty. Thankfully the cooling solution HP is using here can keep up with the heat output of both the GPU and CPU, using a shared heatpipe solution with two blower fans to vent to the rear of the laptop. A slight rise from the laptop’s feet ensures cool air intake from below. It’s sufficient to keep the 28 watt CPU and 60 watt GPU from thermal throttling under sustained use. The system’s cooling fans run frequently if not constantly, but they are easily the quietest fans I’ve heard in a gaming laptop, and move an impressive amount of air. At full bore the fan noise is lower pitch than I expected, making them unobtrusive and hardly a distraction when pushing the laptop to its limits in gaming. The fan curve can be fully customized in the OMEN Gaming hub using either the GPU or CPU temperature as its reference point. - Screen & Sound The killer feature of this machine is its gorgeous OLED display. The 16:10 screen has a resolution of 2880x1800, making it firmly “retina” level. It’s sharp, clear, and incredibly vibrant, with the hallmark black reproduction of OLEDs allowing incredible detail in dark scenes that don’t wash out at all. I stop just short of calling it the best display I’ve used only due to ever so slight color shift noticeable on pure white backgrounds, but this may be due to the [excellent] anti-glare coating as much as it is the display itself. The refresh rate ranges from 48 to 120Hz, allowing Nvidia G-Sync to work to its fullest and utilize low framerate compensation to keep the action smooth. The response time is fantastic as well - ghosting is so minimal as to be unnoticeable. Whether this panel will succumb to OLED burn-in over time remains to be seen. The built-in speakers are fairly decent. As expected they don’t reach particularly low into the bass end of the frequency spectrum, but they do a good job approximating it. Highs are somewhat cut off by the downward-firing speakers, but they’re still perceptible and the midrange is clear. They get reasonably loud and don’t noticeably distort approaching max volume. They’ll do in a pinch, but I would still recommend headphones or external speakers of some sort. - Keyboard & Touchpad I found these to be the laptop’s weakest points. Though sturdy, the layout of the keyboard and flush spacing of the keys makes it easy to mistype or hit the wrong key when you’re using muscle memory; navigating the keyboard by feel is hit-and-miss. I would have preferred to see a chiclet-style keyboard here, doubly so when the keys are using what feels like typical rubber dome switches. Further, the power key is set right where your finger wants to go to hit the Delete key on other laptops, and I keep hitting Control while reaching for the Fn key. Expect a bunch of errant presses as you learn this slightly odd layout. The generously-sized touchpad feels great and works well 95% of the time. The biggest issue I have is that palm rejection and finger detection feels inconsistent. Several times during typing this review, my palm grazed the corner of the touchpad just the right way to move the cursor, and on multiple occasions using the touchpad normally it would stop detecting my finger until I tapped again. Adjusting touchpad sensitivity did not seem to make a noticeable difference in the consistency of either its palm rejection or finger detection. It also has trouble detecting right clicks at times, adding to the frustration. - Battery Life & Upgradeability In the Transcend’s normal “Hybrid” mode, I achieved about 6 hours of screen time in desktop and web browsing usage before I hit a low battery warning, albeit while running the display in its maximum refresh mode. Using the Omen Gaming Hub to set the laptop to “Eco” mode, battery life skyrocketed to a projected 12 hours…but with noticeable performance loss and stutters using basic applications, as it seemingly disables performance cores and limits clock speeds to below 1.5GHz. The sweet spot seems to be the “Balanced” profile with the RTX 4060 disabled - I saw a projected 8 to 9 hours battery life doing so. Unfortunately the laptop lacks a “mux” switch, so disabling or enabling the GPU requires a system reboot, and the HDMI port is disabled with the GPU. Where the Transcend 14 loses the most points is in its lack of upgradeability - namely, future proofing. The only user-replaceable item in the machine is the NVMe disk (of which there’s only the one slot), as the RAM is soldered to the mainboard. This isn’t unexpected as it’s a small and powerful machine, but the choice to use only 16GB of RAM in a high-end product severely limits its future potential. Nearly half the memory is in use just sitting at the Windows 11 desktop with a couple browser tabs open, and while the system can lean on its speedy PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD as swap space, performance will still suffer and the disk will wear faster over time. - Bottom Line Ultimately, I can’t overlook the 16GB RAM limit in a high-end, portable laptop spec’d for gaming. 32GB of RAM would have been perfect, and indeed the higher-end version of this laptop which contains a slightly faster Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and RTX 4070 GPU has 32GB of RAM. I would recommend that model over this one for the modest premium. That aside, the HP Transcend 14 is a well-built, premium laptop that has a lot going for it. A few detractors keep it shy of perfection, and I’m sure it will be on sale below its $1,699 MSRP at times, making the configuration and first-generation quibbles much more palatable. While I would hesitate to recommend this particular spec at full price, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 is a device I would still recommend for those looking for a gaming laptop that doesn’t look like one.

Been using the HP Omen 14 for a while and I love it. Super fast, handles games and creative work like a beast. The 144Hz screen is smooth, the keyboard feels great, and it stays cool even under pressure. Compact, stylish, and powerful — perfect for gaming and editing on the go. Totally recommend it!

The HP Omen Transcend 14” gaming laptop is a sleek, compact computer that’ll let you easily run the latest video games at high settings, but not without some compromises. If you’re looking for a quick review: I am an avid PC gamer and have been looking for a laptop that can allow me to play my steam library at a similar quality to my desktop without being the size of an aircraft carrier. I am very pleased with the HP Omen Transcend and would recommend it for someone who doesn’t have the space for a dedicated gaming desktop, or moves so frequently that a desktop is not a reasonable solution for them. Setting up the laptop is quick and easy – it’s your standard windows experience. The most immediately striking feature of the lap is the OLED screen. Dark colors are far more pronounced and vivid, making everything you put on the screen pop. The keyboard is satisfying to use, with solid feedback from keystrokes without being too noisy. The RGB lighting in the keyboard is fun, albeit expected for a gaming product at this price point. HP does have it pre-programmed to automatically highlight WASD in separate colors from the rest of the keyboard, which is a nice touch for right-handed gamers. However, once you finish setting up the laptop, the RGB keyboard will turn off, and you will have to set it up in the Omen gaming hub application. HP really wants you to use this app, which is fine – if it indicated to you when you turned on the computer that you should be using that to get the most out of the features it purports to have. The CPU does a lot of work in keeping the computer fast, but only if it’s plugged in. If you’re using it away from an outlet, you’ll notice a significant hit to performance (even in balanced mode). I imagine most people would use it while plugged in, but it’s important to note especially if you’re playing a resource-heavy game. To test the laptop, I played Baldur’s Gate 3 on act III at Ultra settings – easily the most demanding section of one of the most demanding games on PC. While it wasn’t quite at parity with my desktop, it was close. The game ran smoothly, loaded quickly, and looked great all while maintaining 60 FPS. I played it for a few hours and, once my eyes got used to the slight (but noticeable) dip in quality, I forgot that I was not playing on my desktop. The audio quality was also great for a laptop – obviously, headphones are ideal, but if you’d rather forgo them you can still appreciate your games’ soundscapes. I intend to use this laptop primarily for less demanding action titles and MMORPGs, so I am more than satisfied with it based on how it performed with Baldur’s Gate III. It may have sounded like a spaceship while I was playing, but it worked great. Minor quibbles aside, this is a fantastic portable gaming option for people who cannot justify a desktop.

The HP Omen Transcend 14 is almost everything I could ask for in a laptop. The first thing that really needs to be discussed about this monitor is the OLED display. The unlimited contrast ratio of OLED makes everything pop and look very vivid. The quality of the picture will put a smile on your face. Initial setup of the laptop was easy: Unpack the laptop, plugin the charger, and follow the prompts to setup Windows. Within 10 minutes you should be up and running. The one oddity during setup is that windows started to instruct me about touch controls, even though the laptop does not have a touch screen. The form factor of the laptop is great. It is a similar size as other 14-inch laptops I have previously used, and doesn’t weigh substantially more than the others. The laptop is thinner than I expected it to be. Being that it is a gaming laptop, I have tried running a few games on it. Both on the native screen and through my 38-inch external monitor. Most of the games I have tried (Portal Revolution, Death Stranding, and Fortnite) ran well on both setups. I generally saw at least 50fps when running on the external monitor. My experience with Deathloop hasn’t been quite as good. To play the game on my external monitor, I had to greatly reduce the resolution. The laptop comes with a 140W charger, which is probably one of the most powerful USB-C chargers I have seen. I do like that you can plug in the laptop from the rear and leave the side USB ports for accessories. My one real gripe with the laptop is that it will not let you charge with 3rd party chargers (at least the ones I have at my house). This restriction prevents me from using a single cable to connect the laptop to my external monitor, which provides power. The LED backed keyboard is pretty fun. Using the HP Light Studio, you can fully customize the behavior of the lights. I am glad that there is an option to disable it if it becomes distracting. While it would be nice if you could add additional RAM to the device, it is good that you can at least replace the M2 drive and battery.

Powerful performance for sure, easily able to game or do work on this with no problem, OLED screen looks fantastic as well as the above average frequency on the RAM modules in this system. One big problem I have right now is how you are unable to set your own custom profiles for power draw, and refresh rate. So far I've only found 3 profiles that you are stuck with from the Omen Gaming Hub. Because of this, if i want to save battery, I must use the Eco mode, which sets the refresh rate to 24hz, and I must go into windows display settings > advanced, and set the refresh rate to my desired one. Although semi-quick to do, every time the laptop sleeps or I switch back to balanced/performance, I am met with the same process once I go back to eco. Thankfully balanced and advanced modes do not set your refresh rate after each change, so I typically stay in balanced mode. If you made it this far, customization is my one big need for laptops like this, I typically have had Asus Laptops, and am used to being able to make very specific power usage and refresh rate profiles for my needs. If you know this won't be a bother to you, then this laptop is especially thin, light, and powerful when turned up all the way. I would say 5-6 hours in Balanced mode, which is good however I'm picky and again, want my customization. I am sure in the future HP may add more options, and profiles for these features, but so far it doesn't exist from what I've seen.

This is perfect for college students who want to study and game on a laptop. Light enough to carry to school. It has rgb but it can be turned off giving it that neat, minimal look. Battery life is decent, about 4-6 hours of web browsing and streaming. I love that the power plug is in the back. The audio plug is also on the left so it doesnt interfere with my mouse on the right. Trackpad is nice. Charger isnt bulky. Its type C so i use it to charge my s24 and most other chargers.My laptop accidentally fell from a height of 4ft and it only got a minor dent the size of a grain of rice, so its pretty durable. Great buy for $1299 on sale.

I was looking for an upgrade to my travel laptop that was a lightweight gaming PC that could play games well but mostly travel even better. I landed on the HP OMEN Transcend 14 as it fit the bill and offered a great screen with an all-aluminum chassis which would hold up well throughout my travels. The added fast charging was another key feature that pulled me to select the HP OMEN Transcend. Pros: - Weight of 3.6lbs and thickness of 0.71in. - Sturdy case made from all aluminum. - OLED 2.8K screen is beautiful. - Quick charge 50% in 30mins. Cons: - 16GB of RAM, non-expandable. - HP pre-installed Bloatware. There really isn’t too much in the box with the HP Omen Transcend 14; Laptop in a light foam wrap and packaging, USB C power adapter tucked under the laptop, and a small packet of documents. I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of advertising or unnecessary packaging. A good example of sustainable packaging from HP. The setup was straightforward and standard, plug the charger in and into the USB C port on the back and go! The side USB C can charge but it is not a fast charger, if you do plug into the side USB C you will get a popup telling you to plug the power into the back USB C for best charging performance. The HP Omen Transcend 14 is just over the thin and light laptop category, at 3.6 pounds and 0.71in thick, with a width of 12.32 in and depth of 9.19in. This laptop is tiny yet quite capable with an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 1 155H, that’s a 16 core with 22 threads. This is done with 6 performance cores (2 threads per core), 8 efficient cores, and 2 low power efficient cores. The Intel Core Ultra series introduces the Low Power Efficient cores, which are closer to the low power cores used in phone CPU’s that run background services. With this, the Processor Base Power is only 28W! Though with the Turbo Boost, otherwise known as overclocking, the Turbo Power can reach 115W, which will get warn quick and drain the battery quite quickly. The Screen on the HP Omen Transcend 14 is quite amazing, it is a 2.8K OLED screen with a resolution of 2880 by 1800 (pixels) with a refresh rate (FPS) of 120hz, which is needed on any gaming screen. The screen has a brightness of 500 nits and color of 100% DCI-P3, which is a wider color gamut than standard sRGB, which gives it a VESA Display HDR 500 rating. This shows with the blacks being much deeper and colors that pop. This is the first true HDR rated screen I’ve used on a laptop, and I must be honest it is quite impressive! Paired with a dedicated GPU, this model was the RTX 4060 with 8GB of VRAM, and you’ve got a beautiful screen to do accurate color correction work on or play stunning videos in! I intend to make full use of this for some lighter final video editing and playbacks as the screen is just so smooth in both color and playback. For connectivity, on the wireless side there is Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, both of which I had no issues with. Wi-Fi connected easily and maintained connection during use without dropping. I connected a Bluetooth mouse and headset without any issues, the Bluetooth sound was good, but your results may vary based on the headset used. The built in HyperX speakers performed much better than I expected for a laptop of this size, enough for watching videos or playing a game. The keyboard feels really good as laptop keyboards come, very responsive and clicky without being too loud or stiff. The mousepad as well is extremely responsive and extra large at about 5in by 3in! Plenty of space for multi touch gestures and comfortability without the need for a mouse, but I’ll still be pairing it up with a nice travel mouse to save my hands. Another one of the more impressive features of the HP OMEN Transcend 14 is the fast charging! This allows you to charge the battery to 50% in 30mins, the only limitation is that you must have the laptop shut down/powered off to use the feature. I found this very ideal for a travel laptop, as often I only realize I forgot to charge my laptop as I’m preparing to leave or an hour before I’ve got to head out the door. This feature alone will save me many headaches! The lighting zones on the keyboard are something new to me, it helps to see the WASD but otherwise I find it kind of clunky considering most gaming keyboards with any kind of lighting allow for a by key lighting or full keyboard lighting effects. I believe there are full lighting effects that COULD be used, but they seem to be hidden behind a paywall for the HP OMEN Software that I will most likely end up removing so I see no point in paying for this option. This is the equivalent to paying for heated seats via a service plan, which I am not a fan of. Performance is good, though the 16GB of RAM is a bottleneck to the rest of an otherwise great computer. I wouldn’t have much of an issue if the RAM was upgradeable, but with it being soldered on, it will impact the future useability of the laptop. I don’t know why companies still add only 16GB of soldiered RAM and still call it a gaming computer, most need at least 32GB to run major games. Heck, even running Teams in the background will consume 8-10GB, discord is better but still the lack of RAM will have major performance impacts. Though this isn’t too big of an issue for my intended use, it still would have been nice to have a fully functional gaming rig this size, but oh well. The HP Omen Transcend 14 handled Vampire Survivors just fine, keeping up with the crazy number of monsters and frames that occur later in the levels. There was no screen tearing or lagging as the timer approached 30mins which is an impressive feat for a laptop. In Halo Infinite I was able to run it at a custom setting of mostly high with shadows and lighting turned down and achieve an average FPS of about 60. Very good for 16GB of RAM and an RTX 4060, but not a top contender for best gaming laptop. The big thing here is the size and weight of 3.6lbs, with enough power to play games well. Unfortunately, I tried to run Destiny 2, and the first 2 times I loaded in to test and adjust settings, the computer gave me the Blue Screen of Death. I was able to finally adjust the settings down, setting most graphic effects off and reducing the draw distance and environmental effects, but even with all this turned down I got an average of 55 FPS with huge drops in frames down to 20 FPS. In my opinion, this would be unplayable, but I also wasn’t expecting to play Destiny 2 on this laptop, just using it to test out how much I can push it. In the above tests, Halo was able to play just fine with the HP Omen Optimizer, but Destiny 2 would crash until I turned the settings down and disabled the optimizer. Honestly, I think if I clean installed windows and tweaked the settings some more, I could probably reach a steady 60 FPS with Destiny 2 but as I want to use the HP Omen Transcend 14 for travel and creative works more than gaming, it would not be worth it just yet to do the clean installation. Though, for anyone getting a gaming laptop, I often find that a clean installation of windows, removing all the software installed by the manufacturer will greatly improve the performance of the laptop overall. So, if you do get this laptop, and have issues with some of the games you want to play, I would consider a clean installation of windows before returning the laptop. This laptop would be perfect for someone who travels but would like to do some light gaming or creative work while on the go without having to lug around a monstrous 7lb laptop. Though, if possible, opt for the higher RAM version to ensure your device lasts well into the future, as 16GB is the bare minimum needed in gaming or creative work these days and will be the biggest bottleneck with this machine since it cannot be upgraded after purchase. Overall, I really enjoy the HP OMEN Transcend 14 for what I want to use it for, though the gaming performance is very underwhelming. I would rather consider the 16GB model as a “bit more” than a Thin and Light laptop, than a gaming laptop. For my uses, the 16GB/RTX 4060 model is perfect, but I would mostly recommend the 32GB/RTX 4070 model for the travelling gamer.

TLDR: I've found the HP Omen Transcend 14 to be an excellent choice thanks to its sleek design and powerful performance packed into a compact 14" form factor. It's a thin and light gaming laptop ideal for those, like me, who prioritize portability without sacrificing gaming performance. Specifications: - Processor: Intel Core 7 155H (6x performance cores @ 4.8GHz, 8x efficiency cores @ 3.8GHz, 2x low-power cores @ 2.5GHz, totaling 22 threads) - Graphics: Integrated graphics with Intel Arc (8x Xe-cores) & dedicated graphics with NVidia 4060 (TGP 50W + 15W boost, totaling 65W max) - RAM: 16GB @ 7467MHz - Storage: 1TB NVMe 4.0 SSD (4800 reads, 3600 write speeds) - Display: 14" 2880x1800 (2.8K) 120Hz OLED panel reaching around 500 nits - Webcam: 1080p - Weight: 3.6 pounds - Ports: 2x USB Type C (1x USB 3.1 Power Delivery 140W + 1x Thunderbolt 4), 2x USB Type A 3.1 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack Design: I was truly impressed by the slim and lightweight design of the Omen Transcend 14. It maintains its ultra-portability without sacrificing build quality. The sleek aluminum chassis gives it a premium feel, and its compact size allows me to effortlessly slip it into my backpack for gaming on the go. The minimalist design with matte Omen branding adds a touch of style without being too flashy. Plus, when I open it up, the 4-zone RGB keyboard adds a nice flair. Performance: Equipped with the Intel Core 7 155h and Nvidia RTX 4060, the Omen Transcend 14 delivers gaming performance that surpassed my expectations for its size. Although I couldn't find direct specs for the TGP of the 4060, monitoring with HWInfo during gaming revealed it peaked at 65W with a max temp of 70°C. The CPU's max power draw reached 83.5W with a max temp of 109°C. Achieving this involves setting 15W to the "Smart Performance Gain" in the "Advanced Settings" of the Omen Gaming Software. By default, the "Smart Performance Gain" is set to 0, and I noticed the GPU capped out at 50W. Despite the 4060 being power-limited to 65W, when I compared it to my brother's Legion Slim 5 with a 4060 (100W + 15W boost), the Omen Transcend 14's 4060 was only behind by 5-10% FPS in COD & Fortnite. It seems like the power limitation for portability was a smart and welcomed move by HP. Since the CPU temps were quite high, I highly recommend using this on a laptop cooling pad. I use the IETS GT 500v2, and with the Omen Transcend 14 on it, the CPU temps maxed out at 90°C on the CPU and 58°C on the GPU. Whether I'm playing demanding AAA titles or engaging in computationally expensive workloads, this laptop handles it with ease. The ample RAM ensures smooth multitasking, and the fast storage guarantees quick load times and responsiveness. Just note, you may need to lower the game resolution settings due to the high-resolution display. While gaming, I usually turn it down to 1920x1200 to hit 120FPS. Display: The 14" 2.8K display of the Omen Transcend 14 offers infinite contrast and sharp details, providing an immersive gaming experience. With a 120Hz refresh rate, fast-paced action appears fluid and stutter-free, enhancing gameplay responsiveness. The slim bezels maximize screen real estate, further intensifying the immersion. Keyboard and Trackpad: The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with decent key travel and tactile feedback, essential for extended gaming sessions. The 4-zone RGB backlighting allows for customization and adds a stylish touch. And everyone knows that RGB adds at least 15% performance gains all around, so I don't turn it off! The precision trackpad provides accurate cursor control for daily use. However, gamers may prefer an external mouse for more precise input during gameplay. Connectivity: The Omen Transcend 14 offers a good selection of ports, including 2x Type-A and 2x Type-C USBs, HDMI 2.1, and an audio jack, ensuring compatibility with various peripherals. With the onboard Wi-Fi 6e NIC, I was able to get roughly 850 down and 900 up on my Wi-Fi 7 network. Bluetooth connectivity provides convenient wireless options. Connecting my Sony XM5s was a breeze, and I hardly felt any lag when gaming. Battery Life: While thin and light laptops typically prioritize battery life, the Omen Transcend 14 prioritizes gaming performance. Expect around 1 hour of gaming battery life and under 5 hours for typical usage scenarios. Note that your mileage may vary depending on your usage. If you're trying to squeeze out more battery, you can lower the refresh rate and brightness, but that may lead to a choppy and less desirable experience. Upgradeability: It's worth noting that the RAM is soldered on, so be sure to get the desired RAM amount during purchase, as you won't be able to upgrade it later. For many, including myself, this is a big bummer as 16GB is quite low but should we be able to upgrade, that would help with the future-proofing this device. On the other hand, the M.2 slot is upgradeable, should you run out of space in the 1TB drive. Additionally, the NIC is also upgradeable, allowing you to switch to Wi-Fi 7 or later NICs in the future. Conclusion: The HP Omen Transcend 14 is a thin and light gaming laptop that delivers impressive gaming performance in a portable package, despite its power draw and upgradeability limitations. Its sleek design, powerful hardware, and stunning display make it a compelling choice for gamers like me who prioritize portability without sacrificing gaming performance. While it may not match the performance of bulkier gaming laptops, its combination of performance and portability makes it an excellent option for gaming enthusiasts on the move.

I've wanted to have an HP OMEN computer ever since first seeing one at my local Best Buy store. Yet, while there is much I like about this laptop, it's not as amazing as I'd have hoped. Setup was pretty straightforward. As always, remember to check for Windows Updates, and get that done first off. There wasn't any of the usual "bloatware" to contend with, so that was good. Personally, I do prefer a smaller screen on my laptops, although I'm fine with larger displays too. So the 14" screen size for this model works well for me. What really stands out is how clear and crisp the visuals look, and how bright and 'true-to-life' the colors are. Seriously awesome! The sound is adequate, no better or worse than that of the speakers on any of my other laptops. As always, for better overall audio I usually connect a bluetooth speaker soundbar, or use my gaming headset. Along the rear area of the laptop there is heat venting, as well as, on the underside where you can see the fans. I didn't notice any excessive heat being pumped out during my gaming sessions on this HP laptop. There are the usual ports - HDMI, 2 USBs, USB-C, and even a headphone jack. And I very much appreciated that the power cord plugs into the backside area of the laptop where the venting is. Often, the power plug is found on either side and can get in the way of your other gaming peripherals. I'm really a fan of OMEN's Gaming Hub software, as it enables you to customize many audio and visual features, along with monitoring how your laptop performs. I love RGB lighting! You can default to a 'static' backlight for the keyboard, or play around with the lighting options using Light Studio. And the Cam & Voice Enhancer allows you to fine tune those features even more. The OMEN Transcend tab lets you monitor CPU and GPU utilization, check 'system vitals,' adjust performance controls, and assign key bindings. I did run a benchmark test prior to installing my favorite games and this HP OMEN scored 'Very High.' But the true test, was in-game. I was able to play my usual games - Warcraft, Diablo IV, Minecraft, Dead by Daylight - just fine, although I did have to change certain graphic settings for some specific games, as I did notice occasional pixelization happening. Bottom line, while I am overall quite pleased with how this HP OMEN performs, the cost of this mid-range gaming laptop does seem a bit high. Still, I can recommend for build quality, ease-of-use, portability, and customization options.

It’s a pretty good laptop, and I love how the keyboard looks. It runs very smooth, the fan is pretty loud depending on the game though. So, you might want to get some good gaming headphones. Only reason why I’m give it 4 stars is because you CANNOT install more RAM into the laptop, had to find out the hard way. The Geek Squad people said that they were about to install some RAM I bought for the laptop, but when they opened the back, they couldn’t. Something about how the original RAM in the computer was welded in, and there was no room for more? So if you planned to get 16 GB of RAM and then later upgrade to more, don’t. You might as well drop a few more hundreds and get the laptop that had the 32 GB of RAM already it in.

Great laptop, runs well, quick, and the screen quality is amazing. Really nothing to complain about, the battery life isn’t amazing but that’s to be expected with a gaming laptop, especially one that has the hardware that this one does.

Performance-wise, the Intel Core Ultra 7-155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers exactly what I was hoping for. Games run effortlessly on high settings, and even during more demanding tasks like video editing, everything stays smooth without noticeable lag. The 16GB of memory keeps multitasking seamless, and the 1TB SSD means I have more than enough space for my games and files. One of the biggest surprises was how cool and quiet the laptop stays, even under pressure. The cooling system does a great job, so I don’t have to worry about overheating during long gaming sessions. Battery life is decent for a gaming laptop—it’s not all-day power, but it holds up well compared to similar models. Overall, this laptop has exceeded my expectations. It’s powerful, stylish, and delivers the performance I need without compromise. If you’re looking for a high-performance gaming laptop that balances portability and power, this one is worth considering!

Very efficient, MacBook level build quality, can play most games I’ve ever played at well over 60 fps. For newer titles in ultra it usually stays at around 60fps average. More ram version is worth it! This is a trooper at a reasonable size perfect for school and games and travel. The display is remarkable! Be sure to turn on hdr mode in windows settings. It tested near perfect color accuracy in this mode.

What I like: Simple design - It has aluminium body and no gimmicky lights on the top. There are lights on the keypad though. Beautiful 2.8K OLED display with upto 120 Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time. Games and movies look great. Very light and portable for a gaming laptop Quick charging (up to 50% in ~30 mins) Gaming performance: games load fast and run super smooth. The key thing to notice here is that even with this good performance, the laptop doesn't heat up. Apparantely, the new cooling system is built in collaboration with Intel. Also, the fan noise is almost not there. Keyboard - The typing experience is good. Keys have kind of springy feeling to them with good travel distance. Overall keyboard is decent sized for a 14" laptop. The trackpad is responsive and its size is good too. Other details: Due to its thin size, the number of ports are limited. There are USB-C and HDMI port in the back, 1 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port and headphone jack on the left side and 2 USB-A port on the right. The Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 make this portable laptop a power house. Overall, it is a light weight, portable yet very powerful gaming laptop that runs smooth and quiet and I think its a keeper.

Bought this laptop to keep up with some games while on a long vacation. This laptop is great. The display is beautiful, keys are great and it’s not heavy at all. Can play pretty much run everything current @2k and get 60FPS or more in many cases. Heat distribution is pretty good compared to other laptops I’ve used/owned. Unfortunately for me, 2 days into my vacation my power brick stopped working. I have no way to charge my device for the rest of my vacation in secluded Maine. I will most likely end up returning this when I get back home.

I really want to like this device. The screen is amazing — sharp, colorful, variable refresh rate. The speakers are sufficient. The fan is well behaved — it’s relatively quiet even while gaming in performance mode, and there are no high pitch issues. But mine came with 2 big issues. First, it has a faulty WiFi/bluetooth chip. The WiFi and Bluetooth would drop every 3-5 minutes like clockwork. Sometimes it would turn itself back on; other times it would act like the chip didn’t exist until i restarted the machine. Needless to say, this rendered the machine unusable for gaming, as online games would frequently disconnect, and offline games had my controller frequently disconnecting. I can/did fix this by buying and installing a replacement chip, but I certainly shouldn’t have to do that. On that note, the WiFi chip is buried beneath the heat sink, so tinkerers should be aware that replacing it involves some extra work. The other problem is that this device will not allow me to update its Nvidia graphics drivers through the Nvidia website or GeForce experience. The order tells me I don’t have compatible hardware; the latter insists that I have the latest driver when when I clearly don’t. No measure of troubleshooting was able to resolve this issue. I was only able to update the driver through a third party site, which of course brings with it risk of getting a fake file, corrupted file, virus etc. There are too few reviews to know if this is just a problem with my machine or all versions of it. I certainly hope it’s just mine, because I’d like to replace it (possibly with the 4070 model).

Would've given it a 5 star but the ram is soldered in so you can't change it out or upgrade it. Battery life isn't the best but it doesn't matter since I play with it plugged in to give it a performance boost. OLED is great with it and you can change the RGB keyboard but i wish that the WASD keys were interchangeable. Loading bigger games makes the fans sound like a jet engine but it is fine if you have headphones. Dispute all that i stated one of my biggest cons with it is that your fingerprints are always left on it no matter if you hands are clean. At random moments when playing games it sounds like the game will crash no matter what I play even if the game is small or not.