HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Two of the best budget laptops want your attention

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You can find excellent laptops without breaking the bank, and the HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) and ASUS Zenbook A14 are good examples of affordable options.

Our team at Windows Central has thoroughly tested both of these laptops, so we know what they do well and where they fall short. This direct comparison should help you decide which one is the best fit for you.

This guide will help you decide if a new laptop is right for you – whether you’re upgrading from an older Windows 10 computer or just need something portable and budget-friendly.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Specs, price, and availability

Both of these Windows laptops typically cost between $500 and $1,000, but they often go on sale for much less.

Right now, you can get the HP Omnibook 5 14 at Best Buy for $549 – that’s $150 off the regular price. This model features an OLED screen, a Snapdragon X Plus processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive.

You can often find more customization choices and potentially similar discounts directly on HP’s website. Right now, I discovered a model with a Snapdragon X processor, an OLED screen, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive available for $529. I suggest spending an additional $20 to upgrade to the faster Snapdragon X Plus chip.

If you’re looking for a good deal on the ASUS Zenbook A14, Best Buy is the place to check. While the laptop usually costs around $999, they often have sales that bring the price down to under $600.

As of today, you can buy a device with a Snapdragon X Plus processor, an OLED screen, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB solid-state drive for around $849 at Best Buy.

These two laptops are often on sale, so I predict we’ll see significant discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The sales officially start on November 28th, but stores will likely offer lower prices beforehand. My advice? Don’t pay full price for either of these laptops.

Let’s quickly look at the technical specifications for each laptop before diving into a more detailed discussion of the main types.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) ASUS Zenbook A14
CPU Up to Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42) Up to Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78)
RAM Up to 32GB LPDDR5x-8448 Up to 32GB LPDDR5x-8448
GPU Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) Qualcomm Adreno (integrated)
NPU Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS) Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Storage Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Speakers Stereo, HP Audio Boost Stereo, Smart Amp
Camera 1080p (FHD) with IR 1080p (FHD) with IR
Display 14 inches, 1920×1200, OLED, touch, 0.2ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate, 300 nits 14 inches, 1920×1200, OLED, non-touch, 0.2ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate, 600 nits (HDR), VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600
Ports 2x USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), 3.5mm audio jack 2x USB4, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio, USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2)
Wireless Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery 59Wh 70Wh
Dimensions 12.28 x 8.56 x 0.5 inches (311.9mm x 217.4mm x 12.7mm) 12.23 x 8.42 x 0.53-0.63 inches (310.7mm x 213.9mm x 13.4-15.9mm)
Weight 2.84 pounds (1.28kg) 2.16 pounds (0.98kg)

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Design and features

Both laptops are 14 inches and designed for portability, but the ASUS Zenbook A14 is exceptionally thin and lightweight.

The Zenbook A14 is incredibly lightweight, weighing only 2.16 pounds – less than a kilogram. This makes it noticeably lighter than the OmniBook 5, which weighs 2.84 pounds (1.28kg).

The OmniBook 5 is surprisingly lighter than the Zenbook A14, despite being nearly the same size. This weight reduction is thanks to a special material called “ceraluminum.”

As a researcher, I’ve been examining the materials used in the OmniBook 5 14, and what really stands out is its frame. It’s made from a magnesium alloy – a bit of a mouthful, I know! – but it’s significantly lighter, about 30% less weight, and much stronger, actually 300% stronger, than the aluminum you find in most laptops. To add even more durability, it’s also coated with a scratch-resistant ceramic. The OmniBook 5 14 does have a more standard aluminum build, which looks good, but it’s noticeably heavier.

The Zenbook A14 offers a great selection of ports, especially with its two USB4 ports. This is a major improvement over typical USB-C, offering similar speed and display capabilities to Intel’s Thunderbolt 4 technology.

The Zenbook A14 also features an HDMI 2.1 port for connecting to displays, along with USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

The OmniBook 5 uses standard USB-C 3.2, which offers speeds up to 10Gbps – slower than the 40Gbps speeds of USB4. It also includes an additional USB-A 3.2 port and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

As an analyst, I’ve been evaluating these laptops, and one thing that really stands out is the quality of the keyboard and touchpad – both are excellent. In their review of the OmniBook 5 14, Windows Central’s Zachary Boddy specifically noted that the keyboard feels spacious, is easy to read, and is just a pleasure to type on.

Boddy notes that the Precision touchpad is fairly standard, but it’s “consistent and responsive.”

In his review of the Zenbook A14, Boddy praised the keyboard, noting its spacious and well-planned layout. He particularly liked the function row’s clever design and the keyboard backlighting, which was a comfortable off-white color. He also appreciated that the backlighting clearly illuminated all keys, including secondary functions and symbols.

The main drawback is the coating on the keys. While the gray keys are good at hiding fingerprints, reviewer Boddy found the texture to be surprisingly slippery rather than smooth. However, this might not bother some users.

The Zenbook has a spacious touchpad that works very well for precise cursor control.

The OmniBook 5 uses Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connections. The ASUS Zenbook A14 offers faster speeds with Wi-Fi 7 and the latest Bluetooth 5.4.

Most everyday users won’t notice a significant performance difference between these two Wi-Fi standards, so it shouldn’t be a major factor when you’re choosing between them.

I noticed the laptops have very similar camera setups. Both include a 1080p webcam, and they also have an IR sensor which allows you to use Windows Hello to log in with facial recognition.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: OLED displays

OLED displays used to be only available on expensive devices, but now their incredible contrast and vibrant colors are becoming common even on more affordable options.

Both laptops have a 14-inch OLED screen with sharp, full HD+ resolution. They offer fast performance with a 0.2ms response time and a smooth 60Hz refresh rate. The main difference is that the OmniBook 5 has a touchscreen, while the Zenbook A14 does not.

The ASUS Zenbook A14’s display is certified for VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600, meaning it can reach a peak brightness of 600 nits when showing HDR content. We measured a brightness of 395 nits for everyday use. Color accuracy is excellent, covering 100% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, and 96% of AdobeRGB.

When we tested the HP display, it reached a maximum brightness of 300 nits with standard content. The OmniBook 5’s screen accurately displayed colors, covering 100% of the sRGB color space and 93% of DCI-P3. If you often work in brightly lit environments or are bothered by glare, the Zenbook A14 would probably be a better option.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Performance and battery life

These laptops aren’t built for demanding tasks like high-end gaming or professional work, but that’s perfectly fine if you just need a budget-friendly computer for everyday use.

Both computers are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips, which are based on the ARM architecture, but there are slight differences in the exact hardware they use.

For the OmniBook 5 14, HP gives you a choice of processors: the Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) or the Snapdragon X (X1-26-100). The Snapdragon X Plus is more powerful, as it runs at a faster speed.

The Zenbook A14 features a Snapdragon X Plus chip, and depending on where you are, you may also find models with either a standard Snapdragon X chip or a more powerful Snapdragon X Elite chip.

We evaluated the X1-26 processor in the Zenbook A14 – the least expensive model, and the same one found in the OmniBook 5 – and Boddy reported the following:

I’ve been really happy with how the ASUS Zenbook A14 runs! Windows feels fast and responsive – it boots up quickly, logging in is a snap, and apps open right away. Honestly, it makes everyday tasks super easy and smooth.

For maximum performance, the Zenbook A14 is the best choice, but be aware that it comes at a higher price.

Both laptops really excel when it comes to battery life. During testing, the Zenbook A14 lasted around 12 hours on a single charge with typical use.

Surprisingly, performance didn’t suffer much when using battery power. The CPU slowed down by only about 0.7%, and the GPU by just 1%, compared to when plugged in.

Even though the OmniBook 5 has a smaller battery (59Wh) than the Zenbook A14 (70Wh), it actually lasts longer on a single charge. Boddy reports that:

Running typical office tasks for an hour and then playing an HD video for an hour used only 6% and 4% of the battery, respectively. The battery life is truly impressive, and you can easily expect this laptop to last for two full workdays.

These laptops both use artificial intelligence and come with full access to Copilot+ features in Windows 11. This is made possible by a special chip called the Qualcomm Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside each device.

HP OmniBook 5 14 (G1q) vs. ASUS Zenbook A14: Which should you buy?

Ultimately, the best laptop for you will depend on how much each one costs when you’re ready to buy, and what you need it to do.

If you need more performance and are okay with a slightly shorter battery life (which will still easily last a full day), the Zenbook A14 with the X Elite processor is a great option. It’s also a good choice if you prefer a brighter OLED screen or need USB4 ports.

If long battery life is your top priority, the OmniBook 5 14 performed best in our tests, lasting almost two full days on a single charge.

I previously noted that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up in late November, and I anticipate the discounts we’ll see then will be much better than what’s currently available.

If you’re looking for a new Windows laptop in the $500 to $1,000 price range, these two models are excellent choices and should be among your top contenders.

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2025-11-05 16:19