HP Omen Transcend 14 (2024) Review
What does the future hold for compact gaming laptops? Whatever the answer to that may be, it looks to be on the right path from where we stand. HP just launched the slimmest Omen laptop yet, the HP Omen Transcend 14 and we got to review it for a few weeks.
Here is the review.
The Omen Transcend 14 gaming laptop doesn’t disappoint. The first thing that catches the eye is the design. It’s not something that can be called out of the box. HP stuck to the fundamentals and delivered a laptop that appeared familiar and relatable. Simply put, the laptop is sleek, compact and easy to carry. Being under two kilograms definitely helps the cause.
The laptop is not loud in any form or fashion. Subtlety is one element that HP has been able to really dial in in the Transcend 14. The RGB keyboard is fascinating and at the same time not too loud. It is a lattice-free keyboard which gives the RGB a very soothing appearance. The keyboard has negligent flex and offers a comfortable typing/gaming experience.
Another thing that will get your attention is the price tag. With an asking price of Rs 1,74,999, this laptop takes its place in the middle of the cost spectrum as far as gaming laptops are concerned.
The laptop houses Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H CPU which ensures optimum performance in almost all aspects one could need a laptop for. The Intel CPU is a balanced one as it operates keeping power efficiency as one of its key focus areas. For those who will switch from a 14th or even 13th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU, the Core Ultra 7 does feel a bit underpowered. However, this is not a deal breaker in any way.
The Transcend 14 also has an NPU which takes a huge load off the CPU leading to better power efficiency and better results as far as AI tasks are concerned.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 comes with a dedicated GPU for gaming. The Nvidia RTX 4060 is a 65W graphics card that does its job flawlessly. Gaming, one of the primary reasons consumers will be buying this laptop, is a delight on the Transcend 14. Apart from gaming, the RTX 4060 can also handle high-end photo and video editing with ease. We edited an entire 30-minute episode of BW Tech Talks on this laptop without a hiccup.
The display being an extension of this GPU, is just as fabulous. The 14-inch 2.8K OLED display offers clarity, depth and extremely vivid colours. As claimed by the company, the display is IMAX enhanced. How much of my experience was affected by this feature is still not clear, though. The HDR support does translate into deeper blacks and crisper colours.
This is a major pain point for many people when it comes to gaming laptops. This is especially true for compact gaming laptops as the battery is smaller and so are the thermals.
We have to admit, when the Transcend 14 came in, we were sceptical about it. Despite Intel’s bold claim about better battery life in its Core Ultra line of CPUs, we had our reservations about the laptop.
The laptop gave a three to four-hour run time during regular office work which included writing stories on MS Word, web browsing, watching YouTube videos and attending video calls. Gaming and video editing, however, take a heavier toll on the battery. Expect a three-hour run time during heavy gaming.
The laptop can go high in temperature during prolonged gaming sessions. However, it doesn’t feel that way at all. The Tempest Cooling mechanism, co-engineered with Intel doesn’t go for the spotlight and instead does more than a decent job from behind the curtains.
HP has put in some work when it comes to thermals. Heat dissipation is top notch and that adds a lot of value in this computer. Users can expect the mercury to reach as high as 103 degrees Celsius with an average temperature of 90 degrees Celsius.
The laptop is targeted at a niche that is growing in the country day by day. Statistically, never in the history of the country or the world for that matter, was there a better time to launch a gaming laptop. HP (along with many other players in the industry) knows it and is capitalising on this fact by introducing a potent and efficient gaming machine that is powerful and easy to carry.
The Transcend 14 reminded us of the Asus Flow X13 (Review). Compact, slim, stylish and packing a powerful punch. Similar to the Flow X13, the Transcend 14 offers impeccable specs and delivers a remarkable overall performance.
Be it pure gaming or multimedia work such as video editing and animation, the HP Omen Transcend 14 proved to be a worthy companion. The compact and easy-to-carry form factor makes a great case for it. The 2.8K display is an advantage for the laptop as well. Add these to the Core Ultra 7’s overall performance and we have ourselves a well-rounded machine that is capable of standing its ground amid larger gaming units from HP and other PC makers.
