MacBook Neo vs HP OmniBook 5 16
MacBook Neo (#2, best value) vs HP OmniBook 5 16 (#5): in our Student Laptops scoring the MacBook Neo totals 9/10 and the HP OmniBook 5 16 7.2/10, the MacBook Neo leading on Value and Portability.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| MacBook Neo | HP OmniBook 5 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | Apple A18 Pro (6-core CPU) | AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 |
| RAM | 8GB unified memory | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
| GPU | Apple A18 Pro (5-core GPU) | AMD Radeon 840M (integrated) |
| Display | 13" Liquid Retina 2408x1506 | 16" 2K IPS 1920x1200 Anti-Glare |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs | 3.97 lbs |
| Battery | 36.5Wh, up to 16 hours (video streaming) | 59Wh, up to 14.75 hours (mixed use) |
| Ports | 1x USB-C (USB 3, 10Gb/s, DisplayPort), 1x USB-C (USB 2), 3.5mm headphone jack | — |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 | — |
| Camera | 1080p FaceTime HD | — |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
How they differ in real use
Built from our student laptops scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the MacBook Neo and the HP OmniBook 5 16 made our Top 5 Student Laptops, at #2 (best value) and #5. The MacBook Neo is the value pick for students who want macOS: it brings an aluminum MacBook build, a 13-inch 500-nit display, Apple-rated battery life of up to 16 hours of video streaming and a 2.7 lb weight to Apple's lowest laptop price. Its fixed 8GB of memory and USB 2 second port are the trade-offs that keep it behind the MacBook Air M5. HP retired the Pavilion line in favor of OmniBook, and the OmniBook 5 16 carries that budget-friendly positioning forward with a 16-inch 2K display, a near-15-hour battery, and enough performance for everyday coursework.
We score student laptops on Value (30%), Battery Life (25%), Portability (20%), Performance (15%) and Build Quality (10%). On that basis the MacBook Neo totals 9 out of 10 and the HP OmniBook 5 16 7.2. The widest gap is Value, where the MacBook Neo scores 9.5 against 7.5 for the HP OmniBook 5 16: performance per dollar. Portability also separates them: 9.5 for the MacBook Neo versus 6.8 for the HP OmniBook 5 16.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Neo versus Windows 11 Home on the HP OmniBook 5 16; CPU: Apple A18 Pro (6-core CPU) on the MacBook Neo versus AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 on the HP OmniBook 5 16; RAM: 8GB unified memory on the MacBook Neo versus 16GB LPDDR5x on the HP OmniBook 5 16; Storage: 256GB SSD on the MacBook Neo versus 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD on the HP OmniBook 5 16; GPU: Apple A18 Pro (5-core GPU) on the MacBook Neo versus AMD Radeon 840M (integrated) on the HP OmniBook 5 16; Display: 13" Liquid Retina 2408x1506 on the MacBook Neo versus 16" 2K IPS 1920x1200 Anti-Glare on the HP OmniBook 5 16.
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the MacBook Neo for aluminum MacBook build at Apple's lowest laptop price and A18 Pro chip handles browser-heavy coursework, office apps and light photo editing; the most common complaint is 8GB of memory is fixed and cannot be upgraded. Owners praise the HP OmniBook 5 16 for 16-inch 2K (1920x1200) IPS anti-glare display and rated up to 14 hours 45 minutes of mixed-use battery life; the most common complaint is integrated graphics only.
MacBook Neo
- Aluminum MacBook build at Apple's lowest laptop price
- A18 Pro chip handles browser-heavy coursework, office apps and light photo editing
- Apple rates the battery for up to 16 hours of video streaming and 11 hours of web browsing
- 2.7 lbs with a 13-inch, 500-nit display
- 8GB of memory is fixed and cannot be upgraded
- One of its two USB-C ports runs at USB 2 speeds
- Touch ID is reserved for the 512GB configuration; this 256GB model does without it
HP OmniBook 5 16
- 16-inch 2K (1920x1200) IPS anti-glare display
- Rated up to 14 hours 45 minutes of mixed-use battery life
- 16GB RAM standard
- Full-size backlit keyboard with numeric keypad
- Integrated graphics only
- 3.97 lb is heavier than most 13-14" ultrabooks
- Base 512GB SSD is not user-upgradeable
Which should you buy?
The MacBook Neo is the better fit for students on a budget who want macOS and note-taking and coursework; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Value and Portability. The HP OmniBook 5 16 is the better fit for students on a budget and large-screen note-taking. The MacBook Neo is a poor fit for heavy video or 3D work; the HP OmniBook 5 16 is a poor fit for portability seekers.
Choose the MacBook Neo if
- Students on a budget who want macOS
- Note-taking and coursework
- Long days on campus
Skip it if
- Heavy video or 3D work
- Students who need more than 8GB of memory
Choose the HP OmniBook 5 16 if
- Students on a budget
- Large-screen note-taking
- Everyday productivity
Skip it if
- Portability seekers
- Power users
Common questions
Is the MacBook Neo better than the HP OmniBook 5 16?
In our Student Laptops ranking the MacBook Neo scores higher overall, 9 to 7.2, with the biggest advantage in Value. The HP OmniBook 5 16 does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
What is the main difference between the MacBook Neo and the HP OmniBook 5 16?
The headline spec difference is Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Neo versus Windows 11 Home on the HP OmniBook 5 16. In use, the gap that matters most is Value (9.5 vs 7.5 in our scoring): performance per dollar.