HP Omen Transcend 14 review

One of the best parts about consumer tech is innovation. Take for instance the evolution of larger products getting smaller and lighter. Computers gave us laptops, and laptops became thin-and-light Ultrabooks.  

However, gaming laptops have largely remained bulky over the years, and for good reason – the hardware and cooling systems need space to function. That is precisely why the HP Omen 14 Transcend is one of the most interesting laptops out there today.  

Not only is it the lightest gaming laptop out there right now (weighing marginally more than a MacBook Pro), but it also does not compromise on specifications to get to its lightweight form. But does all that justify the Rs 1,72,999 price tag? Let’s find out in our HP Omen 14 Transcend review. 

HP Omen 14 Transcend design

We’re glad this laptop comes in a white colour variant, because it looks stunning. Everything from the lid to the RGB keyboard looks really nice, and helps the laptop stand out. That said, there is also a black variant for those who prefer a stealthier look.  

Every inch of the laptop feels premium, and I quite like the uniform design language. You also can’t miss the slight taper towards the front of the laptop’s body, which make it feel slimmer than it already is.  

While there is some flex in the lid and keyboard, the rest of the body feels super sturdy and well built. There are no creaky sounds when opening the lid, and the trackpad’s lower half is clicky without feeling flimsy. In a nutshell, this is easily one of the best designed 14-inch gaming laptops I have used.

HP Omen 14 Transcend display

Among the highlights of the HP Omen 14 Transcend is the 16:10 OLED display. Being an OLED screen, you have the crisp colours and deep blacks, which translates to great visuals when playing games are big on graphics. Be it Forza Horizon 5, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, or Ghost of Tsushima, the experience on this screen is sublime.  

ALSO READ: How to download Ghost of Tsushima on PC

The screen also has 120Hz refresh rate and can accommodate plenty of frames per second for you to enjoy all kinds of games including competitive first-person shooters.  

The display is also IMAX Enhanced certified. What that does, is difficult to explain in words, but also very easy to comprehend when you’re in front of the laptop. When watching an IMAX certified movie, you’ll get the exact colours, contrast and aspect ratio that you would have seen while watching the movie in an IMAX cinema, giving you a very authentic, cinema-like experience.

HP Omen 14 Transcend performance

The HP Omen Transcend 14 may fool you into thinking it compromises on the performance bit because of its minimal design. But that’s far from the truth. 

The laptop is packed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 and an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, which I believe is just the right combination for you to enjoy AAA games. Needless to say, it is also a very fast laptop for your other day-to-day tasks. 

We played games like Ghost of Tsushima and FIFA 23 on the laptop and were happy with the performance. Running FIFA 23 at 1080p with ultra-graphics gave us buttery smooth gameplay with no issues, while Ghost of Tsushima running at 2.8K and at the very high graphics settings offered a consistent 50-55 frames per second (with DLSS enabled).   

ALSO READ: Gaming Laptops v Gaming PCs: What should I buy?

The laptop has enough power for all kinds of casual and AAA games. Even though the RTX 4060 may not be enough for ultra-graphics in 4K on a larger external monitor, DLSS has come a long way in letting you get a better experience in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077.

We also played the above games on a larger ultrawide monitor with the resolution turned up, and the settings turned down a bit, and the experience was great. If you still need more power, however, the Omen Transcend 14 also comes in an RTX 4070 variant.  

Something to keep in mind is that the laptop can get loud (and I mean really loud) when you’re gaming, thanks to its internal fans. While external noise isn’t something that matters to me especially if it’s keeping this laptop cool when running a game, it may disturb those around you.

Other features

The HP OMEN 14 comes with a four-zone RGB keyboard that you can customise using built-in software. The keys have decent travel, and yeah, you can comfortably use this laptop for typing when you’re not gaming.

The trackpad also gets the job done, and feels clicky enough for day-to-day use, although for games, you should probably invest in an external mouse or controller. 

The HP Omen Transcend 14 also comes with plenty of ports for a design this compact. This includes a rear-facing HDMI and USB power input port, which lets you keep the setup clean, even when gaming on an external monitor.

There are also a couple of USB-A and USB-C ports on the sides for accessories. The only thing you miss out on here is an RJ45 Ethernet port, but you can always use an adapter for that if you prefer wired connections for gameplay.  

The laptop offers about 5-7 hours of battery life when off the plug, depending on what you’re doing, which wouldn’t really matter when you’re gaming as you would be plugged in anyway. 

Unboxed take: Who should buy the HP Omen Transcend 14?

The HP Omen Transcend 14 is a fantastic gaming machine for those who want the portable gaming experience but prefer a proper PC over a handheld like the Asus ROG Ally. The laptop is powerful for its class, easy to carry around, looks great and even packs specs that make it decently future proof, all for a price of Rs 1,72,999.  

For this reason, we rate the laptop 4.5/5 stars, and definitely recommend picking up the Omen Transcend 14. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more in-depth reviews.