ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The HP OmniBook 7 Aero normally retails for $1,250.
- This laptop is dressed to impress thanks to its AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor, vibrant 2K display, and eye-catching magnesium-aluminum finish.
- Its battery life falls short compared to similar models.
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2025 has been a strong year for HP. Over the past 10 months, I’ve tested several of the company’s newest releases, from the EliteBook Ultra G1i to the Omen 32X Smart Monitor, and aside from a few criticisms, each has impressed me.
The streak continues with one of its recent products: the HP OmniBook 7 Aero, a well-performing work laptop that lives up to its name as a thin and lightweight device.
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“Aero” is the perfect descriptor here. Weighing just 2.1 pounds, it’s lighter than the M4 MacBook Air, which comes in at 2.7 pounds. However, it is thicker than Apple’s machine, measuring 0.69 inches.
That extra thickness pays off with a better port selection. You get two USB-C ports, two USB-A inputs (one supporting 10Gbps transfer speeds, the other 5Gbps), an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone jack.
Weight distribution is interesting to say the least. The OmniBook feels noticeably denser in the center when held from there. However, when you pick it up from the corner, it’s flimsier and even wobbles a bit. Because of this construction, the laptop technically fails the one-finger lift test. It stayed in one spot when I raised the screen, although I also ended up lifting the whole device at the same time.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
HP’s laptop comes in two colors: Glacier Silver and Ceramic White — I had the latter for my review unit. The white model had a slightly rugged texture that isn’t completely smooth to the touch. In fact, the texture reminded me of the “ceraluminum” finishes found on certain 2024 laptops like the Asus Zenbook S 16, though HP says it used recycled magnesium aluminum for the computer’s construction. Whatever the material, it helps the laptop achieve that featherweight form factor while enabling a durable, premium feel.
The keyboard is solid overall, sporting raised keycaps for comfortable typing. I usually don’t comment on the letter font, but I found the bold lettering against the sheer white keyboard to be particularly striking. My only real gripe with the OmniBook’s design is with the touchpad. It’s too small for my liking, although that’s understandable given that the laptop only measures 13.3 inches.
Small yet mighty
Speaking of size, the OmniBook 7 Aero boasts a 13-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600 resolution) IPS display covering the entire sRGB color gamut. As a result, the screen is impressively vibrant. It helps that the glass is covered in an anti-glare coating, which cuts down on disruptive reflections and enhances clarity. I also appreciate the thoughtful hinge design.
The display doesn’t open all the way back. Instead, it stops at about 45 degrees. This has the effect of lifting the rear of the laptop slightly to improve typing ergonomics. My only major complaint with the screen is the 400 nits of brightness. This level of brightness is pretty low, so it can be hard to see the display under bright environments.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
As for audio, HP placed the speakers along the lower side edges. Normally, I would criticize the placement; however, it seems someone at HP is clairvoyant because they seemingly countered my complaints ahead of time by giving the sound system support for DTS:X Ultra, HP Audio Boost, and Poly Studio. Together, these features allow the speakers to deliver rich, dynamic sound with clear vocals and instrument separation. The bass is wonderfully punchy. It adds depth to tracks and movie scores that would’ve otherwise sounded flat on an ultraportable like this.
Impressive performance
At a glance, HP’s OmniBook 7 Aero looks strikingly similar to another recent model — the OmniBook 5. Both go for a sleek, MacBook-esque aesthetic. What separates the two is the hardware, however. Instead of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, the Aero packs a higher-end loadout with an AMD Ryzen 7 350 processor, AMD Radeon 860M graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. It’s a well-balanced configuration that gives the OmniBook 7 an edge over its competitors.
Below is a benchmark results table comparing the OmniBook 7 Aero to other HP models. All four provide a similar experience, with the Aero comfortably in second place behind the EliteBook G1a, a top-tier model. In fact, it’s interesting how big the price difference is between the two, but how close some of these benchmarking metrics are.
I also want to highlight how the OmniBook 7 Aero compares to the OmniBook 5. The two excel at being everyday laptops, and with my typical multitasking test (running over 50 open tabs with multiple high-res YouTube streams, a movie on Netflix, and Amazon listings), neither slowed down remotely.
Where the 7 Aero pulls ahead, however, is in tackling heavy workloads. Thanks to the AMD configuration, the newer laptop is better equipped to handle demanding tasks like graphic design or photo/video editing. Another major advantage of the AMD chipset is broader app compatibility. I was able to run all of my usual benchmark tests without issue.
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The trade-off for this improved performance is battery life. During testing, the OmniBook 7 Aero lasted just under 10 hours on a single charge. That’s enough for a full day, but it’s a far cry from the OmniBook 5’s impressive 25-hour run time, or the OmniBook X 14 with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, which boasts up to 26 hours of runtime on one charge.
ZDNET’s buying advice
HP’s OmniBook 7 Aero normally retails for $1,250, but at the time of this writing, you can purchase the laptop in Glacier Silver on sale for $840. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an ultrathin computer that delivers above-average performance and has a solid display. However, if you travel frequently or want a much longer battery life, the OmniBook 5 remains the better option thanks to its great endurance.
