HP OmniBook 5 16-fb0017nr: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-08

Summary

Owners most often report ARM compatibility gaps with printers and other peripherals, Microsoft Edge slowing to a crawl with dozens of tabs open, and a 256 GB SSD that fills almost immediately. There are no consumables, so the yearly running cost is just electricity, which the research does not quantify. It is a good buy at $600 or less: HP’s US store lists this configuration at $699 and it has been seen on sale for $579.

Common problems and fixes

Bluetooth connectivity issues — Reddit owners report difficulty connecting Bluetooth headphones. [11]
Display glare in bright rooms — the 300-nit panel is prone to glare under direct sunlight and struggles with direct reflections. [7][4]
No fingerprint reader, output-only audio jack, lid stops short of flat — biometric login goes through the IR camera only, the audio jack does not take microphone input, and the hinge does not open 180 degrees. [2]

HP covers the machine with a 1-year limited warranty that includes technical support for software and initial setup from the date of purchase. [1]

Parts and consumables

Yearly running cost

Not enough data. The laptop needs no consumables, and the research gives no measured power draw or owner-paid subscription costs. HP bundles free trials — Adobe for 1 month, McAfee Online Protection for 30 days, PC Game Pass for 3 months and 25 GB of Dropbox storage for 12 months — that turn into paid subscriptions only if the owner keeps them. [1]

When it is a good buy

HP’s US store lists this exact configuration at $699, and the long-term reviewer paid $579 for it during a back-to-school promotion. [2] CNET listed an OmniBook 5 at $600 in June 2026 and an AMD Ryzen AI 7 configuration at $749 at Walmart in July 2026, down from $1,469. [8][14] Windows Central reported the 16 GB / 512 GB Snapdragon X model at $809.99, down from $1,099.99. [12]

At $600 or under it is a strong buy: the OLED display, battery life and productivity performance hold up well at that price. [8][2] From $600 to $800 it stays competitive, with the OLED panel and battery life as the main differentiators. [12][2] From $800 to $1,000 it is fair value, and above $1,000 it is weak value against Snapdragon X Elite and x86 machines. [5][6][7]

Named alternatives: a Snapdragon X Elite laptop is the better choice when you need more CPU power in the $800-1,000 range; an x86 Intel or AMD laptop is the better choice when you need maximum software compatibility or gaming performance. [6][7]