For laptop buyers, battery life remains a top priority. A device that can’t last through a workday without plugging in defeats the purpose of portability. Recent testing reveals a clear leader in endurance: the 2025 HP OmniBook 5 14, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, achieving an astonishing 32 hours and 31 minutes on a single charge. This performance far exceeds most competitors, including many Intel and AMD-based laptops.
The Rise of ARM in Mobile Computing
The data is clear: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors consistently outperform traditional x86 chips (Intel and AMD) in battery efficiency. Mashable’s testing shows that Snapdragon-powered laptops achieve a median battery life of 19 hours and 55 minutes, with even the shortest-lasting models exceeding 16 hours. In contrast, Intel’s comparable V-class Lunar Lake processors averaged 14 hours and 16 minutes, while AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series managed only 12 hours and 19 minutes.
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about a fundamental shift in laptop architecture. ARM-based processors, like those from Qualcomm, prioritize power efficiency, allowing laptops to run for significantly longer on battery. This advantage is now so pronounced that Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops are the only ones that can reliably compete with Apple MacBooks, which average around 19 hours and 56 minutes of battery life.
HP OmniBook 5 14: The Current Champion
The HP OmniBook 5 14 stands out not only for its battery life but also for its value. At its base configuration, it’s priced competitively, starting at $779.99, making it an accessible option for consumers. The review unit, equipped with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, costs $1,269.99 and delivers solid performance, scoring around 11,265 in Geekbench 6 CPU benchmarks.
The OmniBook 5 14 is also lightweight at 2.84 pounds and sleek at 0.5 inches thin, making it ideal for on-the-go users. The 14-inch OLED display offers vivid colors, and the backlit keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience.
However, the laptop isn’t without its flaws. Some users have reported issues with the touchpad, which emits an unusual rattling sound during use. Additionally, the display’s brightness is limited to 300 nits, making it somewhat difficult to view in direct sunlight.
The Future of Battery Life: Snapdragon X2 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Qualcomm is preparing to release its next-generation Snapdragon X2 series processors. The company claims these chips will offer even greater battery life and performance improvements. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme in particular is expected to deliver up to 75% faster CPU performance while using less power. Early benchmarks suggest it could surpass both Intel’s best Panther Lake chips and Apple’s M5 in performance.
Intel and AMD are also pushing for longer battery life, with claims of multi-day performance for their upcoming processors. However, Qualcomm currently holds a significant advantage in this area. The HP OmniBook 5 14 represents the current pinnacle of battery life in Windows laptops, but the coming years promise even more impressive endurance from ARM-based devices.
In conclusion, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series has fundamentally changed the laptop battery life game. The HP OmniBook 5 14 demonstrates that Windows laptops can now compete with MacBooks in endurance, and future generations of Snapdragon processors are poised to push those limits even further.
