After spending a few weeks with the HP Omen Transcend 14, I’m thoroughly impressed by how well it balances portability, performance, and design. At RM7,999, it promises to be more than just a gaming machine, and in my experience, it delivers on most fronts. Whether I was gaming, streaming, or getting some work done, this laptop felt like a versatile companion. Here’s what stood out to me—and where it fell a bit short.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
Design & Build
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Omen Transcend 14 was how sleek and lightweight it felt. At just 1.67kg, it’s just a little heavier than my regular Dell. It’s easy to carry around, and I barely noticed the extra weight in my backpack.
The all-metal white chassis gives it a premium feel, and the smooth curves make it stand out without being overly flashy. There’s also gaming-worthy RGB backlighting on the keyboard, which adds to the vibe when gaming in a dim room. Honestly, it’s the prettiest laptop that I’ve seen so far.
Display
The 14-inch OLED display is a showstopper, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s one of the most beautiful laptop screens I’ve used. The 2.8K resolution makes everything look crisp, whether I’m gaming or just watching YouTube.
I tested it with Assassin’s Creed II, and the vibrant colours combined with the 120Hz refresh rate made the experience incredibly smooth. The HDR support also stood out when I streamed a few HDR movies; the details in bright and dark scenes were stunning.
However, the lack of adaptive sync like G-Sync or FreeSync was noticeable during fast-paced games. I occasionally noticed slight tearing when playing Hogwarts Legacy, which was a bit of a letdown, given how great the visuals were otherwise. Also, while 120Hz is fine for casual gaming, competitive gamers might wish for something higher.
Performance
I put the HP Omen Transcend 14 through its paces with a mix of gaming and productivity. The Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 handled most games I threw at it with ease. Playing Assassin’s Creed II at high settings gave me consistent frame rates between 120–140 fps, and Hogwarts Legacy ran well at medium settings.
However, under heavy gaming loads, the laptop did get quite warm, and the fan noise became noticeable. While the heat wasn’t unbearable, it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re planning on gaming for extended periods.
Unfortunately, the keyboard, while pretty, falls a little short of my expectations: it’s not the most pleasant for typing, as I felt like the key travel wasn’t the best. The keys felt a bit softer compared to the snappy feedback you’d get on a mechanical keyboard.
Then again, the RGB lighting is customisable and looks great without being over the top. Plus, I almost always use an external keyboard while working, so HP was kind enough to send over their wireless HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Keyboard — which is a dream that I’ll talk about later.
Battery
Battery life is where the Omen Transcend 14 really impressed me. For a gaming laptop, it lasted much longer than I expected. During regular productivity tasks like browsing and video streaming, I got around eight hours of use on a single charge, which is phenomenal. However, gaming on battery power was a completely different story.
When I played Assassin’s Creed II unplugged, the battery drained in just under three hours. It’s clear that while the battery can handle light tasks with ease, you’ll need to stay near an outlet for any serious gaming sessions.
HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Keyboard (Wireless) Review
Note: The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 is unfortunately not available in Malaysia as of the time of writing
Now, as promised, on to our review of the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Keyboard. We got the wireless version, which, while an unusual choice for gaming, is great for portability and saving desk space, both of which the Omen Transcend 14 does pretty well. It only makes sense for its perfect keyboard companion to do the same.
The Alloy Rise 75 has a solid aluminium frame and durable PBT keycaps, which not only feel premium but also resist wear and shine over time. The keyboard has a robust presence, though it’s compact enough to fit comfortably alongside the Omen Transcend 14 on a small desk or my Steam Deck.
Out of the box, the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Keyboard doesn’t look very impressive. It’s all black, with a standard 75% keyboard layout and a media dial on the top right. The letters on the keyboard aren’t really visible until you connect it and turn on the backlighting.
But — and this is the crux of mechanical keyboards — the HyperX Alloy Rise is highly customisable. Apart from being hot swappable, the interchangeable top plates make personalisation a breeze, which is not something I usually see on ready-built mechanical keyboards. Most of the time, you’re stuck with only changing the keycaps and switches. This time, you can actually change up the colour of the body!
HP also provided a white top plate, which goes perfectly with the white Omen Transcend 14. I mean, just look at this combo.
Besides, the smooth switches made it easy to switch between gaming and productivity, and the ambient light sensor even has the ability to adjust the RGB lighting automatically based on the room’s brightness. More points for portability there!
The software, while a bit tricky to master, offered granular control over macros, RGB effects, and onboard profiles. I spent some time tweaking my settings, and the results were worth it. Having up to 10 onboard profiles was especially handy when switching between gaming, work, and casual use, and the dedicated media controls were a nice bonus for adjusting volume or skipping tracks mid-game.
Being wireless, there are two ways to connect the HyperX Alloy Rise 75: via a USB dongle, which can be stored in a magnetic little chassis on the back of the keyboard, or via Bluetooth. If you prefer a wired connection, there’s also a USB-C port right beside the switch that doubles as a charging port for the keyboard.
All in all, the Alloy Rise 75 feels like a natural companion to the HP Omen Transcend 14. Both devices prioritise portability without sacrificing performance or style. The keyboard’s compact size and lightweight design align perfectly with the Omen’s sleek and portable build, making them an excellent duo for gamers and professionals on the move.
Conclusion
After using the HP Omen Transcend 14, I can confidently say it’s a standout choice for those who want a gaming laptop that doesn’t weigh them down. The OLED display is gorgeous, the performance is solid for most games, and its lightweight build makes it incredibly portable, though you do have to sacrifice some performance and deal with thermal issues.
The HyperX Alloy Rise 75, on the other hand, has been mostly a delight, though personally, I have to say that I would much rather if it came with more media keys. Despite that, it’s really a great companion to the Omen Transcend 14, both in aesthetics and performance!
For casual gamers and professionals who need a portable laptop that looks good and performs well, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is an excellent choice. It may not have the raw power of larger gaming laptops, but its sleek design and versatility make it a strong contender for those who value portability as much as performance!