HP OMEN 17 vs Microsoft Surface Book 3
The Verdict
HP OMEN 17 and Microsoft Surface Book 3 serve fundamentally different purposes. The OMEN 17 is a gaming-focused powerhouse with a 17.3-inch display running a 24-core Intel Core i9-13900HX, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a blistering 240Hz refresh rate at 2560 x 1440 resolution. Its 1TB PCIe Gen 4 storage and robust port selection (three USB-A, Thunderbolt) make it ideal for content creation and competitive gaming. Battery life maxes out at 5 hours, a trade-off for performance. The Surface Book 3, by contrast, prioritizes portability and productivity with a slim 13.5-inch touchscreen (3000 x 2000, 400 nits brightness), weighing just 3.38 lbs versus the OMEN's 6.39 lbs. Its 10th-gen i7-1065G7 with 16GB RAM handles everyday tasks and light work efficiently, delivering exceptional 15.5-hour battery life. Storage is limited to 256GB, and the lack of HDMI requires an adapter. Choose the OMEN 17 if you need gaming, 3D rendering, or heavy multitasking. Pick the Surface Book 3 if you value mobility, touchscreen versatility, and all-day productivity without lugging 6+ pounds. They're incomparable products, making this a genuine tie based on different use cases.
Who Should Buy
Buy the HP OMEN 17 if…
- →Large 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz display is excellent for gaming
- →RTX 4080 Laptop GPU handles AAA titles at high settings
- →24-core i9-13900HX excels at multitasking and content creation
Buy the Microsoft Surface Book 3 if…
- →Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- →Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- →3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
HP OMEN 17
Pros
- Large 17.3-inch QHD 240Hz display is excellent for gaming
- RTX 4080 Laptop GPU handles AAA titles at high settings
- 24-core i9-13900HX excels at multitasking and content creation
- OMEN Tempest cooling keeps the machine relatively quiet
- Three USB-A ports provide legacy device compatibility
Cons
- 6.39 lbs and 15.7 inches wide — not portable at all
- 5-hour battery life is poor for non-gaming use
- 300-nit brightness is dim for a $1,799 gaming laptop
- Only one Thunderbolt 4 port
- Plastic components in the build feel less premium than all-aluminum rivals
Microsoft Surface Book 3
Pros
- Detachable 13.5-inch display works as a standalone tablet
- Discrete NVIDIA GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the keyboard base
- 3:2 3000x2000 PixelSense display is gorgeous for productivity
- 15.5-hour battery life for clipboard + base combined
- Premium magnesium build with excellent Surface Pen support
Cons
- 10th-gen Intel processor is severely outdated by 2024 standards
- Detach mechanism adds wobble and weight to the display hinge
- No Thunderbolt — only USB-C 3.1 and USB-A ports
- GTX 1650 Max-Q is underpowered for modern gaming or creative tasks
- Microsoft has discontinued the Surface Book line
Full Specifications
| Spec | HP OMEN 17 | Microsoft Surface Book 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 10 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 6.39 lbs (2.90 kg) | 3.38 lbs (1.53 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum and plastic | Magnesium |
| Dimensions | 15.74 x 10.87 x 0.93 inches | 12.3 x 9.14 x 0.59-0.9 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB-A ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| Thunderbolt ports | 1 | — |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 5 hours | Up to 15.5 hours |
| Capacity | 83 Wh | 65.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 17.3 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | IPS anti-glare | PixelSense IPS touch |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 3000 x 2000 |
| Refresh rate | 240Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 300 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe (dual slot) | 256 GB PCIe Gen 3 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 32 GB DDR5 | 16 GB LPDDR4X |
| Cores | 24 cores (8P + 16E) | 4 cores / 8 threads |
| Chipset | Intel Core i9-13900HX (13th Gen) | Intel Core i7-1065G7 (10th Gen) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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