HP Omnibook X Flip vs MacBook Air: which of these two discounted laptops should you buy this Cyber Monday?

The HP Omnibook X Flip and Apple MacBook Air on a blue background with a TechRadar deals badge.

(Image credit: Future / Apple / HP)

Cyber Monday is upon us, and many shoppers will be wringing their wrists in frustration at the simple question: Windows laptop, or Apple MacBook?

Have no fear, though: the TechRadar team is here to help. With more than eight years of experience testing computer hardware and over a hundred laptop reviews under my belt, I'll be comparing two of the most popular laptops that have seen discounts this sale season: the Apple MacBook Air and the HP Omnibook X Flip.

Both of these are excellent choices of laptop for professional work, whether you're an office-dweller or a remote worker. However, there are some significant differences between the two: for starters, the Omnibook X Flip (as the name implies) features a 360-degree hinge that lets you 'flip' into tablet mode thanks to the touch display, giving it an extra degree of versatility over Apple's laptop. The latest MacBook Air, on the other hand, delivers superior performance in several areas (chiefly in artistic workloads, like video editing and 3D rendering) thanks to its powerful M4 system-on-a-chip.

Today's best HP Omnibook X Flip deals

Today's best Apple MacBook Air deals

Display - 13-inch
Processor - Apple M4
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 256GB

With a powerful M4 chip, this MacBook Air can handle just about any task you throw at it, while its excellent display, comfortable keyboard, and impressive battery life round it out. Right now it's on sale for $749, saving you 25% ($250). This is my favorite model because it gives you a little bit of everything: great performance, awesome portability, a fantastic display, and an affordable price tag.

Read our full 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) review.

Display - 13-inch
Processor - Apple M2
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 256GB

Newer M3 and M4 models are now available, but this is an unbelievable price for a 13-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip. While it's an older model, it remains an incredibly powerful laptop for those who need a premium powerhouse for school, productivity, coding, or creative work. You also get double the RAM at 16GB (compared with, for example, a base Air M3), although the 256GB of storage feels a little paltry in 2025. Still, we rated it highly in our MacBook Air M2 review, thanks to the stylish design, clear display, impressive performance, and long 18-hour battery life.

Another key difference between these two laptops is the operating system: the Omnibook X Flip uses Windows 11, while the MacBook Air naturally runs on Apple's own macOS. Although there are plenty of similarities, these two OSs do feel quite different to use in practice, so if you're more familiar with one than the other, it can and should influence your decision - learning to use a new OS interface can be a challenge, especially if you're not particularly tech-savvy.

There's also the question of software compatibility. If you know you'll be expected to use specific applications on your laptop (for work, or perhaps educational purposes), then be sure to research whether those apps can run on Windows 11 and macOS; you don't want to be left in the lurch after buying a laptop that won't run the software you need.

Now, let's talk price - or more specifically, let's talk value for money. Best Buy has the best discounts on both HP and Apple laptops this Cyber Monday, so I'll be using that retailer's prices for comparison purposes. The cheapest M4 MacBook Air you can get there will cost you $749, making it significantly more expensive than the $500 Omnibook X Flip I've included above (that's a particularly good deal, in my opinion). However, even the most affordable M4 MacBook Air will outperform HP's laptop in some areas, so if it's performance you're aiming for, don't count Apple out.

Conversely, at the higher-spec end, it seems like a clean sweep for the MacBook Air. The high-end 16-inch Omnibook X Flip configurations on offer at Best Buy will all cost you north of a thousand bucks, while the 15-inch M4 MacBook Air is currently available for a very reasonable $949. Apple fans should also consider the M2 MacBook Air - it's a bit older now, but it's still a seriously nippy machine that would make for an excellent upgrade to an older Intel-powered Mac at just $649.

Really, the biggest factor here should probably be the OS. If you're more familiar with macOS, opt for the MacBook Air; if you prefer Windows, pick the Omnibook. But in terms of sheer value for money, I'd personally vote for that 14-inch HP Omnibook X Flip - I like a 2-in-1 laptop, and that 2K touchscreen is one feature no MacBook can offer.

Shop more of today's best Cyber Monday sales

Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

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Christian is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing Editor. He came to us from Maximum PC magazine, where he fell in love with computer hardware and building PCs. He was a regular fixture amongst our freelance review team before making the jump to TechRadar, and can usually be found drooling over the latest high-end graphics card or gaming laptop before looking at his bank account balance and crying.

Christian is a keen campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights and the owner of a charming rescue dog named Lucy, having adopted her after he beat cancer in 2021. She keeps him fit and healthy through a combination of face-licking and long walks, and only occasionally barks at him to demand treats when he’s trying to work from home.

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