HP has retired the Spectre, Envy and Pavilion laptop names and moved its home laptops into one family, the HP OmniBook. The new names use tiers: 3, 5, 7, X and Ultra. Pavilion became OmniBook 3 and 5, Envy became OmniBook X, and Spectre became OmniBook Ultra. In October 2026, HP OmniBook laptops at Mascom International in Nairobi start at KSh 72,000 with the HP OmniBook 5 Flip 14.
Key facts
- HP announced the change in May 2024; laptops already on sale kept their old names, so both generations now share Kenyan shelves.
- Tiers rise with capability: OmniBook 3 is entry-level, 5 and 7 are mid-range, X is the old Envy class and Ultra is the old Spectre class.
- Desktops follow the same plan: OmniDesk for towers and OmniStudio for all-in-ones.
- Omen and Victus gaming laptops kept their names.
Why the HP name change matters for Kenyan buyers
For two decades, buyers in Kenya shopped HP by name. Pavilion meant a student or family budget, Envy meant a step up, and Spectre meant the laptop an executive in Upper Hill carried. Those names no longer appear on HP's newest home laptops, yet Wikipedia notes Pavilion laptops stayed on sale until August 2026.
At our Kimathi Street counter, buyers still ask for "the new Spectre" or "the latest Envy" and are surprised to hear the names have changed. Some sellers in Nairobi use that confusion: they call an entry-level OmniBook "the new Spectre", or sell an older Envy as HP's latest model. On a laptop costing KSh 90,000 or more, a wrong name is an expensive mistake.
How do the OmniBook tiers map to Spectre, Envy and Pavilion?
HP's own explainer maps the old names this way. OmniBook 7 is new: it sits between the old Pavilion and Envy classes. The prices below are examples from Mascom International's catalogue in October 2026.
| Old HP name | New HP name | Who it suits | Example at Mascom (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pavilion | OmniBook 3 and OmniBook 5 | Students, home use, first laptop | HP OmniBook 3 16, Core Ultra 5, KSh 88,000 |
| None (new tier) | OmniBook 7 | Heavy multitasking, creators | HP OmniBook 7 16, Core 9 270H, KSh 137,000 |
| Envy | OmniBook X | Professionals, hybrid workers | HP OmniBook X Flip 14, Core Ultra 5, KSh 122,500 |
| Spectre | OmniBook Ultra | Executives, top-tier build and screen | HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, Core Ultra 7, KSh 182,000 |
Notice that the HP OmniBook 7 16 costs more than the HP OmniBook X Flip 14. Its Intel Core 9 270H chip and 32GB of memory push the price up. The tier tells you the class of laptop; the chip, memory and screen set the price. Prices change, and each product page shows today's price.
What do 3, 5, 7, X, Ultra and Flip mean on an HP laptop?
The number after OmniBook is the tier, not the size or the year. Odd numbers belong to home laptops, while business laptops use even numbers, as Windows Central reported when HP announced the change. X and Ultra are the two top tiers in both families.
Other words in the name describe the body. Flip means a 360-degree hinge that folds into tablet or tent mode. A second number, such as 14 or 16, is the screen size in inches. Aero marks the lightest models: HP says the OmniBook 7 Aero 13 weighs under one kilogram.
The model code on the box, such as 14-fm0013dx, pins down the exact chip, memory and storage. Read the chip name too; our guide to Intel processor names explains the Core Ultra labels.
What replaced HP Pavilion and Envy desktops?
HP's desktops follow the same pattern. Home towers are now OmniDesk and all-in-ones are OmniStudio. Wikipedia records that Pavilion desktops gave way to OmniDesk by November 2025. Older names remain on sale, though: Mascom International still stocks HP Envy 32 and Envy 34 all-in-ones. Judge any of them by chip generation, memory and screen, not by the badge.
Did HP EliteBook and ProBook change names too?
Yes. HP kept the EliteBook and ProBook names for business laptops but added tier digits, and retired the Dragonfly name. The three-digit series gave way to a single digit, and the generation count restarted at G1. A letter after the generation names the chip maker: i for Intel, q for Qualcomm, as in the EliteBook Ultra G1q.
Both generations sit in our catalogue at the same price. The HP EliteBook 8 G1i and the HP EliteBook 840 G11 are both KSh 93,000 in October 2026, as manufacturer-renewed units. Procurement officers writing tenders should list both naming styles, or suppliers may quote the wrong generation.
Common mistakes when buying HP laptops under the new names
- Treating OmniBook as one laptop. OmniBook is a family. At Mascom International it runs from KSh 72,000 to KSh 235,000 in October 2026.
- Believing any OmniBook is "the new Spectre". Only OmniBook Ultra replaces Spectre. An OmniBook 3 is the old Pavilion class.
- Dismissing an Envy on the shelf. The HP Envy x360 14 with a Core Ultra 7 chip and 1TB is KSh 119,800, close to an OmniBook X Flip 14 with a Core Ultra 5. Compare the chip and storage, not the badge.
- Shopping by tier number alone. A higher tier with a weaker chip can be slower than a lower tier with a stronger one.
Which HP OmniBook should you buy in Kenya?
For a university student commuting by matatu, the HP OmniBook 3 16 with a Core Ultra 5 225U, 8GB and 512GB costs KSh 88,000. The trade-off: 8GB fills up fast with many browser tabs open.
For hybrid workers who present often, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 with a Core Ultra 5 226V and 16GB is KSh 122,500. Its memory is soldered, so buy the size you need on day one.
For executives who want the old Spectre class, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 with a 3K OLED touch screen and 1TB costs KSh 182,000. Skip it if you only need email and spreadsheets.
Common questions
What replaced the HP Spectre in Kenya?
The HP OmniBook Ultra replaced the HP Spectre. HP's own explainer places the OmniBook Ultra in the old Spectre tier, with OLED screens and the highest-end chips in the home range. At Mascom International in Nairobi, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 with a Core Ultra 7, 16GB and 1TB costs KSh 182,000 in October 2026. A seller calling a cheaper OmniBook "the new Spectre" is wrong.
Is the HP OmniBook the same as the HP Envy?
Only the OmniBook X tier takes over the Envy class. OmniBook is a family of five tiers, from the entry-level OmniBook 3 to the OmniBook Ultra. Envy laptops already made kept their names, so you can still buy a new Envy in Kenya. Compare the chip, memory and storage of an Envy and an OmniBook X at the same price before choosing.
Are HP Pavilion laptops still sold in Kenya?
Yes, while stock lasts. Wikipedia records that HP sold new Pavilion laptops until August 2026 before the OmniBook 5 and 7 took over, so Kenyan shops will carry them for some time. A Pavilion is not a bad laptop; it is simply the older name. Check the chip generation and the year on the box before you pay.
Which is better, HP OmniBook or HP EliteBook?
The HP OmniBook is built for home and personal use, while the HP EliteBook is HP's business line, with business management and security features. Offices, banks and county governments usually buy EliteBooks; students and families usually buy OmniBooks. At Mascom International, the HP EliteBook 8 G1i is KSh 93,000 in October 2026, close to the HP OmniBook 3 16 at KSh 88,000.
Where can I buy an HP OmniBook in Nairobi and pay on delivery?
Mascom International sells HP OmniBook laptops at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. You can order on www.mascomintl.com or on WhatsApp at +254 708 852 521 and pay on arrival. Nairobi orders arrive the same day, and other major towns receive delivery within 1 business day.
Where to buy HP laptops in Kenya
Mascom International stocks HP OmniBook, EliteBook and Envy laptops at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-7:00 PM, and compare model codes side by side before you buy.
Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521. Email: info@mascomintl.com. Website: www.mascomintl.com.
We deliver with pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Nairobi and its environs receive orders the same day, and all other major cities and towns within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Sources
- HP Tech Takes: the history of the OmniBook and how its tiers replace Pavilion, Envy and Spectre
- Windows Central: HP's Omni and Elite rebrand, tier numbers and the end of Dragonfly
- heise online: why older HP models keep their names
- Wikipedia: HP Pavilion, including when Pavilion laptops and desktops left sale
