HP has long been a leading manufacturer of desktops and laptops, with a long history of outstanding products. Its laptop lineup is one of the best in the industry, ranging from affordable PCs and Chromebooks to touchscreen laptops and large-screen gaming laptops.
Today, there are countless Chromebook options for students, gamers, and casual users. Whichever product you choose, you’ll get a high-quality, stylishly designed laptop with top-notch specs (for the price) and performance to match, all at an acceptable price.
Navigating such a wide range of products can be difficult for many, which is why we’re constantly researching and testing the best HP laptops to help you find the one that best fits your needs and budget. To find the best of the best, we combed through the specs and compared them to identify the best options that offer the best value.
The best HP laptops
What to consider?
Form Factor
Choosing an HP laptop with or without a touchscreen is essential. If you opt for the latter, we suggest you look for products with a screen that can rotate 360 degrees, such as the HP Envy x360 or Spectre x360. Opting for a touchscreen allows you to turn your traditional laptop into a tablet and then into a touch platform for video streaming and teleconferencing. HP also offers 360-degree hingeless touchscreen laptops for less.
Processor and graphics
HP offers laptops and Chromebooks with AMD or Intel processors, and each chip offers a reliable mix of power and energy efficiency. For Intel chips, we recommend going with 12th-generation or newer. Ryzen 5000 series chips and later iterations are the preferred AMD options.
If you use your HP laptop for gaming, you’ll need a computer with a powerful NVIDIA graphics card. This essential hardware component will ensure smooth, richly detailed graphics during your games. The GeForce RTX 30 series offerings are the best you can get. The higher the model number, the better the performance of the component.
Display
You shouldn’t settle for a laptop with a screen resolution lower than Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), because a higher screen resolution gives you a more detailed experience with sharper images and videos. Unless you’re on a tight budget or absolutely want to spend as much screen time as possible between charges, don’t opt for low-resolution displays.
In display technology, OLED panels are by far the brightest and most enjoyable to use. HP laptops with these crystal-clear displays are still worth the extra cost over versions of standard panels. That said, keep in mind that a high-resolution OLED display can have a significant impact on your next laptop’s battery life, so if you’re constantly traveling or working on the go, an OLED display may not be the best thing for you.
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0 (or higher) and Wi-Fi 6 - the latest wireless connectivity standards - are important specs to check for in your next HP laptop. The former ensures that your laptop can reliably connect to today’s best wireless headphones, headsets and speakers. Except for the most affordable model on our list, they equipped all the HP laptops on our list with Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E.
After weeks of careful research, we’ve selected several HP laptops, ranging from a budget-friendly Chromebook 14 for students to a powerful desktop-replacement 2-in-1 computer with best-in-class design and specs, like the Spectre x360.
Find the best HP laptop for your needs in our list below!
1. Pavilion Plus 14-inch laptop
The HP Pavilion 14 Plus is the one I would recommend to most people looking for a non-touchscreen laptop. This Windows 11 laptop is the most exciting HP Pavilion I’ve experienced, thanks to a sleek design, decidedly premium all-metal construction, top-notch hardware specs, and outstanding performance. Best of all, the product is priced nicely.
They equip each Pavilion 14 Plus laptop with a 12th generation Intel processor that provides years of reliable performance. The laptop also features a high-quality webcam powerful Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, and an excellent set of wired and wireless connectivity features.
HP also offers an iteration of the Pavilion 14 Plus with an OLED panel that is sharper, smoother, and brighter than the screen on the base model shown here. This laptop also features a more powerful Intel Core i7 chip and more memory, but is still priced at less than $1,000.
Buy: Pavilion Plus 14-inch laptop
2. Envy x360 15 Convertible Laptop
The 15-inch Envy x360 is HP’s best touchscreen laptop for most consumers, and it is rightfully one of the best offerings in this product category. This wide-screen laptop features a beautiful and versatile design, superior construction using recycled metal and plastic, and future-proof hardware specifications for years of top-notch performance.
With its 360-degree touchscreen, the Envy x360 can quickly transition from a traditional laptop to a tablet or video viewing platform. The device’s Bang & Olufsen speakers are also excellent.
At first glance, the Envy x360 15’s sub-10-hour maximum battery life leaves a bit to be desired - but HP’s fast-charging technology takes the laptop’s battery from 0 to 50 percent in about half an hour, so you won’t have to worry about being stuck next to a power outlet.
If buying a new laptop and touchscreen isn’t a priority, consider the HP Pavilion 15 instead. It has a cool design and solid specs at a much lower price.
Buy: Envy x360 15 Convertible Laptop
3. 14-inch laptop
This 14-inch HP laptop is definitely the best option for users on a tight budget. Priced well under $500, this Windows 11 laptop has a sleek design and brilliant hardware features, including a powerful AMD chip and graphics, a crisp screen with an anti-glare coating, and an array of wired and wireless connectivity features.
Together, these hardware features allow this relatively affordable laptop to deliver an overall experience that belies its price. The battery life and fast charging capabilities are also impressive for this price, as are the laptop’s expandable storage and RAM.
For about $100 more than the 14-inch laptop, this HP laptop offers a 15.6-inch display and a more powerful AMD chip, without skimping on battery life and connectivity features. This is an affordable wide-screen HP laptop that deserves an upgrade.
Buy: 14-inch laptop
4. Victus 16 Gaming Laptop
HP’s Victus 16 laptop is a great option for PC gamers, whether they are beginners or advanced. This gaming platform features an unobtrusive design, great hardware features including a powerful graphics card, a large screen with a high refresh rate and performance to match. In addition, they priced the product at less than $1,500, which is great for a gaming platform with such modern hardware. It will give you access to powerful gameplay without breaking the bank.
The Victus 16 can run today’s most popular games at a steady frame rate and high levels of detail. The laptop’s RAM and SSD storage are upgradeable, allowing you to increase its speed and capacity as needed.
Consider this iteration of the Victus 16 if you’re looking for an HP gaming laptop on a tighter budget. With a price tag of well under $1,000, this AMD-powered laptop has the same sleek design as our pick, but a less powerful NVIDIA GPU.
5. Chromebook 14
The HP Chromebook 14 is our top pick for students, combining a sleek design, lightweight and durable construction, reliable hardware specs, solid performance and long battery life, all at a fantastic price.
HP equipped the Chrome OS laptop with a sharp anti-glare display to provide a solid viewing experience, even in bright spaces. Well-tuned Bang & Olufsen speakers complement the display, so it’s ideal for doing schoolwork and relaxing while watching YouTube or Netflix content, among many other options. The screen isn’t touch sensitive, but that’s not a problem, considering the product’s price.
A cheaper version of the HP Chromebook 14 with a lower resolution screen but longer battery life is also available. If you’re looking for a more colorful option, consider this version with an eye-catching teal cover.
Buy: Chromebook 14
