Best HP laptops to buy in 2019 – consumer, business, Chromebooks, gaming, and more
Searching for the best HP laptops can be difficult, especially in the business sector. The company has more laptops than we care to count, with numerous set configurations and customization options designated to each brand. To get a better grip on the multitude of HP laptops, we explain the branding and pick the best HP laptops you can buy right now based on design: 2-in-1, detachable, traditional, and so on.
HP branding explained
For the mainstream market, the Spectre brand represents HP's top-of-the-line premium family for a premium price. The Envy family is a step down offering premium devices at an affordable price. From there you move into the Pavilion line for HP's general audience followed by the no-brand HP Laptop series, Stream devices targeting kids, and Chromebooks rounding out the budget devices.
On the business end, the EliteBook 1000 "elite" series resides at the top of HP's laptop list followed by the EliteBook 800 and EliteBook 700 models. The ProBook 600 series is the next step down for "pros" without sacrificing enterprise-grade security along with the ProBook 400 family, 200 Series, and Chromebooks for businesses on a budget. The ZBook brand is HP's workstation-class laptop family.
Okay, now that you now what HP offers, let's take a look at the best HP laptops you can currently buy.
Best HP laptops for personal use
Ultra-thin: Spectre Folio 13
Technically, this isn't your standard ultra-thin clamshell laptop, but it's the closest we could find without venturing too far into 2-in-1 and detachable territory. It sports a 100-percent genuine leather exterior complemented by a display you can pull forward over the keyboard, or flip over the back to use as a tablet. The Spectre Folio acts like any other clamshell laptop as well.
With a starting price of $1,199, the Spectre Folio 13 is based on a 13.3-inch IPS touch-enabled display with your choice of a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. Backing this screen is an eighth-generation Core i5-8200Y or Core i7-8500Y processor, integrated graphics, and 8GB or 16GB of system memory. Storage ranges between 256GB and 2TB on a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.
For connectivity, the Spectre Folio 13 provides Wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.2, and optional 4G LTE. Ports consist of two Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps), one USB-C (5Gbps), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. Powering this device is a 54.28Wh battery promising up to 19 hours, depending on the screen resolution.
The Spectre Folio 13 ships in Cognac Brown and Bordeaux Burgundy colors, weighs 3.28 pounds, and measures just 0.60 inches thick.
2-in-1: Spectre x360
Moving on to HP's mainstream 2-in-1 family, the company provides 13.3- and 15.6-inch form factors in set and customizable configurations starting at $1,004.
The smaller 13.3-inch model provides an IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. It's backed by eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8250U and Core i7-8550U processors, integrated graphics, and 8GB or 16GB of system memory. Storage ranges from 256GB to 2TB on a PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.
Meanwhile, the 15.6-inch version has an IPS screen locked at 3,840 x 2,160. You'll find options for the Core i7-8550U chip paired with Nvidia's MX 150 discrete graphics chip, the Core i7-8705G module packing built-in Radeon RX Vega M graphics, and the Core i7-8750H CPU paired with Nvidia's GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q GPU. System memory options span 8GB to 16GB capacities.
Across the board, you'll see plenty of connectivity including up to two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one USB-C (5Gbps), a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. The 15.6-inch model has an additional USB-A port (5Gbps), though the Core i7-8705G configuration swaps out this port for a Thunderbolt 3 connector.
Finally, the 13.3-inch model measures 0.53 inches thick, weighs 2.78 pounds, and relies on a 60Wh battery. The 15.6-inch model is a thicker 0.76 inches, weighs 4.59 pounds, and uses a larger 84Wh battery.
Other 2-in-1s sold by HP include the Envy x360, the Pavilion x360, and the Chromebook x360 in three screen sizes.
Detachable: HP Envy x2
With a starting price of $899, this detachable PC features a 12.3-inch IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. It's served up in two flavors: One with a seventh-generation Core i5-7Y54 processor and one with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chip, both of which support 4G LTE connectivity. Otherwise, the specifications are mostly similar across the board.
The HP Envy x2 includes 4GB of system memory and 128GB of storage. Both have Wireless AC connectivity, though the Intel model provides Bluetooth 4.2 and the Qualcomm model offers the newer Bluetooth 5.0. You'll also find one 3.5mm audio combo jack, one Nano SIM slot, and two USB-C ports (5Gbps) on the Intel model. The Qualcomm model has a similar port complement save for having only one USB-C connection instead of two.
Finally, the Intel model has a 5MP camera on the front supporting face recognition and Windows Hello along with a 13MP camera on the back. The Qualcomm model has the same setup but without the face recognition component. Both ship with the HP Pen stylus.
The Intel model measures 0.31 inches thick and weighs up to 2.53 pounds. The Qualcomm model measures 0.27 inches thick and weighs up to 2.67 pounds.
Traditional: HP Envy 17t
You'll find three starting points with this traditional laptop starting at $799. They're based on a 17.3-inch IPS display with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. It's backed by Intel's eighth-generation Core i7-8550U processor, discrete GeForce MX 150 graphics, and system memory ranging from 8GB to 16GB.
If you're still clinging to physical media, this laptop provides a DVD writer. Other storage options include a 1TB hard drive paired with 16GB of Intel Optane memory, a 128GB SSD, or a 256GB SDD. A stand-alone 512GB SSD is available as well if you're wanting to move away from old-school mechanical hard drives.
Other goodies thrown into this clamshell laptop include wired Ethernet connectivity, a full SD card reader, one USB-C port (5Gbps), three USB-A ports (5Gbps), HDMI output, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and an HP Wide Vision HD camera. It's powered by a 52.5Wh battery promising up to 11 hours using the 1,920 x 1,080 display.
The HP Envy 17t measures 0.91 inches thick and weighs 6.63 pounds. Other laptops include the HP Pavilion 15t (Intel) and the Pavilion 15z (AMD).
Budget: HP Laptop 17
Like the HP Envy 17, this no-brand laptop relies on a 17.3-inch display, though HP locks the 1,920 x 1,080 resolution to IPS panels and the 1,600 x 900 resolution to SVA panels. From there you will find two starting points: The 17t relying on Intel processors and the 17z using AMD-based chips.
For starters, the HP Laptop 17t offers Intel's seventh-generation Core i7-7500U and its newer eighth-generation Core i7-8550U chip backed by integrated graphics or a discrete AMD Radeon 530 GPU. Memory capacity ranges from 8GB to 16GB while the storage options feature hard drives, SSDs, and a mixture of both. You'll even find 16GB of Intel Optane memory to increase hard drive performance.
The HP Laptop 17z relies on four different AMD processors, three of which are first-generation Ryzen chips for mobile with integrated Vega graphics. You'll find the same memory capacities, but storage options are different, like removing the Intel Optane memory and adding a stand-alone 256GB SSD. Whether you choose Team AMD or Team Intel, this laptop provides a DVD writer on both.
The port options are identical, providing HDMI output, one 3.5mm audio combo jack, wired networking, one older USB-A port (480Mbps), two modern USB-A ports (5Gbps), and an SD card slot. Rounding out both packages is an HP TrueVision HD camera and a 41Wh battery promising up to seven hours using a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution.
Both models measure 0.96 inches thick while the AMD configurations weigh 5.63 pounds and the Intel configurations weigh 5.41 pounds.
Other budget laptops sold by HP include the HP Laptop 15t / 15z, the HP Laptop 14z, the HP Stream 14, and the HP Stream 11.
Chrome OS: HP Chromebook x360 14
With this Chromebook, HP doesn't offer any customization or configurations outside the $549 model. It has a 14-inch IPS display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution powered by Intel's eighth-generation Core i3-8130U processor and integrated graphics. Complementing this screen is a 360-degree hinge enabling laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes.
In addition to Intel's processor, you'll find 8GB of system memory and 64GB of storage under the hood. You also get a microSD card slot to add even more storage, two USB-C ports (5Gbps), two USB-A ports (5Gbps), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. Connectivity includes Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2.
Powering this 2-in-1 Chromebook is a 60Wh battery promising up to 13 hours and 30 minutes. It measures 0.63 inches thick and weighs a mere 3.7 pounds.
Other Chromebooks sold by HP include the HP Chromebook 14, the HP Chromebook 11, and the HP Chromebook x2 detachable.
Best HP laptops for gaming
Premium gaming: Omen X
If you're willing to pay a premium price for premium on-the-go gaming, this is the HP laptop for you. Currently, HP provides only one configuration on its website, though you'll find at least two set configurations on Amazon. The two we found are based on a 17.3-inch IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution at 120Hz.
According to one listing, the Omen X pairs a seventh-generation Core i7-7700HQ processor with a discrete GeForce GTX 1070 graphics chip. For $250 more, you can get the same laptop with a beefier Core i7-7820HK processor paired with a GTX 1080 GPU. Either way, both CPU/GPU sets are somewhat outdated given Intel is now in its eighth generation – with new six-core chips to boot – while Nvidia just introduced its RTX 20 Series for mobile in January.
Related: The best laptops with the RTX 2080
Omen X HP laptops typically include up to 32GB of system memory, up to 512GB on an SSD, and a second 1TB hard drive. Other ingredients include an Ethernet port, an SD card reader, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40Gbps), three USB-A ports (5Gbps), one Mini DisplayPort jack, HDMI output, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a dedicated microphone jack.
Powering this gaming beast is a 99Wh battery and a 330-watt power supply, It measures 1.43 inches thick and weighs 10.73 pounds.
Other premium HP laptops for gamers include the Omen 17t and the Omen 15t.
Budget gaming: Pavilion Gaming 15t
If you're not willing to pay the premium Omen-branded price, the Pavilion HP laptops are your next best bet. You'll find one set configuration at $859 and two customizable starting points at $909 and $919 on HP's website. All three are based on a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 screen resolution. The 1,920 x 1,080 panel provides an optional 144Hz refresh rate as well.
Overall, you'll see eighth-generation Intel Core i5-8300H and Core i7-8750H processors along with discrete GTX 1050, GTX 1050 Ti, and GTX 1060 with Max-Q graphics. System memory ranges between 8GB and 16GB using DDR4 sticks clocked at 2,666MHz while storage features dual drives using stick-shaped SSDs and hard drives.
For ports, this Pavilion gaming laptop provides plenty of connectivity such as wired networking, HDMI output, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, one USB-C port (5Gbps), two USB-A ports (5Gbps), and an SD card reader. Completing the package is a Full HD camera with facial recognition, an HD camera without the IR component, Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2 or 5.0 connectivity.
The Pavilion Gaming 15t measures an inch thick and weighs up to 5.18 pounds. It's powered by a 52.5Wh battery or a 70Wh model, depending on the graphics chip inside.
Best HP laptops for business
Ultra-thin: HP EliteBook 1050 G1
HP's professional EliteBook 1000 family breaks down into three sizes: The 1050 models with a 15.6-inch screen, the 1040 models with a 14-inch screen, and the 1030 models with a 13.3-inch screen. Naturally, the 1030 is the thinnest and lightest model in the group at 0.59 inches thick and 2.82 pounds. However, the larger 1050 version currently has newer hardware.
With a starting price of $1,799, the EliteBook 1050 has a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. Configurations span across four eighth-generation Intel processors from the Core i5-8300H to the Core i7-8850H and optional GeForce GTX 1050 discrete graphics. System memory options span from 8GB to 32GB.
For storage, HP provides dual-storage options mostly relying on PCIe NVMe M.2 SSDs from 256GB to 2TB while also supporting self-encrypting OPAL 2-based SSDs. You'll also find two Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports (5Gbps), one 3.5mm audio combo jack, HDMI output, and an SD card reader. You can even configure this laptop with a fingerprint scanner and/or an IR camera installed with the 720p webcam.
This laptop weighs 4.54 pounds and measures 0.74 inches thick. If you want something smaller but don't mind older hardware, the current EliteBook 1040 (G4) measures 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.99 pounds.
2-in-1: HP EliteBook x360 1040 G5
Like the main EliteBook branding, size depends on the name: 1040 for the 14-inch models, 1030 for the 13.3-inch versions, and 1020 for the 12-inch models. For the 1040, you'll currently find only one configuration starting point at $2,050 on HP's website.
Packing an IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, this 2-in-1 relies on a hinge enabling laptop, stand, tent, and tablet modes. Configurations span four eighth-generation processor options from the Core i5-8250U to the Core i7-8550U. System memory spans 8GB to 16GB while the storage options range from 128GB to 2TB using Opal 3 SATA-based SSDs, regular SATA-based SSDs, and speedier M.2 PCIe NVMe models.
For ports, the complement consists of two Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports (5Gbps), a headphone jack, HDMI output, and a Nano SIM card slot for 4G LTE connectivity. You also get Wireless AC, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 1080p camera with an IR component for face recognition.
This professional 2-in-1 measures just 0.66 inches thick, weighs 2.99 pounds, and packs a 56Wh battery. It ships with an optional Wacom AES 2.0 pen sporting an app launch button.
Other 2-in-1s in HP's professional arsenal include the ProBook x360 440 (G1), and the ProBook x360 11 (G3).
Detachable: HP Elite x2 1013 G3
If you'd rather have a detachable, the 1030 is the largest in HP's premium Elite 1000 Series portfolio. You can customize this device through HP's website starting at $1,637 or purchase a set configuration through Amazon costing $1,589. You may also find other set configurations through HP's business-oriented resellers.
The new Elite x2 2013 has a 13-inch IPS screen with an unusual 3,000 x 2,000 resolution, support for 100 percent of the sRGB color space, and a maximum brightness of 450 nits. Backing this screen is an eighth-generation Core i5-8250U processor, integrated graphics, 8GB of system memory, and a speedy 256GB SSD.
For ports, the tablet portion provides a Nano SIM card slot for 4G LTE connectivity, two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40Gbps), one USB-C port (5Gbps), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. The 720p webcam includes an IR component supporting face recognition and Windows Hello.
On its own, the tablet portion measures 0.31 inches thick and weighs 1.78 pounds. With the included keyboard attached, the entire unit measures 0.52 inches thick and weighs 2.59 pounds. Powering the device is a 50Wh battery promising up to 10 hours and 30 minutes.
Other professional detachables sold by HP include the HP Elite x2 1012 G2, HP Pro x2 612 G2, and HP x2 210 G2.
Traditional: EliteBook 850 G5
Like its 2-in-1s and detachables, HP brands its EliteBook laptops by size: The 850 models with a 15.6-inch screen, the 840 models with a 14-inch screen, and the 830 models with a 13.3-inch screen. Here we chose the larger units in the trio, but naturally you can go smaller for thinner, lighter, and cheaper solutions.
With a $1,685 starting price on HP's website, the EliteBook 850 features a 15.6-inch UWVA panel with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, and optional touch support. It's complemented by a 720p camera with an optional IR component for face recognition, and an optional fingerprint scanner, both of which are supported by Windows Hello.
You can configure this traditional laptop with three eighth-generation processors from the Core i5-8250U to the Core i7-8550U, and an optional discrete Radeon RX 540 graphics chip. Memory spans from 8GB to 32GB while storage relies on one of three SSD types ranging from 128GB to 1TB.
Other ingredients thrown onto the menu include one Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB-A ports (5Gbps), one HDMI port, wired networking, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, a smart card reader, a Nano Sim card slot, Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. Powering this device is a 56Wh battery.
The EliteBook 850 measures 0.72 inches thick and weighs up to 4.37 pounds.
Other traditional laptops for business include the EliteBook 700 series, the ProBook 600 Series (G4), and the ProBook 400 Series (G5).
Budget: HP 250 G7
If your business isn't willing to spend loads of money on a laptop, the HP 250 G7 should fit the bill. Starting at $599, you'll find various configurations across HP's official resellers based on six Intel processors ranging from the Celeron N3060 to the Core i7-8565U. They're all designed around a 15.6-inch SVA screen with a 1,366 x 768 or 1,929 x 1,080 resolution.
For graphics, the laptop relies on Intel's integrated component or an optional GeForce MX110 discrete graphics chip. System memory ranges between 4GB and 16GB while storage consists of hard drives and SSDs with difference capacities and speeds. HP even throws in a DVD writer if you're still clinging to physical media to store files.
This laptop's port complement includes two USB-A ports (5Gbps), another slower USB-A port (480Mbps), HDMI output, wired networking, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and an SD card reader. Other features include Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, an HD or VGA camera, and a 41Wh battery promising up to 12 hours and 45 minutes.
The HP 250 G7 measures 0.89 inches thick and weighs 3.91 pounds. Meanwhile, two configurations of HP 255 G7 are also available using AMD's all-in-one processors starting at $379.
Chrome OS: HP Chromebook 14 G5
If you're wanting to escape Windows altogether, HP's Chromebooks are a cheap solution as well. The Chromebook 14 is the largest HP has to offer for business based on a 14-inch display and Intel Celeron processors. You can choose from three set configurations starting at a mere $289 or customize the device on HP's website to fit your needs starting at $352.
Configurations include a 14-inch SVA panel with a 1,366 x 768 resolution or an IPS panel with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Processors consist of the Celeron N3350 and the Celeron N3450 while system memory ranges from 4GB to 8GB and storage spans 16GB to 64GB.
This Chromebook includes two USB-C ports (5Gbps), a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a microSD card slot. You'll also find Wireless AC and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, an HD webcam, and a 47Wh battery. HP's Classroom Manager software is pre-installed as well.
This Chromebook measures 0.72 inches thick and weighs 3.39 pounds.
Other business-class Chromebooks include the HP Chromebook x360 14 G1, the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 Education Edition, the HP Chromebook 13 G1, and the HP Chromebook 11 G6 Education Edition.
Workstation: HP ZBook Studio G5
Businesses wanting the power of a desktop workstation in a semi-thin and light form factor may want to consider the ZBook Studio. You can purchase three set configurations starting at $1,724 or go with customizing the laptop for a starting price of $1,948 on HP's website.
Overall, the ZBook Studio G5 provides a 15.6-inch UWVA display with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. Under the hood, the hardware list is rather extensive, spanning five mainstream eighth-generation Intel CPUs up to the Core i9-8950HK, and two eighth-generation Xeon E 2100M chips. For graphics, you can fall back on Intel's integrated component or option for Nvidia discrete Quadro P1000 graphics chip.
System memory ranges from 8GB to 64GB while the workstation packs up to three storage devices: Two M.2 SSDs from 256GB to 2TB, and a 2.5-inch hard drive or SSD from 500GB to 2TB. These storage devices include self-encrypted models, drives based on the slower SATA connection, and speedier models using PCIe connections.
For ports, the workstation provides plenty of connectivity including an SD card reader, two USB-C ports (5Gbps), one HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40Gbps). Security features include an optional fingerprint scanner and an IR camera.
Finally, this workstation relies on a 64Wh battery when using integrated graphics and a 95.6Wh battery with the Quadro GPU installed. It weighs 0.69 inches thick despite all the hardware packed inside and weighs around 4.54 pounds.
Other workstations include the HP ZBook Studio x360, the HP ZBook 17, the ZBook 15, the ZBook 14, and the ZBook x2.
This concludes our latest broadcast of the best HP laptops you can buy right now. Keep tuning in for an updated list as newer models hit the streets. Meanwhile, if we missed a great laptop that needs recognition, let us know in the comments!
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