The Best HP Laptops in 2023 | Digital Trends

HP offers several excellent laptop lines that are tailored for professionals, traveling, and student use, and it generally makes great all-purpose laptop models for those who want dependability and performance. HP laptops show up on our best laptops and best 2-in-1s lists, among others. However, picking and customizing an HP laptop can be a confusing process for newcomers, and it’s not always immediately clear what differences mark the various HP lines, nor which is the best pick.

Allow us to make the choice easier with our list of the best HP laptops available in 2023, and an explanation of what each model excels at.

HP Spectre x360 13.5

An elegant and refined convertible 2-in-1 and the best HP laptop

Why you should buy this: It’s the best convertible 2-in-1 you can buy, and one of the best laptops, period.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants an elegant, well-built, and well-performing 2-in-1.

Why we picked the HP Spectre X360 13.5:

The Spectre X360 13.5 is a revised version of the excellent Spectre x360 14, rounding out the gem-cut aesthetic and toning down the color scheme. It retains the functional notches in the display and rear chassis and offers an even more elegant look. An upgrade to 15-watt Intel 12th-gen CPUs provides excellent productivity performance and surprisingly good battery life given the spectacular 13.5-inch 3:2 3K (3000 x 2000) OLED display.

The keyboard is snappy and precise, offering one of the most comfortable typing experiences in a Windows laptop, while the touchpad is large enough and offers a solid experience. The touch display supports HP’s excellent active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support, and USB-C charging.

Ports for the model include two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 connections, a USB-A 3.2 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 provide up-to-date connectivity.

HP Envy 16

A fast and well-built creative workstation

Why you should buy this: HP’s 15-inch laptop has excellent upgrade options and a solid design.

Who it’s for: Buyers who want to focus on performance in a laptop that will last.

Why we picked the HP Envy 16:

HP’s Envy 16 provides excellent performance at a relatively affordable price, an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a desktop replacement or a laptop that can also handle the bulk of their work. The model comes with a baseline 45-watt 12th-gen 12-core/16-thread Intel Core i5-12500H processor, Intel Arce A370M GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 16-inch 16:10 WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS non-touch display running at 120Hz.

But one of the things that makes the Envy 16 so great is just how far you can upgrade. Those interested can improve the processor to a Core i9-12900H, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, and a 4K+ (3,840 x 2,400) OLED display.

Ports are also ready for just about anything you can throw at them, with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. One of the few downsides we can find is that it’s a bit bulky and heavy (5.12 pounds) compared to rival laptop options, making it slightly less portable than some competition. As a desktop replacement, though, it’s difficult to find anything better for the general user.

HP Elite Dragonfly G3

A thin and light, first-class business laptop

Why you should buy this: The Dragonfly is a portable and well-built business-class laptop.

Who it’s for: Commuters, frequent fliers, those with a full schedule of business trips, and similar situations.

Why we picked the HP Elite Dragonfly G3:

The Elite Dragonfly G3 was made for businesspeople, particularly those workers who frequently commute and go on trips. It’s only around 2.19 pounds to start with, making it one of the lightest laptops around, but it includes more performance features than many other compact laptops. That includes up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB PCI-e Gen4 SSD. The 13.5-inch 3:2 display options range from a WUXGA+ low-power IPS display to a 3K2K OLED touch panel.

This travel companion does have to make a few compromises, stocking 15-watt 12th-gen Intel CPUs that are both fast and power-efficient. The laptop also comes equipped with two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A 3.1, and HDMI 2.1., plus an optional Nano SIM slot if you are interested in adding 5G WWAN data capabilities for your travels.

Finally, if you’re concerned about privacy, there is a version of the Elite Dragonfly G3 that comes with SureView, HP’s privacy filter that will help keep unwanted eyes from looking at your work. This may be an enjoyable option if you spend a lot of time working on planes or trains during transit.

HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook

The best Chromebook you can buy

Why you should buy this: It’s an inexpensive laptop that’s perfect for portability and light work.

Who it’s for: Students, those looking for an affordable laptop option, and people happy with Chrome OS.

Why we picked the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook:

HP produces some solid Chromebooks, with different options for buyers looking for a highly affordable laptop that’s well-suited for lighter work and easy transportation between classrooms or jobs. The Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is in a class by itself, though, offering the most innovations you’ll find on any Chromebook while being a bit more expensive than most.

To begin with, HP introduced the first haptic touchpad on a Chromebook with the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, and the newer model has an equally excellent version with tons of precision and a surface that’s completely clickable. The Dragonfly Pro Chromebook also has an RGB keyboard, the first on a non-gaming Chromebook. HP even offers 24/7 live support with the laptop, free for the first year, that’s easily accessible by clicking a single button.

There’s also 16GB of RAM and 256GB of PCIe SSD storage to work with, which is plenty for Chrome OS. Remember, a Chromebook’s goal is to provide a super-portable laptop for quick work and a reliance on Chrome OS and cloud computing. These specs provide a ton of operating room for Google’s lightweight OS. The only downside is the high price for a Chromebook, but even so, it’s well worth it.

HP Pavilion Plus 14

An outstanding budget laptop option

Why you should buy this: It’s an affordable laptop with a 90Hz OLED display.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a well-built and fast laptop with a spectacular display.

Why we picked the HP Pavilion Plus 14:

It’s not easy to find a laptop with a 14-inch 16:10 OLED display running at 90Hz, let alone one that comes in at under $1,000. That’s the HP Pavilion Plus 14, which is a good-looking machine with excellent specifications that’s surprisingly affordable. An aluminum chassis is solidly built and rivals laptops that cost significantly more, with an attractive aesthetic.

Inside is up to an Intel Core i7-12700H and up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD. Connectivity includes two USB-C 3.2 ports, a USB-A 3.2 port, an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader.

And again, we can’t stress enough that this is a laptop that you can purchase for under $1,000. There are few laptops that provide such an excellent experience for such a reasonable price.

HP Envy x360 13

An ultra-affordable 2-in-1 with an awesome display

Why you should buy this: It’s a budget 2-in-1 with a premium design and display.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a 2-in-1 with a gorgeous display that won’t break the bank.

Why we picked the HP Envy 360 13:

Want a well-built, attractive 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 with a 2.8K OLED display for just $900? Or, with an excellent IPS display for just $700? Then the Envy x360 13 is the laptop for you.

You’ll get excellent 12th-gen Intel performance, excellent battery life, and a great keyboard and touchpad. Connectivity is solid, with Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6E, so you can stay connected without compromise.

There aren’t many 2-in-1s this well-built that are anywhere near $1,000. The Envy x360 13 just happens to be one that’s even less.

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