HP Flagship Laptop Review: Pros, Cons, Specs & More

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HP Flagship Laptop

HP Flagship Laptop

USD
8.6

Value for Money Score

8.6/10

Reliability Score

8.6/10

Performance Score

8.7/10

Specifications and Features Score

8.5/10

Design Score

8.6/10

Pros

  • Large screen
  • Separate 10-key number keypad
  • DVD/CD drive
  • Good audio
  • Enough ports

Cons

  • Integrated graphics card
  • Bit heavy
  • Off-center touchpad
  • Thick bezel
  • Non-backlit keyboard

Verdict

The HP Flagship laptop is good enough for professionals and average consumers for working from home or office, a college student, and an average user. The specs are good enough to support all basic computing tasks as well as some advanced ones like video editing.

If an HD screen is not a concern, the price and performance of this laptop shouldn’t.

HP Flagship Laptop & Variants Price

Introduction

If you want a laptop that is high in price-performance ratio, then HP Flagship is the one you should go for.

This is one of the most dependable laptops available on the market today that comes with all the specs and hardware that will ensure a high owner satisfaction and user experience.

Whether it is the processor or the graphics, the screen or the keyboard, it will meet all your computing needs while you work from home or from the office, or use it in your college classrooms.

The design and build quality of the system is pretty good and it will provide adequate app support.

You can rely on the compatibility aspect of this machine as well as its functionality and control, all due to the high hardware performance.

Whether it is the operating system or the device on the whole, it is easy to use. Check out most reliable laptop brands.

Though the battery life is something that the manufacturers could have done better on, this system is still good enough for web browsing and streaming videos.

The good quality speakers will add to your multimedia experience and even while playing some simple games on this machine.

Though a bit heavy to carry all day, you can rely on the connectivity features of this laptop if you want to use it outdoors or on the go.

With a nice and large keyboard to type on, this reliable and high performing machine will provide you with the right value for your money, which is pretty less as compared to the other laptops available on the market today.

HP Flagship Laptop

Buy for: Full-size keyboard, sensitive trackpad, SD card reader, good price-performance ratio.

Beware of: No Thunderbolt 3, average battery life, average display, wi-fi connectivity issues, noisy fan.

Best Uses for: Working from home, working on excel, word, moderate users and other purposes.

The Alternatives:

Design and Build

The design of this laptop may not be that exceptional or unique as other high-end computers, but will surely serve your purpose whether you use it indoors at a fixed location or carry it with you on the go.

The screen of this laptop is very large and quite good, though it is only HD. However, this 17.3-inch HD + SVA display exhibits images at 1600 x 900 pixels resolution which is more than enough if you work at home and quite enough if you work on it on the go.

HP Flagship Laptop Display

The screen also has pretty thick bezel all around which may be good for its protection but certainly adds on to the weight and reduces the real estate of it.

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However, the good things about the design of this display are that it comes with Brightview technology to exhibit clearer images and is WLED-backlit which consumes less energy.

The keyboard of this machine does not come with backlights but that does not keep it back from providing you with a better and faster typing experience with high level of accuracy.

The keys are well spaced and large enough to allow typing fast, even if you have large fingers.

These keys have a good travel distance and feedback and you can feel the mild click when you press each one of them.

The best part of the keyboard is that it comes with a discrete 10-key number keypad which allows faster and more accurate data entry.

The trackpad is good and responsive enough. It is quite large to allow easy use and also comes with distinct right and left key buttons.

However, it is located slightly on the left side of the palm rest and not at the center. This may cause some inconvenience while typing, especially if you are not careful about your left palm touching it.

Performance

The processor of this machine belongs to the 8th generation of the Intel Core i5 family.

This 8265U processor comes with a 6 MB Intel smart cache and its 14 nm lithography ensures that all its four cores and eight threads run at a frequency within the range of 1.60 GHz and up to 3.90 GHz at base and boost clock, using the Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, respectively.

This provides better and faster processing results as well as enhances the efficiency of the processor which by itself has a 4 GT/s bus speed and a TDP difference of 15 W, with 10 W in the lower extreme at 800 MHz down frequency and 25 W in the higher end with a high frequency of 1.80 GHz.

The Intel HD Graphics 620 is integrated but that does not take away its credit in enhancing the performance of the system by even an iota.

With a base and maximum dynamic frequency ranging between 300 MHz and 1.10 GHz, this can even support 4K output at 60 Hz, apart from its orthodox eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI graphics output support, though for HDMI the refresh rate will be quite low at 24 Hz.

However, the fact that it supports DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.5, Intel Quick Sync Video and Clear Video technology with or without HD, makes it all the more efficient in performance and support even as many as three displays.

There is very little to say about the performance and functionality of the Windows 10 operating system that this device comes preinstalled with.

This Home version comes with a 64-bit architecture and brings back the Start Menu as well as a few useful new features such as the Edge Web browser.

This allows you to markup the web pages directly on your screen. All other features that you are familiar with will ensure that you have a very high user experience and easy navigation.

RAM & Storage

The 16 GB of RAM is actually upgraded and it allows easy and smooth multitasking.

It has adequate bandwidth and a high capability to allow running several browser tabs and multiple apps, all at the same time.

The hard drive of this system is also upgraded to 512 GB and since it is an SSD it is able to load the apps fast and boot the system quickly. You can access the files stored in it pretty quickly as well to work on them with ease.

Though not massive, this SSD will provide you with adequate storage space to save your day-to-day projects and even some huge files of digital data.

Both the RAM as well as the SSD storage will enhance your overall performance and productivity, whether you use it for business, studying, daily home computing purpose, or for simple gaming.

Ports & Connectivity

The machine allows connecting different devices and accessories externally to it through different ports and slots included and located on its two sides.

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HP Flagship Laptop Ports

It comes with two USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type A port, one USB 2.0 Gen 1 Type A port, one USB Type C port, one HDMI port to connect external displays, as well as a headphone output and microphone input combo jack.

There is also a multi-format SD media card reader slot included on the right side of the chassis.

The system supports different types of network and communication. It supports hotspots on most of the common wi-fi standards as well as Bluetooth.

Battery Life

The 3-cell lithium-ion battery however, comes with just an average battery life.

Starting to work with a full battery, the power will last for about 6 to 8 hours for mixed usage, that too with the battery saver mode on, but much less when you play games on it, depending on the power settings.

However, while using some specific apps you will need to disable the battery saver mode for best results.

Additional Features

Much unlike most of the modern laptops, especially those that belong within this specific price range, does not come with an optical drive.

However, this laptop comes with a separate DVD/CD burner, which ideally is one of the causes for its additional weight.

The system will provide quite good audio experience with its set of dual stereo speakers. Incorporated with DTS Studio Sound technology the rich sound with high volume and bass will fill the room and will enhance your multimedia experience.

As for the camera, there is a 720p HD webcam integrated in the laptop which is good enough to capture pictures that are clear enough.

HP Flagship Laptop Webcam

The integrated mics capture the sound clearly as well when you speak while making a video call.

The manufacturer ships this item with a limited warranty for one year on hardware defects.

However, it is best to check the warranty section out before purchase to know about its details.

Specs:

  • Brand: HP
  • Screen: 17.3 inches
  • Display: HD + SVA (1600 x 900)
  • Storage: 512 GB
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage Type: SSD
  • RAM Type: DDR4 SDRAM
  • Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i5 8265U
  • Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
  • Processor Speed: 1.60 GHz
  • Processor Brand: Intel
  • Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 16.3 x 1 inches
  • Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit

The User Views About HP Flagship Laptop?

A few users gave examples of their kids, who have not yet reached the teens, when they explained the positives about this laptop.

They said that it is even easy for a ten-year-old kid to run the video editing software that they use for their professional job.

The processor is fast, just as the SSD which allows the system to boot up pretty fast.

The specs and configurations of this laptop is good, if not the best, that they could find at this price point, they added.

Other positives about this laptop were pointed out by some other users.

They said that, though this system comes with S mode, it is easy to take out of it and load the apps and software they want to use for their office jobs while working from home.

The large and easy to type keyboard comes with a separate 10-key number pad which makes it easy for them to make the data entries fast. With all these features in it, this is a good laptop for students and professionals as well, they thought.

The SSD is incredibly fast and the sound is pretty good for even the deaf ears, said a few users, somewhat exaggeratingly.

The trackpad is large and responsive to touches. The system can take on and handle anything that they throw at it most easily, efficiently, and quickly.

In short, they said, that this device provides an outstanding value in return both in terms of money and performance and it certainly provides them much more than they expected from a 17-inch laptop at this price point.

The screen quality and type could have been much better and it should have come with a thinner bezel, said a few particular users.

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The thick bezel sort of eats up the real estate of the screen. However, apart from that they are happy with its price-performance ratio and its right size, both electronically and physically.

This, according to them, is one of the best laptops available on the market today for personal use, research work, banking, finance and accounting, web browsing, emails, word processing, students, professionals, and even for working from home, which is the new normal after the COVID pandemic.

They got just what they needed from a laptop on budget, said a few users. Right from the screen to the keyboard, from the processor to the SSD, everything seems to be carefully designed and incorporated into this laptop.

However, they thought that a backlit keyboard would have been much more helpful but that is understandable considering the price of this machine. It is really a big deal!

On the other hand, a few users said that this is just an ‘ok’ sort of a laptop. They said that the screen is just okay but not a full HD, the fan is noisy, and they had difficulty in running a few programs that they wanted to use for their jobs.

They specifically pointed out that this laptop is a step down from the other HP models and it is quite noticeable in its performance, design, and specs as well. They are certainly not happy with their purchase.

The most significant thing that they liked about this laptop however, is its affordable price.

There were also a few users who even criticized the term ‘Flagship.’ They wondered what it really meant when HP named it so.

It lags in a few specific aspects of its performance and the hardware seems to be more prone to wear and tear than the other laptops that they have and use currently.

Logging in, booting up, wi-fi connectivity, everything seems to have a problem in functioning, they said, and it takes a longer time than it should ideally. It is a pure frustration and disappointment, they said, though the price is pretty low.

Our Testing & Analysis Report

On testing the HP Flagship laptop, our tech team did not find any expensive or exceptionally good hardware components inside it.

Instead, it has all the necessary parts that support all basic computing tasks. However, they feel that the screen and cooling system ought to be better.

When we tested the computer by doing some basic Word and Excel tasks, we found that the configuration of the device was just good enough to offer a reasonably good Windows 10 experience.

The keyboard is quite good and makes typing quite easy, but we found that the function keys are a tad small and the space bar is pretty noisy compared to the other keys.

Our tech team found that the hinge of the device they tested was rigid but stayed stable up to a point. They also found that there are several blocks to stumble over and overcome by any technician for repairing or maintaining the laptop.

When testing the Wi-Fi module, our team found that based on the iPerf results, it is a bit slow compared to others with similar specs.

About Puja Chatterjee

AvatarPuja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.

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Puja Chatterjee
Puja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.
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