This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
A dependable laptop is one of life's essentials — like water, oxygen, or a roof over your head. Sure, we all have smartphones that are basically tiny computers stashed in our pockets. But the power and precision of a laptop with a full keyboard, ample storage, and a dedicated processor just makes it so much easier to work, study, play games, stream entertainment, create art, and so much more.
If you're in the market for a new laptop, we recommend HP, which has a range of respectable laptops — from your simple and affordable Chromebook laptops to high-end choices with more graphical and processing power.
But all the technical talk can get a little overwhelming. So before we jump into the best HP laptop picks below, we should first take a look at all the little things that matter.
What components are most important when choosing a laptop?
Beyond all the different types of HP laptops, you'll also want to consider the inner components that make them (and any other laptop) what they are:
CPU — The central processing unit is basically the brains behind your laptop. It determines how fast your computer can run. If you're just planning to use your laptop for simple things like email, browsing the web, and writing reports, then you don't necessarily need the highest spec processor. But if you plan to run heavy-duty software, such as that for games or video editing, then you'll need something powerful.
GPU — The graphics processing unit — also known as the graphics card — is sort of like the beauty to the CPU's brains. The better the GPU, the better things will look on your laptop, especially when it comes to rendering high-quality video games.
RAM — Random-access memory provides short-term storage for applications that are currently running so that you can access the info you need quickly. If you tend to do a lot of multi-tasking, you won't want to dip below 8GB of RAM.
Storage — Besides the amount of storage space, you're also likely to be faced with a choice between a hard drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD storage). Fast-working SSD is most common in laptops now. Depending on your intended usage, you may or may not need to splurge on the highest-tier option.
Display — Your GPU is only as good as your display, so make sure you're opting for a screen with at least 1080p resolution to enjoy the best views. A typical gaming laptop will have a display of 15 inches or larger, though you can find more portable options as small as 11 inches. And consider whether or not you want a laptop with a touchscreen surface. These can come in handy for artistic endeavours and note-taking.
Ports — Beyond what's inside, you might also consider the available ports on your laptop of choice. For example, if you need to a microphone, mouse, or miscroSD card, then you'll want to make sure your laptop has enough inputs to get the job done.
Keep these things in mind when shopping for a HP laptop.
Are HP laptops good for gaming?
HP offers a variety of high-quality gaming laptops that are powerful enough to handle the most popular (and most epic) games. In fact, they don't just handle them; they deliver gameplay that's so smooth on displays that are so vivid, that you'll easily become immersed in your favourite fantasy worlds. HP has even dedicated an entire lineup to gaming — the Omen series of laptops. Not only are they powerful, but they're impressively portable, too.
Can you find convertible HP laptops?
HP also offers a wide variety of 2-in-1 laptops, though they don't all belong to one specific line. Rather, there are convertible versions of many of HP's top laptop styles, such as the Spectre. You'll know the convertible styles when you see them because they all have "x360" in their name, a reference to the fact that their screen can flip a full 360 degrees backward to turn itself into a touch screen tablet. Because there are so many different models that offer convertibility, HP makes it easier than ever to enjoy the convenience and adaptability of a 2-in-1 laptop, regardless of your required specs.
What is a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a type of budget laptop that operates exclusively on Google Chrome browser and operating system. For those who just need to browse the internet, answer some emails, and do a little word processing, an entry-level Chromebook is the perfect fit. HP offers a vast array of affordable Chromebook laptops starting as low as £200, if all you really need is the bare bones.
What is the best HP laptop?
Now that you know pretty much everything about choosing a laptop, we can move on to the best HP laptops to fit just about every need, from gamers to business professionals to young students. We've lined up a selection of the best HP laptops for just about everyone and every budget. All you need to do is check out everything in this list, and find the option that best suits your needs.
These are the best HP laptops in 2023.
