Best HP Laptop 15z (2024) Review
Introducing the HP Laptop 15z, where sleek design meets powerful performance to redefine your computing experience. Crafted with precision and innovation, this laptop is your gateway to seamless productivity, immersive entertainment, and effortless multitasking.
Whether you’re a professional navigating through demanding workloads or a multimedia enthusiast indulging in rich visuals, the HP Laptop 15z is engineered to exceed your expectations.
Powered by cutting-edge AMD processors, this laptop delivers lightning-fast speeds and responsive performance, ensuring smooth execution of tasks and applications.
Its vibrant 15.6-inch display with optional touchscreen capability brings your content to life with stunning clarity and detail, making every image and video pop with vivid colors and sharp contrast.
Designed for on-the-go convenience, the HP Laptop 15z boasts a sleek and lightweight chassis that effortlessly slips into your bag, so you can take your work and entertainment wherever you go.
Equipped with an array of ports and connectivity options, including USB Type-C, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6, staying connected and productive has never been easier.
Enhanced with HP TrueVision HD Webcam and dual array digital microphone, this laptop ensures crystal-clear video calls and voice chats, keeping you connected with colleagues, friends, and family with lifelike clarity and precision.
With a range of customization options available, including memory, storage, and graphics configurations, you can personalize your HP Laptop 15z to suit your specific needs and preferences.
Discover a new level of performance, versatility, and style with the HP Laptop 15z, your ultimate companion for work, entertainment, and everything in between.
Experience the perfect blend of form and function, where power meets portability, and innovation meets affordability. Welcome to a world of endless possibilities with the HP Laptop 15z.
Headlines often spotlight premium laptops, yet it’s the budget-friendly ones that truly cater to the masses. HP’s entry-level 15.6-inch Windows laptop, the Laptop 15z, kicks off at a mere $279.99 ($609.99 in the tested configuration).
It covers the basics for home and school use and boasts decent battery life. However, it falls short in terms of build quality, display, and keyboard, even by budget standards. For a more enticing option, consider the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15, or opt for the Acer Aspire 5 by investing a bit extra.
The Design: No-Frills Economics
The Laptop 15z offers just enough power to keep you connected online with its starting price of $279.99. Equipped with a dual-core AMD Athlon processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD, it’s a basic setup.
However, its Achilles’ heel is its 11-inch Chromebook-like screen with a resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels. Fortunately, you can enhance your viewing experience by investing an additional $20 for a much crisper full HD panel with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels.
While HP doesn’t have many preconfigured models of the Laptop 15z in stock, they’re readily available for customization according to your preferences.
Increasing the storage to 256GB incurs the same $20 addition, and upgrading to a more capable quad-core Ryzen 3 processor comes with a $60 price bump.
Altogether, achieving a reasonable setup for under $400 is entirely feasible. Our tested unit, priced at $609.99, boasted a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor, 12GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 1080p display with low-blue-light technology, elevating it to a more midrange status.
For those leaning towards Intel rather than AMD processors, HP presents the Laptop 15t (note the “t,” not “z”), commencing at $379.
Aside from the CPU variation, it appears identical to the Laptop 15z. CPU preference isn’t a major issue for a budget laptop—the primary goal is obtaining a functional device.
Nevertheless, HP offers versatility in choice. Additionally, there are 14- and 17.3-inch versions of this laptop available, differing solely in screen size and keyboard layout.
Measuring 0.73 by 14.2 by 9.3 inches (HWD) and weighing 3.5 pounds, the Laptop 15z falls within the average size and weight range for a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop.
Its appearance in black plastic is notably minimalistic; however, opting for one of HP’s alternative colors (such as Natural Silver, Diamond White, Moonlight Blue, or Pale Rose Gold) can enhance its aesthetic appeal.
The all-plastic build of the 15z is standard for laptops at this entry-level price point; typically, I wouldn’t dwell on it, but the lack of durability in this HP model is concerning.
The chassis is notably flexible, to the extent that applying pressure on the touchpad can cause the entire laptop to bend.
Handling the notebook roughly or attempting to lift it with one hand is not recommended.
The keyboard mirrors the hollow sensation of the plastic construction, offering presses that lack inspiration both in feel and sound.
During my evaluation using the Monkeytype online typing test, I achieved a lower-than-usual score of only 94 words per minute with 97% accuracy.
While the absence of keyboard backlighting is forgivable at the base price of the Laptop 15z, it’s less acceptable for a unit exceeding $600.
The buttonless touchpad, while adequately sized and responsive, prompted caution in clicking due to the chassis’ noticeable flex.
On the left side, you’ll find one USB Type-A port, one USB Type-C port, an HDMI monitor port, and an audio jack, while the right side houses another USB-A port and the AC adapter connector.
All USB ports are equipped with version 3.2, providing 5Gbps of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for the laptop’s intended usage.
However, the HDMI port disappointingly features version 1.4b, limiting 4K output to a less fluid 30Hz refresh rate instead of the smoother 60Hz offered by HDMI 2.0b.
Nevertheless, considering the price range, this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker.
The Screen: At Least It’s 1080p
Before delving further into my review, I must emphasize the importance of avoiding the base 1366-by-768-pixel screen on the HP laptop unless you’re keen on a throwback to the early 2000s.
Upgrading to the 1080p panel is unquestionably worthwhile for just $20 more, and for those worried about text readability, Windows’ built-in scaling feature can adjust the font size in nearly all applications.
Indeed, opting for the $20 upgrade grants you a glossy 250-nit panel, dubbed BrightView by HP. However, our Laptop 15z came equipped with the $90 anti-glare variant, boasting a higher rated brightness of 300 nits and advertised as emitting low levels of blue light.
I found it sufficiently bright for indoor usage and appreciated the lack of distortion when viewing from off-center angles.
However, colors appeared washed out and not true to life, particularly with reds leaning towards orange hues. If screen reflections aren’t a concern, I’d advise sticking with the $20 upgrade; $90 is a considerable investment within this price range.
The built-in 720p webcam positioned above the display delivers adequate image quality, although it tends to produce blocky visuals.
Nonetheless, it fulfills its function and includes a convenient sliding privacy shutter. Unfortunately, without infrared face recognition or a fingerprint reader, users are relegated to typing passwords instead of enjoying the convenience of Windows Hello authentication.
Access to biometric features necessitates upgrading to HP’s Pavilion, Envy, or Spectre lines.
The audio output from the Laptop 15z’s dual speakers is acceptable.
While the sound quality of any standard Bluetooth speaker surpasses it, the onboard audio is sufficiently clear and loud for casual listening. Additionally, the Audio Center app, which comes bundled with the laptop, offers presets and an equalizer for customization.
In my experience, the default music preset sounded the most balanced across various genres, from Queen’s “We Will Rock You” to the soundtrack of Top Gun: Maverick.
Similar to numerous consumer PCs, the Laptop 15z arrives with a notable amount of pre-installed bloatware and trial applications, such as WildTangent games and a McAfee antivirus trial.
Removing these unnecessary programs took only a few minutes, after which the laptop was ready for use. The standard warranty coverage extends for one year.
Testing the HP Laptop 15z: Everyday AMD Power
It appears that HP offers two customizable models of the Laptop 15z, both identified as Laptop 15z-fc000. The base version, priced at $279.99, features fixed memory (not upgradable) and offers the quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 7520U as its highest CPU option.
The model under review, starting at $379.99, boasts a six-core Ryzen 5 7530U and includes user-upgradable memory, with two SO-DIMM slots accessible under its bottom panel.
Regardless of configuration, all models come equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6, albeit lacking the newer Wi-Fi 6E. However, this shouldn’t deter prospective buyers considering the laptop’s budget-friendly nature.
Although our tested unit was priced at $609.99, suggesting a configuration of the 15z exceeding $400, or even reaching $500, poses a challenge because the laptop’s quality is swiftly surpassed by systems with higher initial costs.
As mentioned earlier, beginning with the lower-priced model and gradually upgrading should allow you to attain a Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and a 1080p display for under $400.
This configuration appears to strike the ideal balance point for this particular model.
The fully equipped Laptop 15z showcased here is expected to hold its own in terms of performance against the lineup of budget machines featured in our comparison charts.
Much like the HP, the Acer Aspire 3, Dell Inspiron 15, and the previously mentioned Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 are all constructed from plastic and offer minimalist features.
Slightly elevating the scale, the Acer Aspire 5 secures the last spot with its marginally more upscale features.
Processors across these models vary, ranging from Intel Core i5 to AMD Ryzen 3 and Ryzen 5, all relying on integrated graphics. With the Laptop 15z sporting a Ryzen 5 processor, it emerges as the frontrunner in this comparison.
Test System Configurations
Productivity and Content Creation Tests
In our initial assessment using UL’s PCMark 10, which replicates a range of real-world productivity and office tasks to evaluate overall system performance, including a storage subtest for the primary drive, the Laptop 15z excelled.
It surpassed the 4,000-point threshold we deem indicative of adequate productivity for daily tasks, with the Aspire 5 and Inspiron 15 trailing behind.
Additionally, the HP performed exceptionally well in the storage test.
Three additional benchmarks concentrate on the CPU, utilizing all cores and threads to assess a PC’s capability for processor-intensive tasks.
Maxon’s Cinebench R23 employs the Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Primate Labs’ Geekbench 5.4 Pro emulates various popular applications, spanning from PDF rendering to machine learning. Lastly, we employ the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution, where lower times indicate better performance.
Productivity and Content Creation Tests
Our last productivity evaluation involves Puget Systems’ PugetBench for Photoshop, designed for content creation and multimedia tasks using Adobe’s Creative Cloud version 22 image editor.
This automated extension assesses a PC’s performance through a series of general and GPU-accelerated Photoshop tasks, including image manipulation, applying masks, gradient fills, and filters, among others.
In our CPU assessments, the Laptop 15z performed slightly under the Core i5-based Aspire 5, yet it possesses sufficient processing power for everyday applications.
Impressively, it successfully completed our Photoshop benchmark, a task not achievable by all budget laptops. However, conducting image editing on its screen isn’t advisable if color accuracy is a priority—a topic we’ll delve into shortly.
Graphics and Gaming Tests
To evaluate the graphical capabilities of Windows PCs, we conduct four gaming simulations.
Among these are two DirectX 12 benchmarks from UL’s 3DMark suite: Night Raid, tailored for systems with integrated graphics, and Time Spy, designed to challenge gaming rigs equipped with discrete GPUs.
Additionally, we utilize two off-screen tests at varying resolutions from the cross-platform OpenGL benchmark GFXBench 5.
The AMD Radeon integrated graphics in the HP laptop don’t quite match up to the discrete GPU found in gaming laptops, but they generally outperformed the Intel integrated graphics found in the competing Aspire 5.
While the Laptop 15z is capable of handling casual or browser-based gaming, as well as vintage titles, for more demanding gameplay on budget laptops like these, your best option would be a streaming service such as GeForce Now.
Battery and Display Tests
To evaluate the battery life of laptops, we conduct a test by continuously playing a locally stored 720p video file, specifically the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel.
Throughout the test, the screen brightness is set to 50%, and audio volume is maxed out at 100%. Both Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting are disabled to isolate the impact of video playback on battery performance.
Additionally, we employ a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor along with its accompanying software to gauge a laptop screen’s color saturation.
This involves assessing what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display is capable of showcasing.
We also measure the screen’s brightness in nits (candelas per square meter) at both 50% and peak settings.
Modern budget laptops have largely overcome the issue of short battery life.
The HP model’s impressive runtime of over 14 hours stands out, even when compared to pricier alternatives; only the Aspire 3 managed to surpass it in endurance.
However, our SpyderX Elite measurements reveal that screen quality remains a significant drawback for economy-class models.
These laptops tend to exhibit poor coverage of the sRGB spectrum, let alone the more demanding Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color spaces.
Nevertheless, the Laptop 15z’s display matches HP’s advertised brightness levels, although it falls short of the brightness achieved by the Lenovo model.
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Verdict: Not Bad, But You Can Get a Better Budget Laptop
Budget-friendly laptops cater to a crucial market segment for users who are constrained by budget limitations or simply prefer more economical options.
The HP Laptop 15z admirably addresses these needs, offering configurations that can satisfy basic home or academic requirements for under $400.
However, our extensively equipped test unit exceeds this price bracket, revealing a mismatch between its decent internal components and its subpar build quality and unsatisfactory keyboard.
Consequently, it falls short of achieving a higher rating. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 presents a more balanced option, while the Acer Aspire 5 emerges as the preferred choice for those willing to stretch their budget a bit further.
HP Laptop 15z PROS and CONS
PROS
- Affordable starting price
- Available in multiple colors
- Good battery life
CONS
- Flimsy plastic chassis
- Poor, nonbacklit keyboard
- Base screen only 1,366 by 768 pixels
HP LAPTOP 15Z (2023) SPECS
| Laptop Class | Budget |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U |
| Processor Speed | 2 GHz |
summery for topic HP Laptop 15z
Introducing the HP Laptop 15z: A powerhouse of performance and portability, designed to elevate your computing experience.
Equipped with cutting-edge AMD processors, vibrant displays, and a sleek, lightweight design, this laptop offers seamless multitasking, immersive entertainment, and effortless connectivity.
With customizable configurations and a range of features including HP TrueVision HD Webcam and versatile connectivity options, the HP Laptop 15z is your go-to device for work, entertainment, and staying connected on the move.
Experience the perfect blend of style and functionality with the HP Laptop 15z.
price : $334.88
