HP 15.6" Silver

The HP 15.6" pairs a slow Intel i3-N305 with a generous 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. Great for multitasking and everyday work, terrible for gaming or heavy apps. At CAD 1,199, it's only worth it if you specifically need lots of RAM for light tasks.

The i3-N305 handles everyday stuff without breaking a sweat. Web browsing, docs, video calls, all smooth. The 32GB of RAM is the real star here, sitting at the 73rd percentile in our database. You can have 40 Chrome tabs open and it won't flinch. But the CPU itself lands at the 21st percentile, which means it's slower than most laptops we've tested. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are also a weak spot, coming in at the 36th percentile. Fine for YouTube, useless for anything 3D. The 1TB SSD is solid at the 71st percentile, so boot times and app launches feel snappy.

Stacked against the competition, this HP is in a different league entirely. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 are performance monsters that cost way more but deliver way more. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a closer match in spirit, with better build quality and a sharper screen, though you'll pay more for it. The Lenovo Legion Pro and MSI Raider are gaming machines that make this HP's 13.5 gaming score look silly. This HP is for people who want a big screen and lots of RAM on a budget, not for anyone chasing performance.

At CAD 1,199, this is a tough sell. You're paying for the 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, but the processor is entry-level. For the same money, you can often find a laptop with a better CPU and less RAM, which would serve most people better. The included 160GB docking station set is a nice bonus, but it doesn't make up for the weak core specs. If you specifically need tons of RAM for light work, this could work. Otherwise, keep looking.

The HP 15.6" is a weird mix. You get 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which sounds great on paper, but it's all bolted to an Intel Core i3-N305. That's an 8-core chip, sure, but it's built for efficiency, not speed. The result is a laptop that multitasks like a champ but chokes on anything demanding.

This is a student or office machine through and through. The 15.6" FHD IPS screen is fine for spreadsheets and Netflix, and the anti-glare coating helps in bright rooms. But the integrated Intel UHD Graphics means gaming is basically off the table. Our database puts it at 13.5 out of 100 for gaming, which is about as low as it gets.

Skip this if you need any real processing power. Video editors, programmers compiling large projects, and anyone who wants to game should look elsewhere. The i3-N305 will frustrate you. Also skip it if you need lots of ports, since you only get one USB-C and two USB-A. And if reliability is a top concern, our data shows this HP scores below average there too.

Buy this if you're a student or office worker who lives in browser tabs and needs a numeric keypad for spreadsheets. The 32GB of RAM will keep things smooth for years, and the 1TB SSD means you won't run out of space. Just don't expect to edit video, play games, or run anything heavy. It's a workhorse for light tasks, nothing more.