HP 15 2022, Core i5-1135G7, 12GB, 256GB SSD, Silver

The HP 15 is a basic 15.6 inch Windows 11 laptop with an older Core i5-1135G7, 12GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It's fine for web browsing, email, and office work, but gaming performance is nearly nonexistent. At CAD 980 refurbished, it's overpriced compared to newer budget options.

The Core i5-1135G7 is a 4-core chip from Intel's 11th gen lineup, and in our database it lands in the 24th percentile for CPUs in this category. That's not great. It'll handle a dozen browser tabs and a video call, but it's not going to impress anyone. The integrated Iris Xe graphics sit at the 49th percentile, which is about average for integrated GPUs, but that still means gaming is basically off the table. Our gaming score for this laptop is 11 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen.

The 12GB of RAM is a bit of an odd duck. It's better than 8GB, but it ranks in the 22nd percentile, so it's on the lower end for modern laptops. The 256GB SSD is also tight, landing in the 25th percentile. You'll fill that up fast with a few games or a decent photo library. On the plus side, it is an NVMe drive, so boot times and app launches will feel snappy compared to older SATA drives.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, the HP 15 isn't even in the same conversation. The MacBook Pro is a professional workstation with a best-in-class chip, while the HP 15 is a basic productivity laptop. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion 5i are gaming laptops that will absolutely crush the HP 15 in any graphics or CPU task, though they cost significantly more.

Closer to its actual competition, the MSI Prestige and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition are both more modern machines. The Surface Laptop 7th Edition especially makes the HP 15 look dated, with a newer ARM chip, better build quality, and a sharper display. If you're cross-shopping these, the HP 15 only wins on price, and even that advantage is thin given the refurb status and older internals.

At CAD 980 for a refurbished unit, the HP 15 is a tough sell. You can often find newer laptops with Ryzen 5 or 12th gen Intel chips for around the same price, sometimes new. The 12GB of RAM and IPS screen are nice, but the older CPU, limited storage, and Wi-Fi 5 make this feel like a CAD 700 laptop wearing a CAD 980 price tag. If you can find it on sale or at a lower refurb price, it becomes more interesting. As it stands, you're paying a premium for the convenience of a ready-to-ship refurb from a big retailer.

The HP 15 is a budget-friendly 15.6 inch laptop aimed at students and anyone who needs a basic Windows 11 machine for everyday tasks. This refurbished unit pairs an Intel Core i5-1135G7 with 12GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256GB NVMe SSD. It's listed at CAD 980, which puts it in that tricky spot where you're paying a bit more than a true budget laptop but getting older internals in return.

For web browsing, email, and office work, the specs are fine. The 1080p IPS display is a nice touch at this price, and the 1.69kg weight means it won't break your back in a backpack. But the Wi-Fi 5 and Windows 11 Home S mode are reminders that this is a machine built to a price point, not a performance target.

If you're searching for a reliable daily driver for school or light office use, the HP 15 does the job. Just don't expect it to handle anything demanding, and know that you'll probably want to switch out of S mode to install apps from outside the Microsoft Store.

Skip the HP 15 if you want to play games, edit video, or run demanding software. The integrated graphics and older CPU will frustrate you quickly. Also skip it if you need lots of storage, since 256GB is tight for anyone with a large photo or game library. If you're a student who needs a laptop that will last four years, we'd point you toward a newer Ryzen 5 or Intel 12th gen machine instead. And if you're buying in Canada at the full CAD 980 asking price, you can do better with a bit of patience and deal hunting.

Should you buy the HP 15? If you need a basic laptop for school, email, and web browsing, and you can get it for less than CAD 800, it's a reasonable choice. The 1080p IPS screen and 12GB of RAM are genuinely useful for everyday multitasking. But at CAD 980, it's hard to recommend. The CPU is three generations old, the storage is cramped, and the gaming performance is essentially nonexistent.

For most people, we'd suggest waiting for a sale on a newer budget laptop or looking at refurbished business machines like a Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell Latitude. Those often come with better build quality, newer Wi-Fi, and more storage for similar money. The HP 15 isn't a bad laptop, it's just not a great deal at this price.