HP 2025, Intel N100, 4GB, 128GB SSD, Jet Black
The Intel N100 processor and 4GB RAM handle everyday tasks, while the 15.6-inch 1920x1200 120Hz anti-glare display delivers smooth, comfortable viewing. Its 128GB SSD provides quick storage, and Wi-Fi 6 plus a USB-C port offer modern connectivity. This open-box laptop suits students needing a budget-friendly machine for note-taking, browsing, and light productivity.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A pretty screen wrapped around a painfully slow computer. 4GB of RAM in 2025 is a crime, and the N100 CPU won't save it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 120Hz 1920x1200 display is a pleasant surprise at this price 95th
- Lightweight and easy to carry around 90th
- Simple setup, good for absolute basics
- Wi-Fi 6 keeps connections snappy when the CPU cooperates
Cons
- 4GB of RAM is barely enough for Windows 11 alone
- Intel N100 CPU struggles with anything beyond one or two tabs
- Battery life falls way short of the 12-hour claim, owners report around 4
- 128GB SSD fills up fast and is soldered on, no easy upgrade
What owners think
The Word on the Street
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q3 202667/100
Buyers report fast delivery and good performance, but one unit had a Wi-Fi setup failure requiring return, causing frustration.
- Fast delivery and good performance; one buyer found it speedy and easy to set up.
- Wi-Fi setup failure left one buyer stuck and forced to return the laptop.
- Q2 202667/100
Buyers found the laptop easy to set up and use, with decent battery life for basic tasks, but one reported slow performance and much shorter battery life than advertised.
- Battery life: one says decent, another reports only 4 hours vs 12 expected.
- Performance: slow responding in one review; another notes need for RAM upgrade.
- Ease of use and setup: praised for online classes and portability.
- Upgradability: RAM upgradeable to 16GB, but SSD is soldered and not upgradeable.
Based on 6 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
The N100 is a 4-core chip that sits in the 5th percentile for CPUs in our database. That's rough. The 4GB of RAM is even worse, landing in the 2nd percentile. Windows 11 alone will eat most of that before you open a browser tab. The 128GB SSD is also near the bottom at the 7th percentile. The one bright spot is the screen. A 120Hz panel at 1920x1200 is genuinely nice for this class, even if the overall screen score is just middle of the pack. The integrated Intel UHD graphics are fine for video playback but gaming is a lost cause, scoring 9.2 out of 100.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Frequency | 700 MHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Type | Integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 (Full HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| USB Ports | 2 |
| HDMI | HDMI 1.4b |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Physical
| Weight | 2.3 kg / 5.0 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 |
vs Competition
The Lenovo IdeaPad 14AKP10 and ASUS Vivobook TP3407SA-DS74T both offer better overall packages for similar money. The IdeaPad gives you more RAM and a more capable CPU without a huge price jump. The Vivobook adds a touchscreen and better build quality. Even the Samsung Galaxy Book5 NP750XHD-KB1US outclasses this HP in raw performance. The MacBook Pro MWP72LL/A is in a completely different league, but if you're cross-shopping those two, you're confused about what you need.
| Spec | HP 15-fd0118ca | Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max | ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 | Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US | MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 | Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 | Apple M4 Max | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | Intel Core i9 14900HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| RAM (GB) | 4 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 128 | 4096 | 2048 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1200 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 15.1" 2560x1600 | 16" 3840x2160 | 16" 2560x1600 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Apple (40-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | - | 80 | 100 | 96 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Screen | Portability | Storage | User Sentiment | Reliability | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 15-fd0118ca | 15.9 | 27.7 | 2.3 | 28.1 | 54.5 | 31.1 | 7.5 | 3.6 | 33.4 | 89.7 | 95.3 |
| Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max Compare | 93.8 | 90.6 | 95.7 | 73.5 | 99.3 | 68.9 | 98.5 | 98.9 | 98.1 | 87.8 | 1.6 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 Compare | 91.2 | 97.4 | 90.9 | 89.4 | 96.5 | 73.7 | 89.8 | 98.9 | 60.4 | 98.4 | 5.4 |
| Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US Compare | 94.6 | 87.4 | 86.4 | 97.3 | 94.4 | 56.4 | 79.3 | 70 | 81.8 | 89.3 | 27.3 |
| MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 Compare | 93.2 | 94.5 | 86.4 | 98.6 | 98 | 9.3 | 93.9 | 81.2 | 60.4 | 51.3 | 10.2 |
| Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS Compare | 97.2 | 92.6 | 86.4 | 83.3 | 90.7 | 12.6 | 89.8 | 90.8 | 4 | 98.4 | 14.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the place in Canada, ranging from CAD 270 to CAD 600 across three listings. At the low end, this is a tolerable deal for a basic machine. At CAD 600, you're getting fleeced. If you can snag it near CAD 270, it's an acceptable second laptop for light tasks. Anything higher and you should look elsewhere.
Read more
Overview
The HP 15-fd0118ca is a budget laptop that looks better on paper than it feels in real life. You get a 15.6-inch 1920x1200 display with a surprisingly smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare at this price. But the Intel N100 processor and 4GB of RAM drag the whole experience down. This is a machine for checking email and light web browsing, nothing more.
Common Questions
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM on the HP 15-fd0118ca?
One owner says they swapped in 16GB and it was easy, but the SSD is soldered. If you're comfortable opening it up, a RAM upgrade helps a lot. Just know you're voiding any warranty.
Q: Is this laptop good for streaming video?
For basic Netflix or YouTube, sure. But the N100 CPU is weak for heavier streaming tasks, and the 128GB SSD means you won't be downloading much. Stick to light browsing and one stream at a time.
Q: How long does the battery actually last?
HP claims up to 12 hours, but real owners report around 4. That's a big gap. If battery life matters, this isn't the laptop for you.
Who Should Skip This
If you need to run more than a couple of browser tabs, edit documents without lag, or get through a full workday on battery, skip this. Go grab a Lenovo IdeaPad 14AKP10 or an ASUS Vivobook with at least 8GB of RAM instead. Your sanity is worth the extra cash.
Verdict
The HP 15-fd0118ca is a hard pass for most people. The 4GB of RAM is a dealbreaker in 2025, and the N100 CPU will frustrate you within a week. The 120Hz screen is nice, but it's lipstick on a pig. If you can get this for CAD 270 and only need a machine for email and Netflix, fine. Otherwise, spend a bit more and get something with at least 8GB of RAM.
Usage Scores
- Overall26.9
- AI/LLM8.9
- Gaming8.4
- Portability31.7
- Creator14.3
- Student58.2
- Business32.6
- Developer27.8
- Entertainment36.6
