• out of stock

HP 15.6" FHD Laptop, Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD $679 + Delivery ($0 C&C/ in-Store) @ JB Hi-Fi

1950

I think this is actually a pretty decent laptop for the price. A friend needed something affordable for uni and enlisted my help to try and find a decent laptop at a cheap price. Now I share this with you all:

  • 15.6" FHD 1080p screen. A lot of the cheap laptops have 1366 x 768 resolution screens, so the 1080p is nice and suits the larger display size for work/study/watching videos.
  • AMD Ryzen™ 5 5500U processor (6 cores / 12 threads). Much better than the Pentium/Athalon processors found in many cheap laptops.
  • The CPU has an integrated GPU (Radeon Vega 7 Graphics) which can run many games decent enough. Though more demanding titles will need their resolution and/or settings turned down.
  • 8GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM. It's enough for most things, though it appears to be configured with just 1 stick, so opening the laptop up and adding another stick to enable dual channel operation would give a small performance uplift in some tasks (or allow some RAM-hungry games to run).
  • 256GB SSD. Most laptops come with an SSD these days and it is essential for a snappy/responsive experience. The capacity is okay - running out of space could be overcome with cloud storage or external drives. Doesn't really seem like much of an issue these days considering we mostly stream content, though having multiple games installed at once would quickly eat into this. There is scope to open the laptop up and replace the SSD to something larger if required.
  • 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion battery. This is a bit better than other cheap laptops which often have ~37Wh batteries. This could mean up to nearly an extra hour of battery life for light tasks. HP advertise 9.5 hours of battery life but realistically this would be more like ~7 hours (and obviously a lot less if gaming).
  • 1.69kg and 1.79cm thick. So reasonably thin and light, and should be convenient enough to carry around.
  • Click the "+Expand to see more" option to view all the specs such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB-C, etc.

In summary, I think it is a decent all-rounder and good value at the $679 price tag. You could potentially reduce the price a bit further via discounted gift cards.

If you're wanting something for heavier gaming with higher settings, or colour-accurate work, then you'll probably be better off with a different, more expensive laptop.

Hopefully this helps!

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closed Comments

  • +49

    Plus for effort in the description

  • +1

    Seems like very good value, can't speak about the build quality but at this price point you can't expect too much.

  • +3

    Very good value. Lenovo used to sell their similar-specced Thinkpad E-series for around that price, but they have gone up.

    You can’t go wrong with a Ryzen really. I have a 3500U with Vega and it runs games like GTA 5 and Fortnite decent enough.

  • +2

    Nice analysis of the specs. Good job!

  • +16

    Your friend has a good friend ;)

  • +1

    Great write up.

    Searched whether ram can be upgraded, nothing calls out you can.

  • -7

    Lol my cheaper lappy from 5 yrs ago had 8gb ram and also 256gb ssd
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/329725

    • +2

      I think you'll find prices have moved from 5 years ago.

      Thankfully, this doesn't have a 7200u, with its firebreathing 3300 cpumarks.

    • My G550JK in 2014 already has 8G RAM as well.

      • My phone from 2019 has 8 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage.

  • What is Superspeed type-C? Can this be used to charge? What are the limitations of this vs Thunderbolt?

    • +1

      Sadly the type-C port is data only - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HTYb-poKLY

      Also no lan port.

      • I found out this the hard way. Don't be fooled by 'superspeed USB C' You CANNOT plug any peripherals into this port on this laptop…. As a result I have a staff member using this laptop and dongles galore.

        Nowhere does it state USB C data transfer only. The way Only way I discovered this is on a forum where someone defined the meaning of HPs 'superspeed'.

        How is the average consumer meant to know you can't plug a USB C dock or display into the supplied USB C port?

        Consumers shouldn't need to read the fine print or google it once it's too late. It should be apparent in the manufacture spec sheet.

        Maybe it a problem with USB C spec itself but totally unfair for average punter.

        Bit of a Rort. Get a ThinkPad, at least the USB C ports work like their meant to.

        • +1

          Its really simple actually:

          Intel processors - you get Thunderbolt over Type-C
          AMD Ryzen - you get Type-C without Thunderbolt.

  • +3

    was talking to a knowledgeable sales guy in JB last week who said they'd over ordered on some HP laptops and were discounting them to shift them as they weren't selling at the original price

  • +1

    very good price. seems to be able to add another stick of ram, which is helpful.

    • +1

      Do you have a link to where it says you can upgrade it? I’m keen on this if it can be.

      • +1

        Yes it can according to Crucial (2 slots): https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-15s-eq2xxx-(ryzen)

      • +2

        This laptop is part of the "HP 15S-EQ" series.

        Check out this video for disassembly, around the 7:30 mark for RAM specifically
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ZPLHOvbSQ

        • +1

          Thanks for that. I was just looking up if it is able to install a 2.5" drive and looks like it can. my current x360 is on the way out. this has better processor, but no touchscreen compared to my x360.

          • @lansi23: Hmm I'd double check that if I were you. It is difficult to find videos about this specific laptop because the model number/series isn't very clear - but the videos I found that seem to be this laptop didn't show any 2.5" drive bays. I have a feeling the only option would be to replace the 256GB m.2 ssd with something larger, perhaps 2TB (PCIe gen 3).

  • -2

    This comes with Windows 11 which is horrible for privacy. Is there any way to roll back to W10 or would you need to purchase W10?

    • Maybe try getting a win 10 installer and try using your in 11 key

    • How is it horrible for privacy?

    • +1

      Just install Linux when you get it, problem solved.

      • I am planning on doing that :) but since it's my first time I want a fallback to W10 just incase not everything works as planned for my business. I am going to run Linux Mint from a USB so I can try it out first.

    • +1

      Windows 10 and 11 share the same product keys, so all you need to do is download win 10 iso and install it

  • +1

    Anything around this price point that would have a better screen? (Brightness and colour)

    • Hmm you'll probably have to go Lenovo and spend a bit more - if you or someone you know has access to an edu email address you could check out the Lenovo education store which can have decent prices especially during sales. Otherwise it's just a matter of research. Unfortunately screens can be relatively difficult to compare due to limited info provided in descriptions/specs, and I believe people need special equipment to properly analyse the quality of screens so not many reviewers can do it.

    • https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/705023

      but the deals have expired

  • +2

    I bought this around a year ago for close to 800 at JB. it's fast and works well but build quality is very subpar. My unit made a rattling noise every key I pressed on the keyboard so I opened it up and shoved pieces of plastic in to make sure nothing was loose.

    That was a year ago. Still works fine, rattling stopped.

    It's my work computer so am not too bothered about thermals, it's mostly for emails and web.

    This is a good price for the laptop, however if it was my personal laptop I would not be able to cope with the rattling and probably wouldn't use the method I used above to fix.

    YMMV

    • +1

      Can you comment on the screen ? Are clarity and brightness basically OK?
      Anything annoy you about the screen?

      • +2

        Brightness and viewing angles are fine for the price point. Nothing stands out as good or bad.

    • +2

      Thanks for the info! I suppose you can't expect great build quality at this price range. Though it does appear to be an aluminium chassis which is nice considering the price.

      This Asus laptop is very similar specs at the same $679 price, and could be a good alternative, but I suggested my friend go with the HP for the better battery life (and the 6 core processor may have better longevity).

  • +1

    How many laptops does the average ozbargainer own?

  • +1

    Always coming out with the best laptop knowledge Jimmy. Noticed it's at JB Hi-Fi so just night have to use my store credit ;)

    • Haha thanks SpainKing! From memory you were looking for something more like a desktop replacement and you play quite a few different games (although they weren't too resource intensive). Unless price was an extremely limiting factor for you, I'd honestly suggest moving up a few hundred to the $1000 mark and getting a gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU, 16GB of RAM and more storage space. You'll probably enjoy that bit of extra spend when you can run all the newer games for years to come without too many struggles. I wouldn't say this HP laptop is great if gaming is your key focus, it's more of a "it can do alright if you want to play some games here and there" or "the cheapest laptop that can run most games in a playable state."

      It's a shame you have that gift card restriction :/ JB rarely seems to have the better deals for gaming laptops specifically. You might have to try go in person and negotiate a deal, showing them the much cheaper prices for similar laptops at Harvey Norman. Unfortunately they both do the tactic where they don't share the exact same model laptops so they can refuse to price match.

  • Thanks for sharing. What software would you guys recommend to add on (if any at all)? Am looking for a laptop for around 800 right now.

  • +2

    'AMD Ryzen™ 5 5500U processor (6 cores / 12 threads). Much better than the Pentium/Athalon processors found in many cheap laptops'

    sounds like it may be better than an Intel i5

    https://www.quora.com/Is-AMD-Ryzen-5-5500U-better-than-Intel…
    https://teckexperts.com/amd-ryzen-5-5500u-vs-intel-core-i5-1…
    https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/AMD-Ryzen-5-5500U-vs-In…
    https://versus.com/en/amd-ryzen-5-5500u-vs-intel-core-i5-113…

  • How much would it cost to add anither 8gb RAM and 256gb hard drive?
    Also, do laptops come with Microsoft office installed for a little while?

    • +2

      Adding 8GB of RAM would probably cost about $50, and would require opening the laptop up (seems to involve unscrewing screws on the bottom and under the little rubber feet which then need to be put back on), then inserting the stick of RAM (being sure to line up the grooves so it's in the correct orientation). You'll also want to match the current stick of RAM as closely as possible, which is 3200MHz, and also it needs to be laptop sized RAM, not desktop PC RAM.

      I believe you'd need to replace the m.2 SSD inside it entirely, I don't think there is a 2nd slot. This would require creating a bootable USB and reinstalling windows on the new SSD. Something you'd be better off doing before you start using the laptop, otherwise you'll need an external drive or cloud storage of some sort, or another computer, to store a back up of any important files, photos, etc. Given the effort involved I'd be looking to upgrade to 1TB or 2TB (depending on your needs) so that you don't have to do it again. This would cost as little as $100 for a 1TB m.2 NVMe SSD. Maybe you can sell the current 256GB SSD for $30?

      I think Microsoft office comes pre-installed but you'll have to sign up for a free trial (1 month maybe?). You could use Google Docs for free, or if short on cash consider searching through the piracy megathread on reddit for instructions on how to activate office.

  • This or $898 for Lenovo 15.6" IdeaPad Slim 3i Core i7 Notebook 8GB/512GB Win11 ?

    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/lenovo-15-…

    • +2

      Hey amorn, it seems like the 4-core i7 1165g7 CPU would be slightly better at single-threaded tasks but weaker at multi-threaded tasks. The integrated graphics on the Intel i7 also has slightly better gaming performance though not by much and at that higher price you'd be better off going for a laptop with dedicated graphics if gaming is your focus. Pretty similar screen/display it seems. Slightly worse battery life on the Lenovo. Extra 256GB of storage capacity on the Lenovo in stock condition, which might be important to you if you need the extra space and don't have the time to replace the ssd in the HP. Same RAM. Overall, for the extra $219 (a 32% increase in price) I don't think it's worth it. What's your use-case/needs? I reckon we can find you better value :)

      • Great Jimmy. I don't game at all. It is just for everyday home use like browsing, email, video calls, and Youtube. Actually my budget is only $800 so if the budget can include any necessary software (I don't really need MS Office), that would be even better (?). I also messaged you :). Thanks again.

        • +1

          Hmm sounds like you don't really need the extra storage space in that case, and I'd suggest saving the $219 and putting it towards a new laptop in a few years where you'll notice the improvement more. You can always use cloud storage if you need some extra space (it's a great thing to use regardless for backing up your files/photos).

          For the everyday home use you described, they should perform very similarly :)

          You could even put the savings towards a good value Dell monitor, or a mouse & mechanical keyboard, or a new office chair, and improve your overall experience.

          I saw the message but decided to reply here in case it helps others in a similar situation!

          • +1

            @JimmyLmao: Thanks Jimmy. Love your big picture + whole experience + forward looking advise there !. Online shows nothing available around Brissie. Will head to JB now.

          • @JimmyLmao: I was told there is no stock in QLD atm. can you share your thoughts on $746 down from1499 as below.

            https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/713868#
            [eBay Plus] MSI Bravo 15.6" R5/RX5500/8/512 $746.17, GF65 15.6" i7-10750H/16/512/RTX3060 $1078.17 Delivered @ Microsoft eBay

            thanks again

            • @amorn: Damn. I didn't realise how little stock there was, maybe it's just selling quick?

              That MSI Bravo laptop for $746.17 is a good price but is really a different product category. It is a gaming laptop, so will definitely be better than the HP laptop for gaming, but that doesn't really appear to be your use-case. It is heavier at 2.35kg and thicker at 24.95 mm. If this extra weight and thickness doesn't bother you, then you can go for it for the extra performance if you ever need it. It will likely consume more power though, but that'd only be a small ongoing cost increase. It does have a larger battery but with the increase in power use it'd net out to similar battery life I'd say. Another bonus is the extra storage capacity. If you'd mostly use the laptop sitting at a desk, it'd totally be fine to go for it!

              Alternatively there is this Asus laptop from JB Hi-Fi which is effectively the same as the HP laptop and at the same $679 price. This is in the same 'thin & light' more portable category, which is handier or more convenient if you need to lug it around with you every day (and, relative to gaming laptops, they tend to have a worse cost-to-performance ratio due to having the smaller form-factor - it is more expensive for companies to shrink things down). I personally don't go for this style of laptop myself as I use it at a desk 99% of the time (plugging in external monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) and also play some games that I like to turn the settings up on, so I go for gaming laptops myself. They're also not that much heavier these days in my opinion :)

              • @JimmyLmao: Thanks again Jimmy. I do think like you and prefer the convenience of extra cost-to-performance ratio although I might lug it around. Wanted to check HP and ASUS dimensions, but JB doesn't provide it. Is there a good website you would recommend to compare these details? TY

  • "so opening the laptop up and adding another stick to enable dual channel operation would give a small performance uplift"

    I seem to remember the improvement from dual-channeling Ryzens is more than just the extra RAM. Don't ask me why.

    "Does Ryzen perform better with dual channel RAM?
    All the versions of multi-channel RAM increase data transfer speed by adding more channels of communication between the memory and the memory controller. RYZEN benifits the most from dual channel and high MHz, the reason is its unique architecture."

  • Can anyone recommend any compatible 8GB DDR-3200 laptop sticks of RAM for this machine? Will anything from Umart/MSY work with this?

    • yeah, you shouldn't have any issue with ram compatibility

      and if you need more ram don't be afraid to go for a larger stick

  • I brought one last week using gift card, feel free to ask any questions

    • Anything annoy you about the screen? Is it bright and clear enough?

      • +1

        It's bright enough and of adequate definition. But it's very low contrast. Under the maximum brightness, everything looks pale.

        • pale meaning low contrast? How would you compare this to $746 down from1499 as below.

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/713868#

          [eBay Plus] MSI Bravo 15.6" R5/RX5500/8/512 $746.17, GF65 15.6" i7-10750H/16/512/RTX3060 $1078.17 Delivered @ Microsoft eBay

          thanks

          • @amorn: The Bravo is definitely more powerful, suitable for someone that is not carrying around and needs more graphic power.

    • How's the battery life? Does this have WiFi 6 ? Have you upgraded RAM or are you considering it.

      • I put 32gb ram dual 16gb 3200mhz giving how cheap it is and how much I use background app (I.e my onedrive always eating 7gb above). I read somewhere that Ryzen chips are also highly relying on ram.
        Battery is on the smaller side, but giving r5500u is a very low power consumption chip it still lasts longer than my Razer blade. For my uses the difference is about 1hr30mins.

        • @Zahn thanks for that.
          Approx how many hours are you getting battery life?

          • +1

            @metalhead: For me full screen brightness with onedrive always sync in the backgrounds I am getting 4 hours.

    • +7

      Do you know the muffin man?

  • How much does it weigh

    • +1

      1.69kg I believe. You may have accidentally missed it but it's written in the deal description :)

  • +1

    In this day and age of hyperinflation (and rip off wave), it's a pretty decent price. Thanks for being a bit kind, JB!

  • bought one of these at beginning of the year and i'm having trouble with connecting to dual monitor set up as both usb c and usb a are incapable of acting as hdmi ports. any ideas?

    • Hey grack, like you say, it seems the USB-C is for data transfer only and doesn't support DisplayPort/Alt mode via USB-C. Which means you're limited to the 1 HDMI port for an external monitor, which means you're limited to 1 external monitor only (HDMI can't split signals). You could use the laptop screen itself as a second screen. Otherwise, I'd suggest seeing if you can try out an ultrawide monitor to get that extra horizontal screen real estate. The reason I say "try out" is because there could be compatibility issues, given the laptop only supports HDMI 1.4b, so ideally you'd like to know it works before you go ahead and make an ultrawide monitor purchase.

      • -1

        thanks. my dumb ass bought a second monitor already that can't even be used. if i were to get a usb A to HDMI and then install a driver do you think it would work?

        • Unfortunately I think you have even less chance via USB A :/
          Any chance you can return the monitor? Or sell via FB marketplace/Gumtree

          • @JimmyLmao: ah, that's a shame. thanks

            • @grack: Hi Grack
              I made the same mistake as you.
              Bought this laptop with the intention of using dual monitors and a docking station with the USB C port.
              Unfortunately as the port is data transfer only, that idea was thrown out the window.
              Instead I'm using the HDMI port for monitor 1 and a HDMI to USB A adapter for monitor 2. So yes it will work if you have an adapter. Yes you'll need to install a driver to convert the signal from HDMI to USB A.

              Other than the endless dongles I have plugged into this laptop, it works flawlessly with dual monitors. Shouldve bought a ThinkPad though (oh well)

            • @grack: Yeahh I can understand it would be very frustrating :/
              It's not the end of the world though. Just take it on the chin and sell off the two monitors and go for an ultrawide monitor, or get a stand (or some books) and put the laptop up next to your current monitor to use as a second screen, then connect a keyboard and mouse. There's some solutions so don't let it get you down! :)

            • @grack: Upon further research, I think you might actually have some luck! It probably won't get you high resolutions or refresh rates, but it might just display an image!

              Check out these links:
              https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Tou…
              https://www.reddit.com/r/k12sysadmin/comments/tq6tup/does_an…

              Apparently it can work via a USB-to-HDMI adaptor as the adaptor acts like an extrenal video card, but they're not super reliable and require drivers that can often be a bit scrappy. Seems the general consensus is to spend a bit more on a decent adapter rather than going for the cheaper ones. Perhaps something that is 'DisplayLink' certified/licenced.

              Ordering via Amazon could be a good idea as they have incredible returns policies - if it doesn't work you could just get your money back.

              Apologies, I didn't realise this was a thing via USB-A. Fingers crossed it works for you!

              • +1

                @JimmyLmao: Thanks I'll give it a shot. You know hp customer service is dogshit when someone on ozbargain gives you better advice

  • Probably a dumb question, but does this have a IPS screen?

    • +1

      Not a dumb question at all, especially as they don't make it clear in the product description/specs. I believe it is a TN panel, so not as nice as IPS. But it is rare to find a laptop with an IPS display at this price point.

      The best I found was this Lenovo IdeaPad 5 for $861.52 via the Lenovo Education store (you or someone you know needs to have an edu email address). Also not sure if the deal is still active.

  • No stock in SA

  • No stock in QLD too

    • This is gone - so that.

      • Thanks Jimmy. JB Hi-Fi says they can deliver this one for me.
        Can you please share your thoughts on this in comparison with
        Ryzen 5 8GB $839.20 &
        16GB $959.20
        here:
        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/715933

        • I'm interested in this one too, but missed out the party. Mind share how to get this ordered from JB?

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