Best HP laptops 2021: the top HP laptops we’ve seen and tested

Get great performance while saving money with the best HP laptops. The HP Spectre x360, for example, is at least a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 at similar specs.

Simply put, the best HP laptops are a much better value than their counterparts from the likes of Dell and Apple. They combine power, performance and price, hitting that sweet spot in value, and are among the best laptops for everyone. 

Here are the best HP laptops in 2021 – from its best 2-in-1 laptops and best Chromebooks to its more robust business laptops – to help you find the most ideal one. Be sure to check out our price comparison tool as well so you can get it at the best price available.

The best HP laptops at a glance

  1. HP Elite Dragonfly
  2. HP Spectre x360 (2020) 
  3. HP Envy 15 (2020)
  4. HP Chromebook 14
  5. HP EliteBook x360 1040
  6. HP Omen 17
  7. HP Envy x360 (2019)
  8. HP Omen X
  9. HP Envy 13t 2019
  10. HP Spectre 13

HP Elite Dragonfly

HP Elite Dragonfly is among the best laptops for travelers. (Image credit: HP)

1. HP Elite Dragonfly

For the traveling professional

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.3" diagonal Full HD touch display – Full HD touch Sure View display | Storage: 256 GB SSD

Impeccable design
Excellent battery life
Pretty expensive

If you’re a traveling professional looking for the best HP laptop that’s both portable and powerful, you might consider the HP Elite Dragonfly. Not only is it among the best laptops for travelers, it’s also the top HP laptop on the market right now. It’s not just powerful though; it’s also light, thin and stylish. And, it boasts an excellent battery life and an impressive keyboard. For all that, the price is a bit steep; but if you can afford it, it’s worth every penny.

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly

HP Spectre x360 (2020)

HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance. (Image credit: HP)

2. HP Spectre x360 (2020)

HP’s flagship 2-in-1 gets a 2020 refresh

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti with Max-Q design | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 3840 x 2160 pixels touch | Storage: 512 GB – 2TB SSD

Stylish and high-quality finish
Great all-around performance
Built-in security features are useful
Battery life takes a hit
Can run hot at times

HP’s beloved and highly praised 2-in-1 is back with a vengeance, this time with more powerful components like the 10th-generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Plus graphics. Of course, that impeccable 2-in-1 design and pristine gem-cut chassis are back, as are its security features and Bang & Olufsen speakers. That killer combination makes it, now more than ever, one of the best HP laptops out there. Is it a wonder that this is one of our favorite laptops of 2021? If you care about aesthetics as much as you do performance and overall quality, this is the laptop for you.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2020)

HP Envy 15 (2020)

(Image credit: HP)

3. HP Envy 15 (2020)

Elegance and affordability meet

CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H - Core i9-10885H | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics - GeForce RTX 2060 w/Max-Q design (6 GB) | RAM: 16 – 32GB | Screen: 15.6" diagonal FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) multitouch display | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Great performance for the price
Sleek design
Beautiful 4K display
On the heavy side
Can run hot

The HP Envy 15 (2020) may have been meant for creative professionals looking to get away from the Macbook Pro. However, its versatility, thanks to all the customizable options when purchasing, makes it ideal for a number of different uses, whether you’re looking for a reasonably priced ultrabook or one that can tackle gaming. It can be upgraded to have some serious RAM and storage, up to an Intel i9, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 and a beautiful 4K display. And, even in its souped up configuration, it comes in at a decent price especially when compared to similar offerings from Dell or Apple.

Read the full review: HP Envy 15 (2020) review

HP Chromebook 14

HP Chromebook 14 has a few aces up its sleeves. (Image credit: TechRadar) (Image credit: HP)

4. HP Chromebook 14

A well-balanced Chromebook

CPU: AMD A4 – A6, Intel Celeron N3350 – N3450 | Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 – R5, Intel HD Graphics 500 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch diagonal HD (1366x768) SVA anti-glare – FHD (1920x1080) IPS BrightView | Storage: 16GB – 64GB eMMC

Excellent keyboard and trackpad
Chrome OS is responsive
Crisp, vivid screen
Average battery life

The HP Chromebook 14 may not be as powerful as other Chromebooks, but this tiny laptop has a few aces up its sleeves, helping it secure a well-deserved spot among the best HP laptops. Those aces include striking a good balance between ample screen space and portability, as well as a surprisingly excellent keyboard and a decent trackpad. That’s without mentioning how vivid the display and how low its price tag is.

Read the full review: HP Chromebook 14

HP EliteBook x360 1040

EliteBook x360 1040 G5 is the “apex predator of the business world.” (Image credit: TechRadar) (Image credit: HP)

5. HP EliteBook x360 1040

Better than ever before

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 14-inch diagonal BrightView LED FHD (1920x1080) – UHD (3840x2160) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD

Nifty design and stylus
Great performance
Blisteringly fast SSD
Plenty of ports
Battery life disappointing
Expensive
Uneven anti-glare display

We dubbed the EliteBook x360 1040 G5 as the “apex predator of the business world” in our review because, well, it is. It boasts many excellent features in its handsome-looking chassis, as well as plenty of ports to go around, including a port that works wonders and impressively audio. Simply, this HP laptop is an ideal match for the professional who demands seamlessness and power at work. It’s not the perfect machine, but it’s got plenty of features that make up for its flaws, making it among the best HP laptops on the market.

Read the full review: HP EliteBook x360 1040

HP Omen 17

The HP Omen 17 is one incredible gaming machine packed with excellent features. (Image credit: HP)

6. HP Omen 17

A monster of a gaming laptop that's relatively affordable

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel GeForce GTX 1050 – 1070 | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Screen: 14-inch diagonal BrightView LED FHD (1920x1080) – UHD (3840x2160) | Storage: 1TB – 2TB HDD; 128GB – 256GB SSD

Affordable price
4K, G-Sync Display
Plastic-y build
Large physical size

Don’t judge this budget gaming laptop by its cover. It’s modest design and poor quality chassis aside, the HP Omen 17 is one incredible gaming machine packed with excellent features. With its G-Sync display, solid speakers, and 4K gaming (if you’re ok with lower frame rates), this is one of the best HP laptops for gaming. Best of all, it offers great value at an affordable price. So if you don’t have the funds to splurge on a premium gaming laptop, you know you’ve got an option in this one.

Read the full review: HP Omen 17

HP Envy x360 13 (2019)

If you are interested in the latest AMD innards, HP Envy x360 13 (2019) is a great choice. (Image credit: HP)

7. HP Envy x360 (2019)

HP gives its slimline laptop an AMD upgrade

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3300U – AMD Ryzen 7 3700U | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 6 – Radeon Vega 10 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3" diagonal FHD IPS (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256 GB – 1TB SSD

Slim and sleek for a 2-in-1
High quality chassis
Improved battery life
CPU performance merely adequate
Graphics performance disappointing

Thanks to its sleek, 13-inch design, this 2-in-1 is thinner that you would have expected, which works in your favor when using it in tablet mode. There are other compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) is worth considering when you’re in the market for one of the best HP laptops. If you are interested in the latest AMD innards, this is a great choice. This HP beauty also offers a premium build, boasts 9 hours of video playback and delivers a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, at a very affordable price.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)

HP Omen X

HP Omen X stays at the top of the stack longer than competitors. (Image Credit: HP)

8. HP Omen X

The ultimate gaming laptop

CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 – 2080 | RAM: 16 – 32GB RAM | Screen: 15.6" diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080) – 4K (3840 x 2160) | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Top-end gaming specs
Designed for overclocking
Short battery life

If you’ve been watching the laptop market as long as we have, you’ll have noticed that the best gaming laptops kind of get a bad rap because of their lack of mobility. However, HP has addressed this issue by packing plenty of new features that gaming laptops tend to lack. First, you can overclock the Omen X, which just means free performance – which will keep it at the top of the stack longer than competitors. For gamers, the HP Omen X is a no-brainer.

HP Envy 13t

 HP Envy 13t boasts elegant beauty combines a premium design and premium internal components. (Image Credit: HP) (Image credit: HP)

9. HP Envy 13t 2019

An Ultrabook with few compromises

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7 – 10th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel GeForce MX150 – Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch diagonal FHD IPS BrightView WLED-backlit (1920 x 1080) – 4K IPS BrightView WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass (3840 x 2160) | Storage: up to 1TB SSD

Excellent value
Elegant design
Strong Ultrabook performance
Inconsistent multi-core performance
Hinge design poor for laps

For a second-tier laptop, you might be surprised to find so very few faults in the new HP Envy 13t 2019. This elegant beauty combines a premium design and premium internal components without costing you an arm and a leg, which makes it a terrific alternative for MacBook lovers looking to save money for their next computing investment. There are other things to love as well – the ultra-thin chassis, the tactile keyboard, and a battery that will outlast yours.

Read the full review: HP Envy 13t 2019

HP Spectre 13

HP Spectre 13 packs some serious horsepower. (Image Credit: HP)

10. HP Spectre 13

The thinnest Ultrabook

CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8 – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Impossibly thin and light
Top-notch looks
Light on ports
Second-rate trackpad

The HP Spectre 13 is arguably one of the most stunning laptops we’ve ever seen or used. The ceramic white finish is beautifully complemented by a two-prong hinge design that’s extremely appealing as well as utilitarian. The Spectre 13 goes even further by packing some serious horsepower. It leverages the power of 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors to outmatch the competition. It’s been discontinued on the HP site, but the HP Spectre 13 is still one of the best HP laptops this year. Search for it, as third-party retailers still sell it.

Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 

Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy has also contributed to this article



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