Discover the HP 15s Ryzen 5000, a top budget laptop for students offering decent performance, ideal for study and multitasking at an affordable price
The Best Budget Laptop for Students with Decent Performance
The HP 15s Ryzen 5000 series has become a popular choice for students and budget-conscious users seeking a reliable laptop for everyday tasks. It strikes a balance between affordability and decent performance, making it ideal for students involved in coding, project work, content consumption, and basic multitasking. This review explores its specifications, performance, and suitability for various tasks, helping you decide if it’s the right fit.
Key Specifications:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U with 12 threads and 8MB L3 cache
- Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics for enhanced visuals
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD, 250-nit, anti-glare micro-edge screen
- Battery: Up to 5 hours on a full charge, with fast charging up to 50% in 45 minutes
- Operating System: Windows 11, pre-installed with Microsoft Office 2021
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, USB Type-A, and HDMI 1.4b
- Camera and Audio: HP True Vision 720p HD camera, dual-array mics, dual speakers
Processor and Performance:
Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, this laptop handles day-to-day tasks smoothly. The six-core processor with 12 threads ensures reliable multitasking, making it suitable for activities like coding, browsing, and document management. Although it’s not intended for high-performance applications like gaming, the AMD Ryzen processor delivers decent performance for students.
The laptop’s AMD Radeon Graphics provides a good visual experience for content consumption and light design work, but it’s limited in gaming performance. While the HP 15s Ryzen 5000 can run some games at low graphics settings, it’s not intended for high-end gaming or demanding graphic work.
Memory and Storage:
With 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, this laptop is well-equipped for multitasking, storage, and running multiple applications at once. Students working with large files or projects will find ample space and quick response times, though they may want to partition the storage for organized management. Additionally, if you’re considering future upgrades, check the expandability options as this model may not support storage expansion.
Display and Visuals:
The HP 15s Ryzen 5000 features a 15.6-inch Full HD display with anti-glare and micro-edge technology, providing clear visuals for work and entertainment. It boasts a brightness level of 250 nits, which is decent for indoor use but may not perform as well in direct sunlight. The micro-edge design offers a more immersive experience with less bezel interference, making it ideal for watching lectures, editing 720p videos, and browsing.
Battery Life and Charging Speed:
This laptop’s 3-cell, 41Wh battery provides up to 5 hours of usage on a single charge, depending on the user’s habits and applications. Although not meant for intensive use, the fast-charging feature can bring the battery to 50% in just 45 minutes, making it a convenient choice for on-the-go students. This battery life suits typical educational tasks but may not be enough for prolonged, heavy workloads.
Connectivity and Ports:
The HP 15s Ryzen 5000 is equipped with:
- 1 x USB Type-C
- 2 x USB Type-A
- 1 x HDMI 1.4b
- Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0
This selection covers basic connectivity needs for external devices, but students who rely on multiple peripherals might miss additional ports like Thunderbolt or an SD card reader. However, the available ports should suffice for presentations, external storage, and external displays.
Audio and Conferencing Features:
For online classes and virtual meetings, the HP 15s Ryzen 5000 includes an HP True Vision 720p HD camera and dual-array microphones, which deliver satisfactory audio and video quality for standard conferencing. While the dual speakers enhance sound clarity for movies and lectures, they are limited in bass and depth. Students might consider external speakers or headphones for a richer audio experience.
Windows 11 and Microsoft Office:
Pre-installed with Windows 11 and Microsoft Office 2021, this laptop is ready for productivity out of the box. To activate Microsoft Office, simply sign in and follow the activation wizard. These features make it convenient for students who need a setup ready for note-taking, presentations, and productivity software.
Sustainability Features:
HP has incorporated sustainability into this model with recycled plastics and EPEAT Gold registration, along with ENERGY STAR certification. Environmentally-conscious students will appreciate these eco-friendly design elements, aligning with HP’s commitment to sustainable products.
Final Verdict and Rating:
7.5/10
The HP 15s Ryzen 5000 is a reliable, budget-friendly choice for students and medium-duty users, delivering decent performance in everyday tasks and educational applications. It’s not designed for high-end gaming or demanding editing tasks but performs well in general use.
Who Should Buy This Laptop:
- Students needing a versatile, affordable laptop for schoolwork, coding, and light multitasking.
- Medium-duty users and casual editors working with standard-definition videos.
Not Recommended For:
- Heavy gamers, professionals in high-performance editing, or users needing powerful graphics.
This laptop is a solid choice for those seeking value, reliability, and functionality without straining their budget. under 50,000 only.
