Which is better for a student on a budget?

The HP 17 (A). At $819.90 at Walmart as of November 7, 2026, it costs $730 less than B and includes a touchscreen, 32 GB RAM and a fingerprint reader.

Is the HP 17 Business worth the extra money?

Only if you need the Intel Core i5, the privacy shutter and NVMe storage. B costs $1,549.99 at Newegg versus $819.90 for A, and it has half the RAM and no touchscreen.

Which has the better screen?

A, for most people. Both are 17.3-inch 1600x900 panels, but A adds touch and an anti-glare coating. Neither is sharp at this size.

Which lasts longer on a charge?

A, by a small margin. HP rates it at about 8 hours versus about 7.25 hours for B, though real use will vary.

Can I upgrade the RAM later?

A supports up to 64 GB, so yes. B ships with 16 GB and its maximum is not stated in the listing.

Which is lighter to carry?

A weighs 4.8 lb. B's weight is not listed, but 17.3-inch laptops in this class are typically around 5 lb.

HP 17.3" Touch Laptop vs HP 17 Business Laptop

Buy the HP 17 (A) for most shoppers. It costs $819.90 at Walmart as of November 7, 2026, versus $1,549.99 at Newegg for the HP 17 Business (B), and it gives you a touchscreen, a fingerprint reader, 32 GB RAM and a backlit keyboard. Choose B only if you need a business-class Intel machine with a privacy shutter and NVMe storage and can justify nearly double the price.

Today the HP 17.3" Touch Laptop costs $730.09 less at its best price.

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