Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6" Laptop vs HP EliteBook 645 G9

The IdeaPad 1 is the simpler pick for a light home laptop: a 15.6-inch screen, a fingerprint reader, and long rated battery life. The EliteBook 645 G9 is the sturdier machine, built for business with a spill-resistant keyboard, Ethernet, and Windows 11 Pro, and it is often sold refurbished. Owners of the IdeaPad line praise the screen size for the money but note the slow Celeron and eMMC storage on base models. The EliteBook's Ryzen 5 PRO is the faster chip of the two, and its IPS panel at 400 nits beats the IdeaPad's TN panel.

• Choose the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 if you want a big 15.6-inch screen for browsing, email, and schoolwork and prefer a new, sealed unit with a fingerprint reader.
• Choose the HP EliteBook 645 G9 if you need a faster processor, a brighter IPS screen, Ethernet, and Windows 11 Pro, and are comfortable buying refurbished.