Is the HP Essential good for gaming?

No. It uses Intel integrated graphics, so it suits office work, browsing and video, not modern games. A laptop with a dedicated GPU is the better choice for gaming.

How much RAM and storage does it have?

It comes with 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM in two 8GB modules and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. That is enough for everyday multitasking and a few years of documents and photos.

Does it have a backlit keyboard?

Yes. The soft gray keyboard is backlit and includes a numeric keypad, and the screen has a no-glare finish, which helps in dim rooms and near windows.

How long does the battery last?

HP rates it at 9 hours. Expect less under heavy use, so plan on carrying the 45W adapter for long days.

What ports does it have?

The listed ports include HDMI. Check the full port list before buying if you need USB-C or a card reader.

The laptop and a 45W AC power adapter. Nothing else is listed.

What kind of processor does it have?

An Intel Core Ultra 7 255U with 12 cores, 14 threads, 12MB L3 cache and boost up to 5.2 GHz. It is a current-generation chip for everyday work, not a high-wattage gaming part.

Where is the HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop cheapest?

At Walmart, for $899.99, 40% off, as of our latest check.

Is the HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop at its lowest price?

Yes: $899.99 is the lowest price we've seen for it since November 8.

Where can I buy the HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop?

6 stores we checked sell it, including Walmart, Newegg.com, Best Buy, Target, eBay.

HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop

Q: What do buyers say about the HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop?

Rated 4 out of 5 from 45 ratings.

Best price now

$899.99at WalmartChecked 3 h ago

Deal: 40% off at Newegg.com →

Compared across 7 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

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What reviewers say

4 / 545 ratings

Rated 4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, the Essential is generally well received as a solid everyday laptop. Buyers tend to value the light build, the screen and the fingerprint login.

What people mention

WeightPraisedOwners like that a 15.6-inch laptop stays around 3.6 lb.
DisplayPraisedThe no-glare 1080p screen is described as sharp and easy on the eyes.
BatteryCriticisedReviewers say the rated 9 hours is hard to reach in real use.
PerformanceMixedFine for office work and browsing, but the integrated graphics hold back gaming and heavy editing.
SecurityPraisedThe fingerprint reader is called quick and reliable for signing in.
Color coverageCriticisedThe panel covers 62.5% sRGB, so colors look dull next to wide-gamut laptops.

About the HP Essential 15.6" FHD Laptop

Overview The HP 15.6” Laptop AI PC delivers rock-solid performance with a responsive Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor built-in AI, high-quality camera, and fast Wi-Fi. Boost productivity with ample storage, easy-access Copilot key for instant AI assistance, and HP Fast Charge to quickly power up your battery. Features Stay in touch with stunning clarity Video chat in vibrant clarity with a high-quality camera, dual array digital mics and fast connectivity. Get your hustle on with built-in AI power Stay productive with an Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor, quick-charge battery and easy access Copilot Key. An immersive display with crisp, stunning visuals Get lost in your favorite content with wide-viewing angles, 85% screen-to-body ratio and sharp visuals. Designed with purpose This reliable PC is thoughtfully designed with recycled materials and is EPEAT Gold with Climate+ Registered. Software included 1-month Adobe free trial offer; McAfee Online Protection 30-day trial; PC Game Pass 3-month trial Copilot in Windows with Copilot key 1 month trial for new Microsoft 365 customers HP Support Assistant; HP Connection Optimizer; HP BIOS Protection; OMEN Gaming Hub; myHP Disclaimers Multi-core is designed to improve performance of certain software products. Not all customers or software applications will necessarily benefit from use of this technology. Performance and clock frequency will vary depending on application workload and your hardware and software configurations. Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance. Internet access required and not included. Copilot in Windows requires Windows 11. Some features require an NPU. Timing of feature delivery and availability varies by market and device. Requires Microsoft account to log in. Where Copilot is not available, the Copilot key will lead to the Bing search engine. See http://aka.ms/WindowsAIFeatures. Recharges your battery up to 50% within 30 minutes when the system is off using “shut down” command, using HP adapter provided with the notebook or recommended power adapter disclosed in specifications (see http://store.hp.com). After charging has reached 50% capacity, charging speed will return to normal speed. Charging time may vary +/-10% due to System tolerance. Available on select HP products. Percent of active plus nonactive viewing area to active viewing area plus border. Measure with lid vertical to the desk. Ocean-bound plastic material in speaker housing, post-consumer recycled plastic in the keyboard scissors and keycaps. Percent of recycled materials contained in each component varies by product. Based on U.S. EPEAT registration according to the EPEAT criteria. EPEAT registered where applicable, tier levels may vary by country. See www.epeat.net for registration status and tier levels by country