Is the HD+ screen good enough for a 17-inch laptop?

It is usable for documents and video, but 1600 x 900 on 17.3 inches looks soft, and 250 nits is dim outdoors. Rivals at this size often offer 1080p, which is noticeably sharper.

Can the RAM and SSD be upgraded?

HP lists configurations up to 32GB DDR4 and 2TB PCIe SSD. Check the specific configuration's slot layout before buying if you plan to upgrade later.

Does it handle gaming?

Only lightly. Intel integrated graphics run older and casual titles at low settings; modern 3D games will not run well.

How does it compare with a 15.6-inch laptop?

You gain a much larger screen and a number pad but lose portability and display sharpness. If you carry the laptop daily, a 15.6-inch model is the better fit.

What ports does it have?

Two USB-A, one USB-C, HDMI and a headphone/microphone combo jack. There is no optical drive.

Is Windows 11 Home included?

Yes, it ships with Windows 11 Home.

Where is the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop cheapest?

At Walmart, for $1,099.00, as of our latest check.

What do buyers say about the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop?

Rated 5 out of 5 from 1 ratings.

HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop

Best price now

$1,099.00at WalmartChecked Nov 10

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop

Best price now

$1,099.00at WalmartChecked Nov 10

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

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Price facts

Last seen at $1,099.00 at Walmart on Nov 10.

Our take on the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop

The HP Essential 17.3 is a big-screen budget laptop built around Intel's Core 5 120U, a 10-core chip with a 5.0 GHz turbo ceiling. The 17.3-inch HD+ panel is anti-glare and rated 250 nits, so it is fine indoors but dim and low-resolution next to the 1080p screens most rivals at this size carry. It suits desk-bound buyers who want a large display, a full keyboard layout and lots of memory and storage for office work, streaming and light multitasking. Against 15.6-inch competitors it trades sharpness and portability for screen size, and at 4.6 lbs it is a stay-at-home machine.

Best forDesk and kitchen-table use where screen size beats sharpnessOffice, email and web work with many tabs openStudents who want one large screen instead of a monitorBuyers who prioritize RAM and SSD capacity over display quality

Pros

17.3-inch screen gives a roomy workspace for documents and spreadsheets
Core 5 120U with 10 cores handles everyday multitasking well
Configurable up to 32GB DDR4 RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth for modern wireless
USB-C, two USB-A and HDMI cover common peripherals
Anti-glare coating cuts reflections under indoor light

Cons

HD+ 1600 x 900 resolution looks soft on a 17.3-inch panel
250 nits and 60% NTSC color are dim and muted
4.6 lbs and 15.78 inches wide make it awkward to carry daily
No optical drive or media drive
Integrated Intel graphics limit gaming and creative work

HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop prices at every store

WalmartNew
In stockSold by Rock eDigitalReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.
$1,099.00Free shippingChecked Nov 10
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What reviewers say

Owners of HP's large budget laptops generally praise the big screen and comfortable typing for home and office tasks, while criticizing the dim, low-resolution display and the bulk. Battery life and plastic build draw mixed comments.

What people mention

DisplayCriticisedOwners say the HD+ panel is soft and dim, with weak color that struggles in bright rooms.
Size and weightMixedThe large screen is loved at a desk, but 4.6 lbs and a wide body make it a poor daily carry.
PerformancePraisedThe Core 5 chip and generous RAM keep office apps and many tabs running smoothly.
BuildCriticisedReviewers note flex in the plastic lid and chassis compared with metal-bodied rivals.
BatteryMixedLight tasks last a work session, but the large screen drains the battery faster at high brightness.
KeyboardPraisedThe full-size keyboard with number pad is comfortable for spreadsheets and typing.

About the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop

The HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop runs Windows 11 Home on an Intel Core 5 120U processor with Intel Graphics. This configuration has 32GB of RAM and a 1TB solid state drive.

The 17.3-inch HD+ display has an anti-glare finish. It has a 1600 x 900 resolution, 250 nits of brightness and 60% NTSC color coverage.

It has USB Type-A, USB Type-C and HDMI ports and a headphone/microphone combo jack. It also has a webcam, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth. There is no optical drive or media drive.

Processor: Intel Core 5 120U
Cores: 10 cores, 12 threads
Cache: 12 MB L3
Clock speed: 0.9GHz base, up to 5.0GHz max turbo
Memory: 32GB DDR4 RAM
Storage: 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD
Operating system: Windows 11 Home
Graphics: Intel Graphics
Display: 17.3" diagonal, HD+ (1600 x 900), anti-glare, 250 nits, 60% NTSC
Ports: 2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 x SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 1 x HDMI, 1 x headphone/microphone combo
Optical drive: None
Media drive: None
Webcam: Yes
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth
Dimensions

Specifications

processor_type: Intel Core 5Source
edition: 32GB RAM | 1TB SSDSource
color: BlackSource

Questions and answers

Is the HD+ screen good enough for a 17-inch laptop?: It is usable for documents and video, but 1600 x 900 on 17.3 inches looks soft, and 250 nits is dim outdoors. Rivals at this size often offer 1080p, which is noticeably sharper.
Can the RAM and SSD be upgraded?: HP lists configurations up to 32GB DDR4 and 2TB PCIe SSD. Check the specific configuration's slot layout before buying if you plan to upgrade later.
Does it handle gaming?: Only lightly. Intel integrated graphics run older and casual titles at low settings; modern 3D games will not run well.
How does it compare with a 15.6-inch laptop?: You gain a much larger screen and a number pad but lose portability and display sharpness. If you carry the laptop daily, a 15.6-inch model is the better fit.
What ports does it have?: Two USB-A, one USB-C, HDMI and a headphone/microphone combo jack. There is no optical drive.
Is Windows 11 Home included?: Yes, it ships with Windows 11 Home.
Where is the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop cheapest?: At Walmart, for $1,099.00, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the HP Essential 17.3" HD+ Laptop?: Rated 5 out of 5 from 1 ratings.