Is the 128 GB drive enough?

It holds the system, apps and a modest media library. Photos, games and video projects will fill it fast, so plan on cloud storage or an external drive.

Can the RAM be upgraded?

HP's Essential 17 line generally has accessible memory slots, but confirm the exact configuration before buying. 8 GB is fine for browsing and office work, tight for heavy multitasking.

Is the screen good for photo editing?

The 1600 x 900 panel gives less detail than full HD, and color accuracy is basic. It suits documents, web pages and video, not color-critical work.

Does it have a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader?

Yes. Both are included, which is uncommon at this end of the 17-inch market.

How does it compare with a 15-inch laptop?

It trades portability for screen space. The 17.3-inch display and full keyboard with number pad suit desk use, but the larger body and 6-hour battery make it a poor travel companion.

HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop

Best price now

$629.40at Macy'sChecked 6 h ago

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Macy's

HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop

Best price now

$629.40at Macy'sChecked 6 h ago

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Macy's

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Price facts

Lowest price today: $629.40 at Macy's (checked Nov 14, 2026).

Our take on the HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop

The HP Essential 17-CN3233NR is a 17.3-inch touchscreen laptop built around a quad-core Intel processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB drive. Its large 1600 x 900 touch display, backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader make it comfortable for everyday desk work, browsing and streaming. The 128 GB drive is small next to most rivals, which usually start at 256 GB, so local storage fills quickly. Battery life of about 6 hours is modest for a 17-inch machine, and the 1600 x 900 resolution is below the full-HD panels common on competing 17-inch laptops.

Best forBrowsing, email and streaming at a deskShoppers who want a big touchscreenStudents and home users on a budgetAnyone who prefers a numeric keypad and large screen

Pros

Large 17.3-inch touchscreen
Quad-core processor at 3.4 GHz
Backlit keyboard for dim rooms
Fingerprint reader for quick sign-in
HDMI port for an external monitor

Cons

128 GB drive is small for the class
1600 x 900 resolution is below full HD
About 6 hours of battery life
8 GB RAM limits heavy multitasking

HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop prices at every store

Macy'sNew
In stock
$629.40Checked 6 h ago
Visit Macy's

HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop price history

Lowest price we've seen: $629.40 on Nov 14 at Macy's. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 14.

About the HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop

The HP Essential 17-CN3233NR is a laptop with a 17.3-inch touchscreen. The display has a resolution of 1600 x 900 and a 60Hz refresh rate.

It has a quad-core processor running at 3.4 GHz, 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB drive. The keyboard is backlit, and a fingerprint scanner provides biometric security. The battery lasts about 6 hours.

Screen size: 17.3 inches
Touchscreen: Yes
Resolution: 1600 x 900
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Processor: Quad core, 3.4 GHz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 128 GB drive
Ports: HDMI
Keyboard: Backlit
Security: Fingerprint scan
Battery life: 6 hours

Specifications

Resolution: 1600 x 900
Touchscreen: Yes
Number Of Cores: Quad Core
With Backlit Keyboard: Yes
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Available Ports: HDMI
Biometric Security: Fingerprint Scan
Drive Capacity: 128 GB drive
Screen Size: 17.3 inches
Installed Memory: 8 GB RAM
Processor Speed: 3.4 GHz CPU
Battery Life: 6 hours battery life

Questions and answers

Is the 128 GB drive enough?: It holds the system, apps and a modest media library. Photos, games and video projects will fill it fast, so plan on cloud storage or an external drive.
Can the RAM be upgraded?: HP's Essential 17 line generally has accessible memory slots, but confirm the exact configuration before buying. 8 GB is fine for browsing and office work, tight for heavy multitasking.
Is the screen good for photo editing?: The 1600 x 900 panel gives less detail than full HD, and color accuracy is basic. It suits documents, web pages and video, not color-critical work.
Does it have a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader?: Yes. Both are included, which is uncommon at this end of the 17-inch market.
How does it compare with a 15-inch laptop?: It trades portability for screen space. The 17.3-inch display and full keyboard with number pad suit desk use, but the larger body and 6-hour battery make it a poor travel companion.
Where is the HP Essential 17-CN3233NR 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop cheapest?: At Macy's, for $629.40, as of our latest check.