Is the HP Essential good for gaming?

No. It has no dedicated graphics card and 8 GB of RAM, so it suits browsing, office work and video, not modern games.

Is the 256 GB SSD enough storage?

It is fine for documents, photos and streaming, but large game or video libraries will fill it quickly. Check whether the drive can be upgraded before buying.

Does it have a backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader?

The listed specs show no fingerprint reader and no facial recognition. Backlighting is not listed, so confirm it on the exact model before you buy.

Can I use it for work from home?

Yes for email, video calls and office apps. The webcam and Bluetooth are included, but the lack of TPM 2.0 may matter if your employer requires it.

What ports does it have?

USB-C, USB-A and a 1/8-inch headphone jack, plus Bluetooth for wireless accessories. There is no optical drive.

When is the best time to buy it?

Budget laptops like this see the deepest discounts during back-to-school and Black Friday sales. Check its price history before buying.

HP Essential Laptop Computer 15.6 FHD

Last price we saw

$849.99at HP, last seen Nov 7

Prices change often: ask the agent below to check today's price at every store.

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Check today's price at HP

Ask our agent about this product

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

Our take on the HP Essential Laptop Computer 15.6 FHD

The HP Essential is a basic 15.6-inch laptop with a 1080p screen, an 8 GB DDR4 memory and a 256 GB SSD, running Windows. It covers everyday tasks like browsing, email, documents and video, and the full-HD panel is a step above the 1366x768 screens common at this price. It has no dedicated graphics, no fingerprint reader or facial recognition, and no TPM 2.0, so it is not built for gaming or for strict business security requirements.

Best forStudents and home users on a budgetBrowsing, email and office documentsA secondary or kitchen-table laptopBuyers who want a 1080p screen at a low price

Pros

15.6-inch 1920x1080 screen is sharper than typical budget panels
256 GB SSD gives faster boot and app loading than a hard drive
8 GB DDR4 RAM handles everyday multitasking
USB-C plus USB-A and a headphone jack cover common accessories
Windows preinstalled, ready out of the box

Cons

HP Essential Laptop Computer 15.6 FHD prices at every store

HPNew
Out of stock
$849.99Free shippingVerified
Visit HP

Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

HP Essential Laptop Computer 15.6 FHD price history

Lowest price we've seen: $849.99 on Nov 7 at HP. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 7.

Specifications

Connections: USB-C, 1/8" Headphone Jack, USB-ASource
Screen Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD)Source
Optical Drive: NoneSource
Bluetooth: YesSource

Questions and answers

Is the HP Essential good for gaming?: No. It has no dedicated graphics card and 8 GB of RAM, so it suits browsing, office work and video, not modern games.
Is the 256 GB SSD enough storage?: It is fine for documents, photos and streaming, but large game or video libraries will fill it quickly. Check whether the drive can be upgraded before buying.
Does it have a backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader?: The listed specs show no fingerprint reader and no facial recognition. Backlighting is not listed, so confirm it on the exact model before you buy.
Can I use it for work from home?: Yes for email, video calls and office apps. The webcam and Bluetooth are included, but the lack of TPM 2.0 may matter if your employer requires it.
What ports does it have?: USB-C, USB-A and a 1/8-inch headphone jack, plus Bluetooth for wireless accessories. There is no optical drive.
When is the best time to buy it?: Budget laptops like this see the deepest discounts during back-to-school and Black Friday sales. Check its price history before buying.