If you’re looking for the best i3 laptop and the best laptop then check out our second favorite i3 laptop, the HP 17.3! It uses an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card, which is suitable for casual gaming, has loads of internal storage, comes preinstalled with Windows 10 Home, and costs just under $700. This makes it a great contender for best laptops in the market.
Why We Like It – HP 17.3 Laptop
This HP 17.3 laptop is a solid Window 10 machine that offers a terabyte of internal storage, uses an Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU, has 8GB of RAM, and runs off of an Intel 8th Generation i3-8145U processor.
- Large 17.3” Display
- 1TB of Internal Storage
- Free Shipping in the United States
- Not Available With An Solid State Drive Type
- Not Available With An Quad Core or an Intel Core i5 (On This Model)
Power & Performance
While it’s certainly not a powerhouse or a dedicated gaming machine, the 17.3” HP has more than enough performance for the average user. It runs off of a dual-core i3-8145U processor, uses an Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card, and has 8GB of DDR4-2400 SDRAM. The 1TB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive should provide adequate storage for most people, but of course, you can always use an external hard drive as well (if you prefer an SSD visit our ASUS VivoBook 15 review). This laptop is capable of connecting to both 2.4 and 5GHz wifi networks. If you’re planning to use your laptop more for work instead of gaming or casual Internet browsing, you may want to check out the best laptops for business. If you’re a big gamer, there are laptops better suited for gaming, even specific ones like the best laptop to play Sims 4.
Battery
This HP laptop claims to have a battery life of up to 9.5 hours, but unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to always be the case. One Amazon user reported the battery lasting a mere four hours, which is very poor. However, there are also people who report the battery lasting for a long time, so battery life appears to be hit or miss. Internally, this new laptop comes with a 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion battery. The device uses a 45 W AC adapter to charge. Take a look at our HP 15.6 Laptop review for another laptop that offers you a 9-hour battery life.
Ports & Expandability
Although CDs and DVDs are rapidly becoming outdated technology, we really appreciated that HP included a CD/DVD drive on this model. It also has three USB ports (one USB 2.0, two USB 3.1), a 3.5mm audio jack, an SD card slot, and an HDMI port. You’ll find an HP TrueVision HD Camera on this laptop (which has a built-in microphone), which will be good enough for a Zoom call but isn’t an excellent performer. The screen itself is a 1600 x 900 HD+ SVA BrightView WLED-backlit display (for a smaller laptop, check out our HP 15.6 laptop review).
Build Quality
It’s a mid-weight laptop at 4.4 pounds, which isn’t bad considering the size of the device. Sadly, this model doesn’t have a backlit keyboard, which may be a drawback for some. The device is fairly well-built, although the bezels on the 17.3” display are a bit thick for our liking. Fortunately, it makes up for this shortcoming with excellent viewing angles. Also, this model has a CD/DVD drive, which we thought was a nice addition because you won’t need to buy an external one.
Value
All things considered, the $699.95 price of this laptop is fair (take a look at our Lenovo IdeaPad S340 review if you’re looking for something cheaper). The performance of this device matches its price tag, which even includes free delivery! There isn’t any explicit warranty information available, but there are a few protection plans available for an additional cost (ranging from $73.99 to $124.00). Scoring a 4.4 out of 5-stars based on 59 Amazon ratings, this laptop scores generally favorable reviews. If you are in the market for something affordable then you may want to check out our HP Chromebook review,
HP 17.3 Laptop Wrap Up
If it’s come time to replace your old, worn-out laptop but you don’t want to spend an arm & a leg, then the HP 17.3 laptop could be a great option for you. While it’s not specced high enough to be a gaming machine, most average users should be satisfied with its overall performance.
