The best cheap HP laptop deals for September 2020

HP’s computer lineup has been a staple of the PC market for more than 3o years, and depending on your own age, the first HP PC might have even been born before you were. Along with other names like Dell and now-defunct brands such as Compaq (which was actually bought by HP in 2002), HP played a huge role in the personal computer revolution that brought this once-cutting-edge technology into the homes of average people.

Age hasn’t slowed HP down a bit. The company is still at it today, rolling out some of the most impressive and solidly built gaming laptops, 2-in-1 ultrabooks, and Chromebooks that you’ll find anywhere — and we’ve sorted through them all to bring you all the best cheap HP laptop deals right here. This up-to-date list contains everything from super-affordable workhorse PCs to 2-in-1 convertibles and everything in between, at discounts that can save you hundreds.

Today’s best HP laptop deals

HP Laptop 15z — $410, was $470
HP Pavilion x360 14t 2-in-1 Laptop — $510, was $550
HP Pavilion 15z Touchscreen Laptop — $560, was $680
HP Envy x360 15z 2-in-1 Laptop — $640, was $760
HP Pavilion RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop — $880, was $1,080
HP Spectre x360 13 2-in-1 Laptop — $1,100, was $1,300

HP Laptop 15z — $410, was $470

Many cheap laptops you’ll see are last-gen models with pretty bare-bones specifications, a situation made worse by dated hardware. That can be a problem with some PCs, but not this one: The HP Laptop 15z is about the cheapest notebook you can find that’s still suitable (not to mention large enough) for working on comfortably, and it comes with some very nice specs that are rarely seen at this price point. For starters, it’s packing one of the newer AMD Ryzen 3 processors with built-in Radeon Vega graphics, and instead of the usual 4GB of RAM you see on cheap laptops, the HP Laptop 15z gives you the full 8GB.

This is a solid cheap HP laptop for work, entertainment, and general everyday use, and you can grab it on sale right now for a super-affordable $410 ($60 off).

HP Pavilion x360 14t 2-in-1 Laptop — $510, was $550

If you like cheap laptops but want something with a modest upgrade in specs, more storage space, and coveted 2-in-1 functionality, this high-value HP Pavilion x360 14t laptop is perfect. This Windows 10 computer comes with a 14-inch fold-flat HD touch display, one of the latest Core i3 processors, a 128GB solid-state drive, and a full 8GB of DDR4 RAM — an upgrade over the 4GB you often find on sub-$500 PCs. The fact that it’s about the cheapest Windows 2-in-1 out there right now is just icing on the cake.

This cheap HP laptop is perfect for remote work and pretty much all other basic computing needs, and rings in at just $510 ($40 off), making it one of the best machines you’re going to find for around 500 bucks.

HP Pavilion 15z Touchscreen Laptop — $560, was $680

It’s clear in 2020 that touchscreens are here to stay, and it’s not hard to see why cheap laptops featuring touch displays are so popular. This highly affordable workhorse combines the speed of modern processing hardware with a convenient 15.6-inch HD touchscreen. Its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, Radeon Vega 8 graphics, boosted 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and generous battery life make it the perfect everyday companion for work and entertainment on the go.

If you’re interested in experiencing the convenience and versatility of touchscreen without paying nearly a grand for premium 2-in-1s like the Spectre series, then you can grab this cheap HP laptop for just $560 right now and save $120.

HP Envy x360 15z 2-in-1 Laptop — $640, was $760

When it comes to affordable workhorse computers, HP makes some of the best. This 15-inch Envy x360 2-in-1 is one such cheap HP laptop, but one that punches well above its weight with its Ryzen 5 4500U CPU, 8GB RAM, and a nice fast 128GB SSD. Straightforward specs to be sure, but very good ones for working, studying, web browsing, and general daily use, with the added versatility of its 15.6-inch Full HD display also being a fold-flat touchscreen and its built-in audio engineered by Bang & Olufsen.

This cheap HP laptop deal rings in at $640 after a nice $120 discount — not a bad price at all for a modern 2-in-1 with top-tier specs like these. If 128GB of storage isn’t enough, Walmart has the same model with a 256GB SSD for just $30 more.

HP Pavilion RTX 2060 Gaming Laptop — $880, was $1,080

HP is most well-known for its work-focused laptops for students and professionals, but it makes some pretty solid gaming PCs as well. The new 16-inch HP Pavilion is a solid example of what modern sub-$1,000 gaming laptops have to offer, and this one delivers plenty of juice for gaming with its 10th-gen Core i5 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card (one of the best modern mid-range GPUs for 1080p gaming), and 8GB RAM.

On top of that, you also get a nice big 1TB hard drive for plenty of games and other software, and the 16.1-inch 1080p IPS display is perfect for both gaming and all-day use. A welcome $200 discount knocks this powerful HP machine down to $880, making it one of the best gaming laptop deals to be had for less than a grand right now.

HP Spectre x360 13 2-in-1 Laptop — $1,100, was $1,300

spectre x360 photo — HP Communications/HP

No roundup of HP laptop deals and 2-in-1s would be complete without one of our all-time favorites: The gorgeous HP Spectre x360. This mighty little 2-in-1 represents the pinnacle of modern Windows ultrabook design, boasting a beautiful 13-inch touchscreen display, great hardware, superb build quality, and generous all-day battery life.

These premium laptops can get pricey, though, but this gem-cut 2-in-1 is a solid value that falls reasonably close to our $1,000 budget limit — and with a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD, it’ll last you for years to come. It’s one of the few HP Spectre ultrabooks you’ll find for roughly a grand, too, with ongoing Labor Day sales bringing it in right at the $1,100 mark — $200 off its normal price. You can also grab this Amazon Renewed model (refurbished in like new condition) with an upgraded 512GB storage for $1,049 and save $350 off its original price.

How to choose an HP laptop

HP’s lineup of computers is extensive, and its laptops alone offer enough variety to make your head spin. Despite being a decades-old brand, though, it has definitely kept up with the times: Today, HP makes everything from modern Chromebooks to sleek 2-in-1 ultrabooks to beefy gaming machines, and no matter your needs or budget, chances are good that there’s an HP laptop deal waiting for you.

Laptops can more or less be broken down into three categories: Traditional laptops, 2-in-1s, and gaming laptops, all of which can be found in most price brackets. After deciding which you want and determining how much you’re willing to spend (something you probably already have a good idea of), it’s time to start looking at what features you want — as well as what to expect from a cheap HP laptop that’s within your chosen price range.

These features include things like screen size and resolution, hard drive type (SSD or HDD) and capacity, and hardware (such as how much RAM you need, or whether you want a discrete graphics card that can handle gaming). More features and better hardware come with a higher price tag, of course, but if you know what you want ahead of time and set realistic expectations, you’ll end up happy with your purchase. To make things easier, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Do HP laptops have Bluetooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless standard that is ubiquitous nowadays. Your phone almost certainly has Bluetooth capability, and virtually all modern tablets and laptops, including HP laptops, pack this connectivity. Bluetooth allows you to pair your computer or another device to peripherals such as wireless headphones or speakers (to name the two most popular examples), but if you’re picky about being on the latest standard, then you’ll want to look closely at the specs of the PC you’ve got your eye on to make sure it’s not outdated — something you run the risk of if you’re looking at the cheapest of the cheap HP laptop deals out there.

Are HP laptops good for gaming?

Any Windows laptop can run games, but that doesn’t mean that any computer can run any game. For playing modern games at good settings, you need a laptop with a dedicated (or “discrete”) graphics card. These GPUs act almost like a second CPU for your PC, but one that is fully dedicated to handling resource-heavy graphical tasks. That usually means gaming, but also applies to jobs like video rendering.

You’ll also want a good modern CPU, ideally a ninth- or 10th-generation Intel Core processor or one of the newer AMD Ryzen processors. Many HP laptops (and even many other cheap gaming laptops you can find today) come loaded with this sort of hardware and HP also makes a number of PCs dedicated to gaming in its Pavilion and Omen lines, so you’ve got a few options if you’re looking for a beefier machine for both work and play.

Do HP laptops come with Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word, being a component of the Microsoft Office suite, is paid software, and HP laptops do not include this for free. However, many do come with an Office trial, and you may even be able to get Microsoft Office for free through your school or workplace (and if not, consider looking around for a good Microsoft Office deal to save some money). If all you need is a basic word processor, Windows still includes the classic WordPad text editor, and you can also check out the free Microsoft Office alternatives.

Are HP laptops waterproof?

Electronics and water typically don’t mix very well, and laptops (from HP or any brand) are no different. Although you can often rescue a laptop from a spill on the keyboard, no consumer-grade PC is fully waterproof or even what you would consider water-resistant. Even Apple MacBooks, despite some persistent rumors, are not waterproof. If you’re concerned about that, however, then you may want to invest in a waterproof cover or bag that can keep your HP laptop safe.

Do HP laptops have HDMI ports?

The vast majority of modern computers come with ports for an HDMI cable, which is the current standard for A/V connectivity (DisplayPort is also popular, although more commonly used for desktops rather than laptops). HDMI is a connection that transmits high-definition audio and video signals along a single cable, and pretty much all HP laptops feature an HDMI port which allows you to connect your computer to an external display if you want to.

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