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The HP 15-dy5399nr has so much on offer that you’d argue it’s surely punching above its weight as a mid-range laptop. This 15-inch notebook comes packing a capable 12th-Gen mobile chip from Intel, while also seeing some nice design features and a plethora of ports.
Our review model, the 15-dy5399nr is bursting with high-spec hardware, from 16GB RAM to a speedy 512GB SSD, a 15.6-inch FHD display to the capable Intel Core i5-1235U processor, and Intel Xe graphics. It’s a strong contender for a spot on our best laptops list.
And while it doesn’t attempt to look as classy as, let’s say, a Dell XP 13, or have the incredible grunt of Apple’s latest MacBook Air, it’s still worth a look if you’re looking for a bargain. But, of course, we’re looking at a sub-$500 laptop here, and for all its ability, HP isn’t known to pull off miracles. Corners have been cut, though they’ve been cleverly and sensibly chosen and are more likely to be features you can live without.
There’s no keyboard backlighting, for example, and the case may be entirely plastic. You’re also not getting discrete graphics for gaming, so the HP 15 is forced to rely on the marginally average integrated processor and the Intel Xe graphics, something that will put off those looking at a full-on laptop for creative work.
If those limits don’t matter a lot in your work, we don’t see any reason to opt out of the HP HP 15-dy5399nr. It checks most boxes at its price point perfectly, slotting in next to machines like the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 and Asus ZenBook 3 perfectly. It doesn’t feel compromised –at least until you launch a game, or spend a long time off-grid relying on its rather limited battery – and it doesn’t feel overwhelmed either. If your limits are within range, this HP 15 is a winner.
About the HP 15-dy5399nr
The specs of our review unit are as follows:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
- Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920×1080 pixels
- Connectivity: Realtek Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2×2) & Bluetooth 5.2
- Weight: 5.05 pounds
- Dimensions: 14.11 x 0.78 x 9.53 inches
The HP laptop 15 is available in other models, with memory ranging from 12GB to 26GB and storage from as low as 256GB to 2TB SSD. Our review unit is the mid-model with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD for under $800 but is often on sale for less. If you need more power, you can boost it further via upgrades, or choose a higher model during purchase.
What we like
A premium design than its price tag
While the HP 15-dy5399nr isn’t going to outdo the Dell XPS 15, it doesn’t feel like a laptop that starts at under $800. It has a durable silver chassis with a hinge that glides smoothly as you open it. Despite its 15-inch design, it weighs just over 3 pounds and easily slides into a backpack without bursting at the seams.
Despite the size, you can still open it up and swap the memory and storage, which is a great way to save a few bucks on upgrades. HP has been at the forefront of creating thin devices that don’t compromise repairability or upgrades, and we hope other PC manufacturers will keep that tradition.
Combine that with other perks like a full-size keyboard with an integrated numeric pack, and you have a device that easily competes with laptops in and above its price range.
Decent performance bang for less money
Around this time every year, things are tricky in the laptop market. AMD and Intel are ever at loggerheads, and they’re ever attempting to see who will outdo the other; where the Intel Core i5-1235U CPU in this machine may have been released a few months ago, it still holds for daily productivity tasks. The easy conclusion would be that this machine can’t quite tach its Intel 13th-generation rivals in benchmark scores, but that’s far from the case.
The Core i5-1235U is still a fantastic mobile processor, which (combined with fast SSD storage and RAM) gives this a snappy feel and helps it keep up easily with day-to-day productivity tasks. In all its worthiness, it doesn’t feel like a lesser desktop replacement laptop.
What it doesn’t do, however, is offer much in the way of gaming performance. It relies on integrated Intel Xe graphics which, while not useless, doesn’t promise much in terms of gaming performance. Again, while it feels perfectly slick on this laptop, you can use it as a gaming solution. This isn’t sold on its gaming prowess, so to penalize it based on its lack of a discrete graphics solution doesn’t make much sense.
Beyond performance, the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable enough for anyone who cares about typing office or college tasks regularly. The keyboard sports a full-size tenkey layout which is natural to get used to, and it features minimal flex and decent key travel. It’s comfortable to use, though you’ll struggle in low light as it doesn’t offer backlighting. Below it, there’s a decent-sized multi-touch trackpad with a good click to it, but it doesn’t include a fingerprint reader on the wrist rest.
What we don’t like
The display is sub-par
The 1080p IPS display on the HP 15 is sharp for its 15-inch size, and the contrast ratio is pretty standard – but otherwise, this panel is mediocre at best. With only 250 nits peak brightness, the screen is a little dim, especially if you’re going to work outside where there’s lots of sunlight. (350 nits or more is ideal).
In addition, the screen covers about 64.6% of the sRGB color space used by most applications and websites. This means everything is going to look a bit washed out compared with more high-end displays, and colors will be far from accurate in use. It also means that the computer sends a specific shade to the screen. It might display a shade that’s somewhat off from the intended color. If you’re not into photo and video editing, that probably might not be a major hindrance, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Battery life is mediocre
Generally, budget notebooks like the Acer Aspire 5 and Asus VivoBook 15 can last eight hours on battery alone; about enough to get you through a full workday without an outlet. The HP 15 laptop only lasts just under seven hours, while HP claims over 9 hours on a single charge. While not awful, that’s below average among laptops we’ve tested in the past few years and less than we’d like to see for all-day usage.
HP 15-ef2099nr Review: Verdict
The HP 15-dy5399nr is a well-built laptop for a great price. However, competing laptops like the HP 15-fd0099nr and Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED are better. I’m often skeptical when recommending lower-cost laptops; too many have bland designs and awful keyboards, but the HP 15 laptop is solid and well-built for the price. You get snappy performance, a robust keyboard, and a touchpad that is a joy to type on and build quality that belies its price tag. And it’s remarkably portable, even for its 15-inch size.
That said, HP still had to keep costs down to reach this affordable price point. Its display is dimmer and lacks color accuracy, and battery life would be better given its size. A 1080p display is just fine, but competitors are offering the same for less money.
Other laptops give it a run for its money. The Acer Aspire 5, for example, is still one of the best cheap laptops you can get for $500, with better performance per dollar, good battery life, and good port selection. (Its keyboard is a bit horrible, so you’ll have to decide what you need.)
But if you’re in the market for a budget-to-midrange machine and don’t mind the screen resolution, the HP 15-dy5399nr should be on your shortlist.
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