I’ve been hunting for affordable laptops for the last few months, specifically because they’re really hard to find. I’ve been leaning a lot on eBay’s certified refurbished program, because it has some of the best deals around. But today I was lucky enough to find one on a new laptop from Best Buy. This HP model has a touchscreen, a Core i7 CPU, and 16GB of RAM for just $549.99. That’s $250 off.
This is definitely still a budget design — it looks like almost identical to the OmniBook series, but doesn’t get that designation, I’m guessing because it’s a model specifically for big box retailers. Even so, the specs inside are more than respectable despite coming with an older processor. The Core i7-1355U is a 10-core model with a 5GHz maximum speed, first released in 2023. Paired with 16GB of RAM and Intel’s Iris Xe graphics, it should handle pretty much everything you can throw at it short of high-end games. 512GB of storage isn’t amazing, should be enough for most users.
The screen is particularly notable. At 16 inches and 1080p, it’s not especially sharp, but it does include a touch panel, something rarely seen on a new laptop in the $500 area. The extra space allows for a roomy keyboard with a number pad, great for data entry or students. And while I wish it had a few more ports, USB-C, double USB-A, and HDMI should cover most people’s needs. Just make sure you don’t forget the charger if you leave home — a 45 watt-hour battery with that big screen may not last long. Even HP’s usually generous estimate is just 7.5 hours.
Best Buy says this discount is part of its “Tech Fest” promotion, which lasts until Sunday (March 22nd). If you want something a little faster and sleeker but without the touchscreen, there’s a Samsung laptop with almost the same specs but a newer processor at the same price.
