HP is the the world’s largest PC seller, accounting for 1 in 5 computers sold. The company offers a dizzying array of notebook choices for every budget and use case, from sub-$200 Chromebooks to high-end workstations and mobile gaming rigs. So, if you’ve decided that you want an HP laptop, you need to choose not only which model you need, but which line.
Do you want a value-driven Pavilion, a stylish and high-performing Spectre, or a superthin Envy? If you’re buying for a business, do you know the difference between an EliteBook and a ProBook? Below, we explore each HP sub-brand to help you decide.
| HP Consumer Laptops | |||
| Line | Best For | Price Range | Common Features |
| Spectre | Consumers who can afford the sleekest lightweight laptops | $999 – $1550 | CNC aluminum; SSDs; high-res displays; Thunderbolt 3 |
| Envy | Consumers who want high-end laptops but also want to spend less or get more ports than on a Spectre | $729 – $1,200 | Stamped aluminum; SSDs; IR cameras |
| Pavilion | Families and mainstream consumers | $369 – $950 | Colorful chassis; IR cameras; wide range of CPU and storage options |
| HP (no name) | Budget-conscious consumers | $279 – $700 | DVD drives; mostly plastic; wide array of configs |
| Omen | Gamers | $950-$1,899 | Discrete graphics; H-Series processors |
| Chromebooks | Children, Chrome fans | $179 – $350 | Celeron processors; touch or non-touch screens |
| Stream | Kids, adults who need a second PC | $199-$249 | Celeron processors; brightly colored chassis |
Spectre: High-end consumer laptops
HP’s most premium laptops usually cost more than $1,000, but they are lightweight, have gorgeous designs and include beautiful displays. If you can afford the premium, these are the top-of-the-line HP notebooks for consumers or business users who don’t need IT management features such as vPro. Some Spectres even have the optional Sure View privacy screen, which limits viewing angles to prevent the person next to you on the plane from seeing your work.
A step above the Envy line, Spectres are usually made from CNC aluminum, which gives them a more refined, unibody look than other laptops. All Spectre laptops have SSDs, and it’s unlikely you will see one with lower-end specs, such as a Core i3 CPU or a sub-1080p display.
Common Spectre features include:
- CNC aluminum chassis in silver or ash color
- High-end processors (ex: Kaby Lake G)
- Exclusively SSDs
- Optional 4K displays, Sure View privacy screens
- Thunderbolt 3 ports
Standout models:
- Spectre x360 (13-inch): Get this model if you want the best combination of portability, versatility and style and you can spend at least $1,249. This gorgeous 2-in-1 has an ultrathin design, a snappy keyboard and long battery life.
- Spectre 13: If you don’t need a 2-in-1 but you do want a powerful, stylish system, the Spectre 13 is built for you. But beware its short battery life. The Envy 13 offers much longer endurance and a fantastic keyboard for $300 or $400 less.
- Spectre x360 (15-inch): If you need both style and size, this convertible has a 15-inch touch screen, so you can take advantage of the tablet mode in Windows 10. The next version of this laptop will have Intel’s new Kaby Lake G processor, which combine’s AMD’s speedy Radeon graphics with a 45-watt Intel, quad-core CPU.
Full article link : https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/which-hp-for-you
