HP 15s Ryzen 3 5300U Review: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse?

by Jhon Lennon 59 views

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into the HP Laptop 15s powered by the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor. If you're on the hunt for a reliable and affordable laptop that can handle your daily tasks without breaking a sweat, then this review is definitely for you. We'll break down everything from its performance and design to its battery life and overall value, so you can make an informed decision. Let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

First impressions matter, right? The HP Laptop 15s sports a clean and minimalist design. It's not going to win any awards for groundbreaking aesthetics, but it's certainly not an eyesore. The chassis is made of plastic, which is pretty standard for laptops in this price range. While it doesn't feel super premium, it doesn't feel cheap either. HP has done a decent job of making it look and feel reasonably sturdy. The laptop is lightweight enough to carry around without feeling like you're lugging a brick, which is a big plus for students or anyone who's always on the move.

Now, let’s talk specifics. The HP Laptop 15s typically comes in a few different color options, usually some variation of silver or black. The matte finish helps to resist fingerprints, which is a nice touch. Opening the laptop, you'll find a full-size keyboard with decent key travel. The keys are comfortable to type on, although some users might find them a bit mushy. The trackpad is responsive and accurate, making navigation a breeze. One thing to note is that the lid can be a bit wobbly, especially when you're typing on an uneven surface. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to be aware of.

In terms of ports, the HP Laptop 15s offers a good selection for everyday use. You'll typically find a USB-C port, a couple of USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. This should be enough to connect all your essential peripherals, like an external hard drive, a mouse, and a monitor. The placement of the ports is also well-thought-out, so you won't have to worry about cables getting in your way. Overall, the design and build quality of the HP Laptop 15s are perfectly acceptable for its price point. It's not the flashiest or most durable laptop out there, but it gets the job done.

Performance

Okay, let's get to the heart of the matter: performance. The AMD Ryzen 3 5300U is a quad-core processor that offers a solid balance of power and efficiency. It's not going to compete with high-end CPUs, but it's more than capable of handling everyday tasks like browsing the web, streaming videos, working on documents, and even some light photo editing. The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics is also decent enough for casual gaming.

For everyday tasks, the HP Laptop 15s performs admirably. Opening applications is snappy, multitasking is smooth, and you won't experience any noticeable lag. Even with multiple browser tabs open and a few applications running in the background, the laptop doesn't struggle. The Ryzen 3 5300U handles these tasks with ease, making it a great choice for students, office workers, and anyone who needs a reliable machine for their daily workflow. When it comes to more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, the HP Laptop 15s can still hold its own, but you'll need to temper your expectations. Don't expect to run the latest AAA games at high settings, but older titles and less demanding games will run just fine. Video editing is possible, but it's best to stick to shorter projects and lower resolutions.

To give you a better idea of its performance, let's talk about some benchmark scores. In Cinebench R23, the Ryzen 3 5300U typically scores around 4000 points in multi-core and around 1100 points in single-core. In Geekbench 5, it scores around 5500 points in multi-core and around 1200 points in single-core. These scores are in line with other laptops in this price range and demonstrate that the Ryzen 3 5300U is a capable processor for everyday use. The laptop usually comes with 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users. However, if you plan on doing a lot of multitasking or running memory-intensive applications, you might want to consider upgrading to 16GB. The storage is typically a 256GB or 512GB SSD, which provides fast boot times and quick access to your files. Overall, the performance of the HP Laptop 15s is excellent for its price. The Ryzen 3 5300U is a capable processor that can handle everyday tasks with ease.

Display

The display on the HP Laptop 15s is a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) panel. It's not the brightest or most vibrant display out there, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday use. The colors are reasonably accurate, and the viewing angles are decent. However, if you're a professional photographer or video editor, you might want to consider a laptop with a higher-quality display. The brightness is also a bit on the lower side, which can make it difficult to use in direct sunlight. Indoors, however, the display is perfectly fine.

For general use, the display on the HP Laptop 15s is perfectly acceptable. Watching videos, browsing the web, and working on documents all look crisp and clear. The Full HD resolution ensures that text is sharp and easy to read. The display also has an anti-glare coating, which helps to reduce reflections and make it easier to use in bright environments. One thing to keep in mind is that the display is not touch-enabled. If you're used to using a touchscreen, you might find this a bit disappointing. However, for most users, the lack of a touchscreen is not a major issue. Overall, the display on the HP Laptop 15s is a decent panel that gets the job done. It's not the best display out there, but it's perfectly adequate for everyday use. If you are looking for a laptop for everyday use, you should consider this laptop.

Battery Life

Battery life is always a crucial factor when choosing a laptop, especially if you're planning on using it on the go. The HP Laptop 15s typically offers decent battery life, but it's not going to blow you away. You can expect to get around 6-8 hours of use on a single charge, depending on your usage. If you're just browsing the web and working on documents, you'll likely get closer to 8 hours. However, if you're watching videos or playing games, you can expect the battery to drain more quickly.

The HP Laptop 15s comes with a 41Wh battery, which is fairly standard for laptops in this price range. The laptop also supports fast charging, which is a nice feature to have. You can typically charge the battery from 0% to 50% in about 45 minutes. To extend the battery life, you can try a few things, such as reducing the screen brightness, closing unnecessary applications, and enabling battery saver mode. These tips can help you squeeze a bit more juice out of the battery and get you through the day. Overall, the battery life of the HP Laptop 15s is decent, but it's not exceptional. If you need a laptop with all-day battery life, you might want to consider other options. Otherwise, the HP Laptop 15s should be sufficient for most users.

Pros and Cons

To summarize, let's take a look at the pros and cons of the HP Laptop 15s:

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Decent performance for everyday tasks
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Good selection of ports
  • Comfortable keyboard and trackpad

Cons:

  • Plastic build quality
  • Display could be brighter
  • Battery life is decent, but not exceptional

Final Verdict

So, what's the final verdict on the HP Laptop 15s with the AMD Ryzen 3 5300U? Overall, it's a solid and reliable laptop that offers excellent value for its price. It's not the flashiest or most powerful laptop out there, but it's more than capable of handling everyday tasks like browsing the web, streaming videos, and working on documents. The Ryzen 3 5300U provides decent performance, the display is adequate, and the battery life is acceptable. If you're on a tight budget and need a laptop for school, work, or general use, the HP Laptop 15s is definitely worth considering. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, you might want to look elsewhere.