HP 17.3” HD premium laptop. The device offers a huge 17.3” IPS display, along with the amazing AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, 12Gb’s of pre-installed RAM along with a 256GB SSD. Given the weight and massive size of the laptop, portability does receive a blow. The machine weighs 6.21 pounds (2.81kgs) and measures at 16.33 x 10.72 x 0.96 inches, so fitting it in a school or office bag may be a difficult task.
The design overall is up to date and pretty decent. The laptop is available in a fantastic black color, which in itself boosts up the appeal of the device, but dark colors usually require more frequent cleaning than light colors. HP uses plastic as the primary body material for this device. Most laptop manufacturers use plastic for laptops because it is cheaper and helps to lower the weight of the device, along with being just as durable as aluminium.
The HP 17.3’’ HD offers a couple of very nifty ports that include, 1x HDMI port, 2x USB 3.2 ports and an Ethernet port, which helps to provide a consistent connection to the internet and it is more secure and faster than WIFI, on the left side. The right side contains a 1x USB 3.1 port, a SD card reader and a CD-ROM, which is becoming increasingly rare to find in newer laptops these days.
Furthermore the laptop can connect to the internet through 802.11ac WiFi, which can reach a speed of 1300 Mbps and Bluetooth capability. Kensington locks are vital in the security of laptops, so HP has installed a Kensington lock which helps to keep the laptop safe from thieves.
The speakers installed in this model are top firing and provide a great sound experience whether you are using it for gaming or movie watching. Although the speaker volume can be a bit low, so if you prefer high sound volumes then you will have to buy external speakers or headphones. It comes as no surprise that the webcam in this model is the HP true vision webcam. Performance wise the webcam will get you through online classes for professional meetings, it is highly recommended to use at least a 1080p or FHD webcam.
The HP 17.3” HD premium notebook has a 17.3″ 1600x900p IPS display. IPS panels offer better viewing angles and color gamut than TN and VA panels. The brightness values of this model are also above average. As for the edges, HP didn’t exactly use the thinnest possible edges on this model, but the edges won’t prove distracting and won’t affect the viewing experience in any way.
The 17.3-inch display features a semi-gloss screen. Semi-gloss screens offer better protection against reflections, but unfortunately fail in strong ambient light, so working in a well-lit room or in sunlight can be problematic. Considering that this is not a 2-in-1 notebook, it is not surprising that the display lid can only be pushed back 180 degrees.
