HP 17 Laptop 13th Gen i5 Review: Strong Value with Caveats
Few budget laptops get such consistent applause across retail sites as the HP 17 Laptop 17.3-inch (13th Gen Intel i5)—scoring 4.8★ at Best Buy, 4.3★ on HP’s own store, and even earning praise from renewed buyers on Amazon. Averaging a solid 8.6/10, it positions itself as a large-screen daily driver that pleasantly surprises more often than it disappoints.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Buy — Ideal for home offices and light productivity, less so for travel or design work.
| Category | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Snappy multitasking with i5‑1335U and up to 16GB RAM | Keyboard gets warm with heavy use |
| Display | 17.3" FHD IPS panel, bright and anti‑glare | Color accuracy and viewing angles merely average |
| Build Quality | Lightweight for its class; sleek design | Plastic chassis flexes slightly |
| Battery Life | 6–8 hours (typical use) | Falls to ~4 hrs under load |
| Connectivity | USB‑C, HDMI, Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 | No SD card or Ethernet port |
| Value | Great spec‑to‑price ratio (~$599–699) | Not travel‑ready; mid‑range durability |
Claims vs Reality
HP advertises its 17‑inch notebook as “thoughtfully designed, fast, and built for multitasking.” On paper, it’s armed with the 13th‑gen Intel Core i5‑1335U or i5‑1334U, Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. Marketing promises “fluid creativity and rich gaming experiences”—but users tell a more nuanced story.
At Best Buy, one verified owner wrote, “Excellent for home use—good internals, but plastic shell. Great for large icons and graphics, but I wouldn’t travel with it.” That echoes an insight from Consumer Reports, which found the HP 17’s performance “good for spreadsheets, browsing, and streaming” yet “slow for manipulating images or editing videos.”
Even battery claims—HP lists 8 hours—don’t fully hold. A Reddit user said, “Fan noise is quiet, but the battery life is pretty minimal—maybe 4 hours.” Testers at LibraSpecs and Consumer Reports averaged six to eight hours under mixed workloads, revealing that heavy multitaskers should keep the charger handy.
Cross‑Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Owners consistently celebrate this machine’s size‑to‑value ratio. A verified Best Buy reviewer called it “great economical HP product option,” especially for those with “lower vision—large icons and touchscreen make it easy on the eyes.” Many praise the smooth performance of Intel’s 13th Gen i5; Reddit’s discussion thread had one buyer noting it “beats the i7‑1255U” in everyday responsiveness.
For productivity professionals or teachers, the laptop’s quiet operation stood out. One instructor review read, “Excellent functionality—great value! I use it for work and teaching classes. Recommend!” Office users enjoy the backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader (on most retail configs), which simplify routine access.
Battery endurance also earns surprise kudos when compared with the 17‑inch class. Consumer Reports measured 8 hours for browsing and 6 hours during 4K playback—remarkably efficient for a 4.6‑lb machine. In LibraSpecs’ tests, video bingeing pushed it close to ten hours, reinforcing its reliability for long Zoom or Netflix sessions.
Common Complaints
Durability and heat management are the most common knocks. “It’s a good laptop, only thing I don’t love is how warm the keyboard gets,” wrote one Reddit buyer. Users say the underside and deck warm notably when multitasking, forcing desk use over lap use.
Plastic build quality is a recurring caution. “Not a model I would travel with,” warned a Best Buy review, citing slight chassis flex. LibraSpecs testers noticed “keyboard bending slightly when typing,” which—though not deal‑breaking—affects perceived sturdiness.
Display feedback varies. While official specs list a vibrant Full HD IPS panel, earlier or base models ship with lower HD+ (1600×900) TN screens. Reviewers frequent confusion reflects this variance: LibraSpecs criticized the “16 × 900 panel not as crisp as desired,” while newer Amazon and HP listings confirm upgraded 1080p IPS displays. The takeaway: verify the exact sub‑model before checkout.
Finally, battery life divides users. Light tasks yield around 7 hours, but Reddit and renewed Amazon buyers blame “draining faster than expected” under Chrome‑heavy sessions, edging toward 4 hours if many tabs remain open. That gap matters for students without consistent access to charging outlets.
Divisive Features
The 17.3‑inch form factor delights some and overwhelms others. For retirees or designers fed up with squinting at 13‑inch ultrabooks, the HP 17 feels liberating. One Best Buy reviewer wrote, “I intentionally got the larger screen so I can see what I’m doing.” Conversely, mobile workers lament its desk‑bound nature; at nearly 16 in wide and over 4.5 lb, portability isn’t its forte.
The keyboard earns mixed notes: comfortable spacing and numeric pad make data entry easy, but several sources—LibraSpecs, Consumer Reports—mention “low‑contrast letters” that are hard to read without backlight. Luckily, most i5‑1335U trims feature illumination, though Amazon Renewed variants may omit it.
Trust & Reliability
Despite HP’s occasionally inconsistent mid‑range track record, few reports suggest outright defects for this generation. eBay’s refurbished versions boast “pristine, like‑new condition,” with two‑year Allstate warranties and multiple sellers maintaining 99–100 % positive feedback.
Trustpilot and Best Buy reviewers emphasize peace of mind through extended warranties and HP’s U.S. support team. The fingerprint reader and Windows 11 biometric login system add modern security layers absent in many low‑cost rivals.
Reddit discussions show limited long‑term feedback so far, but early adopters using the i5‑1335U units for months note consistent speeds. “No slowdown yet—runs my R scripts and Excel sheets fine even after adding more RAM,” one user commented after upgrading to 32 GB. Upgradability—two RAM slots and room for a 2.5‑inch drive per LibraSpecs—boosts perceived longevity.
Alternatives
Community comparisons frequently mention the Dell Inspiron 15 3510 and HP 470 G9. The Inspiron edges ahead in build sturdiness but lacks the expansive display. LibraSpecs highlights that Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 offers better color accuracy for creatives at a similar cost but sacrifices Windows software flexibility.
For professionals needing firmer chassis and better color coverage, the HP 470 G9 (same 17.3‑inch segment) is positioned as the “next step up.” Yet its price leap—roughly $200 more—makes the standard HP 17 a more attractive budget pick for office work or streaming rather than editing.
Price & Value
Pricing fluctuates between $599 and $699 new, $439 – $525 refurbished, depending on RAM and SSD upgrades. This sits below similarly specced rivals like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17 or Dell’s Inspiron 17 3000.
Resale value remains strong for a non‑gaming laptop due to practical specs and low wear rates; eBay certified refurb listings confirm fast turnover. For shoppers, Reddit users advise targeting 16 GB RAM variants to avoid immediate upgrade costs: “Got the 12 GB version, wish I’d gone 16 from the start.”
FAQ
Q: Does the HP 17 Laptop have a backlit keyboard?
A: Most i5‑1335U configurations sold on Amazon, HP Store, and Best Buy do include a backlit keyboard, but some renewed or base HD+ models may omit it. Always check the SKU’s “Backlit KB (F4)” listing.
Q: How long does the battery last?
A: Expect 6–8 hours under mixed use. Real‑world users report about 4 hours when multitasking heavily, whereas light streaming can extend closer to 8.
Q: Is the screen Full HD or HD+?
A: New stock models feature FHD (1920×1080 IPS anti‑glare 250 nits). Refurbished or base configurations may use 1600×900 TN panels—verify resolution before buying.
Q: Can the memory be upgraded?
A: Yes. According to LibraSpecs, it offers “two slots for RAM and the ability to add a 2.5‑inch drive,” making future upgrades simple.
Q: Is it suitable for gaming or heavy creative work?
A: Integrated Iris Xe graphics handle light gaming and 1080p video edits smoothly, but performance lags in complex rendering or large simulation workloads.
Final Verdict
Buy the HP 17 Laptop (13th Gen Intel i5) if you’re a student, teacher, or home‑office user craving a big, bright display and responsive multitasking for under $700. Avoid it if portability, precision color, or all‑day unplugged use are priorities.
As one verified owner summed up: “Great laptop! Easy to use, big screen, and price was reasonable.” For anyone trading polish for practicality, this 17‑inch HP quietly outperforms expectations.
Slug: hp-17-laptop-13th-gen-i5-review
