HP 17 Laptop Review: Large Screen but Limited Battery
A Reddit user summed it up bluntly: “Fan noise is quite quiet, but the battery life is pretty minimal. Maybe 4 hours of use.” That’s in sharp contrast to marketing claims of all-day productivity, making the HP 17 Laptop 17.3-inch (13th Gen Intel i5) a polarizing choice. After combing through Amazon, Best Buy, Reddit, Trustpilot, Consumer Reports, and eBay feedback, this laptop earns a solid 7.8/10 for value and screen size, but stumbles in portability and long-term durability expectations.
Quick Verdict: Conditional buy — best for stationary home or office work, not frequent travel.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large 17.3-inch display with good brightness | Heat build-up around keyboard during long sessions |
| Strong multitasking with i5-1335U and up to 16GB RAM | Battery life varies wildly — 4 to 8 hours reported |
| Comfortable, full-size keyboard with numeric keypad | Plastic build feels less premium and flexes |
| Good port selection incl. USB-C and HDMI | Some models lack backlit keyboard |
| Fast SSD storage (512GB or more) | TN panel variants have low resolution (1600x900) |
| Whisper-quiet fan performance | No SD card slot or optical drive |
Claims vs Reality
HP’s marketing leans heavily on the “see more, do more — comfortably” slogan, touting the 17.3-inch display as crisp Full HD. Digging deeper, some configurations deliver this, but Trustpilot and LibraSpecs note TN panel units stuck at 1600x900 resolution, with Reddit reports of “not as crisp as desired.” While the official spec sheet boasts IPS anti-glare technology and vivid colors, Consumer Reports found “display produces a smaller array of colors than on most other tested laptops,” affecting tasks like photo editing.
The battery life claim — promoted with “mixed usage up to 7.5 hours” — splits audiences. Best Buy buyers describe it as “fair battery life” and “enough to get through most of a workday,” while Reddit users working with “a million Chrome tabs” report just 4 hours unplugged. Consumer Reports adds further nuance by finding 8 hours on web browsing but only 6 during 4K video.
Performance claims of “transformational GPU” with Intel Iris Xe graphics are better supported. A verified buyer on Amazon praised smooth multitasking with “large Excel spreadsheets, statistical programming in R,” while LibraSpecs confirms medium-to-high-end games run at decent frame rates.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
Across platforms, the expansive display size consistently wins fans. Best Buy users love “nice big screen” and “large icons for lower vision,” making it a strong pick for those needing visibility. Reddit posters needing multiple apps open simultaneously note the machine “beats i7-1255U” in their workflow, showing the i5-1335U’s efficiency in real-world multitasking. Quiet fans come up repeatedly — an Amazon reviewer said they could work “without distraction,” even in silence-sensitive environments.
Storage and upgrade flexibility also earn love. Newegg's seller notes up to 32GB RAM upgrades possible, allowing the laptop to grow with a user's needs. Expert reviews point out the inclusion of two RAM slots and ability to add a 2.5-inch drive.
Common Complaints
Thermal comfort emerges as a key drawback, especially for long hauls. A Reddit user remarked, “Only thing I don’t love is how warm the keyboard gets and that it gets warm overnight.” Pair that with the plastic chassis flex reported in Trustpilot reviews (“keyboard does bend slightly when typing”), and it’s clear HP traded some premium feel for affordability.
Battery life variation frustrates mobile workers. Consumer Reports finds 6-8 hours depending on workload, but mobile professionals sometimes can’t match that. The absence of key features like SD card slot and optical drive, noted in Consumer Reports and LibraSpecs, forces additional accessories for photographers or those with legacy media.
Divisive Features
Screen tech divides opinion sharply. For casual users and gamers, lower-resolution TN panels can boost frame rates and reduce GPU strain, as LibraSpecs suggests. But for creators or spreadsheet-heavy analysts, this trade-off hurts clarity. The build’s lightweight nature (around 4.6 lbs) pleases commuters, yet several Best Buy buyers avoid travel with it for “less durability compared to high-end models.”
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot and Consumer Reports don’t outline major scam risks, but several Reddit threads describe the HP 17 as “a ghost — no identified lineup name,” leading to purchase hesitation. Still, eBay’s refurbished units maintain high feedback ratings (98.6% positive from Newegg's seller), and warranty support often extends a year or more.
Long-term reports are sparse, but one Reddit user’s heat complaint suggests potential thermal aging issues. No widespread breakdown narratives emerged, hinting at reasonable reliability if treated as a desk-first machine.
Alternatives
Consumers comparing noted Dell Inspiron 15 3510 and Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 as higher-ranked alternatives in LibraSpecs tests, with better display accuracy in similar price ranges. The HP 470 G9 was recommended for those needing both sharper resolution and sturdier build, while HP ProBook 455 G7 surfaced for heavier performance loads.
Price & Value
eBay listings show refurbished HP 17-cn3033cl units at $499.99 — about 17% off list — suggesting depreciation is modest but present. Amazon’s newer configurations hold near $599, while Best Buy’s sold-out units were priced at $689.99. The community frequently notes this as “great economical HP product option” if large-screen productivity is the priority.
Buying tip: Seek IPS Full HD configurations to ensure top display clarity, as TN panel units are prevalent at lower prices.
FAQ
Q: Is the HP 17 suitable for gaming?
A: Yes, for light to moderate gaming. LibraSpecs reports decent frame rates on medium settings, aided by Iris Xe graphics. TN panel models may offer smoother play due to lower resolution.
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM?
A: Absolutely. Multiple sellers note up to 32GB is supported, with easy access to two RAM slots.
Q: How long does the battery last?
A: Reports vary from 4 to 8 hours depending on workload, with mixed usage generally hitting around 7 hours.
Q: Does every HP 17 have a Full HD display?
A: No. Some models use TN panels at 1600x900 resolution, which is lower than Full HD.
Q: Is the keyboard backlit?
A: Not all configurations include this — check specs carefully before buying, especially if you work in dim environments.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re a home or office user needing a large screen, solid multitasking, and quiet fans. Avoid if portability and premium build are priorities. Pro tip from the community: confirm IPS FHD in the specifications, and keep a cooling pad handy for extended sessions.
