5 Best Budget Laptops in 2026: Reviewed

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This article is an archival piece documenting the best HP laptops available in 2017. Hardware is end-of-life; some refurbished units remain available on Amazon. We’ve added a 2026 update section below to help you decide whether 2017 HP hardware is still viable, or if you should upgrade to modern alternatives.

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2026 Original Article: The Best HP Laptops of That Era

In 2017, HP’s gaming and performance laptop lineup was competitive and innovative. Mobile CPUs had just shifted to 6- and 8-core configurations (Intel Core i7-7700HQ, i9-7980HK), and NVIDIA’s GTX 10-series was the gaming standard. Here’s what dominated the market then.

1. HP Omen 15 (2026) — Gaming Flagship

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Tylvx 15.6" FHD Laptop, 16GB RAM 512GB SSD,Dual-Core M3-8100Y Processor up to 3.4GHz, Ultra Thin & Portable, Long Battery Life, Win 11 Laptop Computer for Student, Home, Business, Streaming

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Tylvx

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4.0 (0 reviews)

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$329.66

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The HP Omen 15 (2017 model, 15-bc500 series) was HP’s answer to the MSI Raider and ASUS ROG Strix. Paired with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060 or GTX 1070, and a 15.6-inch 1080p 60Hz IPS panel, the Omen 15 delivered solid gaming performance for the era. The Vapor Chamber cooling design was ahead of its time, and the chassis felt premium with aluminum construction.

Performance in 2017 benchmarks: Doom (2016) at high settings, 1080p achieved 95-110 FPS. Witcher 3 on high hit 55-65 FPS. Battery life reached 5.5 hours of office work, but gaming pushed it to 1.5-2 hours.

2017 Pros:

Strong thermal design for the era

Premium build quality

GTX 10-series was the best mobile GPU available

Quiet operation compared to competitors

2017 Cons:

Display was 60Hz (not 120Hz+)

Heavy at 2.3 kg

Battery life was modest

2. HP Envy 13 (2026) — Best Ultrabook

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#1 Pick
HP New Everyday Slim Laptop, 2026 Edition, AMD High Performance Processor, 4GB DDR5 RAM, 128GB SSD, Long Battery Life, Windows 11

$299.99
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#2 Pick
HP New Everyday Slim Laptop, Intel N150 Processor, 4GB DDR5 RAM, 128GB SSD, Long Battery Life, Windows 11 with Microsoft 365

$299.99
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#3 Pick
HP 14" Ultra-Light Laptop for Student & Home (1-Year Office 365, Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC + 64GB SD Card), 12-Hr Long Battery Life, Webcam, Fast Charge, Wi-Fi 6, Win 11 Home in S, White

$224.99
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#4 Pick
HP 15.6 inch Laptop, HD Touchscreen Display, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Natural Silver, 15-fc0399nr

$499.98
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The HP Envy 13 (2017, 13-ad series) represented HP’s ultrabook philosophy: performance in a thin, light form factor. With an Intel Core i7-7500U, Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics, and a 13.3-inch FHD IPS display, the Envy 13 weighed just 1.27 kg — genuinely portable.

Gaming was not the focus. League of Legends ran at 60 FPS on high settings. Overwatch on medium hit 50 FPS. The Envy 13 was for productivity and casual gaming, not AAA titles. But for ultraportable professionals, it was exceptional.

2017 Pros:

Genuinely lightweight (1.27 kg)

Excellent battery life (8-10 hours claimed)

Thin and compact design

Premium finish

2017 Cons:

Integrated GPU only — no discrete graphics

Not suited for demanding games

Slower performance vs dedicated gaming laptops

3. HP Pavilion 15 (2026) — Best Budget

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Lenovo Ideapad 1 15.6" FHD Touchscreen Laptop | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U(Beat i7-1165G7) | AMD Radeon Graphics | WiFi| Long Battery Life | 8GB RAM DDR5 | 256GB SSD | Windows 11 S | Bundle with Stylus Pen

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The HP Pavilion 15 (2017, 15-cc series) was the entry-level option. Intel Core i5-7200U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and Intel UHD 620. Display was a standard 1080p 60Hz IPS. Build quality was plastic, not aluminum, but it felt robust for the price.

Gaming potential was minimal. Fortnite on low settings ran 40-50 FPS. CSGO hit 90+ FPS. This was a general-purpose laptop that happened to run light gaming.

2017 Pros:

Very affordable ($600-700)

Decent battery life (6 hours claimed)

Reliable brand support

Upgradeable RAM

2017 Cons:

Plastic chassis felt cheaper

Integrated GPU limited gaming

Slower SSD than competitors

4. HP Omen 17 (2026) — Desktop Replacement

The HP Omen 17 (2017, 17-cb series) was for users who wanted maximum screen real estate. A 17.3-inch 1080p 60Hz display, Intel Core i7-7700HQ, GTX 1070, and a thick, heavy chassis designed for stationary use.

Witcher 3 on high hit 68-75 FPS at 1080p. The larger screen made gaming more immersive than 15-inch competitors. Cooling was excellent thanks to the extra space.

2017 Pros:

Large 17.3″ display for gaming immersion

GTX 1070 was strong for 1080p gaming

Excellent thermal dissipation

Dual storage (SSD + HDD) option

2017 Cons:

Very heavy (2.8 kg) — desktop replacement only

60Hz display felt dated

Premium pricing ($1,400+)

5. HP Spectre x360 15 (2026) — 2-in-1 Hybrid

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#1 Pick
HP New Everyday Slim Laptop, 2026 Edition, AMD High Performance Processor, 4GB DDR5 RAM, 128GB SSD, Long Battery Life, Windows 11

$299.99
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#2 Pick
HP New Everyday Slim Laptop, Intel N150 Processor, 4GB DDR5 RAM, 128GB SSD, Long Battery Life, Windows 11 with Microsoft 365

$299.99
Check Price on Amazon →

#3 Pick
HP 14" Ultra-Light Laptop for Student & Home (1-Year Office 365, Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC + 64GB SD Card), 12-Hr Long Battery Life, Webcam, Fast Charge, Wi-Fi 6, Win 11 Home in S, White

$224.99
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#4 Pick
HP 15.6 inch Laptop, HD Touchscreen Display, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, AMD Radeon Graphics, Windows 11 Home, Natural Silver, 15-fc0399nr

$499.98
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The HP Spectre x360 15 (2017, Kaby Lake) was HP’s 2-in-1 convertible: laptop and tablet in one. With a touchscreen, 360-degree hinge, Intel Core i7-7500U, and Intel UHD 620, it was designed for versatility.

Gaming was an afterthought. League of Legends ran fine. Overwatch on medium hit 45-50 FPS. The appeal was the convertible form factor and OLED display option (available on higher configs).

2017 Pros:

Innovative convertible design

OLED display option was beautiful

Lightweight and portable

Premium build quality

2017 Cons:

GPU was integrated only

Not a gaming laptop

Limited upgrade options (soldered RAM)

2026 Update: Are These Laptops Still Usable? Should You Buy Refurbished?

The Honest Assessment

HP laptops from 2017 are now nine years old. Hardware degrades:

Battery capacity has dropped 40-60% (original 3,500mAh packs are now 1,500-2,000mAh).

Thermal paste has dried and degraded (CPUs run 10-15°C hotter than new).

Hinge wear is visible on convertibles (Spectre x360).

Keyboard letters are faded on heavy-use units.

Performance is still adequate for 2017-2019 games (Witcher 3, Skyrim, Overwatch), but 2020+ AAA titles require settings downgrades. Cyberpunk 2077 on a GTX 1070 laptop runs at 1080p low with 35-45 FPS — playable but not smooth.

Verdict: Should You Buy?

Model | 2026 Viability | Price (Used) | Recommendation
Omen 15 (GTX 1070) | 6/10 | $400-600 | Only if sub-$400; upgrade GPU later
Envy 13 (UHD 620) | 4/10 | $200-350 | Skip — too slow for modern use
Pavilion 15 (UHD 620) | 3/10 | $150-300 | Skip — better options at this price
Omen 17 (GTX 1070) | 6/10 | $450-700 | Only if you need 17″ screen badly
Spectre x360 (UHD 620) | 4/10 | $250-450 | Skip — battery is dead weight

General rule: If a 2017 HP Omen with GTX 1070 is under $400, it’s a decent light gaming/productivity machine. If above $500, skip it — 2024-2025 used gaming laptops with RTX 40-series are better value.

Modern HP Equivalents (2026)

If you like HP’s ecosystem, these 2026 models replace the 2017 lineup:

Omen 15 (2026): Now with RTX 5060 Ti, Intel Core Ultra HX, 1440p 165Hz. Price: $1,399+. Performance: 5x better than 2017 GTX 1070 model.

Pavilion 15 (2026): RTX 4050, Intel Core Ultra 5, 1080p 144Hz. Price: $749+. Budget-friendly, modern entry point.

Spectre x360 16 (2026): OLED 2.5K, Intel Core Ultra 9, no discrete GPU (but M4 equivalent in performance). Price: $1,599+.

See our full guide: Best gaming laptops under $1,500 and Best MSI gaming laptops in 2026 for current options.

Refurbished 2026 HP Inventory on Amazon

Some sellers still list Amazon Renewed (refurbished) units from 2017. Beware:

Battery degradation: 2017 battery capacity is 50% of original; expect 2-3 hours of gaming (vs 4-5 hours new).

Thermal paste: Apply fresh thermal paste immediately (see best thermal paste guide) to restore cooling performance.

Warranty: Renewed units typically have 90-day warranties. 9-year-old hardware can fail rapidly.

Best case: Omen 15 GTX 1070 for $350-400 as a secondary/travel machine, with thermal paste upgrade planned.

Worst case: Any 2017 HP with integrated graphics (Envy, Pavilion, Spectre) — gaming performance is severely dated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade the GPU in a 2026 HP Omen laptop?

No. Mobile GPUs are soldered to the motherboard. You cannot upgrade. You’re stuck with the GTX 1060 or 1070 you buy.

Is thermal paste replacement worth it on 2026 HP hardware?

Yes. A fresh thermal paste application can drop CPU temperatures by 10-15°C and restore performance. Most 2017 Omens came with mediocre paste (not Arctic MX-6 or Noctua). Budget $30-50 for professional reapplication if you’re not DIY-comfortable.

Do 2026 HP laptops run Windows 11?

Yes, but there’s a catch. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and UEFI, which most 2017 HPs have. However, some early 2017 models (before Q4 2017) may struggle with driver support. Check compatibility before buying.

Can a 2026 HP Omen GTX 1070 run modern games at 1080p?

Yes, at reduced settings. Elden Ring on high: 50 FPS. Baldur’s Gate 3 on medium: 45 FPS. Cyberpunk 2077 on low: 40 FPS. Not ideal, but playable if you’re okay with frame rate trade-offs.

What’s the lifespan of a 2026 laptop?

6-9 years for light use (web, office). 3-5 years for heavy gaming. Most 2017 units are now in the “extended life” phase where component failure becomes common (hard drive, battery, solder joints).

Final Verdict

In 2026, a 2017 HP laptop is a budget secondary machine, not a primary gaming system. The Omen 15 with GTX 1070 is the only model worth considering, and only if priced under $400. The Envy, Pavilion, and Spectre are outdated for any gaming use.

If you’re shopping for a laptop in 2026, invest in modern hardware. A new HP Pavilion 15 (2026) with RTX 4050 at $749 will outperform a 2017 Omen by 3-5x. See our best gaming laptops roundup for current recommendations.

Last updated: April 2026. Prices and availability may change. We independently test every product we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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