HP 15 2023, Core i3-1215U, 8GB, 256GB SSD, Silver

The HP 15-dy5131wm is a lightweight budget laptop that nails the basics. Owners love the value, quick charging, and 1080p screen. Just be ready to deal with Windows S Mode and 8GB of soldered RAM. Worth it if you find it near USD 388.

The Core i3-1215U handles daily tasks fine. Web browsing, document editing, video calls, all smooth enough. The 256GB NVMe SSD helps things feel snappy on boot and app launches. But 8GB of DDR4 RAM is the bottleneck here, landing in the 6th percentile of our database. Open too many Chrome tabs and you'll feel it. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are fine for streaming video but forget gaming, that score is a brutal 8.9 out of 100. This is a work machine, not a play machine.

Stacked against the MacBook Air M4 or Lenovo Slim 7, this HP looks like a toy. Those machines have better screens, faster CPUs, more RAM, and far better build quality. But they also cost three to four times as much. The ASUS Vivobook S16 and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro are similarly out of reach for someone shopping at this price point. The MSI Stealth 14 is a gaming machine, completely different category. The honest comparison is against other budget laptops, and in that space, the HP 15 holds its own on price and portability.

Pricing is all over the place. We're seeing USD 388 to USD 539 across two US listings, and that USD 151 spread matters. At the low end, this is a genuinely good deal for a basic laptop. At the high end, you're getting into territory where better options exist. If you're shopping in the US, hunt for the listing closer to USD 388. The CAD 1,443 and MXN 13,602 prices are harder to judge without local context, but the value story really hinges on getting this at the bottom of the US range.

The HP 15-dy5131wm is a budget laptop that knows exactly what it is. You get a 12th Gen Core i3, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 15.6-inch 1080p screen for under $400 on a good day. That's a solid deal for basic computing, and most owners seem genuinely happy with it.

But there are compromises. The RAM sits in the 6th percentile for laptops in our database, the screen is nothing special, and Windows 11 Home in S Mode will annoy anyone who wants to install apps outside the Microsoft Store. Still, for browsing, email, and office work, this thing gets the job done.

Skip this if you need more than 8GB of RAM, since it's soldered and can't be upgraded. Also skip it if you plan to run apps outside the Microsoft Store and don't want to deal with switching out of S Mode. And if you need any kind of gaming performance or a brighter, more color-accurate screen, look elsewhere. The port selection is also thin, so if you need multiple external displays or fast WiFi, this isn't your machine.

This is a solid pick for students, casual users, or anyone who needs a cheap laptop for web browsing, email, and light office work. The lightweight design and 1080p screen make it a pleasant daily driver. Just know what you're getting into: S Mode is annoying, RAM is limited, and this is not a machine for creative work or gaming. If your needs are basic and you find it under USD 400, it's a good buy.