If you’ve ever shopped around for laptops, then you’ve no doubt heard of both Lenovo and HP. These two juggernauts have consistently remained at the top of the portable computing industry for the last decade due to the impressive output of each brand.
Lenovo vs HP: A brief overview of each company
While you can’t go wrong with either manufacturer, you might as well buy the best laptop available since you are spending your hard-earned cash on a new device. Without further ado, let’s settle the battle between Lenovo and HP once and for all.
HP
Hewlett-Packard was founded in 1939 as a general electronics manufacturer. They would eventually find their stride in the personal computer market during the 1960s. Since then, they have focused primarily on pcs and the bevy of accessories that go with them. Laptops entered the picture during the 1980s and have remained a staple in their roster of PCs ever since. This long history with portable computing is one of the main reasons the brand excels at designing best-selling laptops.
HP is currently offering four main lines of commercial laptops for sale.
HP Spectre
The Spectre series focuses on cutting-edge tech and the best possible performance for advanced users. Modern improvements like SSDs and 4k resolution displays come standard in this lineup.
HP Pavilion
The Pavilion series is geared towards casual users who just need an efficient device for browsing the web and checking emails. While a few Pavilion models have some hefty horsepower behind them, don’t expect to play many video games on this lineup.
HP Omen
The Omen spec laptops are perfect for gamers who need to maintain high frame rates and high graphical settings. The dedicated GPU included in this series helps push your gaming to the next level.
HP Envy
The Envy series fits snugly between the Pavilion and Spectre lineups. These balanced machines have decent performance while keeping the cost reasonable. If you are unsure which series to go with, Envy is the safest choice.
Lenovo
Lenovo first began production back in 2004. Although they are much younger than HP, their drive to compete with more established brands has helped them garner a massive market share across the globe. The manufacturer has quickly caught up with the rest of the pack and made a household name for itself.
Much like with HP, Lenovo has four main laptop lines to consider.
IdeaPad
Lenovo’s IdeaPad lineup is ideal for students and anyone else on a budget. They offer solid performance for everyday use and browsing the web. The cost of these models stays relatively low while offering a satisfactory user experience.
ThinkPad
The ThinkPad series is like the much stronger older brother of IdeaPad. These models have much higher specs that are ideal for businesses and video editors.
Legion
Lenovo’s Legion gaming lineup provides everything you need to play modern titles on the go. The advanced processors featured in this series cost a pretty penny but will provide peak performance during gameplay.
Flex
These hybrid laptops can switch between traditional and tablet modes depending on your preference. This great for anyone who travels a lot or is planning to buy a tablet anyway. You can kill two birds with one stone by going with a Flex hybrid device.
Lenovo vs HP: The Best Laptops You Can Buy Right Now
The best laptop for you is most determined by what you plan to use it for. Here are the best picks for each type of user.
For Gamers: Lenovo Legion 5
PC gamers know the struggle of finding powerful components at reasonable prices. The Legion 5 manages to keep the cost down while still providing a setup beefy enough for modern AAA games. It comes with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and 512 GB of SSD storage. This will help reduce load times and make transferring large game files a breeze. The display has a resolution of 1080p and a blistering fast refresh rate of 144hz.
The dedicated GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti. This is more than enough to run new titles at moderate to high settings while keeping that frame rate close to 144 fps. The Legion also comes equipped with Coldfront 2.0 technology, which prevents your laptop from overheating during longer play sessions.
For Travelers: Lenovo Flex 5
The Flex 5 provides unparalleled versatility when traveling due to its hybrid design. The laptop portion is efficient enough to get work done or maintain many tabs and windows open simultaneously. The tablet functionality is perfect for your kids or winding down after a long day.
Lenovo included 16 GB of RAM and a Ryzen 4500U processor to ensure your device is responsive in each mode. The touchscreen is 14 inches and can be used with a stylus pen if you prefer. However, the most beneficial aspect for travelers is the battery life. Not only do you get ten hours on a single charge, but you can restore the device to 80% battery in just under an hour.
For Business: HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 can best be described as elegant, compact, and powerful. This is the perfect combination for anyone who needs a reliable laptop for conducting business. The i7 processor and 512 GB SSD guarantee that your workflow only slows down when you are ready to take a break. The battery life lasts eight hours, which conveniently happens to be the length of the average workday. If you need a boost, the battery charges up to 50% in just 45 minutes.
You can also quickly connect to other devices and networks via the WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 functionality. The large 15.6-inch screen reduces the need to squint when reading and typing for long periods. Overall, the Pavilion 15 is well worth the initial investment considering how drastically it can boost your productivity.
Lenovo vs HP: Key Comparisons
There are several significant factors that all potential laptop buyers should be aware of. In this section, both brands are pitted against each other in these critical areas.
Reliability (Draw)
When paying good money for a new laptop, you want to make sure that your device is poised to last for a minimum of five years. Considering that both HP and Lenovo are some of the top manufacturers in the world, you can rest assured that both brands excel in this category. Each company has a long and proven track record of delivering reliable machines to market.
Performance (Lenovo Wins)
To be completely honest, the range of specs on all the laptops from each manufacturer is incredibly broad. While Lenovo is the overall winner here, a premium HP laptop will still outperform a budget Lenovo. That being said, Lenovo offers more bang for your buck in many of their mid-range models. The performance levels are roughly the same as HP but the cost is noticeably lower.
Versatility (Lenovo Wins)
Lenovo is the clear winner in this category due to its hybrid devices. Both the flex and Yoga lineups allow you to switch to tablet mode seamlessly. HP has mostly ignored this trend in order to focus on the core of their established business. There is something to be said about HP’s commitment to the traditional designs that helped it rise to prominence. Still, anyone looking for the next big thing will eventually gravitate towards Lenovo’s hybrids.
Support (Draw)
The immense size of each brand means they both can afford to offer robust customer support options. Both companies allow customers to call or email technical support about any problems being faced. For quicker solutions, you can also go to either manufacturer’s website to find a collection of tutorials and frequently asked questions.
Price Range (Varies)
Again, the range of specs that each manufacturer covers make it difficult to declare a clear-cut winner in this category. Lenovo and HP are such close rivals that they maintain competitive pricing within comparable product lines. Lenovo has slightly cheaper mid-range laptops, but that small difference becomes irrelevant if you are buying one during a sale.
The Final Verdict
As impressive as both brands can be, Lenovo comes away the victor for most use cases. You get just a bit more value across the board when choosing a Lenovo model. A great example of this is the Flex 5. Not only do you get a potent laptop, but the additional tablet functionality comes in handy in so many different situations. The added value proposition puts Lenovo just slightly ahead of HP when placed into direct competition.
