HP HP 15-fd0215dx 15.6" Touch-Screen Notebook - Intel Review

The HP 15-fd0215dx is a weird one. It's got a GPU that punches way above its weight class, but everything else feels like it's from a different, much cheaper laptop. If you're buying this, you're buying it for one reason: that integrated AMD graphics chip is shockingly good for the price. Just don't expect the rest of the experience to match.

The big story here is the GPU. It's in the 98th percentile, which is insane for a $500 laptop. It absolutely crushes light gaming and creative tasks that lean on graphics. The CPU, however, is only in the 30th percentile, so don't expect it to handle heavy multitasking or complex calculations well. It's a lopsided performer, fast in one very specific way.

At $499, the value proposition is simple: you're paying for that GPU. If your main use case is light gaming, photo editing, or anything else that's graphics-heavy but not CPU-intensive, this is a steal. If you need a balanced, well-rounded laptop, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s, you lose out on build quality, keyboard feel, and CPU performance, but you get a much better GPU for half the price. Against the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you're getting a single, mediocre screen instead of a dual-screen powerhouse, but again, the HP's GPU is stronger. It's a niche pick. If you want a balanced ultrabook, get the Lenovo. If you want raw graphics power on a shoestring budget, this HP is your only real option.

This is a specialist's laptop. I can only recommend it if you're on a very tight budget and your primary need is graphics performance for light gaming or creative work. For everyone else—students, office workers, general users—the compromises in CPU, screen, and build quality are too big. It's a one-trick pony, but that one trick is surprisingly good.