I tested hp 15s fq5059TU Laptop

HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU Review: A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse for Everyday Use

When it comes to purchasing a laptop that offers great value for money, the HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU stands out as a solid option in the budget-friendly category. With its sleek design, ample features, and decent performance for everyday tasks, this laptop is geared towards users who need a reliable workhorse for productivity, web browsing, entertainment, and light multitasking. In this review, we’ll dive deep into the features, performance, design, and overall value that the HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU provides.

Design and Build Quality

The HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU sports a clean, minimalist design, typical of HP’s budget lineup. The laptop features a 15.6-inch screen with narrow bezels that give it a modern look. Its exterior is a matte, light gray plastic finish that feels durable yet remains lightweight, weighing around 1.69 kg (3.7 lbs), making it fairly easy to carry around in a backpack or bag.

While the build isn’t as premium as HP’s higher-end models like the Spectre or Envy series, the 15s-fq5059TU doesn’t feel flimsy. The laptop is sturdy enough for daily use, though it does have some flex in the lid and keyboard area when pressure is applied.

Display

The 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display is one of the highlights of this laptop. For a budget model, the screen delivers vibrant colors and sharp clarity, making it a good choice for web browsing, watching movies, and working on documents. The brightness levels are decent, but the screen can be a bit reflective in bright lighting conditions, which may affect outdoor usage.

While it doesn’t offer the ultra-high contrast or vivid colors of premium laptops with OLED or IPS displays, the screen is more than adequate for everyday tasks.

Performance

Under the hood, the HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU is powered by an Intel Core i3-1215U processor. This is an entry-level chip from Intel's 12th generation lineup, designed for users who need a machine for basic productivity tasks. Paired with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, the laptop offers a responsive and smooth experience for tasks such as web browsing, office applications, and media consumption.

Performance Breakdown:

Intel Core i3-1215U Processor: As an entry-level processor, the Core i3 handles basic tasks well, such as browsing the web, working with spreadsheets, watching videos, and running standard office apps. While it’s not meant for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, it does a solid job with typical everyday computing.

8GB RAM: The 8GB of RAM is adequate for handling light multitasking and running several browser tabs or applications at once. For users who tend to have multiple tabs or light programs running, the 15s-fq5059TU won’t disappoint.

512GB SSD: The 512GB SSD ensures fast boot times, quick file transfers, and a smoother overall experience compared to traditional hard drives. This is a significant advantage in this price range, as many budget laptops still come with slower HDDs. The extra storage space is also a plus, as it allows for storing documents, media, and some light software without worrying about running out of space.

Performance for Everyday Use:

For everyday tasks like word processing, light photo editing, and video streaming, the laptop performs very well. You can expect smooth performance with a few applications running simultaneously, though it may struggle with resource-heavy tasks like gaming, video rendering, or heavy multitasking.

Graphics:

The Intel UHD Graphics integrated GPU in this laptop handles basic graphics tasks such as video playback, casual gaming (on lower settings), and simple photo editing. It is not meant for gaming enthusiasts or heavy graphics workloads, but for casual use and light gaming, it’s sufficient.

Battery Life

The HP 15s-fq5059TU comes with a 41Wh battery, which provides decent battery life for a budget laptop. Users can expect around 6-8 hours of usage on a full charge, depending on usage. For basic tasks like web browsing or working in productivity apps, you can expect it to last most of the workday, though more demanding tasks like watching videos or running heavier applications will drain the battery faster.

It’s not the best battery life in the market, but it’s competitive for a budget laptop. The 45W AC adapter ensures relatively quick charging, so you can recharge the laptop to about 50% in an hour.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard is spacious and well-spaced, making typing comfortable for extended periods. It has decent key travel and responds well, although the key feedback could be a little firmer. The trackpad is responsive, with smooth scrolling and multi-touch gestures working as expected. While it might not be the most precise in terms of advanced trackpad features, it gets the job done for everyday use.

Ports and Connectivity

The HP 15s-fq5059TU comes with a reasonable selection of ports for a laptop of its size and price:

1 x USB Type-C port (with power delivery)

2 x USB Type-A 3.2 ports

1 x HDMI 1.4b port

1 x SD card reader

1 x Headphone/Microphone combo jack

Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity

The inclusion of USB Type-C is a nice touch, providing more modern connectivity for newer devices. The laptop’s overall selection of ports should be sufficient for most users, though it lacks the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, which could affect speeds on high-end networks.

Operating System

The HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU runs Windows 11 Home, which is the latest operating system from Microsoft. It provides a fresh and modern interface, with new features like Snap Layouts and Widgets, along with enhanced security. If you’re coming from Windows 10, the transition to Windows 11 is smooth, and the system runs efficiently on the laptop’s hardware.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Affordable price for a decent configuration.

Sleek design with a solid build.

Fast SSD for improved performance.

Decent battery life for everyday tasks.

Full HD display with vibrant colors.

8GB of RAM offers sufficient multitasking capabilities.

Cons:

Limited graphics performance for gaming and heavy multimedia tasks.

Basic keyboard feedback might not appeal to those who do a lot of typing.

Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 are not the latest standards.

Not suitable for demanding workloads like video editing or gaming.

Final Verdict: Is the HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU Worth It?

If you're on a budget and need a laptop for basic productivity, web browsing, and media consumption, the HP Laptop 15s-fq5059TU offers great value for money. It’s a solid choice for students, home office workers, and anyone who needs a reliable laptop without breaking the bank. The Core i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD ensure smooth performance for most everyday tasks, and the full HD display provides an enjoyable viewing experience.

However, if you’re looking for something with more power for gaming, video editing, or other resource-intensive tasks, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Overall, for users who need a budget laptop that covers all the basics, the HP 15s-fq5059TU is a reliable and affordable choice that won’t disappoint.