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The HP 14 (model DQ1033CL) is a peculiar beast. For a time, it was offered with an i5-1035G4 at i3 prices. You get a lot of performance from this relatively cheap laptop -- In Europe especially, where it can be had for ~450€ after shipping and customs, this little laptop easily outperforms any laptop that even costs twice as much! The CPU is fantastic, as is the crisp 1080p IPS display. The backlit keyboard has 3 brightness levels (off - medium - high) and is "good enough". It flexes quite easily, and the keys are slightly mushier than I would prefer, but this is still by no means a bad keyboard (I have seen MUCH worse in laptops that cost over 700€). I manage ~80 WPM, like I do on my desktop keyboard, but it isn't as good as my HP Stream 13, where I easily achieve 90 WPM. The build quality is otherwise very good. Despite being very light and easy to pack in your bag and go about your day, the plastic seems solid and comfortable to touch, and the hinge doesn't wobble and isn't loose. The speakers can sound like they're peaking at times, so I wouldn't use them to listen to music at high volumes; For quiet indoor use, however, they are just fine. The sound quality might get disrupted by the laptop's fan noise. This is a very powerful processor, packed into a small chassis, meaning there can be a lot of heat. As of right now, I have not been able to mitigate that issue, but in all honesty it doesn't bother me too much. When the fan does ramp up, it doesn't stay loud for very long. Perhaps adding additional RAM would help, as the 4GB of memory just doesn't cut it -- A lot of caching occurs even when just browsing the internet, which is a CPU intensive task. You might get put off by the lack of full sized USB ports, as only two are available, next to a single type C port. One of those full sized ports are already occupied by a mouse dongle in my case, so I might have to go out and buy a USB hub. I haven't tested the battery life yet, but with everyday light tasks, Windows estimates I have about 5-6 hours of battery time left. Pros: * Price -- For 450€, this is the best laptop you can buy unless you cross the 1000€ mark * Display -- A 1080p IPS panel with small bezels means this thing has the footprint of a 13" laptop * Performance -- A brand-new Intel i5 processor that trumps last year's i7 8-series laptop processors, plus integrated graphics that pack a serious punch * Touchpad -- Nice to touch, responsive, and surprisingly big * Build quality -- A lightweight package that still feels solid to hold and carry around * Backlit keyboard -- Perhaps an insignificant addition, but not many laptops come with it at this price point * Webcam -- Not a 4K shooter to film the next Hollywood blockbuster, but fantastic for video calls, even in dimmer rooms * Upgradeability -- Up to 16GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM capable (2 slots, one already filled with a 4GB stick); Supports fast PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs Cons: * Keyboard -- The flex is not insignificant, keys are slightly mushy; Only in ANSI layout for those of us who import it to other parts of the world * Display again -- A minor pet peeve of mine; The screen is glossy instead of matte. Still beautiful and crisp, some people might just prefer a matte finish * Windows 10 S -- A bad edition of Windows that comes preloaded with HP bloatware. I recommend formatting the entire SSD and installing Windows 10 Professional instead * USB ports -- Silly placement of 2 USB-A and 1 USB-C ports on the right, but none of the left side of the device * Fan noise -- A strong processor needs to be cooled appropriately; There might be ways to mitigate and lessen this, but as it comes from the factory it can be distracting to some buyers * Speaker quality -- Not bad at low volume, but horrific rasping at higher volume levels Sadly, the pros don't come without cons. You'll have to take this HP 14 as a full package if you want its good parts, and trying to offset its negative points post purchase will only bring you so far. In my opinion, the best laptop purchase you can make this year.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Nice low budget laptop. After updating all in the laptop work 100% The keyboard dont feel very good. but for the price i dont have problem. Recommended.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Plastic body is the only drawback, considerable amount of flexing
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Purchased one in December. Liked it so much I ordered another.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Works fine
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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