HP 530

HP are almost synonymous with laptops these days, and with solid budget options like the HP 530, it’s not hard to see why. Find out why in our full review.

Pros
HP sells more notebooks than anyone else just now and the 530 is a great example of why. It’s a budget no-frills machine, but you never feel as though corners have been cut. The 15.4-inch screen looks good and the keyboard is as comfortable as a notebook more than twice the price. You’ll also be satisfied with the battery life that clocks in at well over three hours.

Cons
Compromises have been made and that’s in terms of specification, as the Celeron M CPU and 1GB of RAM means you won’t be able to run anything too taxing.

Verdict
HP has created a notebook of two halves – the build quality and usability are top-notch and weighing 2.7kg, it’s portable enough to carry around. However, it’s not the most powerful of machines. Being a full-sized notebook you get everything you’d expect, including built-in DVD rewriter, Wi-Fi and Ethernet fitted as standard. You’ll also find two USB ports and VGA-out, for connecting to a projector, peppered around the case. We really like the 530; sure it needs a higher spec but when you’re using it you never feel as though you’ve made the wrong choice, as it simply feels great.

Style

Performance

Usability

Features

Battery life

Value

Overall

Go to the HP 530 product page >>
Read the full Under £400 Laptop Group Test group test >>

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