Best HP laptops 2022

Hp Elite Dragonfly G3 Hero
(Image credit: Future)

HP offers a lot of great laptops across its varied brands, but the one we're most impressed by right now is the HP Elite Dragonfly G3. It's also one of the best Windows laptops available if you're looking for a premium business option. If it's not quite what you're looking for, we've also included many other great options from HP in this collection.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

HP Elite Dragonfly G3

Best overall

Reasons to buy

+
3:2 display with up to 3K2K resolution
+
12th Gen Intel Core P-series CPUs
+
5MP FHD webcam
+
Smoother, more rounded chassis for extra comfort
+
Solid port selection, optional 5G

Reasons to avoid

-
Starts at a steep price
-
Some won't want the additional business features

HP's new Elite Dragonfly G3 received a major overhaul for the third generation, making it more comfortable to use, more powerful, and easier to look at than ever before. It's also no longer a convertible, meaning its lid can no longer rotate around 360 degrees.

The Elite Dragonfly kind of fits in between the high-end consumer Spectre laptops and business EliteBooks, delivering a bunch of extra features like Sure View privacy screen, HDMI port, 5MP FHD webcam, and HP's suite of security tools for those who are working in an office setting. Optional 5G connectivity also allows you to remain connected even when you're on the go.

On the other hand, the quad speakers with amplification, 3K2K OLED display option, slim and sleek build, and strong performance with Intel Evo certification makes it perfectly suited to those who simply want a high-end laptop.

The G3 model's display now has a 3:2 aspect ratio, allowing for a whole lot more screen real estate. It's available in FHD+ and 3K2K configurations, each without touch functionality. It's powered by Intel's 12th Gen Core P-series CPUs paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD for excellent performance.

If you're looking for a laptop that kind of slots in between consumer and business, the Elite Dragonfly G3 is worth a second look.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

HP Spectre x360 13.5

Best 13-inch convertible

Reasons to buy

+
Softer pillow top edges
+
5MP IR intelligent camera
+
13.5-inch 3K2K OLED display
+
12th Gen Intel Core U-series CPUs
+
HP Tilt Pen included in price

Reasons to avoid

-
Might not want convertible design
-
More affordable options are available

HP's Spectre x360 13.5 was introduced earlier this as part of a revamp of the Spectre lineup. It took over as middle ground for the Spectre x360 13 and x360 14, though the laptops are quite similar. It's still a convertible that can have its lid rotated around 360 degrees, and it's still a premium option with outstanding design and generous feature set.

Whereas older x360 models had a sort of angular "gem-cut" design, the new 13.5-inch model now has softer edges and much less ornate accenting. It's more comfortable to use, and it doesn't stand out as much. The wide keyboard and sizable touchpad promote productivity, and port selection (including two Thunderbolt 4 and USB-A) allows you to connect to the best laptops docks.

The laptop is equipped with Intel's 12th Gen Core U-series CPUs with Intel Evo certification, as well as up to 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It's a thin laptop, but airflow has also been improved to help keep the system cool.

The 13.5-inch touch display is still outstanding, with its 3:2 aspect ratio and available 3000x2000 OLED option with HDR 500, anti-reflective finish, and 100% DCI-P3 color. An HP active pen is thrown in for good measure, allowing you to jot notes or sketch diagrams when a keyboard won't do.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

HP Spectre x360 16

Best 16-inch convertible

Reasons to buy

+
Larger 16-inch display with UHD+ OLED panel
+
12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs and discrete graphics
+
Top-firing speakers
+
Great port selection
+
Sleek design

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as portable as the 13.5-inch version
-
Costs rise quickly

The HP Spectre x360 16 is the larger sibling to the 13.5-inch model that we also love. Thanks to having more room inside, it's available with Intel's 12th Gen H-series and P-series CPUs, as well as up to an Intel Arc A370M discrete GPU, 2TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage, and 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM. This provides a lot more potential performance, ideal for those getting into design and other creative tasks. It's all powered by an 83Wh battery.

The larger chassis allows for more room around the keyboard, which is filled by top-firing speakers. There's also extra space for ports, and HP has added HDMI 2.1 for easier video out. It otherwise still provides two Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader.

The 16-inch display is available in three different flavors, starting with a 3072x1920 resolution with either anti-reflective or glossy finish. The other high-end display has an OLED panel with 3840x2400 (UHD+) resolution, anti-reflective finish, and HDR 500. All screens have a 16:10 aspect ratio and are compatible with an included active pen for inking.

If you love the Spectre lineup and want that extra performance from a larger convertible laptop, the x360 16 is a top choice.

(Image credit: Future)

HP Pavilion Plus 14

Best value

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent value
+
Outstanding hardware quality
+
5MP webcam
+
90Hz OLED display option
+
Three classes of CPU to choose from

Reasons to avoid

-
No touch display option
-
No Thunderbolt 4
-
Weak battery life on 45W CPU and OLED display configs

In his HP Pavilion Plus 14 review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino called it "one of today's best values for a 14-inch non-gaming laptop." Thanks to HP offering three different classes of Intel's 12th Gen chips (U-, P-, and H-series), prices start at a very reasonable amount and slowly climb from there depending on what you want to get out of your PC. 

The CPUs can be paired with up to 16GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM, 1TB of PCIe 3.0 or 512GB of PCIe 4.0 storage, and even NVIDIA MX550 or RTX 2050 discrete laptop GPUs. Going all-out with performance hardware and OLED display will hurt the 51Wh battery, but otherwise you should expect a full workday.

The camera, keyboard, touchpad, and speakers are all outstanding (especially at this price), and port selection is generous despite it lacking Thunderbolt 4. If you're buying this laptop, we recommend checking out the 14-inch 2880x1800 (2.8K) OLED display. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio, up to a 90Hz refresh rate, and excellent color reproduction. In our tests, it hit 100% sRGB, 97% AdobeRGB, and 100% DCI-P3 accuracy.

This is a great option if you'd like to really pick and choose the hardware that goes into your laptop, and the affordable price doesn't hurt either.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

HP Omen 16

Best gaming

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful 12th Gen Intel Core or AMD Ryzen 6000 CPUs
+
Plenty of GPU options from NVIDIA and AMD
+
Sleek design, RGB keyboard
+
High-end 16-inch display options
+
Improved cooling to run cooler and quieter

Reasons to avoid

-
Prices climb quickly

Gamers out there looking to get the design and performance needed should check out HP's Omen 16. HP refreshed the Omen 16 earlier this year, boasting up to a 36% performance CPU increase compared to the previous generation. That boost comes in part by new a new generation of Intel and AMD chips, as well as a redesigned cooling system that runs quieter and, well, cooler.

On Intel's side, you can get up to a 12th Gen Core i9-12900H, while on AMD's side there's up to a Ryzen 9 6900HX. These processors are paired with up to 32GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and 2TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe storage. There are two M.2 slots available for later upgrades. Both laptops also come with up to a NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti laptop GPU, while the AMD model also has an option for the Radeon 6650M GPU. It's all powered by a 70Wh battery.

Port selection is generous, as is expected from a gaming laptop. Note that Intel configs get Thunderbolt 4, while AMD models with standard USB-C. The keyboard is available with single-zone, four-zone, and per-key RGB depending on how much you want to spend.

Display options are plentiful on both AMD and Intel models. The 16.1-inch screens have a 16:9 aspect ratio, and there's up to a 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution with 165Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and 300 nits brightness.

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

HP Dragonfly Folio G3

Nothing else like it

Reasons to buy

+
Unique and versatile design
+
12th Gen Intel Core U-series CPUs
+
Optional 5G connectivity
+
Gorgeous 3K2K OLED display
+
Excellent camera and audio

Reasons to avoid

-
Extremely expensive

In his hands-on time with the Dragonfly Folio G3, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino called it the "most exciting laptop [he's] handled this year." It combines three different modes into one platform, giving you the option to work with a standard clamshell laptop, with the display pulled forward to cover the keyboard, or lying at a slight angle for easy inking. 

This isn't the first time HP has attempted this design, with 2021's HP Elite Folio with Snapdragon 8cx (Gen 2) processor. However, HP has now gone all in, offering a similar design with 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs and a ton of high-end features. Inking is super easy thanks to the pull-forward touch display, which is available with up to a 3000x2000 OLED panel. Quad speakers pump out quality audio, and the 8MP camera with RGB+IR hybrid setup and human presence detection is outstanding.

The touchpad is flawless, and the keyboard is easy to use during long days of typing. Wi-Fi 6E comes standard, and if required you can add 4G LTE and 5G connectivity to stay connected everywhere. This is a laptop made for creators who collaborate on projects, and its high-end features and design understandably come at a high price.

Bottom line

Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

HP has a lot of great laptops to choose from, and you should be able to get exactly what you want from the varied brands. As it stands now, the Elite Dragonfly G3 or the Spectre x360 13.5 are likely the best of the best thanks to high-end features, gorgeous displays strong performance, and solid battery life.

Gamers will want to check out the Omen brand, though Victus models are a bit more affordable. And if you are on a tighter budget, something like the Pavilion Plus 14 should be quite attractive. Be sure to check out our collection of the overall best Windows laptops if none of these are quite what you're looking for.

Cale Hunt
Senior Editor, Laptop Reviews

Cale Hunt is formerly a Senior Editor at Windows Central. He focuses mainly on laptop reviews, news, and accessory coverage. He's been reviewing laptops and accessories full-time since 2016, with hundreds of reviews published for Windows Central. He is an avid PC gamer and multi-platform user, and spends most of his time either tinkering with or writing about tech.