Lenovo vs HP: Which Laptop Should You Buy in 2024 & Why?

College season is finally here and you want to purchase a brand new laptop for your first semester. You stumble upon two giants in the laptop industry; HP and Lenovo. Moreover, the confusing corporate lingo and jargon have made you uncertain regarding your next purchase. This guide will clear all those doubts and help you make an informed decision.

Both Lenovo and HP have a strong foothold in the laptop market. While there are other options like Dell, MSI, ASUS, and whatnot but since you’ve clicked on this article, we’ll assume only these two have caught your fancy. So let’s start with a bit of history.

A Brief Overview

Both laptop manufacturers have been a part of the game since before the 2000s. To the average consumer these companies simply manufacture laptops, however, they serve the market in a much broader sense. Did you know that Lenovo once sold its own mobile phones?

↪ HP

HP stands for Hewlett–Packard and it is a multinational technology company situated in the USA. It was founded in 1939 and has catered to almost every market in the IT industry; PCs, Printers, Software, Support, 3D Printing, and Laptops.

↪ Lenovo

Lenovo is another multinational technology company centered in China, with headquarters in the USA. Despite being founded in 1984, the name “Lenovo” came into being in 2004. Just a year later, Lenovo purchased IBM’s personal computer, which included the iconic “ThinkPad” lineup. So now you know that Lenovo’s ThinkPad series carries some serious weight behind its name.

READ MORE: How to Fix Black Line on Lenovo Laptop Screen in 2024 ➜

Different Laptop Offerings

Lenovo and HP have a large number of choices when it comes to laptops, for every segment of the market. Across both brands, you will find perfect entry-level options, mid-range offerings, MacBook competitors, and gaming-centric laptops.

As you move across the spectrum, all brands tend to pack extra features. Buying a laptop is not like buying a PC, where you simply see the specifications and click on “Purchase“. Extra features, such as the ones mentioned below can significantly overhaul your experience;

• 2-in-1 Laptops
• 360° Rotatable Laptops
• Screen Refresh Rate (Typically >60Hz)
• Fingerprint Sensor
• Larger Battery (Typically >50Wh)
• Higher TDP/TGP GPUs (Typically >100W)
• Touchscreen Display
• High Resolution Display (Typically >1080p)
• OLED/Mini-LED Displays
• MUX Switch
• USB/Thunderbolt/HDMI Ports and Card Readers

Now it is important to note that there is no “standard” segment division across both brands. Moreover, since both produce so many laptops, the question of “Which brand is better?” ultimately depends on the model you purchase. However, let’s delve into this topic case by case;

↪ HP

Starting with HP, we find many choices for every price segment. Entry-level or budget offerings include the HP Essential and the HP Pavillion series. These fall under mainstream budget laptops and offer great value for money.

Next up in the mid-range segment, exists the HP Envy. With a few more added quirks such as a fingerprint sensor, better display, touchscreen, larger battery etcetera the high-end spectrum is treated with the HP Spectre series.

• Entry–Level: HP Pavillion/Essential
• Mid–Range: HP ENVY
• High–End: HP Spectre
• Business–Oriented: HP ProBook/EliteBook
• Gaming: HP Omen

On the more business side of things, HP has its ProBook and EliteBook lineups for customers. Notably, ProBook is slightly inferior to EliteBook as suggested by the naming. Lastly, gaming enthusiasts and HP fans always prefer the Omen series, though upgradability may vary from model to model.

↪ Lenovo

As is the case with HP, Lenovo is no slouch when it comes to offering the best bang for buck laptops. Lenovo particularly excels in the budget and mid-range segment with its esteemed ThinkPad lineup.

If you want the simple tl;dr, the IdeaPad is designated for the entry–level segment, ThinkPad for the business, and Legion for the high-end market. However, Lenovo has its own slightly confusing way of compartmentalizing its laptops.

• Entry–Level: Lenovo IdeaPad (1,3,5), Yoga (6)
• Mid–Range: Lenovo IdeaPad (7)
• High–End: Lenovo IdeaPad (9), Yoga (7,9)
• Business–Oriented: Lenovo ThinkPad/ThinkBook
• Gaming: Lenovo Legion

Yoga is synonymous with 360° and sometimes even 2-in-1 laptops in the Lenovo world. IdeaPad extends from the low-end to high-end markets. ThinkPads are superior to ThinkBooks in various ways, but both are not limited to businesses. Like HP’s EliteBooks, some users prefer ThinkPads in the mid-ranged/high-end range.

READ MORE: How to Fix HP Laptop That Won’t Charge Anymore? ➜

Which Laptop Should You Purchase?

Now that we’ve detailed the various laptop offerings from both brands, which laptop should you buy? There are many factors, but generally, you don’t compare brands, you compare models. Likewise, it depends if you’re buying used or brand new.

1) Quirks About Lenovo and HP

Laptops from both parties have a few things you should look out for; good and bad.

↪ HP

A very common issue seen with HP laptops is a loose hinge. Some symptoms include a stiff or even a loose hinge that may break over time. Moreover, HP’s laptops come installed with bloatware which you can remove but is a hassle.

HP’s design is mostly sleek and very aesthetically pleasing. HP Spectre and higher-end ENVY/Pavillion models “generally” feature an Aluminium body and thus are more durable and better at conducting heat.

↪ Lenovo

Users have reported issues of “Screen Flickering” and keyboard problems with Lenovo laptops. On a similar note, Lenovo’s Vantage software is notorious for bugs and glitches.

ThinkPads, despite their lackluster appearance, have become a fan favorite amongst many. They are the go-to MacBook competitor choice for users. Fun fact, ThinkPads are so popular, that they have their own dedicated Subreddit.

2) “The More You Spend, The More You Save”

An altered version of Jensen’s famous quote, “The more you buy, the more you save“. In this context, the key takeaway is that budget laptops will tend to cheap out on components, whether you go for HP or Lenovo.

If you spend $500 on either brand, you may not notice a huge difference in the experience offered. You won’t generally see cheap Pavillions/IdeaPads with Aluminium bodies, so you should keep your expectations in check. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, ThinkPads and EliteBooks may just be what you’re looking for.

3) Model Over Brand Name

As we’re dealing with two very reputable brands, you should always compare the specifications of their models rather than the brands themselves. The first key step is to check the on-paper specifications; CPU, GPU, Memory, Storage, Display etcetera.

Afterward, verify the extra features, upgrade path, and thermal solution, and finally check at least 3-4 different reviews, on different platforms. Here are a few things you should look out for:

• Prefer a modern CPU such as AMD’s Zen4/Zen5 or Intel’s Meteor Lake/Lunar Lake. Note: Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th generations utilize the same underlying architecture. Meteor Lake, while a step in the positive direction, will be superseded by Lunar Lake-MX and Arrow Lake in the upcoming months.
• Prefer a high-wattage GPU, though make sure you’re not overpaying for 140W RTX 4050, 4060, and 4070 variants as they barely scale past 100W. (Image Credit: Jarrod’sTech)
  
• If you have 16GB or less memory, make sure it is upgradable and your laptop has a dual-slot configuration. LPDDR memory is soldered and not upgradeable.
• Always prefer an IPS panel over TN since the difference is quite perceivable. Likewise, stick with 1080p or higher.
• If you want on-the-go gaming, make sure your Legion/Omen laptop has a MUX switch.

READ MORE: How to Update BIOS on A HP Desktop/Laptop ➜

4) New vs. Used

A brand-new laptop comes with a fresh unboxing experience, a warranty, and the assurance that it has not been used beforehand. For this peace of mind, you may have to pay extra but for some, it is worth it. However, if you want to save some cash and go the used route, be ready to perform some stringent testing.

Here is how you should check your laptop if you’re going the second-hand route:

1. Check the body for any damages/scratches. Afterward, see if the screen is scratched or not.
2. Test the keyboard and trackpad thoroughly.
3. Test all the included I/O ports.
4. After you’ve physically inspected the laptop, take a USB flash drive with you containing software such as FurMark, CPU-Z, HWiNFO, and AIDA64.
5. Stress test the laptop to see if it thermal throttles. Temperatures within 90°C are acceptable but do check reviews to find the median range for your laptop.
6. Stress your GPU using FurMark and keep an eye out for crashes.
7. Some laptops have a battery health indicator in their BIOS such as Dell. However, you can use HWiNFO or Windows Battery Report to know your battery health.
8. Test the laptop for at least 1 hour to see how much battery you drain. Taking into account the excessive workload, you can get an estimated screen-on-time figure.
9. Get a minimum warranty of a couple of days for extra peace of mind.

5) Local Market Variance

The prices and availability of laptops depend significantly upon your region. Sometimes, manufacturers choose not to launch specific high-end models in certain countries. If you are keen on buying new, then visit your local retailer or browse their website to see whatever models are available.

After enough research, you should have a few models in mind. It is a good practice to take suggestions from your local community groups such as those on Facebook, Reddit, and whatnot. The next step is to watch reviews or one-on-one comparisons of said models and then purchase. Make sure to keep the aforementioned checks in mind.

6) Battery Life

If your primary concern is battery life, a popular suggestion will be to get an Apple silicon-based MacBook. If you cannot leave the Windows ecosystem, the recently launched Snapdragon X Elite processors are worth looking into, but the support is shabby, to say the least.

Battery life isn’t primarily decided by the manufacturer but by the CPU/SoC used in the laptop. Another option would be to wait for Strix Point / Granite Ridge or Lunar Lake if you don’t want to rely on x86 to ARM translation layers.

Another solution is to simply opt for a laptop with a large battery. It is recommended not to purchase a laptop with a battery lower than 50Wh, however, if your laptop features a low-power CPU with a “U” suffix, like the Ryzen 7 5800U/i5-1235U, >40Wh is the target. The higher, the better, but the more bulkier and heavier your laptop will be.

READ MORE: The 5 Best Laptops for Small Businesses in 2024 [All Budgets] ➜

Conclusion

As a general rule of thumb, whether it be HP, Lenovo, Dell, or whatever brand, a higher-end model will have better thermals, better specifications, and a better build quality than the rest. Ultimately, as we reiterate, compare the models, not the brands.

Furthermore, both manufacturers have various lineups for your use case. Students always prefer ThinkPads/EliteBooks over say a Legion or Omen gaming laptop. If you are a hardcore gamer, then that begs the question, “Why not build a gaming PC?”

You should also enquire about the local warranty support for both brands in your region. If you are going to pay a premium for a brand-new laptop, make sure your warranty will be entertained in case something goes wrong.