The brand new HP 15-ay013nr is a fair priced mid-range laptop which was first introduced at Amazon on the 10th of April 2016. I’m quite excited about this model because, as you’ll discover in my review, it comes equipped with some serious hardware components and valuable features.
Key Specs:
- Intel Core i5 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Full HD display
- 7-hour battery life
Review: a fantastic all-rounder
Much like its sibling, the ac121nr, this HP laptop has a surprising set of features that makes it stand out among competitors, out pricing many. The actual design of the notebook hasn’t changed at all, but there are a few hardware additions which make this particular model so much more attractive.
The HP 15-ay013nr has a 6th gen Intel Core i5-6200U processor installed, the industry standard when it comes to mid-range laptops. This dual core CPU has 3 megabytes of cache, has a clock speed of 2.3 GHz (2.8 GHz max turbo) and a thermal design power of 15 Watts. It’s probably the best value for money you’ll get when buying a notebook, since this thing scores around 3900 points in benchmark tests.
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The HP also has 8 gigabytes of DDR3L SDRAM installed. As I said in a previous review, I don’t think it’s necessary to upgrade the system memory, since 8 gigs will suffice, no matter what you’ll end up doing with the notebook. This amount of system memory will allow some heavy multitasking and will enable the easy use of more complex software.
Storage space is limited at 128 gigabytes. Considering Windows 10 will occupy around 15 gigabytes, it’s safe to say you will have to rely on cloud services or USB flash drives to extend it. However small that capacity may seem, keep in mind this is a solid state drive, a storage unit with no moving parts which offers unparalleled access times. This laptop will feel snappy and everything, from browsing the web to browsing your files, opening programs and booting up will take a fraction of the time it would have took to complete on a hard disk drive.
The HP 15-ay013nr has an integrated video card, the Intel HD Graphics 520. This means you’ll struggle playing new and/or demanding games. The HP will be able to run older titles just fine and some online multiplayer games, like CS:GO on medium settings. Streaming high resolution videos and 4K content will be of no issue with this model, since the 520 is built to handle such tasks.
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The screen measures 15.6 inches across and features a matte LED-backlit vibrant display with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels). There’s nothing out of the ordinary with this display, except for the fact that it’s a nice addition to an already great value-for-money device.
The HP 15-ay013nr has the following interface options:
- 1 x USB 3.0 port
- 2 x USB 2.0 ports
- 1 x HDMI-out port
- 1 x audio combo jack
- 1 x RJ-45
- 1 x SD card reader
Connectivity with the outside world is done via Ethernet, a 802.11ac wireless card and Bluetooth 4.0.
Regarding portability, it’s worth mentioning this laptop weighs 4.65 pounds, so it’s lighter by some margin than its direct competitors, but still bulky enough to reconsider carrying it around everywhere you go. I’d say it’s best suited for college students, home offices, work spaces and some commuting, but travelling with it will surely be a hassle.
However, the battery manages to hold a charge for up to 7 hours, a decent figure for a notebook equipped with an i5 processor, but not enough to completely forget about bringing a power adapter along. Taking the battery life into consideration, the HP 15-ay013nr is ideal to use in the scenarios depicted above.
Conclusion
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As a final word, I’d say this laptop is a great all-rounder. Hardware components are top notch, performance is great, there are plenty of connectivity and interface options, it has a full HD screen and comes with decent battery life stats. For the price, it’s one of the best devices you can get right now.
