HP's $179 Laptop 14 Review

HP's $179 Laptop 14 Review

Upgrading laptops usually means spending hundreds of dollars, but sometimes the cheapest option can surprise you. In this review, Lon Sidman takes a look at the HP Laptop 14, one of the most affordable Windows laptops on the market right now, priced at just $180. At first glance, you’d expect it to be slow, flimsy, and barely usable, but what makes it interesting is how much value you can squeeze out of it with a few simple upgrades.

📝 Video Summary

• Priced at just $180, making it one of the cheapest retail Windows laptops.
• Runs on an Intel N150 quad-core processor with 4GB RAM and 128GB UFS storage by default.
• Easy to open and upgrade: supports up to 16GB RAM and has an empty NVMe SSD slot for faster storage.
• Display is the main drawback: 720p TN panel with low brightness and poor color accuracy.
• Build quality is modest plastic but decent, weighing about 3 pounds.
• The keyboard is springy, the trackpad feels spongy but usable; no biometric login options.
• With upgraded RAM, it can smoothly handle web browsing, Office tasks, and 1080p 60fps video playback.
• Gaming is limited but possible. GTA 5 runs 30fps at 720p low, PS2 emulation works at near full speed. (I love GTA games, this is a cool laptop)
• Game streaming (GeForce Now) works well thanks to solid Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
• Linux dual-boot runs great, making it versatile for open-source or server use.
• The battery lasts 5 to 6 hours under light use.

In simple terms, this laptop is cheap but surprisingly capable if you’re willing to upgrade it a little. Out of the box, it’s not super fast. Think of it like buying instant noodles, it’ll fill you up, but it gets much better if you add eggs, veggies, and seasoning. The upgrades (more RAM and faster storage) make a huge difference, turning it from “just okay” to “actually good.” The biggest weakness is the screen, which looks dull and washed out, so don’t expect Netflix to look amazing. But for basic stuff like browsing, typing documents, streaming games, or even some light gaming with the right tweaks, it holds up. In short: it’s a budget-friendly option that punches above its weight if you give it a little boost.

💡 My Thoughts

I think what makes this laptop so interesting is the upgrade path. Out of the box, 4GB of RAM on Windows is almost unusable, it feels sluggish and frustrating. But with a quick RAM upgrade and an SSD, it transforms into a completely different machine, almost like buying a mid-tier laptop for half the price. For anyone comfortable with unscrewing a few panels, that’s a huge win.

The display is clearly the weakest part. At 720p with poor colors and brightness, it’s not going to impress anyone, especially if you care about visuals. But for people who mostly use their laptop for browsing, emails, video calls, or typing documents, the screen does the job. Plus, the webcam having a physical shutter is a nice touch for privacy.

I also like that HP didn’t lock down the system. So many cheap laptops are designed to be disposable, with soldered memory and no upgrade options. This one feels like it actually respects the user, giving you the freedom to extend its lifespan. The fact that Linux runs so well here is the cherry on top for anyone wanting flexibility. The fact I can play GTA 5 on this is even making me want to get it right now.

💬 Final Thoughts

The HP Laptop 14 isn’t perfect, and it isn’t pretending to be. The display is weak, and 4GB RAM out of the box is borderline unusable. But the ability to upgrade RAM and add an SSD makes it a hidden gem in the budget space. It’s light, decently built, and powerful enough for everyday tasks once upgraded. For students, casual users, or anyone on a tight budget, this is a surprisingly capable little machine. If you’re willing to tinker a bit, this $180 laptop can easily punch above its weight.