Finding a laptop that strikes the right balance between performance and affordability is no easy endeavour. The market is packed with models that either underperform or overperform to our needs. That said, today we would like to talk to you guys about a model that perfectly speaks to our needs - and our wallets -; the HP 15-dy1036nr.
HP's latest venture onto the mid-range packs just about everything we could wish for; sufficient RAM, SSD storage, 10th generation i5 processor, powerful battery and a whole lot more. Without further ado, let's get on with this in depth review of the HP 15-dy1036nr.
- Let's talk design and keyboard
- What's the performance like?
- Graphics & Battery life
- What are the reviewers saying?
- Connectivity
- Closing arguments
HP 15-dy1036nr Full Review
Display and design
First off, let's cover our bases and talk briefly about the design. In this regard, the HP 15-dy1036nr packs a lightweight body of 3.7 pounds with a 15.6 inch display and a micro-bezzel front body with an 82% screen to body ratio. All of this basically means we're talking about a sleek and modern looking laptop with a very portable form factor that allows us to take it everywhere we go.
Another design feature that's been commended by its buyers is the fact that it comes with a dedicated numeric pad, something that's become increasingly rare when talking about a more compact form factor. Also worth noting; the HP 15-dy1036nr does not come with a backlit keyboard, just something to take into consideration.
When it comes to the display the resolution is Full HD (1920 by 1080 pixels) with anti-glare technology so that we may use this laptop in exteriors without it being much of an issue. Also, this is not a touchscreen, just in case there was any doubt about that.
Key Performance Indicators
Just like in business and marketing we talk about KPI's, a laptop also has its own key performance indicators which are basically those key features that will determine the performance we can expect from a laptop; the processor, the RAM and the storage (type more so than amount).
On that note, the HP 15-dy1036nr packs a quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 that works at a base frequency of 1.0 GHz and reaches a maximum 3.6 GHz through the popular turbo-boost feature.
Add to that an 8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM module and 256 GB of SSD storage and we've got a laptop packed with solid mid-range specs.
Before getting into the nitty gritty of what this all means in terms of day to day usage it's worth noting that the RAM is not expandable however the storage is, allowing for a second SSD unit to be integrated.
What does this all mean?
Overall, with this combination of key features we're looking at a smooth performing laptop on anything from browsing the web to light gaming (SIMS, FIFA) as well as some light video and image editing with high-end software.
The HP 15-dy1036nr is also suitable for programmers who need to work with a couple of virtual machines as well as students who need a laptop for entertainment and homework.
By packing an SSD unit combined with a highly efficient processor we can expect faster load times as well as an overall speedy performance on everything from turning the laptop on/off, searching for local files, editing images etc.
Battery life and graphics chip
As mentioned previously, this laptop is suitable for some light gaming such as SIMS and FIFA but it will not hold its own when playing more graphically demanding games as it comes with an integrated Intel UHD graphics card, if you're looking to do some intensive gaming we would advise looking for a laptop that packs a dedicated graphics chip instead.
When it comes down to battery life, the HP 15-dy1036nr promises up to 10.25 hours of battery life with a full charge. I believe we all know what "up to" means by now so we should assume a standard battery life of 5-7 hours on a more "normal" usage scenario. Also worth pointing out the fact that it comes with quick charge technology which allows us to charge the battery to half of its capacity within just 45 minutes.
What do the reviews say?
As for the customers who have bought this laptop, most agree that it was a good purchase with many people embracing the quality of the speakers and microphone as strong pros.
That said, for those who are not happy with the HP 15-dy1036nr, the main issue seems to be the fact that the fan turns on with relative ease, as some have stated in their product reviews. If that's the case, considering the fact that the laptop packs a strong set of key specs as well as a nice design with a slick screen it's definietly something we can live with at this price point.
Anything else I should know?
Rounding up our review, we should point out that this laptop does not come with a DVD reader (as is to be expected nowadays). However, it does come with the latest generation WiFi 6 which allows up to three times faster download speeds through a compatible router. It also packs fifth generation bluetooth connectivity as well as a single USB type C connector.
As expected we've also got an HDMI port, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack and a couple of USB 3.1 ports.
Wrapping up: Is it worth it?
In closing, this laptop packs a mean punch at a very affordable price point. We've got a Full HD display, 8 GB of the latest generation RAM, a strong processor and an extensive SSD storage unit which we may also expand upon if we wish.
In summary, if you're looking for a laptop for stuff like browsing the web, programing, doing some light video editing etc. and you need something that will also provide sufficient autonomy with a slick and modern design then the HP 15-dy1036nr is precisely what you're looking for at a price that's hard to beat.