The HP 14-dq5009nr isn’t the type of laptop that’s a sexy powerhouse to change your life. However, it’s a capable everyday performer laptop, priced well below HP’s Envy and Pavilion notebooks; but will keep you churning documents out at a good clip. It ticks off many boxes for students and workers participating in remote or in-person learning or work.
For well under $500, this HP Laptop offers an attractive, affordable package with decent performance for day-to-day document processing and content viewing. For what it offers at its price, this deserves a spot on our list of best budget laptops, along with our list of best laptops under $500.
If you’re in the market for an attractive design and good performance for day-to-day tasks, the HP 14-dq5009nr (2024 model) will certainly deliver on those fronts. But while the low MSRP and design are enticing, HP definitely cuts corners with the screen and cooling system – but it’s still a workable Windows machine, better than a Chromebook.
About the HP 14-dq5009nr
The specs of our review unit are as follows:
- Processor: Intel Core i3-1215U
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Display: 14-inch 1366×768 pixels
- Connectivity: Realtek Wi-Fi 5 (2×2) & Bluetooth 4.2
- Weight: 4.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 12.76 x 0.71 x 8.86 inches
The HP Laptop is available in other models, with memory ranging from 8GB to 16GB and storage from as low as 256GB to 2TB SSD. Our review unit is the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD for under $500 but is often on sale for less. If you need more power, you can boost it further via upgrades, or choose a higher model during purchase.
Design & Features
The HP 14-dq5009nr is beautiful compared to the black bricks you’d ordinarily find at this price point. HP settled for a silver profile with the chromed-out HP logo on the lid. Measuring 12.76 x 0.71 x 8.86 inches and weighing 4.44 pounds, it is in the same ballpark as the Acer Aspire 5 and the Asus VivoBook S14, but the latter is much lighter at only 3.09 pounds.
The bezels surrounding the screen are fairly slim (HP claims a 78% scree-to-body ratio), though the top and bottom borders are thicker to accommodate the webcam and HP logo at the bottom. The webcam doesn’t get a privacy shutter as you’d find on the Lenovo ThinkPad and doesn’t have face recognition.
The HP’s left side is plain except for an SD card slot. On the right panel, there are two USB 3.1 Type-A ports and one USB 3.1 Type-C port, along with an HDMI video output, an audio jack, and a power connector. Wireless connectivity comes via Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth, not the newer Wi-Fi 6E.
Display, Keyboard & Touchpad
The 14-inch 1366 × 768 resolution display on the 14-dq5009nr is pretty standard, and has good contrast – but otherwise, this panel is mediocre at best. Most laptops come with 1080p screens lately, so anything below that feels like a raw deal, but it’s still usable for watching movies and working on tasks, don’t expect it to get overly bright and the viewing angles are narrow. Yes, there are better screens out there if you want to spend more, especially if you’re keen on 4K content.
The keyboard, on the other hand, isn’t great either. HP had to cut corners to reach an affordable price for this laptop, and the casualties just happened to be the display and keyboard. We’re always excited to see a dedicated Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys instead of having to pair the Fn key with cursor arrows – sadly, that’s what you’re getting here.
The keyboard has this basic, hollow and almost echoing typing feel that you might not enjoy much. The Asus VivoBook 15 offers a better typing experience than any other laptop we’ve reviewed in the sub-$500 category, and it gets a better 1080p display. The tiny, buttonless touchpad below the keyboard glides and taps smoothly, but it needs some force to register clicks.
Performance
With an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD storage, the HP 14-dq5009nr is capable of easily handling all your daily emails, YouTube sessions, documents, and school work.
Intel just released its 14th-generation line of CPUs, we’ve reviewed a few laptops packing those chips, and they are just spectacular. But for the budget category, you simply have to stick with previous-gen chips, that’s why we can’t complain about anything here. The Core i3-1215U is still a fantastic mobile processor, which (combined with fast SSD storage and RAM) gives this a snappy feel and helps it keep up easily with day-to-day productivity tasks. In all its worthiness, it doesn’t feel like a lesser desktop replacement laptop.
What it doesn’t do, however, is offer much in the way of gaming performance. It relies on integrated Intel UHD graphics which, while not useless, doesn’t promise much in terms of gaming performance. Again, while it feels perfectly slick on this laptop, you can use it as a gaming solution. After all, you’re not buying this HP Laptop for its gaming prowess, so to penalize it based on its lack of a discrete graphics solution doesn’t make much sense.
If you’re looking to buy the HP 14-dq5009nr, you’re most likely not too keen on having a laptop with cutting-edge tech – not at this price point. Still, the idea that this laptop has a premium design and has the power to run most of your daily tasks could supersede any shortcomings it might have.
Talking of day-to-use, the HP 14 in all its worth performs well. As long as you keep your expectations in check and abstain from attempting to run too intensive tasks – such as 3D rendering or playing modern titles – then you should be reasonably happy with the performance of this laptop considering its price.
Generally, budget notebooks like the Acer Aspire 5 and Asus VivoBook 15 can last eight hours on battery alone; about enough to get you through a full workday without an outlet. The HP 15 laptop only lasts just under seven hours, while HP claims over 9 hours on a single charge. While not awful, that’s below average among laptops we’ve tested in the past few years and less than we’d like to see for all-day usage.
HP 14-dq5009nr Review: Verdict
The HP 14-dq5009nr is very affordable, looks beautiful, and delivers on day-to-day tasks like a champ. However, competing laptops like the Asus VivoBook 15 and Acer Aspire 5 offer better performance and boast newer CPUs. I’m often skeptical when recommending lower-cost laptops; too many have bland designs and awful keyboards, but the HP 14 laptop is solid and well-built for the price.
That said, HP still had to keep costs down to reach this affordable price point. Its display is dimmer and lacks color accuracy, and battery life would be better given its size. A 1080p display would be better since competitors are offering the same for almost the same price.
Other laptops give the HP Laptop a run for its money. The Acer Aspire 5, for example, is still one of the best cheap laptops you can get for $500, with better performance per dollar, good battery life, and good port selection.
If you can’t stand a Chromebook, especially that Chrome OS, and need something on a truly tight budget (and don’t mind the screen resolution), the HP 14-dq5009nr should be on your shortlist. But, if your budget can stretch a little, the Asus VivoBook 16 is even better value.
Recommended Configuration
HP 14 inch Laptop, HD Display, 12th Generation Intel Core i3-1215U, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics, Windows 11 Home in S mode, 14-dq5009nr (2024)
4 used from $282.62
The Review
HP 14-dq5009nr
The HP 14-dq5009nr is a 14-inch laptop that impresses with a stylish design, low price point, and decent day-to-day performance, but its low-res screen keeps it from being the best in class.
PROS
- Surprisingly peppy processor
- Good battery life
- Compact and well-built
CONS
- Lackluster screen
- Keyboard isn’t backlit
Review Breakdown
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ARS SCORE
