HP 15-EF2040TG (4N6P4UA) Laptop Review: A Balanced Budget Performer?

The HP 15-EF2040TG (4N6P4UA) is a budget-friendly laptop aimed at everyday users. Boasting a 15.6-inch Full HD display and powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, it promises a decent balance of performance and affordability. Over the past few weeks, I’ve put this laptop through its paces to see if it lives up to the hype. This review will delve into its strengths and weaknesses, giving you a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities.

Key Features

Specification Value
Processor Speed 2.6 GHz
RAM Size 8 GB
Internal Memory 512 GB SSD
Screen Size 15.6 in
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Colour Name Silver
Keyboard Language English
Display Type IPS
Display Resolution Type Full HD
Average Battery Life 4 Hours
Storage Type SSD
Operating System Windows 11
Usage Type Personal
Model Series HP EF Series
Processor Version Number/Generation 5th Gen
Number of Cores Hexa Core
RAM Type DDR4
External Graphics Integrated
Graphic Memory 1 GB
Features AMD, Bluetooth, Personal
Model Number 4N6P4UA
Model Name 4N6P4UA
HDMI Output Yes
Number of USB Ports 3
SD Card Slot Yes
Number of HDMI Ports 1
Processor Version Ryzen 5 5500U

The laptop’s features are fairly standard for a budget offering. The inclusion of an SSD is a welcome addition, boosting boot times and overall responsiveness. The Full HD display is crisp and clear, although brightness could be improved.

Performance & Benchmarks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor handles everyday tasks with ease. Web browsing, document editing, and streaming video are all smooth and responsive. However, more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming show limitations. While it can handle some light gaming, don’t expect high frame rates at max settings. The 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most users, but could be a bottleneck for those who run multiple memory-intensive applications simultaneously. The 512GB SSD offers ample storage for most users.

Battery life is a weak point. I consistently got around 4 hours of moderate use, which is less than ideal for a full day of work or study.

The keyboard is comfortable for typing, although it lacks backlighting. The trackpad is responsive and accurate.

Pros & Cons

    Pros:

  • Affordable price point
  • Fast SSD storage
  • Crisp Full HD display
  • Adequate performance for everyday tasks
  • Comfortable keyboard

    Cons:

  • Short battery life
  • Limited gaming capabilities
  • No keyboard backlighting
  • Could benefit from more RAM for power users

Final Verdict

The HP 15-EF2040TG (4N6P4UA) is a decent budget laptop that offers good value for money. If you need a reliable machine for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document creation, and streaming, this laptop will suit you well. However, if you need exceptional battery life, high-performance gaming capabilities, or plan on running demanding software regularly, you might want to consider a more powerful model. For its price, it strikes a solid balance of features and performance, but the short battery life is a significant drawback.