Key Points
- Dell is known for providing quality products that are also budget-friendly, although some gaming laptops can be more expensive.
- Lenovo prioritizes affordability and offers laptops that fit nearly anyone’s budget, with exceptions for premium devices.
- HP focuses on quality and offers a wide range of products, with budget options being rarer to find.
- Dell laptops are known for performance and reliability, allowing buyers to focus on individual components.
- Lenovo laptops are suitable for professionals and offer long-life batteries and graphics capabilities.
- HP laptops are ideal for multitasking and come with the latest Intel processors.
If you’re in the market for a new laptop, there’s a seemingly overwhelming variety of choices. This search may make you compile lists of features until you’re blue in the face. Sure, it can be a lot of fun to look at the various bells and whistles provided by shiny new toys. However, sometimes it’s more practical to narrow your search to a handful of manufacturers with a reputation for reliability.
Culling your list by manufacturer could save you from purchasing a lemon with a long list of features that end up not working. In today’s laptop market, the three brands that have cultivated a level of reliability and trust among consumers are Dell, HP, and Lenovo. But how do you distinguish between these three? Let’s take a look at Lenovo vs. Dell vs. HP so that you can decide which laptop you should buy in 2023.
Lenovo vs. Dell vs. HP: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Lenovo | Dell | HP |
|---|---|---|
| Tend to be more expensive | Tend to be more budget-friendly | Focuses on a balance between quality and affordability |
| Sleek and modern appearance | More of a professional look | Hip and stylish design |
| Top-shelf processors like Intel Core i9 | Workhorse processors by Intel and AMD | Latest Intel processors such as Core i7, i5, and i3 |
| Known for quality over affordability | Known for affordability over quality | A balance between quality and affordability |
- 15.6 Inch Laptop
- Intel Core i7 Processor
- Windows 11 included
- 1 TB Hard Drive
- 15.6 Inch Laptop Display
- Windows 11 Ready
- 1 TB Hard Drive
- Intel Quad Core i7 Processor
- 17.3 Inch Laptop
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
- 512 GB Hard Drive
- Windows 11 Compatible
Lenovo vs. Dell vs. HP: What’s the Difference?
Pricing
Pricing may not be a consideration for every buyer, but it’s certainly a factor for most. These three bands cater to a wide variety of demographics and while various models from each brand will be marketed to certain budgets, each one has a reputation for catering to a certain kind of budget. If cost is a big deal to you, you may want to start with a company that has a reputation for serving the price range closest to your own.
Dell
Dell’s business model of selling products through authorized dealers and not through a third party has given the company a reputation for providing quality products that are also budget-friendly. This reputation tends to hold true, even for laptops. However, you should be aware that some Dell models, particularly when it comes to gaming laptops can come with a higher price tag despite their reputation.
Lenovo
Lenovo is known less for quality than they are for affordability, but that doesn’t mean its products are unreliable. The company has prioritized cultivating a broad customer base, and as such, makes laptops that will fit nearly anyone’s budget. There are exceptions of course, particularly when it comes to gaming laptops or their 2 in 1 devices that do double duty as laptop and tablet. Either of those premium devices will naturally come with a much more premium price tag.
HP
HP’s reputation tends to be the opposite of Dell’s. While they also try to find a balance between quality and affordability, they are more known for the former than the latter. Like all companies, they do offer a variety of products in a wide price range. However, quality tends to be the focus. You can find some budget options in the HP laptop line, but they are rarer to find than budget models from HP’s competitors. HP Chromebooks tend to be a good option if you don’t need many tools, and need a laptop on a budget, but full-on laptops will usually set you back a bit. Particularly any models that have professional features or are designed specifically for gaming.
©Daniel Barbutti/Shutterstock.com
Hardware Components
Hardware can make a big difference when trying to determine what laptop is right for you. Each one of the three companies we are examining today has certain components that they focus on. While every one of these companies makes laptops suitable for general use, if you are looking for any kind of specialization that better acclimates to your work, you may want to take a closer look at each brand’s reputation.
Dell
When it comes to Dell, its reputation is more about performance than anything else. Dell laptops tend to be workhorses, alleviating the need to be concerned about design. With a reputation for reliability, Dell allows buyers to put their research effort into the individual components that will most align with their desired specifications. With the basics, covered by components like Intel and AMD processors, you can spend your time worrying about things like Alienware for gaming purposes.
Lenovo
If you’re looking for a professional-grade laptop, you may want to consider Lenovo. Most models tend to come with a long-life battery, meaning you won’t have to be tethered to a cable all the time. The graphics and 3D capabilities make laptops from this company a good choice for those who work in digital media. However, they’re not exclusively for professionals, of course. A lot of their gaming models contain components like Intel Core i9 processors and elevated graphics cards, making for a smooth gaming experience.
HP
HP has a reputation for building laptops perfect for multitasking. This makes them ideal for professionals with big to-do lists and a lot of tasks to juggle. HP laptops tend to come stock with the latest Intel processors such as Core i7, i5, and i3. These processors make jumping from program to program a lot more seamless. For gamers, they offer the HP Pavilion line. These models provide bonuses like NVIDIA dedicated graphic cards and higher resolution displays than other laptops.
Lenovo vs. Dell vs. HP: Company Profile
Dell
Based out of Round Rock, Texas, the Dell technology company was founded by Michael Dell in 1984. With the PC and dot com boom of the 90s, Dell’s model of affordable and dependable computers soon led to them being one of the largest tech companies in the world. Dell has a reputation for its build-to-order manufacturing as well as its direct sales approach.
Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese company with a headquarters presence in both Beijing and the US, specifically in Morrisville, North Carolina. Founded in 1984, Lenovo truly hit its stride in the mid-2010s. At this time, when it came to units sold, it became one of the world’s largest computer vendors. Today the company produces all kinds of devices, but it is probably best known for its ThinkPad and IdeaPad.
HP
HP, or Hewlett-Packard, is the oldest of the three companies. It was founded in Palo Alto, California, nearly a century ago by Bill Hewlett and David Packard. At one point, HP became the world’s leading PC manufacturer until Lenovo eventually surpassed them. The two companies retain a healthy rivalry to this day.
©N.Z.Photography/Shutterstock.com
Lenovo vs. HP vs. Dell: 7 Must-Know Facts
- HP was founded in 1939 and was a well-established company in Silicon Valley during the dot com boom.
- Dell quickly rose to prominence in the 90s by offering affordable desktop PCs
- Lenovo has headquarters in both China and the United States.
- HP and Lenovo traded the honor of most units sold for most of the 2010s.
- Dell laptops typically contain three-core batteries. This means their battery life is often lower than laptops by HP and Lenovo.
- Lenovo Thinkpads tend to be among the best options for those in the market for a business laptop.
- While offering an eye-catching design, HP laptops aren’t as sturdy as Dell. They are more prone to damage if they are dropped.
Lenovo vs. Dell vs. HP: Which One Is Better? Which Brand Should You Use?
It’s good to bear in mind when comparing three major brands like this, your situation may vary from model to model. Our recommendations are built on generalities rather than iron-clad truths. Perhaps your specific needs will lead you to a model that bucks our recommendation. Or perhaps you’ll wind up getting a different brand entirely. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
That being said, Dell provides reliability at an affordable price. If you’re on a budget and looking for something that will last, that might be your best bet. Whereas, if your priority is power, then you might want to take a look at what Lenovo has to offer. If value is the primary concern, HP is probably going to give you the most bang for your buck.
No matter whether you need a laptop for gaming, digital media, or just for work, odds are one of these three manufacturers has a model that will fit your specific situation. Hopefully, we helped steer you in the right direction and your search for the perfect laptop will become that much easier.
- Dell Inspiron 15 3530 Laptop
- 15.6 Inch Laptop
- Intel Core i7 Processor
- Windows 11 included
- 1 TB Hard Drive
- OEM Lenovo ThinkPad E15 Gen 2 Business Laptop
- 15.6 Inch Laptop Display
- Windows 11 Ready
- 1 TB Hard Drive
- Intel Quad Core i7 Processor
- HP Envy Laptop, 17.3" 4K UHD Display
- 17.3 Inch Laptop
- 13th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
- 512 GB Hard Drive
- Windows 11 Compatible
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock.com.
