A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 15.6" offers a solid choice for general use and has a reasonable battery life and portability, which makes it quite versatile. However, the HP 17" leverages a more recent AMD processor that may provide better performance, especially in engineering applications, along with a larger screen, which can be more comfortable for long hours of work, though at the expense of portability due to its larger size. Both have good keyboards and build quality, but if battery life is a top priority, keep in mind the Gateway might not last as long as the HP. Additionally, both lack features for intensive gaming or advanced creative tasks. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- Good battery life
Advantages of the HP 17" Laptop
- Good for software development
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.2
6.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP 17" Laptop and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for engineering and design, though the HP 17" Laptop is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop with its Intel CPU and integrated graphics may not perform as well with demanding engineering and design tasks as the HP 17" laptop, which has a more powerful AMD CPU and better-integrated graphics. Additionally, the HP's larger and higher quality screen provides a better visual experience for detailed work, despite being less portable and potentially having louder operating noise due to its larger size.
Screen Quality
6.1
6.6
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
The HP 17" Laptop has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
General use often involves a combination of activities, so a fair screen on both the Gateway and HP means you'll have an adequate display resolution and brightness, but they may not be best in class. For engineering and design, where accurate color representation matters, their fair rating indicates they cover enough of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums to get by, but professionals might seek higher fidelity. With gaming and 3D applications prioritizing fluid motion, the poor rating in this aspect suggests that these laptops lack the high refresh rates essential for these tasks, even though their resolution and panel types might be acceptable.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
5.1
6.0
The HP 17" Laptop has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$497
$687
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $497 and the HP 17" Laptop costs $687.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" offers ample RAM and a capable Intel CPU for smooth multitasking and general activities, alongside a solid-state drive for quick data access, packaged in a relatively portable form factor, although with unknown battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The HP 17" Laptop and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop, with an Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, is suitable for entry-level gaming and 3D applications, but it may struggle with more demanding tasks. Similarly, the HP 17" laptop features an AMD Ryzen Vega 8 GPU which can handle light gaming and some 3D workloads; however, it also has a standard screen refresh rate, which may limit performance in high-speed gaming scenarios.
Content Creation
7.0
7.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP 17" Laptop and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
6.7
7.1
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP 17" Laptop to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gateway 15.6" and HP 17" Laptop both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gateway 15.6" and the HP 17" Laptop compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | HP 17" Laptop |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$497 | $687 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 15.8'' x 10.2'' x 0.81'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 4.58 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 15.78" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | Iris Xe G7 | Vega 8 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 287 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
HP 17" Laptop
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | November 2022
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the HP 17" Laptop
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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