HP Is Selling a 40-Year-Old Calculator Again—For $120

You’d assume that calculators would have been one of the many technological casualties of the smartphone, joining MP3 players and point-and-shoot cameras as standalone devices no one really uses any more. But there are apparently still enough calculator devotees for HP to resurrect a model that’s been kicking around for over 40 years as a “Collector’s Edition,” complete with a price tag that might have you doing a double take.

Hey Google, Where Did My Watch's Battery Life Go?

First released back in 1982, the HP-15C debuted when HP was still calling itself Hewlett-Packard. It arrived about a decade after the Busicom LE-120A Handy—the first handheld electronic calculator with an LED display—and followed several other iconic HP calculator models released in the mid-to-late ‘70s, including the HP-65, which was actually programmable using a built-in magnetic card reader.

By comparison, the HP-15C was a pocket-sized scientific calculator with “built-in support for complex numbers, matrix math, numerical integration, and root solving”. It featured a 10-digit segmented LCD display, and had such a loyal following that, to this day, HP-15Cs still sell for a couple hundred bucks on eBay.

The original HP-15C was discontinued in 1989, but HP resurrected it again in 2011 as the “HP 15c Limited Edition.” 12 years later, the calculator is now returning once again as the “HP 15C Collector’s Edition.” It looks and functions exactly like the original did, complete with a 10-digit segmented LCD display that seems almost ancient at this point, but should offer dramatically improved battery life thanks to a pair of CR2032 coin cells. Interestingly, according to HP, it’s also “up to 100x faster processing speed,” which sounds like it could make this calculator a hacker’s dream.

The original HP-15C sold for $135 in 1982, or closer to around $425 when adjusted for inflation. That almost makes the HP 15C Collector’s Edition’s $120 price tag (you can pre-order it in the UK for £95.83 with delivery in July) seem like a bargain, until you remember you can now buy a $10 desktop calculator with a touchscreen that runs Android and has enough processing power to play Doom and N64 games.

HP Dragonfly Pro Review: A Small MacBook Pro for Windows Users

There are plenty of MacBook Pro alternatives, but perhaps none come as close to Apple's minimalist aesthetic as the HP Dragonfly Pro (OK, maybe the Samsung Galaxy Books, too). The Razer Blade 14's slab-like enclosure is a close facsimile to the sleek yet sturdy 14-inch MacBook Pro, but it's geared toward gamers -- an entirely different audience than the MacBook Pro's. The 14-inch Dragonfly Pro boasts a similarly clean and rigid design and targets the same mainstream "pro" users. And priced at a reasonable $1,400, it costs hundreds less than the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

HP designed the Dragonfly Pro for a more narrow audience than simply mainstream laptop users, though. The specific target is on-the-go, constantly connected freelancers and hybrid employees splitting time between home and office. To attract them, HP made a couple of unusual inclusions. 

HP dedicated keyboard space for four hotkeys, one of which connects you to HP's 24/7 live support, included for the first year. The other inclusion will likely be more useful to you: a high-res webcam for looking your best during Zoom meetings and the like. Even if you don't use the complimentary concierge support or extend it past the first year, the HP Dragonfly Pro is a great pick for Windows users yearning for a laptop that matches the best that Apple offers. 

 We reviewed the baseline HP Dragonfly Pro model for $1,400. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 7736U CPU, 16GB of RAM, integrated AMD Radeon Graphics and a 512GB SSD. The step-up model costs $1,550 and doubles the RAM to 32GB and the SSD to 1TB. The only other configurable item is the color: ceramic white or sparkling black; we received the latter. The 14-inch touch display features a 1,920x1,200-pixel with a 16:10 aspect ratio and is rated for 400 nits of brightness. 

By the way, there's also a Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. Given the pricing of the Windows 11-based models, it feels overpriced at $1,000 for a Chromebook with a 12th-gen Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Oddly, the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has a better display with a 2,560x1,600-pixel resolution and an impressive rated brightness of 1,200 nits.

As configured, our Dragonfly Pro test system produced solid performance results. It finished in the middle of the pack on most of our benchmarks among a group of similarly priced laptops that feature an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU. It lasted roughly 7.5 hours on our demanding battery drain test, another average result. You'll be able to eke out a longer runtime when you aren't constantly streaming a video. In anecdotal testing, the Dragonfly Pro felt peppy, operated quietly and didn't lag during a variety of multitasking scenarios.

The Dragonfly Pro is a stunner. The chassis is a matte-black thing of beauty. The finish has a soft texture to it that's pleasing to the touch -- it feels like the world's finest-grit sandpaper. Branding, as well as the ports, are kept to a minimum to complete the minimalist expression. HP's funky logo is centered on the lid and again on the center of the bottom screen bezel. Tiny Bang & Olufsen wordmarks sit on each side of the laptop. And that's it for branding. I appreciate the distinct lack of AMD Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU stickers on the wrist rest.

The aluminum-and-magnesium alloy body feels rigid and sturdy. Like the MacBook Pro, the Dragonfly Pro prioritizes a rock-solid chassis over chasing headlines for being extraordinarily thin and light. That's not to say it's a hulking desktop replacement you can't carry with you. The Dragonfly Pro weighs 3.4 pounds, which is about 1.5 ounces lighter than the MacBook Pro 14. The edges are gently rounded, making it slightly thicker than the 14-inch MacBook Pro: 0.7-inch thick compared to the MacBook Pro 14's 0.6. 

The Dragonfly Pro sits on two wide rubber feet on the bottom panel. Between them is a strip of venting that's the only visible venting on the chassis. The wide feet allow for airflow underneath the laptop and also make convenient and comfortable grips with which to carry the laptop.

Apple added some ports back to the latest MacBook Pros after a few iterations of limited connectivity. However, the Dragonfly Pro offers extremely limited connectivity. There are three USB-C ports, and that's it. Two of the ports have Thunderbolt 3 support, and the other is a plain USB Type-C port with a 10Gbps transfer speed. The pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports offer four times the transfer speed. There isn't much of a difference between Thunderbolt 3 and 4 -- both offer 40Gbps speed, but Thunderbolt 3 can support only one 4K display while Thunderbolt 4 can support two. Thunderbolt support on AMD-based laptops is a rarity, however, so at least that's in HP's favor.

What's missing from the port selection? There are no USB-A ports or an Ethernet jack. There's no SD card slot, micro or full-size. And most notably, there's no headphone jack. If your go-to headphones are Bluetooth, then this audio-jack omission isn't a big deal. If you have a wired set, then you'll need to get -- and then not lose -- an adapter, which is always a pain.

The keyboard is a pleasure to use. The keys have a firm response with just the right amount of travel. The stiff magnesium keyboard deck creates a flex-free foundation on which to type. There's two-level backlighting for the keyboard, and helpful LEDs on three of the function keys: the volume-mute key, the microphone-mute key and the webcam kill-switch button. They glow orange when engaged, so you know at a glance when you are muted or have killed the power to the webcam.

Function-row LEDs aside, the big news with the keyboard is the four gray keys along the keyboard's right edge. They open up the MyHP app, where you can access settings and live support. The top button opens up a general settings page in the MyHP app that's not all that useful. The second button opens the support page in MyHP, where you can speak to or chat with a member of the 24/7 Pro Live Support team. The third button opens a page in MyHP where you can adjust audio and video settings for the webcam. The fourth button can be configured to open an application, website, file or folder of your choosing.

I tested the chat feature and asked about the MyHP hotkeys. After taking a minute to create an account, I chatted with a support tech within three minutes, who was cheerful and helpful in outlining the purpose of the four hotkeys. 

As satisfying as my encounter with the 24/7 Pro Live Support team was, dedicating four buttons to the cause is overkill. Three of the four keys just open different parts of the MyHP app. Why not just have one button for that? Once you're in the app, it's easy to navigate to the live support and settings pages that each of the buttons takes you to. Plus, I question the need for most people to contact support so regularly it would require a dedicated key. Just a single MyHP hotkey on the function-key row would likely suffice. And then give me the Home, Page-up, Page-down and End keys where the four hotkeys reside. 

The display offers touch support along with sufficient resolution and brightness. While it's true you won't get a touch display with a MacBook (yet), you do get a crisper and brighter display. The Dragonfly Pro's 14-inch, 16:10 display features a 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution and is rated for 400 nits of brightness. I measured its peak brightness with a lux meter to be even a bit higher than its rating, coming in at 450 nits. Still, my 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro measured 500 nits and looked clearly brighter with both machines set to max brightness. The Dragonfly Pro's glossy screen coating also makes whatever you're viewing difficult to see in sunny or otherwise well-lit environments. And the M1 MacBook Pro's 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display has a much finer 3,024x1,964-pixel resolution. 

Images and text look fairly sharp on the Dragonfly Pro's display, but if I had to stare at text all day, I'd much prefer to stare at a MacBook Pro where text looks inky black and smooth. In comparison, the text on the HP looked a bit blurry and pixelated when seated up close to the Dragonfly Pro.

The webcam does not lack for resolution, though. It's a 5-megapixel camera that can capture 1440p video. You'll look your best on video calls -- the image was free of the graininess you get with a typical 720p webcam. And colors and skin tones looked accurate.

Similarly impressive is the audio output. HP outfits the Dragonfly Pro with not two but four speakers, and they produce richer, fuller sound than that of the usual laptop stereo setup. It's actually enjoyable listening to music on the Dragonfly Pro (at least in a small room), something I rarely say about a laptop.

With its sturdy, minimalist chassis, the HP Dragonfly Pro can rightly take a seat at the table of MacBook Pro alternatives. Its display can't match the MacBook Pro's, but its matte-black chassis is every bit as sleek and sturdy as an Apple's. I wish you could bump the display up in resolution a notch or two, and while I like getting a year of dedicated and complimentary support, I certainly don't need four separate buttons to access it. Those quibbles aside, the HP Dragonfly Pro offers a gorgeous design and solid build quality and is about as close as you can get to a 14-inch MacBook Pro in a Windows laptop.

The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments. 

The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. 

A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page. 

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7620 11,875Acer Swift 3 OLED 11,378HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14 9,292HP Dragonfly Pro 9,146Asus Vivobook 16X OLED 7,984

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7620 15,045Acer Swift 3 OLED 12,798HP Dragonfly Pro 12,696Asus Vivobook 16X OLED 12,385HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14 11,866

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7620 10,965Acer Swift 3 OLED 3,965HP Dragonfly Pro 3,790HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14 2,601Asus Vivobook 16X OLED 2,133

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7620 677Acer Swift 3 OLED 462Asus Vivobook 16X OLED 454HP Dragonfly Pro 449HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14 280

Best HP laptop deals: Get a 17-inch laptop for $300 and more

HP is one of the most trusted names in the computing industry as one of the best laptop brands. Its products include budget-friendly options, versatile 2-in-1 devices, and powerful gaming machines, among many others. Whatever kind of laptop that you need and no matter your budget, you’ll surely be able to find a good match from HP, but the catch is that you need to hurry with your purchase when you come across an offer that’s perfect for you. That’s because these bargains may disappear at any moment. To help you get started with your search, we’ve gathered some of the best HP laptop deals that you can shop right now.

The HP Chromebook 15at’s specifications of the Intel Celeron N4500 processor, Intel UHD Graphics, and 4GB of RAM don’t look like much, but it still offers quick startups and smooth performance because it’s a Chromebook that runs on Google’s Chrome OS. This is possible because the operating system relies on web-based apps instead of installed software. The HP Chromebook 15at also features a 15.6-inch HD screen and a 64Gb eMMC that’s supplemented by built-in support for cloud storage on Google Drive, in one of the top Chromebook deals right now.

Here’s one of the cheapest devices that you can get from the laptop deals of HP — the HP Laptop 15z. It’s got what it takes to complete your everyday activities with its AMD Athlon Silver 7120U processor and AMD Radeon Graphics, with 8GB of RAM that’s the recommended starting point for laptops by our guide on how much RAM do you need. The laptop also comes with a 15.6-inch screen with HD resolution, and a 128GB SSD with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

For an affordable laptop with a relatively large screen, there’s the HP Laptop 17t with its 17.3-inch display featuring HD+ resolution, surrounded by narrow bezels for an 84% screen-to-body ratio. Inside are the Intel N200 processor, Intel UHD Graphics, and 8GB of RAM, which are enough to handle basic functions. The laptop comes with a 256GB SSD with Windows 11 Home, with enough space remaining for your important files.

The HP Pavilion x360 Convertible 15t is a solid choice if you’re interested in 2-in-1 laptop deals. Our laptop buying guide describes convertible devices as laptops that can transform into tablets by flipping the keyboard under the display, which you can do through the 360-degree hinges on the Pavilion x360 Convertible 15t’s 15.6-inch HD touchscreen. The 2-in-1 laptop is equipped with the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 8GB of RAM, plus a 256GB SSD with Windows 11 Home.

Jump into modern PC gaming without breaking the bank by buying the HP Omen Gaming Laptop 16z, which won’t have trouble running most of the best PC games with its AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card. It also comes with 16GB of RAM, which should be enough for most gamers. You’ll be able to appreciate the graphics of today’s video games on its 16.1-inch Full HD screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, and you’ll be able to install multiple titles on its 512GB SSD that comes with Windows 11 Home.

For performance and versatility in a portable package, you’ll want to get the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop 16t. It’s also a convertible device with 360-degree hinges attaching its 16-inch touchscreen with 3K+ resolution to its body, and it comes with the HP Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen as an additional input option. With the 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and 16GB of RAM, it will be able to keep up with heavy workloads, and it provides expansive storage space with its 512GB SSD that comes with Windows 11 Home.

If you’re willing to splurge on gaming laptop deals, the HP Omen Gaming Laptop 16t will be worth the investment. It challenges the speed of the best gaming laptops with its 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, and you’ll be able to install all of your favorite titles on its 512GB SSD that comes with Windows 11 Home out of the box. The gaming laptop also has a 16.1-inch Full HD screen, but with a 165Hz refresh rate for even smoother gameplay.

HP’s lineup of computers is extensive, so while you’re sorting through the above HP laptop deals you might find yourself a bit overwhelmed. That’s okay. Despite being a decades-old brand, though, it has definitely kept up with the times: Today, HP makes everything from modern Chromebooks to sleek 2-in-1 ultrabooks to beefy gaming machines, and no matter your needs or budget, chances are good that there’s an HP laptop deal waiting for you.

Laptops can more or less be broken down into three categories: Traditional laptops, 2-in-1s, and gaming laptops, all of which can be found in most price brackets. After deciding which you want and determining how much you’re willing to spend (something you probably already have a good idea of), it’s time to start looking at what features you want — as well as what to expect from a cheap HP laptop that’s within your chosen price range.

These features include things like screen size and resolution, hard drive type (SSD or HDD) and capacity, and hardware (such as how much RAM you need, or whether you want a discrete graphics card that can handle gaming). More features and better hardware come with a higher price tag, of course, but if you know what you want ahead of time and set realistic expectations, you’ll end up happy with your purchase. To make things easier, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Bluetooth is a wireless standard that is ubiquitous nowadays. Your phone almost certainly has Bluetooth capability, and virtually all modern tablets and laptops, including HP laptops, pack this connectivity. Bluetooth allows you to pair your computer or another device to peripherals such as wireless headphones or speakers (to name the two most popular examples), but if you’re picky about being on the latest standard, then you’ll want to look closely at the specs of the PC you’ve got your eye on to make sure it’s not outdated — something you run the risk of if you’re looking at the cheapest of the cheap HP laptop deals out there.

Any Windows laptop can run games, but that doesn’t mean that any computer can run any game. For playing modern games at good settings, you need a laptop with a dedicated (or “discrete”) graphics card. These GPUs act almost like a second CPU for your PC, but one that is fully dedicated to handling resource-heavy graphical tasks. That usually means gaming, but also applies to jobs like video rendering.

You’ll also want a good modern CPU, ideally a ninth- or 10th-generation Intel Core processor or one of the newer AMD Ryzen processors. Many HP laptops (and even many other cheap gaming laptops you can find today) come loaded with this sort of hardware and HP also makes a number of PCs dedicated to gaming in its Pavilion and Omen lines, so you’ve got a few options if you’re looking for a beefier machine for both work and play.

Microsoft Word, being a component of the Microsoft Office suite, is paid software, and HP laptops do not include this for free. However, many do come with an Office trial, and you may even be able to get Microsoft Office for free through your school or workplace (and if not, consider looking around for a good Microsoft Office deal to save some money). If all you need is a basic word processor, Windows still includes the classic WordPad text editor, and you can also check out the free Microsoft Office alternatives.

You’ll notice that most of these HP laptop deals forego any models with water-resistance ratings. There’s good reason for that, because electronics and water typically don’t mix very well, and laptops (from HP or any brand) are no different. Although you can often rescue a laptop from a spill on the keyboard, no consumer-grade PC is fully waterproof or even what you would consider water-resistant. Even Apple MacBooks, despite some persistent rumors, are not waterproof. If you’re concerned about that, however, then you may want to invest in a waterproof cover or bag that can keep your HP laptop safe.

The vast majority of modern computers come with ports for an HDMI cable, which is the current standard for A/V connectivity (DisplayPort is also popular, although more commonly used for desktops rather than laptops). HDMI is a connection that transmits high-definition audio and video signals along a single cable, and pretty much all HP laptops feature an HDMI port which allows you to connect your computer to an external display if you want to. A majority of the HP laptop deals featured above include systems with either a built-in HDMI port or some variation — some USB Type-C ports, for example, support micro HDMI or conversion type cables to output video to an external TV, display, or monitor.