HP 15-AY196NR Review: A Laptop with Sufficient Storage

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HP 15-AY196NR: At First Glance

As most of us are aware, HP (Hewlett-Packard) is one of the biggest laptop manufacturing brands in history. To give more details, they have cultivated the habit of producing laptops with the right features and specs to please their target audience.

This has made the brand develop a huge fanbase and lovers all around the globe. On this note, the brand released the HP 15-AY196NR, a powerful touchscreen laptop that is capable of handling most computing tasks.

Moreover, just like most HP laptops, this laptop offers adequate hardware and specs such as an Intel Core i7 processor. However, like other laptops out there, this HP laptop comes with a few drawbacks.

Having said all that, let us find out more about the HP 15-AY196NR in the remainder of this review article.

HP 15-AY196NR: Design, Dimension, and Weight

When it comes to the design, the HP 15-AY196NR features a very attractive and shiny design. Specifically, this laptop comes with a plastic chassis that offers a glossy silver finish.

Impressively, despite being made of plastic, this laptop’s chassis is well-built and strong enough to withstand harsh handling. Moreover, as with the chassis, the lid of this laptop is also made of plastic and features a glossy silver finish.

Interestingly, this laptop’s lid has a diamond-cut texture that gives it a stunning look and feel. In addition to this texture, the HP 15-AY196NR’s lid also features a matte-black “HP” logo at the center.

When you open this lid, the laptop’s 15.6-inch touchscreen display will be revealed. This display features an HD (1366 x 786) resolution and offers decent picture quality for casual video streaming.

Furthermore, the touchscreen display is colorful, accurate, and responds to touches swiftly. Moreover, because this laptop has a touchscreen display, some people might confuse it with a 360-degree convertible laptop.

However, that is not the case due to the fact that the laptop can only rotate up to 135-degree. On a positive note, the HP 15-AY196NR’s display is made with an SVA WLED-backlit panel.

This display panel allows the laptop’s touchscreen display to offer impressive viewing angles. Therefore, the picture quality and colors won’t lose accuracy when viewing the laptop’s display off-center.

In addition to the SVA WLED-backlit panel, this laptop’s display comes with an anti-glare coating. This coating prevents reflections from the surface of the display.

Therefore, the HP 15-AY196NR is ideal for usage in a well-lit or sunny area. On the downside, this laptop’s display is surrounded by thick matte-black plastic bezels.

Moreover, on the bottom bezel, you will find an “HP” logo in the center. Meanwhile, on the top bezel, there is an HD webcam also in the center.

Performance-wise, this webcam is brilliant for casual video conference calls. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for taking selfies due to the fact that the webcam generates grainy images.

Moving on to the keyboard, the HP 15-AY196NR comes with an island-style keyboard with a full number pad. Like most laptops, this keyboard comes with black keys and white lettering on top.

In terms of performance, this keyboard should offer a pleasant typing experience due to its well-spaced and accurate keys. However, this laptop’s keyboard isn’t backlit.

Therefore, you might want to think twice when planning on typing with the laptop in the dark. On the upside, you will find a spacious touchpad at the bottom of the laptop’s keyboard.

This touchpad has a set of dedicated click buttons as well as a smooth surface. Impressively, the touchpad support multitouch gestures such as three-finger swipe, two-finger swipe, and pinch-to-zoom

With all that being stated, now let us discuss the port selection of this laptop. To start with, the HP 15-AY196NR offers a good number of ports that I believe will meet most users’ connectivity demands.

To be more specific, this HP laptop features a USB 3.1 port, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port on its left side. In addition to that, there is also a charging port and a headphone/microphone combo jack on the laptop’s left side.

However, the right side of the laptop features a multi-format SD media card reader, another USB 2.0 port, a SuperMulti DVD burner, and a security lock slot.

For dimensions and weight, the HP 15-AY196NR measures 384.3 x 254.6 x 24.3 mm (W x D x H) and weighs 2150 g. In comparison, this laptop is about 400 g heavier than the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 which weighs 1714 g.

In conclusion, the HP 15-AY196NR features a decent design as well as a touchscreen display. Also, this laptop comes with a good number of ports and an impressive keyboard.

However, the laptop is significantly heavy than one of its closest competitors. Hence, in this design review section, I will be rating the HP 15-AY196NR an eight out of ten.

HP 15-AY196NR: Processor (CPU) Performance

Obviously, you can’t evaluate a laptop’s performance without mentioning its processor. Thus, the HP 15-AY196NR comes with a powerful 7th generation dual-core Intel Core i7-7500U processor.

This processor features a cache memory of 4 MB. In addition to its cache memory, this CPU has a base frequency of 2.70 GHz and a maximum frequency of 3.50 GHz.

Furthermore, this processor is a power-efficient processor that is capable of handling day-to-day computing tasks such as word processing. Apart from that, this processor can also perform heavy-duty computing tasks like video editing and heavy multitasking.

That said, to further verify how well this processor can perform, I will now be providing the HP 15-AY196NR’s Cinebench R10 test results. For clarity, the Cinebench R10 test is a benchmark test that evaluates the performance of a computer’s CPU by measuring its cores.

Therefore, this benchmark test carries out two tests: the multi-core test and the single-core test. In case you’re curious, the single-core test measures the performance of a computer’s CPU when one of its cores is in use.

Meanwhile, the multi-core test measures the CPU’s performance when all of its cores are in use. Moreover, a high score on both tests indicates a good processor performance.

So, according to the Cinebench R15 test results, the HP 15-AY196NR scored 15061 points on the multi-core test. On the single-core test, however, this laptop scored 7000 points.

Comparatively, the HP 15-AY196NR has a better processing performance than the Dell Inspiron 17R which uses an Intel Core i7-3517U CPU. Specifically, the Dell Inspiron 17R scored 10589 points on the Cinebench R10 multi-core test and 5102 points on the single-core test.

Hence, I will rate the HP 15-AY196NR a nine out of ten in this processor performance review section.

HP 15-AY196NR: Memory (RAM) Performance

The HP 15-AY196NR comes with a single memory slot and a standard memory of 8 GB DDR4-2133 MHz SDRAM. Unfortunately, the maximum memory that this laptop supports is also 8 GB.

Therefore, upgrading the RAM of this HP laptop is nearly impossible. Nevertheless, with 8 GB memory, the HP 15-AY196NR should be able to perform smoothly and multitask with ease.

Speaking of multitasking, this laptop shouldn’t lag or slow down even when it has about 20 Chrome tabs running simultaneously. Moreover, switching between the Chrome tabs should be very easy for the laptop.

That said, to further ascertain the HP 15-AY196NR’s memory performance, I will be providing its PCMark 10 test result. PCMark 10 test is a benchmark test that measures a computer’s memory performance by simulating day-to-day computing tasks like web browsing.

Moreover, the higher the score on this benchmark test, the better the memory performance of the computer. So, according to the PCMark 10 test result, the HP 15-AY196NR scored a whopping 5073 points.

This laptop’s score significantly surpasses the category average of 2500 points. Moreover, when compared to the Dell Inspiron 17R, the HP 15-AY196NR performed slightly better.

To be more specific, the Dell Inspiron 17R scored 5071 points on the PCMark 10 test.

In conclusion, even though the HP 15-AY196NR’s memory isn’t upgradable, its standard memory is enough to keep the laptop running smoothly. Moreover, the laptop beats the category average and one of its closest competitors on a memory benchmark test.

Therefore, in this memory review section, I will rate the HP 15-AY196NR an eight out of ten.

HP 15-AY196NR: Storage Option and Performance

In terms of storage, the HP 15-AY196NR comes with a 5400 RPM HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Furthermore, this laptop’s storage drive supports a maximum storage capacity of 1 TB.

Honestly, for most users, 1 TB of storage space should be enough to save several files including pictures, applications, and songs. However, if you think that the storage capacity will be insufficient, the HP 15-AY196NR offers a multimedia SD card reader for storage expansion.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that HDDs are usually slow, the HP 15-AY196NR may not offer a fast transfer speed. To back up this claim, I will now be discussing the laptop’s result on a file transfer (copy) test.

Specifically, on the file transfer test, the HP 15-AY196NR was able to copy 4.97 GB of multimedia files at a transfer rate of 29.57 MB/s. Compared to the Dell Inspiron 17R which also uses an HDD, this HP laptop has a slightly faster transfer speed.

To be more specific, the Dell Inspiron 17R recorded a transfer rate of 25.1 MB/s on the file transfer (copy) test. However, as expected, the HP 15-AY196NR has a slow transfer speed compared to a laptop that uses an SSD (Solid State Drive).

The reason I mentioned “as expected” in the previous sentence is due to the fact that SSDs are one of the fastest storage drives available. Besides, SSDs are significantly faster than HDDs.

For example, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 which uses an SSD was able to record a transfer rate of 152.4 MB/s on the file transfer test.

In conclusion, the HP 15-AY196NR offers sufficient storage space and an SD card reader for storage expansion. Therefore, I will rate the HP 15-AY196NR an eight out of ten in this storage review section.

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HP 15-AY196NR: Graphics Card Performance

For the graphics card, the HP 15-AY196NR employs an integrated Intel HD Graphics 620. This graphics card has a base frequency of 300 MHz and a boost frequency of 1050 MHz.

However, as an integrated graphics card, this GPU is embedded into the laptop’s processor. Thus, to perform any task relating to graphics, the graphics card shares the system memory with the processor.

As a result, with the Intel HD Graphics 620, the HP 15-AY196NR may not be able to smoothly run graphics-intensive apps or games. However, this laptop will be able to play a few outdated games without any issue.

For example, while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this HP laptop should deliver a frame rate of around 112 fps. Also, the laptop should deliver a frame rate of 72.2 fps while playing Diablo III.

To further determine the HP 15-AY196NR’s graphic performance, I will now highlight the laptop’s result on a 3DMark 11 test. Briefly, the 3DMark 11 test is a benchmark test that evaluates the 2D and 3D graphics rendering ability of a computer.

Moreover, according to this test, a high score means great graphics performance. So, on the 3DMark 11 test, the HP 15-AY196NR was able to score 1499 points.

Compared to the Dell Latitude 13 3580 which scored 1399 points, this HP laptop has a better graphics performance. It is worth noting that the Dell Latitude 13 3580 uses the same graphics card as the HP 15-AY196NR.

In conclusion, although the HP 15-AY196NR features an integrated graphics card, it is still powerful enough to run outdated games easily. Besides, this laptop performed significantly better than a competing laptop on a GPU benchmark test.

Therefore, it is ideal to rate the HP 15-AY196NR an eight out of ten in this graphics review section.

HP 15-AY196NR: Battery Life and Performance

For battery, HP equipped the15-AY196NR with a 3-cell 31 Wh Li-ion battery. This battery was advertised by HP to last 9 hours on a single charge.

However, trusting manufacturers’ claims nowadays is something difficult. Therefore, to confirm if HP is actually telling the truth about this laptop’s battery, I will now present the laptop’s results on a battery rundown test.

Nevertheless, before doing so, it is important to mention what the battery rundown test is all about. Specifically, the battery rundown test involves continuously surfing the web on the laptop using a WIFI connection until it dies.

So, at the end of this test, the HP 15-AY196NR delivered a battery life of 6 hours and 5 minutes. Honestly, this battery life is quite decent and it surpasses the category average of 5 hours and 45 minutes.

However, the laptop’s battery life is about 3 hours shorter than the 9 hours that HP advertised. Also, this battery life is a few minutes shorter than the Dell Inspiron 15 5000‘s 6 hours and 28 minutes battery life.

Therefore, I will rate the HP 15-AY196NR a seven out of ten in this battery performance review section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The HP 15-AY196NR offers reasonable specifications and features that make it deliver a decent performance. Specifically, this laptop comes with a responsive HD touchscreen display as well as a good number of ports.

Besides, the laptop also features a powerful processor that is capable of handling most computing tasks. However, this HP laptop is somewhat heavy and only supports a maximum memory of 8 GB.

Nevertheless, if you desire an HP laptop with reasonable performance and features, I believe the HP 15-AY196NR is worth considering.

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