I tested this laptop with Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS, so most of my observations are based on using this operating system.
With Ubuntu, the laptop works flawlessly right out of the box without requiring any special setup.
The laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro, which can be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro.
Here’s a polished version of your pros section:
Pros:
Processor: My laptop came with an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 5650U, featuring 6 cores and 12 threads. It performs exceptionally well, handling my browser-based tasks with multiple open tabs without any slowdown.
Upgradable RAM: Unlike most ultrabooks that have soldered RAM, this laptop offers two RAM slots, allowing you to upgrade up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 RAM. This provides ample speed for most use cases.
SSD: You can upgrade to any 2280 NVMe Gen 3 SSD (PCIe 3.0). While you can use PCIe 4.0 SSDs due to backward compatibility, it doesn’t offer any significant advantage in this setup.
Graphics: The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics smoothly plays 4K videos without any buffering issues.
Plenty of Ports
This laptop includes all the essential ports, unlike the current trend of laptops that only feature USB-C ports and require a hub for additional connectivity.
HDMI 2.0
2 USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2: Both ports are located on the right side. While I would prefer one on each side for convenience, having them both on one side is still manageable.
Charging Options: The laptop comes with a dedicated charger and an HP proprietary charging port. However, it also supports Type-C charging, and I was able to use my Android phone charger, power bank and Lenovo 65-W Chromebook Type C charger to charge the laptop. If Type-C charging fails, you can reset the battery.
- 2 USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1: Both ports are on the left side.
- Fingerprint Reader: Works well in Ubuntu and saves time during login.
- WiFi: The Qualcomm Atheros QCNFA765 supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity.
- Battery Life: Offers long battery life, lasting up to 10 hours.
- Weight: Weighs 1.37 kg (3.02 lb), making it portable and easy to carry.
- Backlit Keyboard: The backlit keyboard enhances usability in low-light conditions.
- 1080p Display: While some users have complained that the display is not bright enough, I find it very bright and usually reduce the brightness for comfortable use.
- Trackpoint: It also has a trackpoint, reminiscent of ThinkPads, providing an alternative navigation option.
Cons:
No USB 4.0 or Thunderbolt: The laptop lacks USB 4.0 and Thunderbolt support, which could limit connectivity options for some users.
No Micro SD Slot: The absence of a Micro SD slot could be inconvenient for users who frequently transfer data from devices like cameras or smartphones.
No Ethernet: Most ultraportable/ultrabooks don’t have these anyways.
Other Tidbits:
M.2 2242 Slot for WWAN: The laptop has an M.2 2242 slot for WWAN, which is currently empty. It might be possible to use this slot for an additional SSD, but I haven’t tested this. Note that it only supports 2242 form factor SSDs, so you CANNOT use 2280 or 2230 SSDs in this slot.