HP 15 (15-fc0000) review – A Budget Laptop That Cuts Corners
It’s clear like night and day that you don’t need a high-end or even a mid-range laptop for normal light tasks. A modest 15W CPU is more than enough if it’s accompanied by 16GB of RAM and a decent SSD. The HP 15 (15-fc0000) is an inexpensive device that will do the job for people who want to get a notebook on a budget for browsing the Web and and playing light games from time to time. However, you have to pay attention to the specs before buying because the machines with Zen 2 CPUs are tied with up to 16GB of soldered RAM while the ones with Zen 3 chips rely on a pair of SODIMMs which makes them future-proof.
You can choose from a plethora of displays including two 768p TN (one of them is a touch unit) and one 1080p TN panel. Avoid them like the plague unless your budget is extremely limited. The logical choice for all users is one of the optional Full HD IPS screens.
Expectedly, this machine isn’t full of high-end features. Still, you get a backlight and a fingerprint reader but they aren’t standard for all devices. The port selection is also modest.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/hp-15-15-fc0000/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
HP 15 (15-fc0000, fd0000, hr0000) - Specs
- CPU
- Intel Processor N200 #310 in Top CPUs Intel Core i7-1355U #176 in Top CPUs Intel Core i5-1335U #200 in Top CPUs Intel Core i5-1334U #186 in Top CPUs Intel Core i5-1235U #210 in Top CPUs Intel Core i3-N305 #257 in Top CPUs Intel Core i3-1315U #236 in Top CPUs Intel Core i3-1215U #234 in Top CPUs Intel Core 5 120U #199 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 7 7730U #143 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 5 7530U #197 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 5 7520U #249 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 5 5625U #207 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 3 7330U #232 in Top CPUs AMD Ryzen 3 7320U #256 in Top CPUs AMD Athlon Gold 7220U #296 in Top CPUsAMD Athlon Silver 7120U
- GPU
- Intel UHD Graphics Xe 750 (32EU) #295 in Top GPUs Intel UHD Graphics (Alder Lake, 64EU) #263 in Top GPUs Intel UHD Graphics #319 in Top GPUs Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU) #248 in Top GPUs Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU) #261 in Top GPUs AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (R4000/5000, 15W) #257 in Top GPUs AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 (R4000/5000, 15W) #274 in Top GPUs AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 (R4000/5000, 15W) #290 in Top GPUs AMD Radeon 610M #305 in Top GPUs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 2000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 PCIe NVMe 3.0 x2 See photo
- RAM
- up to 64GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, Windows 10 Home, Windows 11, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, Linux
- Battery
- 41Wh, 3-cell, 41Wh, 41Wh, 3-cell
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate
- Dimensions
- 359.91 x 253.96 x 18.6 mm (14.17" x 10.00" x 0.73")
- Weight
- 1.60 kg (3.5 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- HDMI
- 1.4b
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- optional
- Web camera
- HP True Vision 1080p FHD camera with temporal noise reduction
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Dual Array Digital Microphones
- Speakers
- Dual Speakers
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
All HP 15 (15-fc0000, fd0000, hr0000) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-15.6-inch-laptop-pc-15-fc0000/2101497656
What’s in the box?
The package contains the mandatory paperwork and a 45W or 65W barrel plug adapter.
Design and construction
For starters, the HP 15 (15-fc0000) looks unintrusive and clean with its rounded edges and minimal branding on the lid. The matte finish doesn’t pick up a lot of smudges during work.
You’ll need both hands to open this device. The lid feels spongy and the base isn’t too rigid either. The middle of the keyboard is flexible during typing. Also, you can easily press down the whole zone below the board.
The thickness of the top and side bezels is okay while the bottom one is thicker. The plastic build has a positive side and that’s the low starting weight of 1.60 kilos. The profile thickness seems fine for a 15-incher with its 18.6 mm.
The Web camera camera of this device has a privacy shutter. The base model is a 720p unit but you can opt for a 1080p variant as well. Temporal noise reduction tech is available for the two models.
Just before reaching its maximum angle of opening, the lid lifts the back of the chassis which enhances the cooling capabilities of the notebook.
Overall, the keyboard with an optional backlight and a NumPad is good enough for typing. The key travel is above average while the feedback is kind of mushy.
The touchpad is nothing special but the smoothest and the accuracy are sufficient for normal work.
The bottom plate looks standard for a budget device – a small ventilation grill alongside two long rubber feet and a pair of speaker cutouts. The hot air is guided via a vent on the back. The hinge cover is positioned right in front of it and it blocks the heat from directly reaching the display during max CPU loads.
Ports
On the left, you get a 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, an HDMI 1.4b, a 5 Gbps USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio combo jack. On the right side, there is a power plug and another 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| HP 15 (15-fc0000) | BOE09E2 |
| Diagonal | 15.6 inches (39.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | TN |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixel Density | 100 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 87 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are not wide enough. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of HP 15 (15-fc0000) can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
HP 15 (15-fc0000): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 50% of the sRGB color gamut and 40% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) HP 15 (15-fc0000) covers 50% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 287 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 272 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 10%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6820K.
The contrast ratio is 290:1.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 184 nits (Windows slider = 86%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the HP 15 (15-fc0000). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the HP 15 (15-fc0000), the Average color accuracy was 11.0 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Office profile, it lowered to 3.4 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) HP 15 (15-fc0000) in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) HP 15 (15-fc0000) with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space.
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Office profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Office Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Gaming and Movies profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness..
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 9.3 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light from the backlight of the HP 15 (15-fc0000) display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the HP 15 (15-fc0000)’s screen is 23.5 GU.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for HP 15 (15-fc0000) configurations with BOE09E2, 1366 х 768, TN panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
The speakers of the HP 15 (15-fc0000) produce high-quality sound. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best performance” preset applied in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu and the “Fan always on” function is enabled in the BIOS.
CPU options
The notebook is offered with the AMD Athlon Silver 7120U, Athlon Gold 7220U, Ryzen 3 7320U, Ryzen 5 7520U, Ryzen 5 7530U, or Ryzen 7 7730U.
Our laptop has a 7520 chip.
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU options
All laptops of this HP series are iGPU-only devices.
The machine that we picked has an AMD Radeon 610M.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
HP 15 (15-fc0000, fd0000, hr0000) GPU variants
Here you can see an approximate comparison between the GPUs that can be found in the HP 15 (15-fc0000, fd0000, hr0000) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which HP 15 (15-fc0000, fd0000, hr0000) model is the best bang for your buck.
Note: The chart shows the cheapest different GPU configurations so you should check what the other specifications of these laptops are by clicking on the laptop’s name / GPU.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
Results are from the 3DMark: Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the 3DMark: Wild Life (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Gaming tests
| Counter-Strike 2 | 768p, Low (Check settings) | 768p, Medium (Check settings) | 768p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 69 FPS | 50 FPS | 19 FPS |
| Gears 5 | 768p, Low (Check settings) | 768p, Medium (Check settings) | 768p, High (Check settings) | 768p, Ultra (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 30 FPS | – | – | – |
Storage performance
Our device has a 512GB SAMSUNG PM9B1 (MZVL4512HBLU-00BH1). Its performance is limited by the PCIe 3.0 x2 slot but at least the temperatures during benchmarking are low.
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
You can make your laptop Faster. LaptopMedia has tested thousands of models in the last 15 years, and we have yet to see a notebook that couldn't be made more powerful through modifications.
That's why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.
Read more about it here:
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power
| AMD Ryzen 5 7520U (15W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP 15 (15-fc0000) | 3.91 GHz @ 75°C @ 30W | 3.70 GHz @ 84°C @ 25W | 3.36 GHz @ 74°C @ 17W |
| ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F) | 3.94 GHz @ 89°C @ 30W | 3.65 GHz @ 96°C @ 22W | 3.56 GHz @ 81°C @ 18W |
The official base clock of the Ryzen 5 7520U is 2.80 GHz. Here, the chip sustains a pretty high 3.91 GHz frequency in short loads and 3.36 GHz in long stress which is a respectable result.
Comfort during full load
The noise that is coming from the single fan in “Best Performance” mode during max CPU stress is even below average which is good for comfort. The keyboard feels just slightly warm.
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows’ Power Efficiency setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. This laptop’s 41Wh battery pack lasts for around 6 hours and a half of video playback. Оur test was conducted with the “Energy Saver” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
To see the internals of this laptop, you have to undo just four captive Phillips-head screws. Pry the back with a thin plastic tool. Then, use a lever tool to lift the two zones behind the hinge cover close to the top edges. Now, you can pry the corners. Pop the sides and the front.
Here’s how the bottom plate looks on the inside.
This notebook has a 41Wh battery. Its connector is built into the unit. First, wear gloves to avoid short circuits and undo the five Phillips heads that secure the battery to the base. Then, untangle the speaker cable from the bottom clips. Now, you can lift the battery away from the base. The capacity is enough for around 6 hours and a half of video playback.
As you can see, the RAM of our laptop is soldered. This applies to all laptops with AMD Ryzen 7520U, 7320U, and 7220U which can be ordered with up to 16GB of LPDDR5-5500 MHz memory in single-channel mode. The iterations equipped with AMD Ryzen 7730U and 7530U have a pair of SODIMMs. According to HP, the two slots fit up to 16GB of DDR4-3200 MHz RAM in dual-channel mode. However, since the CPU can support up to 64GB, this laptop likely wouldn’t have issues running a larger amount of memory than the official manufacturer’s specified limit.
The Wi-Fi 6 card is replaceable and it’s positioned below the fan.
For storage upgrades, there is just one M.2 slot for 2280 Gen 3 SSDs.
In our case, the transfer speed is even halved (PCIe 3.0 x2). On the bright side, the SSD is additionally cooled by a thermal bad from below.
The thermal system seems basic with its single fan, one heat pipe, a top-mounted heat sink, and a heat spreader.
Verdict
The HP 15 (15-fc0000) may be a good daily driver if you choose a device with a Zen 3 processor. Then, you’ll get two SODIMM slots for dual-channel mode which boosts the overall performance. Our device has a Zen 2 Ryzen 5 7520U with just four cores. This chip isn’t good for multitasking. On top of that, the notebook that we bought has just 8GB of soldered memory that works in a single-channel mode. When you add the low SSD speeds in the mix, you get a device that is prone to slowdowns if you open more programs at the same time.
Still, the Ryzen 5 7520U maintains high clocks no matter the load despite the modest single-fan cooling. That’s normal since the CPU doesn’t dissipate a lot of heat.
The 768p TN display (BOE09E2) isn’t suitable for the modern user. Its viewing angles are narrow, the contrast ratio is low as well as the sRGB coverage. The out-of-the-box color accuracy is nothing but awful but you can enhance it by installing our Design & Office profile. With it, the average dE score is improved from an 11.0 to a 3.4 result which is within acceptable limits.
Still, the HP 15 (15-fc0000) is a light laptop that offers good comfort during long loads and decent input devices for work.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/hp-15-15-fc0000/
Pros
- Clean design
- Good comfort during full loads
- Light (1.60 kg)
- Decent color accuracy with our Design & Office profile (BOE09E2)
- Acceptable max brightness of 287 nits (BOE09E2)
- Decent input devices
- 3x USB ports
- The fan isn’t noisy even in “Best performance” mode
- Decent battery life given the limited 41Wh capacity (~ 6 hours and a half of videos)
- Web camera with a privacy shutter
- Low NVMe temperatures
- Lid with a lever design
- Optional fingerprint reader and a 1080p Web camera
- Clear sound quality
- Ryzen 5 7520U can maintain a 3.36 GHz clock even in long loads
- 2x SODIMMs for the Zen 3-based machines
Cons
- Just 1x M.2 slot
- The plastic build could be more stable
- You can’t open the lid with one hand
- Rather low SSD speed because of the slow transfer rate of the slot (PCIe 3.0 x2)
- The middle of the keyboard flexes during typing
- Soldered RAM for the laptops with Zen 2 CPUs
- Low sRGB coverage and narrow viewing angles (BOE09E2)
- Bad contrast ratio of 290:1 (BOE09E2)
- All ports are rated at 5 Gbps and they don’t support charging or DisplayPort
TOP 100 GAMING LAPTOPS
TOP LAPTOP RATINGS
HIGHLIGHTS view more
![[April 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Laptops – Apple Dominates, but Budget Options Still Shine!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best-Selling-Laptops-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
[April 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Laptops – Apple Dominates, but Budget Options Still Shine!
May 13, 2025![[April 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Gaming Laptops – HP Victus 15 Dominates the Budget-Friendly Arena!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best-Selling-Gaming-Laptops-GLOBAL-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
[April 2025] Amazon Global: Top 10 Best-Selling Gaming Laptops – HP Victus 15 Dominates the Budget-Friendly Arena!
May 13, 2025![[April 2025] Best-Selling Laptop Brands on Amazon Global – Apple Dominates Revenue](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GLOBAL-Best-Brands-375x250.jpg)
[April 2025] Best-Selling Laptop Brands on Amazon Global – Apple Dominates Revenue
May 13, 2025![[April 2025] Amazon Italy: Top 10 Best-Selling Laptops – HP Dominates with Budget-Friendly Models, Edging Out Apple’s Premium MacBook Air!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best-Selling-Laptops-IT-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
[April 2025] Amazon Italy: Top 10 Best-Selling Laptops – HP Dominates with Budget-Friendly Models, Edging Out Apple’s Premium MacBook Air!
May 11, 2025![[April 2025] Amazon Italy: Top 10 Best-Selling Gaming Laptops – HP Victus Dominates the Budget-Conscious Gamer!](https://laptopmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Best-Selling-Gaming-Laptops-IT-Top-10-375x250.jpg)
[April 2025] Amazon Italy: Top 10 Best-Selling Gaming Laptops – HP Victus Dominates the Budget-Conscious Gamer!
May 11, 2025
REVIEWS view more
Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51) review – Stunning OLED, Epic Battery Life
May 10, 2025Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 review – Futuristic Piece of Razor-Thin Metal
May 07, 2025Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-57) Review – Super Budget Workstation?!
May 05, 2025Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) review – Near-Perfect Ultrabook, With One Colorblind Flaw – Is It a Deal Breaker for You?
May 03, 2025Lenovo V15 Gen 5 review – Our Screen Mistake, Your Budget Laptop Win
May 01, 2025