Finding a genuinely capable new laptop under $600 has become something of a sport. Over the past several months, I've scoured the market for budget-friendly options, leaning heavily on resources like eBay's certified refurbished program to surface competitive deals. Today, however, a compelling option turned up in an unexpected place: a brand-new unit at Best Buy. This HP model pairs a touchscreen display with a Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM, currently available for just $549.99 — a solid $250 reduction from its standard retail price.

Make no mistake, this is a budget-tier machine in terms of industrial design. The chassis bears a strong resemblance to HP's OmniBook lineup, though it notably lacks that branding — likely because it's a retail-exclusive configuration tailored for big-box distribution channels. That said, the internal specifications punch well above the price point. Powering the system is Intel's Core i7-1355U, a 10-core processor with a 5GHz peak boost clock, introduced in 2023. While it isn't the latest silicon on the market, it remains a capable chip for everyday productivity workloads. Complemented by 16GB of DDR memory and Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, this configuration handles multitasking, light content creation, and general-purpose computing with ease — the one notable exception being demanding 3D gaming. The 512GB SSD is modest by modern standards, but sufficient for most mainstream users who rely on cloud storage to supplement local capacity.

The display is where this machine earns its strongest differentiator at this price tier. The 15.6-inch, 1080p Full HD panel isn't pixel-dense enough to satisfy creative professionals, but the inclusion of touch input is a genuine rarity in the sub-$600 segment — a feature typically reserved for mid-range and premium configurations. Beyond the screen, the larger chassis footprint accommodates a full-size keyboard with an integrated numeric keypad, a practical addition for spreadsheet-heavy workflows, accounting tasks, or students managing data-intensive coursework. Port selection is functional if not generous: a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, and HDMI output cover the essentials for most peripheral setups. Battery life is the most significant trade-off. The 45Wh cell is undersized relative to the display it's powering, and HP's own estimate of 7.5 hours should be treated as an optimistic ceiling under light-use conditions. Anyone planning to work away from a power outlet for extended periods should factor that in.

This discount is tied to Best Buy's "Tech Fest" promotional event, running through Sunday, March 22nd. For buyers who prioritize processing performance and a slimmer form factor over touch capability, there's a worthwhile alternative worth considering: a Samsung laptop offering a comparable specification sheet but equipped with a newer-generation processor, available at the same price point.