HP Cuts Windows 11 Laptop to $300, Bundling 1-Year Microsoft 365

6 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · May 22

HP has halved the price of its Essential Laptop to $300 from $599 in a Memorial Day promotion that also includes a free one-year Microsoft 365 subscription.
The deal targets budget and back-to-school buyers with entry-level hardware: an Intel N150 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage and a 500GB external hard drive.
Windows 11 Home comes preinstalled, and the lightweight laptop is pitched for everyday work, school tasks and basic streaming rather than high-performance use.
HP said the 50% discount may be short-lived, adding urgency as retailers begin rolling out early back-to-school offers around the Memorial Day shopping period.

Can a free $500 Microsoft bundle make this underpowered laptop a smarter buy than a faster, similarly priced Chromebook?

With PC component prices rising in 2026, is this 50% discount a genuine deal or a fire sale for outdated tech?