The budget laptop market is fiercely competitive, with Asus and HP offering compelling options like the Asus Vivobook 15 and HP 15-fd1099TU. Both laptops promise solid performance for everyday computing tasks while keeping costs low, but which one is the better choice for Windows 11 users? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Design and Build Quality

The Asus Vivobook 15 sports a sleek, minimalist design with a thin profile (1.99 cm) and lightweight chassis (1.7 kg). Its plastic build feels sturdy, and the textured finish resists fingerprints. The HP 15-fd1099TU follows a more traditional approach with a silver-colored plastic body, slightly thicker (1.79 cm) but equally lightweight (1.6 kg). Both laptops feature narrow bezels, but the Vivobook's ErgoLift hinge (which tilts the keyboard for better typing) gives it an edge in ergonomics.

Display Comparison

  • Asus Vivobook 15: 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS panel with 250 nits brightness and 45% NTSC color gamut. Decent for media consumption but lacks vibrancy.
  • HP 15-fd1099TU: 15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS display with 250 nits brightness and similar color accuracy. Neither excels in outdoor visibility.

Both displays are adequate for office work and streaming, but creative professionals may find color reproduction lacking.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, these laptops pack different configurations:

Component Asus Vivobook 15 HP 15-fd1099TU
Processor Intel Core i3-1215U (10 cores) Intel Core i3-1315U (10 cores)
RAM 8GB DDR4 (soldered) 8GB DDR4 (soldered)
Storage 512GB NVMe SSD 512GB NVMe SSD
Graphics Intel UHD Graphics Intel UHD Graphics

The HP has a slight advantage with its newer 13th-gen Intel chip, but real-world performance differences are minimal for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. Neither laptop is suited for heavy multitasking or gaming due to the 8GB RAM limit.

Keyboard and Trackpad

  • Asus Vivobook 15: Backlit keyboard (in some variants) with 1.4mm key travel. Spacious layout but slightly mushy feedback.
  • HP 15-fd1099TU: Non-backlit keyboard with 1.5mm travel. Better tactile response but smaller arrow keys.

The Vivobook's ErgoLift hinge improves typing comfort, while HP's keyboard offers a more traditional feel. Both trackpads are Windows Precision-certified and responsive.

Battery Life and Ports

  • Battery: The Vivobook 15 houses a 42Wh battery (up to 6 hours of use), while the HP 15-fd1099TU has a slightly larger 47Wh battery (6-7 hours). Neither excels, but they’re sufficient for light usage.
  • Ports:
  • Asus: 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2, HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm jack, microSD reader.
  • HP: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2, HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm jack, SD card reader.

HP offers more versatile USB-A ports, while Asus includes a microSD slot—useful for expandable storage.

Software and Extras

Both run Windows 11 Home out of the box. Asus includes its MyASUS utility for system optimization, while HP keeps bloatware minimal. The Vivobook supports ASUS WiFi Master for better connectivity, whereas HP relies on standard Intel Wi-Fi 6.

Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

The Asus Vivobook 15 is ideal if you prioritize ergonomics (thanks to its ErgoLift hinge) and a slightly more modern design. The HP 15-fd1099TU, however, delivers marginally better battery life and a newer CPU. For most users, the differences are negligible—choose based on design preference or specific port needs.

Pros and Cons Summary

Asus Vivobook 15
- ✅ ErgoLift hinge for comfort
- ✅ Lighter and slimmer
- ❌ Average battery life

HP 15-fd1099TU
- ✅ 13th-gen Intel CPU
- ✅ Better port selection
- ❌ Non-backlit keyboard

Budget shoppers can’t go wrong with either, but the HP narrowly wins for future-proofing with its newer processor.