HP 255 G8 review

A general-purpose laptop with strong memory but no GPU

The HP 255 G8 (2021) pairs AMD's Ryzen 5 5500U — a 6-core/12-thread APU — with 64 GB of RAM in a general-purpose laptop chassis. At about $345 it sits above the $248 category median — in the budget tier rather than ultra-budget. The configuration is uneven: the memory pool is excellent and the CPU capable, but the integrated Radeon graphics score sits at the floor of the general-purpose category (which includes many discrete-GPU machines), which limits the platform's reach.

Where it shines: memory and CPU

The standout is the 64 GB of RAM, which lands in the "pro" tier and is twice the category median. The Ryzen 5 5500U is a capable 6-core/12-thread part with strong multi-threaded performance, which makes the 255 G8 genuinely useful for office work, development environments and heavy multitasking. For CPU-bound workloads, the configuration is more than competitive.

Where it doesn't: graphics

The integrated Radeon graphics sit at the floor of the general-purpose category in absolute terms — the category median is higher because many general-purpose laptops ship with discrete GPUs. The Vega iGPU handles everyday graphics and media, but it doesn't enable modern gaming or GPU-accelerated creative work. There is no capability fit data showing the machine reaching recommended settings on modern titles.

Price trajectory

From an original $900 MSRP, the 255 G8 has depreciated to about $345 today — an annual rate near 11.1%, reflecting the recent vintage and the budget-tier original build. Projected forward, another two years bring it to roughly $272, a 21% drop.

How it compares

Slightly above it, the HP 17-cn0023dx ($366) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 ($373) are the natural step-up alternatives — broadly comparable hardware for a small premium. The 255 G8's combination of a 6-core Ryzen and 64 GB of RAM is the differentiator at this price.

Bottom line

The 255 G8 is fairly priced for the class for buyers who want a general-purpose laptop with a capable hexa-core CPU and a generous 64 GB of RAM. The Vega integrated graphics handle everyday work, but there's no discrete GPU — modern gaming and GPU-accelerated creative work are out of scope. For CPU-bound office work and multitasking, this is honest value.