HP 255 G8 Notebook review
HP 255 G8 Notebook — from 2021, 1.74 kg, performance 45.
Technical specifications
| Type | Laptop |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Screen | 15.6" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 3250U , AMD Ryzen 5 3500U , AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
| Graphics | Radeon Graphics , Radeon Vega 8 |
| Max. RAM | 16 GB |
| Weight | 1.74 kg |
| Battery | 41 Wh |
Performance scores
HP 255 G8: the Ryzen step, rec-level greens at $399
The HP 255 G8 is the 2021 rung where the AMD budget line gets a real engine: a Ryzen 3 3250U with Radeon graphics. The flag sheet jumps a tier — Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V at recommended level, PUBG at minimum, Photoshop and Visual Studio Code minimums — and the photo axis reaches the top band.
Where it holds up
Graphics is the flagged strength at 45.85 against a general-class median of 27.24, and this time the receipts match the tier: Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V confirm at recommended level — GTA with a measured receipt — PUBG at minimum, and both Adobe Photoshop and Visual Studio Code pass their minimum bars. The office index reads 65.93, high band; photo work 87, top band; performance 45.34 mid-band; and the value index of 62.6 mid-band is one of the family's stronger readings. Five confirmed entries is a rich sheet for a $399 ticket.
Where it falls short
The flagged weakness is memory: 16 GB sits half below the general-class median of 32. The graphics placing itself should stay calibrated — the greens describe esports and legacy settings at recommended level, not modern AAA, and the gaming composite's 50 mid-band reflects that boundary honestly. Modeling 47 and engineering CAD 47 are mid-band, portability 47.8 mid; the 11.13 percent yearly decline is steeper than the older rungs', trimming the long-term side of the value case.
Price and depreciation
The asking price sits at $399 with a modeled decline of 11.13 percent a year. No launch anchor is recorded, so the resale math stays at the rate level — the receipts are the purchase argument, not the resale curve.
Alternatives to consider
The 255 G9 at $470 in this batch adds a bigger engine and 32 GB of memory with the same rec-level greens and a high-band value index of 75.6 — the stronger ticket if the budget stretches. The 250 G8 sibling line offers a Core i7 lead at $686 for buyers who need the CPU more than the value.
Bottom line
Fairly priced for the class, the HP 255 G8 is the family's receipt machine: recommended-level game greens plus software minimums, a top-band photo score and a $399 ticket — the best flag-per-dollar in the 255 line before the G9.
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⭐ What stands out
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graphics performance is higher than typical general laptop class (+68.3%) (mainstream tier).
above class average -
memory capacity is lower than typical general laptop class (+50%) (comfort).
below class average
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration suits everyday productivity, light photo editing, and esports titles.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 54) ↔ price (median 247.9).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 50) ↔ overall performance (median 43.1).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 50) ↔ battery life (median 2.3).
255 G8 Notebook: verdict
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