Where Are HP Laptops Made? (10 Interesting Facts)

If we ask you to name one trusty sidekick in your digital journey, it would likely be HP! Isn’t it? 

From its humble beginnings to becoming a household name, HP has a rich history of technology and innovation. It is one of the major computer software and service manufacturers. Their laptops are sleek and stylish and give powerhouse performance. But today, we are not going to talk about that! 

This blog is about peeling the layers of HP’s captivating history and discovering ten interesting facts you might not know!   

Let’s get started, shall we?

Who Founded HP?

The two electrical engineering graduates from Stanford University, Bill R. Hewlett and David Packard, founded HP on January 1, 1939. 

Interestingly, David and Bill went on a two-week camping trip and bonded over the idea. They used a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California (a historical landmark now) to start their company. With only 538$ as capital, they worked part-time and produced an audio oscillator, “HP Model 200A”. 

Fun Fact: The first customer of HP was Walt Disney, who used it to test audio equipment in theaters showing Fantasia (1940).   

They formalized their company in 1940 and innovated business practices for future tech startups. 

The Coin Toss

Since we are on the topic of exciting facts about HP, did you know HP’s name resulted from a coin toss? 

Bill and David couldn’t decide whether to place P or H as the first letter. So they casually flipped a coin for it, and the rest is history! 

Where are HP Laptops Made?

HP manufactures its laptop components around the world at various locations. These include Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines, etc. 

These components are then carried to the assembling locations, mainly in China and the U.S. After assembly, they are ready to dispatch to different marketplaces. 

Difference in Production Quality

U.S. assembly units cover the local and European marketplace, whereas China primarily distributes products to Asia. 

However, you will find a significant difference between the products in each marketplace. HP manufacturing plants produce different quality products based on the market needs and subsequent consumer affordability. The Chinese plants usually make cheaper versions to be supplied in Asian countries. 

Due to the recent COVID-19 epidemic, China increased production tariffs by 10%, which caused HP to explore other regions, too.  

For example, after realizing the vast market potential, HP recently launched its production in Tamil Nadu, India. HP also intends to expand its “Made in India” initiative to capture the whole market. 

Why are HP Laptops Manufactured in Different Locations? 

HP chooses to manufacture its laptops in different locations around the world. Here is why:

• Manufacturing in locations such as China and the Philippines keeps the production cost low due to lower labor wages, etc. As a result, HP can keep its price competitive for end consumers.
• HP takes advantage of skilled workers worldwide to keep itself ahead of the game.
• They can get easy access to raw materials produced locally
• Manufacturing close to the key marketplaces reduces the time and cost of shipment. 

Checkout this complete video on HP History

Who Owns HP Now?

As of today, HP is owned by its shareholders and investors. But let’s rewind for a bit and give you a little context here:

Packard became the president of HP in 1947, which he later transferred to Hewlett in 1964. Hewlett remained the president from 1964 to 1977 and was succeeded by John A. Young. 

HP went public in 1957 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange after four years in 1961. HP also entered the Fortune 500 list the following year. 

In 2015, HP was split into two daughter companies, HP Inc. and HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise). While HP Inc. still manufactures PCs and printers for consumers, HPE deals with the back-end software and service products.  

Since 2019, Enrique Lores has been serving as the president of HP, while investors own most of the company shares. Mutual fund holders account for 45.89% of shares in HP, and individual stakeholders own 12.13%. The major shareholders in HP are Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Vanguard Group, Inc., and Dodge Cox. 

Are HP Laptops Good?

HP laptops have been in the market for an eternity. But the real question is, “Is HP good enough to stand the test of time”?

Let’s face it: HP laptops have much to offer, but so do other brands like Lenovo, Dell, and Apple. So, what makes HP different? We’ll explain some points here:

HP Gets the Fundamentals Right

Every now and then, you see a laptop brand trying to lure customers, claiming exceptional power and design. However, they make the mistake of not focussing on the basics such as build, quality, typing experience, trackpad, etc. 

On the other hand, HP always tries to get the fundamentals right. You would rarely find an HP laptop with QC issues. 

Best Productivity Features

The premium laptop lines of HP, like Dragonfly and Spectre, are some of the best productivity laptops in the market. They represent stellar displays, powerful performance, excellent port selection, and a fantastic build. 

Exclusive Models for Content Creations

HP has a whole line of laptops dedicated to content creation. HP’s ENVY laptops are impressive with their display features and dedicated graphics card. 

For higher workloads, ZBookWorkstation comes with phenomenal internals. 

Overall, HP is quite a good brand with great features, affordable prices, and satisfactory customer support. That is why HP still owns the second-largest share of the consumer market. 

HP Processes and Standards

HP PCs and laptops are among the most reliable machines on the market. HP goes through a series of processes and testing standards to ensure this. 

HP laptops pass strict product quality checks throughout the testing lifecycle to enhance durability. For example, they are checked under humidity, dust, vibrations, and even high temperatures.  

HP says it spends 113,000 hours testing its business PCs to maintain the industry standard software and hardware. 

Some of the HP processes and standards are as follows:

• Stressing system components such as host bus, processors, memory subsystem, and peripherals for optimal performance 
• Testing lids for daily wear and tear up to 25,000 cycles
• Scuff testing to maintain top-notch display 
• Mechanical test on keyboard usage for up to 20 Million keystrokes
• Testing battery packs under multiple conditions to enhance durability
• Monitoring optical drives for up to 15,000 cycles
• Environmental tests to prevent laptop damage under harsh weather conditions

Note: You can read more about the HP testing process and performance standards here! 

Comparison to Other Brands’ Manufacturing Location 

As we discussed above, HP manufactures most of its laptops in China. However, they are now rapidly moving to other locations as well. 

HP’s competitors in the market, like Dell and Apple, have already launched their diversification plans. They are occupying the regions of South East Asia like Thailand and Vietnam.  

The rising manufacturing and labor costs in China have also made HP consider other locations. HP has a strong plan to manufacture some of its laptops in Vietnam.

However, Lenovo and Asus are Chinese brands and occupy a large share of the Chinese market. Therefore, they manufacture and distribute in China. 

Also Read about Are Asus Laptop any Good?

10 Interesting Facts About HP

Now, here comes the fun part! Let’s discuss some lesser-known interesting facts about our very own HP! 

1- Largest Global Presence

With a diverse portfolio, HP has a global presence spanning over 170 countries! It is a major tech player in nearly every market, employing thousands of professionals worldwide.   

2- Diverse Workforce

HP has once again set the standard; this time, it is for inclusion and diversity. HP strongly believes in bringing fresh minds to work and promoting equal opportunities. 

HP’s board of directors is composed of 58% minorities and 42% women members. 

3- HP Printed its Printer 

You must be familiar with HP Inc.’s iconic Multi Jet Fusion 3-D printer. But did you know most of the custom plastic parts for this printer are printed from the printer itself? 

Stephen Nigro, the president of the HP printing business, is assertive that it can revolutionize the printing industry. He says printing these parts is way more economical for HP’s business. 

4- The Beginning of Silicon Valley

Who thought that a small garage in Palo Alto would go on to become a historical landmark? Some say that the garage used by David and William is the origin of “Silicon Valley” (The hub of high-tech businesses like Google and Apple). They started HP in the garage in the 1930s; the rest is history!   

In 2000, HP bought the 367 Addison Ave. garage and the house for $1.7 Million, preserving it as a museum. The place is officially entered in the National Register of Historic Places and is a California Historical Landmark. 

5- Trendsetters of Millennial Culture?

HP was way ahead of its time, not only in innovation but in business practices. It is safe to assume they were the people behind the millennial office culture. 

For example, the first HP office building had an open floor plan in 1942! Whether intentional or not, HP became the first one to introduce it. Due to reduced walls, the genuine interaction between employees sparked creativity and productivity. 

6- Management By Wandering Around

The MBWA style of management, which is gaining popularity today, was also first adopted by HP. Bill and David would randomly walk and drop in on their employees to check their work status. 

Surprisingly, they came up with this intelligent idea when organizations didn’t believe in intense collaboration. 

Well, you know what’s even more intelligent? Read on to the next point:

7- Introduction to Flex Time

HP has always been known to care about its employees. In 1973, HP was the first company in the U.S. to provide flextime for employees. 

Bill and Dave were wise enough to know that employees would work hard if they enjoyed working. Thus, they did their best to enhance work-life balance among their people. 

HP gave their people the option of flexible timings and even telecommuting! Moreover, HP bought a little recreational area designated explicitly for HP’s employees and their families! 

Isn’t that simply great? 

8- Dave’s Management Philosophy 

Though Dave Packard was a brilliant engineer, he was an intelligent businessman, too. He implemented strategies and techniques that were ahead of their time. In a 1958 HP conference, Dave presented his management philosophy as “11 Simple Rules”. 

Interested in reading more? Check them out here.

9- HP is Responsible for the LED Revolution

Do you know who introduced the first LED to the market? Yes, you guessed it right! It was indeed HP! 

HP once again made history in the field of electronics as their LED was a huge success. It led to the production of computers, calculators, and even the smartphones you hold today!  

10- Is HP Ready for a Revolution Again? 

According to reports, HP Labs, Texas A&M University, and Stanford scientists are collaborating on an exciting new project. They have devised a new nanodevice almost identical to a brain cell in function. Imagine what novel possibilities can emerge from this research! 

Also Read our article on 10 Interesting Facts about Lenovo

FAQs

Where are HP laptops assembled?

HP manufactures laptop parts at different locations around the world. However, the main HP assembly units are in the U.S. and China, where most of their laptops are assembled. 

What country is the HP laptop from?

HP laptop is from an American company, Hewlett Packard, with its headquarters in Palo Alto, California.

Is HP a Chinese company? 

No, HP is not a Chinese company. It is headquartered in California, America. However, most of its parts are manufactured and assembled in Chinese units. 

Conclusion 

Our favorite tech buddy, HP, is not only high on performance but also enriched in the history of innovation. We took you on a journey of some interesting and lesser-known facts about HP and its roots. 

From revolutionizing the printing industry to pioneering millennial office culture, HP has always been about pushing boundaries. 

Here’s to HP and its wonderful years of tech success!