Look out mid-range Chromebooks, there’s a new-ish kid on the block. On Friday, a new HP Chromebook x360 14c configuration was announced with up to an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 processor. This refreshed model will start with a Core i3 and a 128 GB SSD for storage, priced at $649.99, up slightly from last year’s version.
That configuration will be made available later this month at both HP’s online store as well as at Best Buy. I would expect the top-tier configuration with Core i5 to be found on HP’s own site.
Here’s a rundown of the specs for the $649.99 version:
| CPU | Dual-core Intel Core i3-1115G4 with 4.1 GHz boost |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4, 3200 MHz |
| Storage | 128 GB PCIe, NVMe M.2 SSD, microSD card expansion |
| Display | 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS touchscreen, 45% NTSC color gamut, 250 nits brightness |
| Connectivity | Intel Wi-Fi 6, 802.11ax (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.0 Combo |
| Ports | 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C with 10Gbps signaling rate (USB PD, DP 1.4), 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-A with 5Gbps signaling rate, headphone/microphone combo |
| Input | Backlit keyboard, multi-touch trackpad |
| Audio | B&O stereo speakers |
| Battery | 58 WHr, up to 10.75 hours claimed run time with mixed usage |
| Software support | Automatic Chrome OS updates TBD, expected through June 2028 |
HP introduced the existing Chromebook x360 14c models back in June of 2020 with 10th-generation Intel processors for $629.99. There was a Core i3 model with 8 GB of slower memory and 64 GB of (also slower) eMMC storage. So aside from any performance improvements from the next-generation CPU, this update brings benefits to those areas for $20 more.
Most everything else about the new 3.67 pound Chromebook is the same, which isn’t a bad thing.
The 14-inch 1080p display is solid as is the backlit keyboard and battery life. HP is being more conservative on that aspect with their run time quote being “mixed usage”; something I find to be more accurate for everyday use. And you still get the security and simple sign-in through the integrated fingerprint scanner.
I’m still partial to the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 when it comes to the bang for the buck. At $629 (or less on sale), you get a similar package but with a 10th-gen Intel Core i5.
But there’s no fingerprint sensor and the slightly higher resolution display is in a 3:2 aspect ratio. Some don’t like that, in which case, this new HP Chromebook x360 14c might hit the sweet spot.
