The HP 2 in 1 14” Chromebook is a premium chromebook targeting a niche high end market (just like the best chromebook). Compared to Windows laptops in the same price class, it eschews fast hardware and a multipurpose OS for a very high-quality display to mixed effect; its screen really is gorgeous, but it’s heavily limited by its lack of storage and lack of RAM, especially for $600. Even so, it’s one of the best chromebooks for seniors thanks to its great display, simple OS, and adequate performance. Techies will lament its lack of Intel Core i3 or Intel Core i5 SKUs, but as far as premium chromebooks go, it doesn’t get too much better than this unless you want to shell out even more for a Google Pixelbook.
Why We Like It – HP 2 in 1 14″ Chromebook
The HP 2 in 1 14” Chromebook is a chromebook that channels the spirit of the Google Pixelbook, delivering a top-quality display in a small chassis with decent hardware. Its ability to switch into a tablet mode and its ability to run Android apps make it a compelling overall package, though premium Chrome OS devices remain exceptionally niche.
- Great display
- Compact
- Decent performance
- Core U would be better than Core M at this price
Display Type/Resolution
The display is the main selling point of this machine, and for good reason; you’re looking at a very crisp 2400×1600 IPS display (this is similar to what you get with the Google Pixelbook I7. with very high pixel density, high brightness, and excellent sRBG coverage coming in at over 110%. There’s nothing to complain about here; it’s a display you’d expect to find on a much more expensive machine, and it blows similarly-priced machines out of the water in terms of display quality (save for discounted Surfaces). The screen is better than HP’s own HP Chromebook x360 14, coming in at a higher resolution with better brightness and colors, but its hardware is worse.
Battery Life
Battery life is unsurprisingly good on the HP 2 in 1 14” Chromebook, coming in at just shy of 9 hours at low brightness. It’s sufficient for media consumption and web browsing even over long periods of time thanks to its combination of a very lightweight OS and its low power Core M chip. There are cheaper chromebooks with longer battery life but they are inferior in almost every other department. See our HP Chromebook 14 Review as an example.
Weight
The HP 2 in 1 14” Chromebook is a bit on the heavier side for its screen size and performance class, clocking in at just over 3 pounds. With that said, it’s not heavy at all for laptop use; you’ll barely notice it in a bag, though it’ll be a bit heavy and awkward when used as a tablet.
Durability
Durability is about what you’d expect out of a tablet. You’re looking at a glass and aluminum slab that comes with a keyboard textured with fake leather; the keyboard cover doesn’t provide much protection for the screen in the event of a long fall. The chassis is prone to scratches, but overall the device should hold up even across several years. If you’re looking for a more traditional design out of concern of a tablet’s durability, the Acer Chromebook 514 has similar build quality in a laptop form factor, but its hardware is slower and its screen is significantly worse.
Inputs
Port selection is good for a tablet and poor for a laptop. You’re looking at two USB Type C ports, a headphone jack, an SD card reader, and a proprietary port for docking the keyboard; there’s no USB Type A, only USB C. Keyboard quality is mediocre, as expected of a tablet; the keys are small and extremely shallow, providing a middling but not terrible typing experience. If you need a better keyboard or USB Type A (while keeping in mind dongles exist), the Asus Chromebook C523NA fits the bill, but it has a worse processor and a worse display.
HP 2 in 1 14″ Chromebook Wrap Up
As far as Chrome OS tablets go, the HP 2 in 1 14” Chromebook is a compelling offering. It’s essentially an Android tablet on steroids, packing a full desktop web browser and laptop hardware paired with the Android and Chrome OS app ecosystems. It’s a fantastic secondary machine, and it’s great for less technologically inclined audiences, but if you’re looking to use it as a main computer, you’ll very likely want to look elsewhere.
