For this HP Stream 14 Laptop Review, the main aspect that HP wants you to focus on is the longevity of its battery, which earned it a position in our best laptops category. Paired with an easy to use keyboard and good performance, the HP Stream 14 earns a spot in our list for Best Laptop for Seniors. Even with outdated components and a dim display, the Stream 14 is hard to beat in terms of price point. Its great performance and sleek design makes it a contender for best laptops.
Why We Like It – HP Stream 14 Laptop
The HP Stream 14 Laptop features an excellent battery life as well as a one year warranty. Cloud storage ensures your files are reachable anywhere.
- Long battery life
- Easy to use keyboard
- Good performance for part selection
- Outdated components
- Display is dim
Power/Performance
In terms of performance the HP Stream 14 offers an adequate performance for the price point. Component wise the Stream 14 features Intel HD graphics, Intel Celeron n3060 processor, and a mix of emmc flash and cloud storage. While not as powerful as an Intel Core processor, the operating system runs smooth as butter on Wi-Fi. However, if you’re in the market for something with more power, the Acer Aspire E15 is your best bet. Take a look at the HP Stream Laptop review for a more basic laptop.
Battery
As with most 14 inch laptops, the battery on the HP Stream 14 is perfect for a long day out. The combination of a smaller screen size and components requiring low power make the HP Stream 14 save a lot on battery. Meaning you can be on the go for longer without having to worry about bringing along a charging cable. Able to perform on par with the TOSHIBA Tecra A50-E is no easy feat, but the HP Stream 14 Laptop is able to do so easily.
Ports/Expandability
The HP Stream 14 Laptop comes equipped with a singular USB port, audio jack, Kensington lock, and an SD card reader. The card slot is appreciated, as there is a way to upgrade the included 32 GB of storage the Stream 14 has. Still, the port selection feels a bit sparse, if you’re in the market for a laptop with a more diverse port selection, the Apple Macbook Pro 13 has that in spades.
Build Quality
For around roughly $300, the build quality of the HP Stream 14 Laptop is decent. The plastic material does its job of containing the components inside, however with no flair or backlit keys. One thing to note, the brightness of this laptop seems rather dim compared to other laptops. However should you be using this laptop indoors, it shouldn’t be a problem. You may want to check out the HP Spectre X360 15T review for a much sleeker laptop.
Value
For its price, the HP Stream 14 Laptop has its pros and cons. For example, a lack of a hard drive means the storage options for the Stream 14 are limited, unless you have an SD card or opt into the cloud storage program. However you get the ease of use and portability of an on the go laptop without having to shell out tons of cash.
HP Stream 14 Laptop Wrap Up
Basic components, outstanding performance, the HP Stream 14 Laptop strives to keep costs low while also delivering a dependable laptop for a full day’s work. Featuring an easy to use keyboard, long battery life and performance, the Stream 14 is a solid contender for a cheap easy to use laptop, even with issues regarding the brightness and component choices.
