HP Chromebook x360 13b review: An interesting and thought-provoking Chromebook. HP x360 chromebook
#NativeNerd HP Chromebook review: The HP x2 and the HP x360 14c
Thanks to HP for the opportunity to review two exceptional HP Chromebooks.
I have — up to now — been limited in my tech reviews as I have been concentrating on film reviews. Though I have done quite a few Google Pixel phone reviews as well as other Google products.
I have never done a laptop review, though admittedly as a journalist and technology junkie, I have quite a frame of reference to post a fair review of what I think is good or not.
I recently took a look at the HP Chromebooks, the HP x2 and the HP x360 14c. They are both great Chromebooks. At 11 inches diagonally, the x2 is more of a touch screen tablet with a keyboard and stylus while the 14-inch x360 is more of a formal laptop.
HP Chromebook x2 – 479.99
11″ diagonal 2.1K touch displayChrome OS ualcomm Snapdragon processorQualcomm Adreno 618 GPU8 GB memory; 128 GB eMMC storage
HP Chromebook x360 14c – 539.99
14″ diagonal FHD touch displayChrome OS 1th Generation Intel Core i3 processorIntel UHD Graphics8 GB memory; 128 GB SSD storage
NativeNerd product review: HP Chromebooks X2 and X360
I went with the following descriptive guidelines:
Overall feel
The overall feel of the HP Chromebook x2 – 11 inches is a sturdy overall feel. The back stand that the case is connected to is the best feature. The keyboard feels a little less sturdy overall, but the stylus has a satisfying hard connecting snap. I do wish there was a permanent piece of fabric or a loop that held the stylus, but that is admittedly nitpicky. Overall nice feeling in your hands.
The HP Chromebook x360 – 14 inches feels like a customary laptop with sturdiness in terms of closing satisfactorily. The keys are a bit more strong in clickiness than the x2.
I prefer the get-up and go of the x2, while the 360 would likely stay put on my desk.
Screen clarity, color
Both the x2 and 360 have gorgeous clarity and saturation on their screens. Admittedly, these are both of the Chromebooks’ best features. The screen colors were phenomenal. To me, these are both among the best screen resolutions out there that I have come across.
How it sounds
The native speakers are ok, but to me, this isn’t as important as I generally use higher-quality speakers and/or headphones. The 360 is the true winner here as the x2 is a bit tinny.
Downloads/upload / Google Stadia game / Watch YouTube / Google play store game
Keep in mind I tested downloads, uploads and game and video play while on hotel Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi wasn’t too bad, but it did take a bit to upload and install a 2 gb game. I tried Google Stadia (game streaming) and overall was impressed with both machines. I was able to play the game and Google app on both devices exceptionally well. The only difference I came across was that the 360 was able to download about 40% faster than the x2. This is a rough estimate, and if you have a strong Wi-Fi connection, both of these devices are competent performers.
Battery life
I charged both devices once and they both lasted three days while I tested them. I was pretty impressed.
Value for the price
The HP Chromebook x2 at 479.99 might seem a bit high, but considering some of the higher-end tablets out there are up to 1,000 or more, I can’t fault this price point too much. The response rate is high, and the screen is sharp and colorful. I’d score an 8.5 out of 10.
The HP Chromebook x360 at 539.99 to me is a bit more of what I would lean toward with the same compliments over the screen and responsiveness. I also like the speakers a bit more as well as the stronger feel on the keyboard. I’d give it an 8.8 out of 10.
Two beautiful Chromebooks at a decent price.
Vincent Schilling, #NativeNerd and editor of Native Viewpoint
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HP Chromebook x360 13b review: An interesting and thought-provoking Chromebook
HP continues to push the envelope when it comes to offering different options in the Chromebook market. The Chromebook x360 13b is the perfect example of this with its convertible design, USI compatibility, all while opting for a MediaTek chip as opposed to Intel or AMD. It might not win any awards for being “the best” at anything other than offering a well-rounded experience.
Pros
- Lightweight and convertible design
- Keyboard is comfortable to type on
- Configurable storage options
- Camera features built-in privacy switch
Cons
- – No fingerprint scanner
- – Bottom-firing speakers
- – Backlit keyboard costs extra
- – Currently only available from HP
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On one end of the spectrum, we have Chromebooks that offer the ability to play Steam games and one specific model that is fully modular. But many of the options that get our motors running aren’t the most ideal solutions for most people looking to find the best Chromebook. Thankfully, we’re seeing plenty of more traditional options out there, complete with convertible designs, long-lasting battery life, and solid overall performance.
This is where the HP Chromebook x360 13b is attempting to wedge itself into the conversation. Instead of relying on Intel for its power, the x360 13b is the first Chromebook to be powered by MediaTek’s Kompanio 1200, which was introduced in October of 2022. But in a world where we’re getting Intel processors with onboard graphics, where does the HP Chromebook x360 13b land?
HP Chromebook x360 13b: Price and availability
Ahead of the 2022 holiday season, HP managed to sneak in another lightweight and portable Chromebook option with the Chromebook x360 13b. What helps separate this from similarly-priced alternatives is the fact that it’s powered by MediaTek’s 1200 chipset, along with its 360-degree design.
There are several different configurations available with the Chromebook x360 13b, as you’ll be able to choose between either 128GB or 256GB of storage. HP is also giving you the option to have a backlit keyboard, but it’ll cost you an extra 30 if you do.
- 128GB / No Backlit Keyboard: 449
- 128GB / Backlit Keyboard: 479
- 256GB / No Backlit Keyboard: 479
- 256GB / Backlit Keyboard: 509
The base model price of the HP Chromebook x360 13b comes in at 449, but it’s already been discounted a few times since it was launched. We’ve already seen HP discount the 13b, bringing the price down to just 329 with 128GB of storage and no backlit keyboard.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: Design and specs
Unlike last year’s HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook, there’s really not too much to write home about when it comes to the overall design of the Chromebook x360 13b. The body is made from a combination of aluminum ocean-bound plastic and post-consumer recycled plastic. Right off the bat, the soft-texture finish is comfortable to the touch, but it won’t be long before you’ll start seeing fingerprint smudges on the casing.
| 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 16:9, 250 nits |
| MediaTek Kompanio 1200 |
| 4GB |
| 128GB / 256GB NVMe SSD |
| Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6 |
| Yes |
| 720p HD w/ privacy shutter |
| 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio combo jack |
| Dual speakers, backlit keyboard, 360-degree design, USI Stylus support |
| 2-cell, 47Wh, up to 16 hours, 50% charge in 45 minutes |
| 1080p (60fps) w/ privacy switch |
| 12.13 x 8.22 x 0.66-inches |
| 2.95 pounds |
| June 2030 |
Opening things up, HP is using a rather pedestrian 13.3-inch display, along with a disappointing 16:9 aspect ratio, and a screen that maxes out at 250 nits. On the bright side, no pun intended, HP opted for a glossy finish screen, which still looks better than most Chromebooks using displays with a matte finish. Housed in the top bezel of the display is a 720p webcam, flanked by a physical camera privacy shutter, which is something we’re happy to see whenever a new Chromebook lands on our desk.
Port selection is also what you would expect to find, with dual USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. One of the surprising inclusions that I discovered with the x360 is the microSD card slot. HP already gives you the option to use up to a 256GB NVMe M.2 SSD, but if you plan on playing some games or just want some extra space, you can just slap a microSD card in there and be on your merry way.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: Performance and battery
Before you get too excited about the possibilities of this Chromebook, it’s important to remember that the MediaTek 1200 is not the company’s flagship chip. Instead, that title is reserved for the Kompanio 1380, which powers the likes of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (2H). With that in mind, let’s get the benchmarks out of the way for the HP Chromebook x360 13b.
| 3072 |
| 35434 |
| 38.9 (-)0.85 |
| N/A |
| 240.81 (-)4.93% |
You might notice that there isn’t a score available for the Jetstream benchmark, and that’s simply because no matter how many different times I tried to run Jetstream on the x360 13b, it crashed the browser every time. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen, but it’s still worth pointing out.
Now, those numbers might not mean anything to you, so if you harken back to our Chromebook Spin 514 hands-on, which is powered by the Kompanio 828, that device provided an Octane score of 25060. Obviously, a more powerful processor results in better performance, and that’s largely been the case in our time with the 13b.
Because it’s powered by an ARM processor, this means that you won’t be able to do things such as install and play your favorite Steam games. But you always have the option of Cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass. But just keep in mind that the x360 13b is “limited” to a 60Hz display, so your gameplay likely won’t be as smooth compared to something like one of the new gaming Chromebooks.
Moving over to battery life, this is another big reason why Chromebooks powered by mobile processors are so popular. Instead of being limited in performance by Intel’s Celeron or Pentium chips, the Chromebook x360 13b offers plenty of power and won’t leave you reaching for a charger after a few hours.
According to HP, this Chromebook is rated to last for up to 16 hours on a single charge. And we’re happy to report that this gets pretty darn close to those claims. While we haven’t been able to get it to last for the full 16 hours, the x360 13b easily lasts for a couple of days with moderate usage.
Plus, HP has implemented fast charging into the Chromebook x360 13b, allowing you to get a 50% charge in just 45 minutes. The company even ships a 45W USB-C power brick and cable in the box, so you won’t have to worry about finding one yourself.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: A quick tangent
While going through the regular paces of reviewing a Chromebook, there’s something that just kind of “clicked” in my head. The x360 13b is a great little machine, but it really makes me feel like I’m using a ChromeOS tablet with a keyboard attached.
The 360-degree rotating hinge makes it easy to go from a traditional laptop to a tablet, without fiddling around with a detachable keyboard case. There are obviously traditional ChromeOS tablets courtesy of Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 3 or Duet 5. And you can even still get your hands on the HP Chromebook x2 11 with its excellent build quality and design.
But all of those require the use of detachable kickstands and magnetic keyboards. And as someone who really can’t stand the Microsoft Surface-style detachable keyboard, it’s not really my cup of tea.
Instead, when I want to jot down some notes with my USI stylus, I can just flip the screen around, fire up Google Cursive or Nebo, and start writing. When I want to move to the couch or want to head out to my local coffee shop, I just flip the keyboard back and start pecking away at the keyboard.
And that’s perhaps the biggest reason why the Chromebook x360 13b stands out for me. Instead of worrying about installing Linux apps or trying to get Steam games to work, the 13b is just a “get hit done” device. It serves a specific purpose and has more than enough power to handle a bunch of Chrome tabs and Windows.
While it might not have the best or brightest screen out there, it’s adequate for most scenarios and situations. It also helps that I haven’t run into any issues when using a USI stylus to write out my grocery list, or jot down some notes while in a meeting.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: What you won’t like
All that being said, not everything is perfect with the HP Chromebook x360 13b. For one, I would have really liked to see a fingerprint scanner here. There are Chromebooks that cost less than what this one retails for, that have one built-in. Sure, we’re still waiting for Google to open up the fingerprint scanner to be used for more than just unlocking your Chromebook. But that doesn’t take away from the idea of including it on a Chromebook that’s AUE date doesn’t expire until 2030.
The speaker quality is another major bugaboo of mine, as I wish we could just move away from bottom-firing speakers across all Chromebooks. There are some that manage to pump your music anyways, but the x360 13b doesn’t fall in that camp. Plus, every time I sit on the couch with this in my lap, everything’s a muffled mess that forces me to just grab my earbuds anyways.
The last point that I want to touch on is the different configuration options. I fully understand that HP was trying to hit a specific price point with the Chromebook x360 13b. But what’s the difference in just including the backlit keyboard by default, instead of charging an extra 30 for it? Profit margins be damned, that’s the move that HP should have made here. I’m cool with charging extra if you want more storage, but the backlit keyboard just seems like a tick-tack decision that could’ve been avoided.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: The competition
If you’re trying to find the best cheap Chromebook above 300, the competition is surprisingly quite fierce. Lenovo’s ThinkPad C14 Chromebook retails for around 530 but is already on sale for less than 350. With that, you’ll get Intel’s Core i3-1215U chip, along with the same amount of RAM and storage as HP’s offering. While it still won’t get you aboard the Steam train, at least you won’t be limited by an ARM chip if you want to tinker with Linux.
There’s also the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 with its larger 14-inch FHD display, while also being priced at 499. If the price is a concern, then you might want to check out the C14, but the Chromebook Vero is easily one of the most unique Chromebooks on the market today. It too, is powered by the Intel Core i3-1215U but has 8GB of RAM and the same 128GB of base storage.
The fact also still remains that this is the first Chromebook to be released powered by MediaTek’s Kompanio 1200 chip. It’s extremely likely that more options are on the way, so you might want to keep your eyes peeled if you’re on the fence about HP’s offering.
HP Chromebook x360 13b: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if.
- You want a lightweight and portable Chromebook.
- You want a Chromebook with a touchscreen and convertible design.
- You don’t care about having an Intel or AMD processor.
You shouldn’t buy this if.
- You want a Chromebook capable of playing Steam games.
- You need more RAM or storage.
- You are on a tight budget.
To be quite frank, unless you can grab the Chromebook x360 13b on sale, you should probably check out one of the best Chromebooks. CES 2023 introduced a few new options that will be available over the next couple of months. But you might even want to consider an older Chromebook if you can still find one.
I’m a big fan of what HP has managed to do with the Chromebook x360 13b, as it’s slowly become the laptop I throw in my bag when I need to leave the house. It’s fast and lightweight, and the 360-degree hinge is a great touch. You could end up running into bottlenecks if you have too many tabs and app Windows open since there’s only 4GB of RAM onboard here.
But if you can manage to grab this when it’s on sale, the x360 13b feels like a steal, giving you enough wiggle room to add the backlit keyboard that you shouldn’t have needed to add. And with the extra savings, you can grab a great USI stylus, and have an excellent device to take with you everywhere.
HP Chromebook x360 14c convertible gets an Alder Lake spec bump
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The HP Chromebook x360 14c is convertible notebook with a 14 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel touchscreen display and a convertible design that lets you push the screen back and use the notebook like a tablet.
With an Intel Core processor, the laptop is more powerful than most budget Chromebooks. But it’s also more expensive. started at 499 when the first model launched in 2020 with a 10th-gen Intel Core “Comet Lake” chip. The following year HP launched a model with an 11th-gen chip for 649. And now the company has upped the price again with the introduction of a new 699 Chromebook x360 14c with a 12th-gen Intel Core i3 processor.
While the notebook’s Intel Core i3-1215U isn’t exactly a top-of-the-line chip, the 15-watt, 6-core, 8-thread processor combines two Performance cores with four Efficiency cores and features 1.1 GHz Intel UHD graphics with 64 execution units. It should bring a significant performance boost over the chips featured in earlier models. And it’s certainly more powerful than the Celeron, Pentium and MediaTek chips that power most cheaper Chromebooks.
Some of the laptop’s other features include 8GB of LPDDR4x-4266 memory, 128GB of solid state storage, support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, stereo speakers with BO audio, a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and a 5MP webcam with a privacy shutter.
The HP Chromebook x360 13c weighs 3.3 pounds and has a silver aluminum body, two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The notebook comes with a 45-watt USB-C power adapter.
While the laptop isn’t available for purchase yet, it’s listed as “coming soon” at the Best Buy website.
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HP Chromebook x360 14c Review
I was picked to write the “20 Most Influential PCs” feature for PCMag’s 40th Anniversary coverage because I remember them all—I started on a TRS-80 magazine in 1982 and served as editor of Computer Shopper when it was a 700-page monthly. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing, a magazine that promoted using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. Even in semiretirement in Bradenton, Florida, I can’t stop playing with toys and telling people what gear to buy.
The Bottom Line
Priced between modest consumer models and ritzy business units, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is an attractive example of Chrome OS done right.
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
Pros
- Elegant design
- Snappy backlit keyboard
- Fingerprint reader
- Webcam security switch
- Wi-Fi 6
HP Chromebook x360 14c Specs
HP’s Chromebook x360 14c is a first-class Chromebook that neatly navigates the space between today’s hordes of plain, mainstream Chromebooks under 500 and pricey, enterprise-oriented ones from Dell and others. A 629 spend at Best Buy gains you a 14-inch convertible with handsome aluminum construction (though its bottom is plastic), an ample 8GB of memory, and concern for security with a fingerprint reader and a webcam kill switch. As it happens, though, the same 629 at Best Buy will get you our Editors’ Choice-award-winning Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Versus the Chromebook x360 14c, the Spin 713 offers a 128GB solid-state drive instead of a smaller, slower 64GB of eMMC flash storage, plus a full-size HDMI port so external-monitor users needn’t fuss with adapters. (It also has a Core i5 versus Core i3 processor, but the HP proved just as fast in our benchmark tests.) The Acer’s value keeps the HP from an award nod, but the latter is a winner nonetheless.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test. (Opens in a new window)
Looks Good, Could Lose a Few Ounces
The Chromebook x360 14c is a sleek silver-gray slab with the four-slash HP logo in chrome decorating its lid, which closes with such a strong magnetic seal that it has to be pried open. It’s easy to slip into a briefcase at 0.7 by 12.8 by 8.6 inches, though it’s too beefy to hold in your hands instead of your lap in tablet mode—at 3.64 pounds, the HP is a full pound heavier than the 14-inch Asus Chromebook Flip C436.
The hinges that let the Full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) touch screen flip and fold through the familiar convertible modes hold firmly, with little wobble when you tap the display in laptop mode. There’s a substantial gap, though, between the screen and the base when the unit is folded back into tablet mode.
On both the left and right edges of the laptop, you’ll find a USB Type-C port suitable for plugging in the AC adapter. The left edge also holds the power button, a volume rocker, and a tiny sliding switch that disables the webcam. On the right are a USB Type-A port (with a drop-jaw design like some notebooks’ Ethernet ports), an audio jack, and a microSD card slot. The Chromebook x360 14c has support for the latest wireless: 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), along with Bluetooth 5.0.
Google Pixelbook Go
Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
You’re prompted to save a fingerprint with the small square reader on the palm rest during setup and can use it instead of typing your Google account password if you lock the Chromebook from the taskbar menu. I couldn’t find an option, however, to require a fingerprint to wake the device if you close and reopen the lid, as with the Asus Chromebook Flip C436.
Comfortable Keys
The backlit keyboard follows the standard Chromebook layout, with a search/menu key instead of Caps Lock and browser, brightness, and volume controls along the top row. The cursor-arrow keys are arranged in the proper inverted T instead of a clumsy row (heavy hint to HP’s Windows laptop designers).
The typing feel is pleasantly crisp, with responsive tactile feedback. The large buttonless touchpad glides and responds smoothly to one- and two-finger taps. (The latter is the equivalent of a right-click.)
I never see a laptop screen rated at 250 nits of brightness without wishing for 300 nits or, better yet, 400, but the HP’s display is certainly adequate, with truly white instead of grayish backgrounds and good contrast. IPS technology ensures wide viewing angles, and colors are reasonably rich and well-saturated. Like other Chromebooks, the Chromebook x360 14c offers a variety of “looks like” resolutions as well as its native 1080p (the default is 1,536 by 864), letting you view screen elements in mighty or tiny size.
The 720p webcam captures colorful but slightly dark and noisy images. Speakers on either side of the keyboard produce above-average sound, not too loud but clear, with a hint of bass and easily distinguished overlapping tracks.
Convertible Chromebooks Hit the Test Bench
Subjectively, the Chromebook x360 14c is a fine performer, not hesitating as I opened a dozen browser tabs and enjoyed YouTube videos. For our objective performance comparisons, I pitted it against four other 2-in-1 Chromebooks: the 14-inch Asus Chromebook Flip C436 and 13.5-inch Acer Chromebook Spin 713 mentioned earlier, plus two 13.3-inch convertibles. These are the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook, which like the HP and Asus has a Core i3 CPU, and the Google Pixelbook Go, which uses a low-power Core i5. (See more about how we test laptops.)
The first benchmarks we use are Principled Technologies’ venerable CrXPRT (a suite of simulated Chrome OS productivity apps) and its more recent WebXPRT 3 (a browser-based test of HTML and JavaScript throughput).
Impressively, the HP’s dual-core Core i3-10110U goes toe to toe with the Core i5 of the Acer. The Pixelbook Go’s 5-watt Core i5 brings up the rear.
JetStream 2 is another performance test we use. It combines 64 JavaScript and WebAssembly benchmarks to measure a browser’s (in this case, the default Chrome’s) suitability for advanced web applications.
Another tie for the Chromebook x360 14c and the Spin 713, with the Lenovo claiming the bronze medal. These aren’t the fastest Chromebooks we’ve ever tested, but they’re solid contenders.
We’ve recently added UL’s PCMark for Android Work 2.0 test to our Chromebook regimen. This test suite runs in a small smartphone-style window and mimics productivity operations ranging from text and image editing to data charting and video playback.
The HP finished in the middle of the pack here, though the spread was narrow. The Pixelbook Go trailed again.
Finally, to test a Chromebook’s battery life, we loop a locally stored video with screen brightness set at 50 percent, audio volume at 100 percent, and Wi-Fi disabled until the system quits.
Though it was next to last in this group, the Chromebook x360 14c’s unplugged time of nearly 11-and-a-half hours indicates you’ll have no trouble getting through a day of work or school.
You Pays Your Money, and You Takes Your Choice
If you’re in the Chromebook hunt with about 600 to spend on a nice convertible-style model, you have a happy decision ahead of you.
In terms of our Editors’ Choice award honors, we narrowly prefer the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 for its solid-state drive, HDMI port, and taller 3:2 aspect ratio screen. But if you don’t mind carrying a bit more ballast, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is an excellent Chrome OS convertible that offers substantial savings over several corporate and deluxe models. It’s well worth considering. Plus, in the early going, we’ve seen the HP model inconsistently on sale from Best Buy at a 130 markdown, or 499. At that price, it’s a no-brainer over the Spin 713 without a discount.
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