HP Chromebook 14 2021 Review

Look, this is a basic Chromebook. It's for checking email, browsing the web, and maybe streaming a show. That's it. The Intel Celeron N4000 and 4GB of RAM are the definition of entry-level, and the 32GB of storage is almost comically small. But for under $200, it gets you online.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a Celeron N4000. It's fine for a few Chrome tabs, but start pushing it with more than five or six and you'll feel the slowdown. The 4GB of RAM is its biggest bottleneck, landing in the 0th percentile. The screen is also a weak point, with a low 1366x768 resolution that looks pretty dated. On the bright side, the claimed 13+ hour battery life is solid for all-day use.

At $169, it's hard to complain too much. You're paying for a functional internet portal, not a powerhouse. The value is there if your needs are extremely simple and your budget is rock-bottom. Just know you're making serious trade-offs in performance and future-proofing.

Don't compare this to a MacBook Pro or a gaming laptop. That's silly. For Chromebooks, look at something like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet or an Acer Chromebook 314. They often have slightly better specs or more storage for a bit more money. If you can stretch your budget to $300, you'll get a much better experience with 8GB of RAM and a 1080p screen.

Buy this only if you need the absolute cheapest laptop to get online. It's okay for a student's secondary device or for a family member who just needs Facebook and email. For anyone else, especially if you want to do real work or keep it for more than a year, save up a little more.