With the $800 HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c, it’s a must to mood your expectations.

When you’re anticipating efficiency so quick you get whiplash, audio so crisp you possibly can virtually chunk into the sound waves, and a show that may be described as “visible sweet,” this laptop computer ain’t for you.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re looking for a simplistic Chromebook for light-weight workloads, together with juggling between Google’s number of apps (e.g., Gmail, YouTube, Meet, Calendar, Docs, and many others.), the HP Chromebook x360 14c could also be simply sufficient on your workflow wants.

Nonetheless, earlier than you snatch this Chromebook up, there are some issues you must know.

HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c worth

You possibly can snag this laptop computer through HP’s official web site. It is acquired a beginning worth of $789 and comes with the next specs:

The configuration I examined has 256GB of SSD storage, which provides $30 to the worth (i.e., $819).

What I like in regards to the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c

“HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c” is a mouthful to say, however does the weightiness on the tongue match the worth it brings at a price ticket of $800? In some methods, sure. Let’s begin with the positives.

Stable, premium-esque construct

At a fast look, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c seems to be lots just like the HP Spectre x360 14, a laptop computer that has a worth that hovers round $2,000.

The HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c seems to be pricier than it’s.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

From the twin audio system that flank the keyboard to the strong, aluminum grey chassis, this laptop computer seems to be prefer it price greater than $800. I wiggled the lid to check its sturdiness, and luckily, there was little to no give.

Nonetheless, it is price noting that the chassis is inclined to scratches, and it is fairly the fingerprint magnet.

Because the identify hints, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c has 360-degree twin hinges, permitting the laptop computer to rework into a number of totally different modes, together with pill mode and tent mode.

Pill mode was nice for taking part in “Amongst Us.”
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Pill mode was my favourite, notably for taking part in a few of my favourite Google Play video games, together with Amongst Us, Sniper 3D, and Temple Run 2.

Implausible keyboard

Take it from me as a keyboard snob — the Chromebook Plus x360 14c’s keycaps are shockingly clicky. I am stunned, as a result of keyboards on this worth vary are usually unimpressive and really feel very low-grade. Nonetheless, the white-backlit keyboard on the Chromebook Plus x360 14c is clicky, bouncy, and delivers glorious tactile suggestions.

It comes with a pleasingly clicky keyboard.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I should not be too bowled over, as a result of HP is thought for main the cost within the laptop computer keyboard recreation. (I actually gushed in regards to the keyboard on the HP Spectre x360 14.)

The touchpad provides the cherry on prime to the keyboard expertise. It is large and spacious. Plus, it is clean sufficient on my fingertips for seamless navigation, however delivers sufficient friction for zippy clicks.

Nice number of ports

The HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c is not stingy on the subject of ports. On the proper aspect, I noticed a USB-A port, a headset jack, and a USB-C port.

There is not any scarcity of ports.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Giving a nod to creators, there’s additionally a microSD card slot, permitting you to shortly switch information out of your digital camera. You may also use it to increase your storage.

On the left aspect, you may discover one other USB-C port, an influence button, a quantity rocker, and a webcam kill swap (which helps you to shortly deactivate the webcam).

What’s “eh” in regards to the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c

There are some elements in regards to the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c that I do not love, however contemplating its inexpensive price ticket, I am prepared to let these slide.

Not for show snobs

When you care about crisp, vivid, sharp shows, I hope you are not placing the Chromebook Plus x360 14c in your procuring checklist.

The show is simply high-quality.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel show is okay in that it does the job, but it surely will not win any awards.

Not zippy, however that is anticipated

As you may uncover within the Geekbench part, which exams for processor efficiency, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c is not a efficiency powerhouse by any stretch of the creativeness. In spite of everything, it sports activities a processor that’s out of date by two generations (it has a Twelfth-gen Intel CPU; we’re within the 14th-gen period).

It is not a efficiency powerhouse.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Nonetheless, as I discussed on the outset, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c is not designed for energy customers, however it’s enough sufficient for the typical school-focused client or a employee bee with light-to-medium workloads.

Not “skinny and lightweight”

Do not count on the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c to be as mild as a feather.

It weighs in at 3.34 kilos.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It weighs 3.34 kilos, which is fairly normal for a laptop computer. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re anticipating one thing svelte, mild, and glossy that does not make a lot of a dent in weight on your journey bag, the Chromebook Plus x360 14c is not for you.

What I dislike in regards to the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c

After I examined the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c inside Mashable’s workplaces, there have been some issues I seen that will irk some shoppers.

Dim show

In case your desk is located subsequent to a shiny window otherwise you plan to make use of the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c exterior, you might discover that the show is troublesome to see. Why? It is too dim.

The HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c may very well be brighter.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Sitting subsequent to a window with solar rays seeping by means of, I discovered myself squinting to see sure particulars on the show. Nonetheless, in the proper lighting, the show is suitable.

Lackluster energy effectivity

I prefer to see at least 9 hours of battery life on a Chromebook.

You may get not fairly 9 hours of battery life.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In keeping with my expertise testing Chromebooks, the typical one lasts someplace between 9 and 10 hours. Nonetheless, within the battery life part, you may discover that this one missed the 9-hour mark by a hair.

Webcam is “meh”

I am not a fan of the webcam on the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c. I’ve at all times ragged on the laptop computer business for rolling out blurry 720p and 1080p webcams. Nonetheless, at first, I held my tongue with this Chromebook as a result of it sports activities a 5MP shooter.

The webcam is simply OK.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Sadly, I would not have guessed the webcam on the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c was something greater than 1080p. It is fairly noisy and low-res, however on the plus aspect, it renders colours fairly nicely. For instance, it precisely captured my brown complexion.

HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c battery life

We ran the CrXPRT 2 battery take a look at on the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c with the show at max brightness. It lasted 8 hours and 54 minutes. This is not half unhealthy, but it surely missed my most popular 9-hour mark by a tiny margin.

360-degree twin hinges permit for numerous modes, like pill mode and tent mode.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Luckily, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c ought to survive a typical eight-hour college or work day on a single cost.

HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c Geekbench rating

We ran Geekbench 6, which exams for processor prowess, on the Chromebook Plus x360 14c. It delivered a multi-core rating of 4,318, which is not all that spectacular.

The Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Go 3 has a greater rating of 6,043 and is inside the identical worth vary because the Chromebook Plus x360 14c (if you happen to do not thoughts grabbing Home windows as a substitute of ChromeOS).

Last ideas

It is also price noting that the Chromebook Plus x360 14c helps stylus enter. HP does not embrace a pen within the field; nonetheless, you should utilize any Common Stylus Initiative (USI) pen in the marketplace — like this one from HP.

To sum all of it up, you might not look after the Chromebook Plus x360 14c’s dim show and potato webcam. However its strong aluminum chassis, versatile postures (e.g., pill and tent modes), wide selection of ports, and incredible keyboard could go away you hooked.