- HP announced five new Chromebooks aimed at teachers and students who teach and study from home.
- The screens of the devices range from 11 to 14 inches with Intel and MediaTek silicon.
HP is launching a variety of Chromebooks to help teachers and students through the pandemic. A total of five devices with Google's Chrome OS and a variety of silicon from MediaTek to Intel arrive.
The company's goal is to provide the education sector with robust machines that can withstand abuse and the demands of the pandemic. HP states that each machine has been tested "on 1,000 wipes" with normal household disinfectant wipes.
HP Chromebook 14 G7: Class leader
At the top of the list is the teacher-centric Chromebook 14 G7. The device also has a MIL-STD-810H rating with a spill-proof keyboard.
In terms of hardware, it has a 14-inch touch or non-touch display with a 180-degree hinge. You also have the choice between 1,366 x 768 or 1,920 x 1,080 resolutions. The computer is powered by the Intel Celeron N5100 or N4500 chipsets with up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of eMMC storage. A 47W battery can be charged with a 45W USB-C charger. Finally, Wi-Fi 6, dual microphones, and a wide-angle webcam complete the home teaching checklist.
HP Chromebook x360: Intel and MediaTek variants
For students, HP is expanding its offering with two convertible Chromebooks. While both Chromebook x360 11 devices have 360-degree hinges that can be used to convert them into tablets, there are some key internal differences.
also read: The best Chromebooks for students
The Chromebook x360 11 G4 EE uses an Intel Celeron N5100 or N4500 chipset and an 11.6-inch display with a size of 1,366 x 768. It also offers up to 8 GB of RAM with up to 64 GB of eMMC storage. Two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports provide Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and a 47 Wh battery. The package is rounded off by a 720p camera for video calls, an 8MP rear camera, two microphones and two speakers. The x360 G4 EE also includes support for HP's USI Garaged Pen for artists.
The other x360 machine from HP swaps Intel silicon for MediaTek. The Chromebook x360 11 MK G3 EE contains the same 11.6-inch IPS display, RAM and storage configurations, and a 47 Wh battery as its Intel counterpart, but instead contains a MediaTek MT8183 chipset. This gives the machine a stated battery life of up to 16 hours. It also offers Wi-Fi 5 connectivity, a single microphone, HD video camera, and a single USB-C port.
HP Chromebook 11 series
HP is also introducing an 11-inch Chromebook duo in the MediaTek and Intel variants. The Chromebook 11 G9 EE has a solid body, Celeron N5100 or N4500 SoCs, up to 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage. In addition, the standard 47 Wh battery is equipped with USB-C charging smart devices. In addition to two USB-A ports, a headphone jack and a microSD card reader, two USB-C ports are available. Wi-Fi 6 support also has features.
The Chromebook 11 MK G9 EE includes the MediaTek MT8183 chipset, which also gives this device up to 16 hours of battery life, but sacrifices Wi-Fi 6 for Wi-Fi 5. Again, a large part of its data sheet is shared with the x360 11 MK G3 Bar, the tablet-transforming hinge.
HP Chromebooks: availability
Although pricing information isn't available yet, HP has announced when the five latest Chromebooks will go on sale.
The two MediaTek products - the Chromebook 11 MK G9 EE and the Chromebook x360 11 MK G3 EE - will go on sale later this month. The Chromebook 11 G9 EE and Chromebook 14 G7 are expected to be available in February. If you need an Intel-based Chromebook x360, you'll have to wait until March.
