Appearence
The first impression when looking at the HP 13 Chromebook is the aluminum “plate” of the machine. Aluminum is always the material that honors the superior appearance of the product. And this Chromebook is no exception. At first glance, you can see the Chromebook HP 13 with a faint hint of a new MacBook. Not considered “inside”, for $ 499, you own a beautiful notebook so this is a bargain.
Display
One of the standout things about the HP Chromebook 13 is the 13.3-inch QHD+ display (3200 x 1800) , using an IPS panel. Honestly the high resolution screen looks crisp and lively , so it works great for lots of stuff, like simple web browsing , watching videos, or even tinkering with photo edits . The color output is pretty impressive too, with deep , vivid shades that make everything feel more engaging.
Since it’s an IPS setup, you get wide viewing angles , meaning you can look at the screen from different spots without really seeing that annoying color shift or weird distortion. Brightness is also solid, and for most indoor situations it’s more than enough. Plus the anti-glare coating does a decent job of cutting down reflections , so using it in a bright room feels a bit easier.
And the touchscreen? it’s responsive, and the touches land where you expect them to. This adds a lot to day to day usability , whether you’re scrolling through web pages, zooming on images, or using apps that rely on touch. Overall it feels smooth, and kind of intuitive, like you just know what it’s going to do.
Keyboard – touch – connect
As I said before, the HP 13 Chromebook looks like a MacBook, but its keyboard is much better than the Macbook. The keys of the typewriter are very “like”. The soft and responsive keypress, which gives the feel of the keystroke very “did”, does not require much power. Not to mention, the keys of the HP 13 Chromebook are made of soft plastic, which adds to the typing experience on the Chromebook 13.
Trackpad of the machine is not large size. The surface of the trackpad is a bit flaky, because when you slide your finger on the touch pad it will feel very “hard to describe”. The sensitivity of the trackpad on the HP 13 Chromebook is also among the top of the market – comparable to the MacBook Air and Toshiba Chromebook 2.
USB-C becomes the standard for peripheral connectivity devices, and the HP Chromebook 13 is no exception. On the body you will find a USB-A and two USB-C ports, a headphone jack and a microSD card reader that integrates with the HP TrueVision HD camera. Bang & Olufsen speakers are on the top row so the sound is quite loud and clear, towards the user. However, you will be able to hear treble more than bass.
Connectivity and Ports
The HP Chromebook 13 kinda offers a pretty solid range of ports and connectivity choices, and it fits what most modern users need. On the left side of the device you get a USB Type-C port, a headphone/microphone combo jack and also a microSD card slot. On the right side there is another USB Type-C port plus a USB 3.0 port, which is useful.
Having two USB Type-C ports is, honestly a big win since you can juggle charging, file movement, and even hook up an external display without too much hassle. The USB 3.0 port brings quicker data movement for outside storage gear, and the microSD card slot makes it simple to expand what’s inside for extra space.
For wireless, this Chromebook supports Wi-Fi 802.11ac along with Bluetooth 4.2 , so internet access and connected accessories stay dependable. Overall the Wi-Fi is pretty solid, you can expect stable connections for web browsing, video streaming, and online teamwork stuff.
Audio quality
The audio quality on the HP Chromebook 13 is pretty decent, mainly because of the Bang & Olufsen tuned speakers . You get stereo speakers, placed underneath, and they do a clear and sharp job for casual listening. Now, don’t expect huge low end , or loud output that fills a room, but for watching videos , enjoying music, or hopping on video calls , they are honestly enough.
If you want a more pleasant audio feel, it’s a good idea to pair the laptop with headphones or even external speakers. There is a headphone/microphone combo jack, so it works with lots of different audio accessories, and that usually means better sound for music, films, and other media.
The built in microphone also holds up nicely for video calls and voice recording. It captures voices with minimal background noise , so you’re not fighting constant hiss. Along with the HD webcam, the HP Chromebook 13 becomes a practical choice for online classes and virtual meetings.
Configuration
The machine is equipped with Intel Core M5 processor, integrated Intel HD Graphics 515 graphics (GPU), with 4GB of RAM. The machines start very fast, running smoothly, without hearing the noise of the fan while running. Switching between applications is very smooth by pressing Alt-Tab. HP says the Chromebook 13’s life can last up to eight hours. However, during the test, the machine used an average of about 7 hours.
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Storage capacity
Like other Chromebook series, the storage capacity of the machine is very limited. The Chromebook HP 13 comes with a 32GB eMMC Flash drive, but honestly the real power of ChromeOS is in the Google Drive cloud service . When you turn it on and get everything activated, you’ll receive a free 100GB Google Drive plan for 2 years.
Performance
Like other devices running Chrome OS, you will not be able to use normal desktop applications; instead, you can navigate to the Google store to download applications. This has caused some difficulties for new users. However, if you use it for a while you will see how great the Chrome OS operating system is. Some useful applications include Autodesk Pixlr Touch Up, Caret Text Editor, and Chrome Remote Desktop. In addition, Google has improvements in the design of a standard user interface for Chromebooks. For example, the new launcher application icon and the Chrome browser interface are designed in the Material Design style.
Some Android apps can now be installed on the HP 13 Chromebook. You will be able to place Uber cars from your computer, or post photos to Instagram. According to Google, many of the new Android apps will be updated and used on new Chromebooks like this Chromebook HP 13.
Software and Features
The HP Chromebook 13 runs on Chrome OS, which is this pretty lightweight, quite user-friendly operating system that Google made. Chrome OS is supposed to feel fast and safe and simple, with that typical angle towards web based software and cloud storage. Also it gets updated pretty often , so the Chromebook stays protected and current with the newest options.
A big plus of Chrome OS is how well it ties in with Google services, like Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Classroom. With those, you can reach documents , apps and stuff from basically anywhere, which helps you work faster and also makes teamwork a little easier. The Chromebook can also cope with Android apps, like from the Google Play Store , so it becomes more than just a browser. You end up with quite a few options for productivity, downtime, and even hands-on creative work.
On the HP Chromebook 13 you’ll already find a handful of essentials, including the Chrome browser, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Keep. So most everyday needs are covered , from email and web surfing to quick note taking and keeping track of what to do.
Then there is the whole 2 in 1 vibe, with the crisp high resolution touchscreen and that flexible hinge setup. It feels useful, because you can jump between modes like laptop, tablet, tent, and stand mode, depending on what you are doing or not doing. The display response is really solid though, so touch gestures feel smooth and natural, not laggy, or kind of stiff.
Security and Privacy
Security is pretty much a must for any computing device, and the HP Chromebook 13 does really well here. Chrome OS is built with security front and center, so it brings in multiple layers of protection to help keep both user data and personal privacy safe. The system has built in antivirus and malware defense, plus automatic updates that keep things current, and a verified boot process that helps confirm the system integrity , like it checks itself before things fully run.
There’s also the user profile support which is useful, because it lets several people share the same device without dragging everyone’s privacy together. Each person can use their own profile with separate settings, different applications, and separate files. So in practice you get a more secured and more tailored experience, not just one shared mess.
On top of that, the HP Chromebook 13 includes a fingerprint reader. This makes it possible to log in fast and securely with just a simple touch . Using biometric authentication like that makes unauthorized access a lot harder, since the device can’t just be tricked as easily.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.