Verdict
The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a superb 2-in-1 Chromebook. It supplies the very best of each worlds for a pill and laptop computer with a implausible show, in addition to good all-round efficiency, and a responsive keyboard. The port choice, nor battery life, isn’t probably the most spectacular, however in any other case, this can be a grand alternative.
Execs
- Beauty and construct
- Tactile keyboard
- Wonderful show
- Stable productiveness efficiency
Cons
- Meagre port choice
- Decrease battery life than anticipated
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2-in-1 gadgetThe HP Chromebook x2 11 works as each a pill and a laptop computer -
Compact touchscreen designIt additionally supplies a smaller 11-inch show that’s additionally a touchscreen and comes with a QHD decision -
Arm chip affords robust battery and efficiencyThe Chromebook X2 11 comes with a light-weight Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
Introduction
Generally, while you wish to purchase a 2-in-1 laptop computer, you need it to focus extra on the pill aspect than the laptop computer aspect – for HP’s crop of Chromebooks, that’s the place the Chromebook x2 11 comes into play.
For the sum of £499, it’ll give you efficiency to match equally specced laptop computer options with near-identical inside specs, however as a lot as it might supply a smaller 11-inch show, it really affords a giant improve in flexibility and performance.
With this in thoughts, to make it into our record of the very best Chromebooks, it’s acquired loads to dwell as much as, given the highest spot in its weight class being taken up by the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Can HP do the enterprise although, and take the highest spot? I’ve carried out some testing to search out out.
Design and Keyboard
- True 2-in-1 performance with further equipment
- Stable chassis
- Keyboard and trackpad are simply okay
Very similar to Lenovo’s personal providing on this area, the HP Chromebook x2 11 feels extra like a pill that’s had a hardcover and keyboard attachment bundled with it, versus a fully-fledged laptop computer. That turns into obvious even from once I opened the field and the gadget got here in just a few totally different items – a bonafide laptop computer this isn’t, that’s for positive.
Each covers connect to the pill portion individually, with the keyboard docking into place on the underside of the pill, whereas the separate cowl on the again provides each safety and an built-in stand for utilizing the Chromebook x2 11 as a laptop computer. The kickstand right here is okay and supplies first rate scope for adjusting the angle you’d just like the display screen to be, though it’s a disgrace that it doesn’t come built-in into the gadget itself.
The good thing about providing totally removable equipment although is that it means this gadget can be utilized as a correct pill, versus a half-hearted try at one with extra conventional 2-in-1 laptops. It additionally permits for the Chromebook x2 11 to be an particularly mild gadget, weighing in at simply 1.03kg all in (or 580g as simply the pill unit), which is two-thirds or so of equally priced ChromeOS-based laptops. This makes it particularly moveable, and a useful gadget you may sling right into a bag and whip out while you want it.
The pill portion of the Chromebook x2 11 feels strong in hand, providing an excellent match and end for the value. It’s costlier than the Chromebook Duet, and with a sandblasted aluminium shell, seeks to justify the value tag just a little extra. Against this, nonetheless, the keyboard attachment and rear cowl really feel just a little skinny and flimsy. On the plus aspect, they connect through magnets, and really feel safe when connected to the Chromebook x2 11, which means it received’t abruptly go from being a laptop computer to a pill any time quickly.
The pitfall of this being a pill nonetheless is the distinct lack of ports on supply. You get a complete of a pair of USB-C ports, one in all which is used for charging, in addition to a MicroSD reader. Equally priced choices typically add HDMI out to the social gathering, in addition to a USB-A, so to get a number of three ports, the place solely two of that are going for use in the event you’ve acquired the gadget on cost, is just a little little bit of a ache. For wider types of enlargement, chances are you’ll properly need to dwell the dongle life, in the event you select to choose one in all these up.
There may be additionally a pair of cameras current right here, too, with an 8MP snapper on the again, and a 5MP digital camera on the entrance. For probably the most half, outcomes are first rate sufficient, though photos in brighter mild with the rear digital camera can look just a little over-exposed.
The keyboard attachment is a recreation of two halves. Its keys supply strong journey and an honest stage of tactility, not like some extra inexpensive Chromebooks I’ve examined, however its squished-up format to suit into an eleven-inch pill chassis did depart me mis-hitting the backspace key each every now and then. What’s extra, the precise plastic used on the keyboard cowl feels just a little low cost and flimsy.
It’s a lot the identical story with the trackpad, too. The precise actual property afforded on your fingers is great for the value, though the buttons really feel just a little hole, and supply just a little little bit of tactile suggestions, however not a lot else.
Show and Sound
- Smaller show in comparison with different Chromebooks
- Good element with strong brightness and hues
- Skinny-sounding audio system
Often, it’s on the entrance of the show the place extra inexpensive laptops normally select to scrimp out. Nevertheless, being a pill, the show on the Chromebook x2 11 seems to have been the primary focus of HP’s gadget.
It might solely be an 11-inch show, which is diddy for a so-called laptop computer in 2023, however in any other case impressed with a QHD decision and a quoted 400 nits of brightness. In testing and in watching The Marvelous Mrs Maisel on Prime Video, this allowed for the Chromebook x2 11’s show to supply some glorious element and usually vibrant photos with strong colors.
On the aspect of the Chromebook x2 11, HP proudly professes to get the assistance of Bang and Olufsen for the audio system on this 2-in-1 Chromebook. As a lot as these audio system could have been tuned by the lads over at B&O, it isn’t the very best expertise. To my ears, they sound just a little skinny with a whole lot of mid-range, though carry loads of quantity with them.
Efficiency
- Snapdragon 7c supplies first rate efficiency for informal computing
- Stable RAM and storage mixture
- Fashionable wi-fi connectivity is helpful
Contained in the Chromebook x2 11, HP has bundled with it an Arm-based concoction of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor, the identical as is within the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 I took a take a look at a few years in the past.
As a lot as it might properly, due to this fact, be a chip that’s a few years previous, it nonetheless supplies the Chromebook x2 11 with sufficient energy to get by means of the day-to-day duties that it’s designed for. It didn’t falter once I opened a number of Chrome tabs and even operating Geekbench didn’t trigger this specific laptop computer to sound prefer it was in a wind tunnel. Nor did it get very hot – that is mirrored within the higher thermal efficiency that Arm-based processors have a tendency to supply over their extra normal x86 counterparts.
In comparison with the Spin 513, it affords barely higher efficiency, in addition to comfy beating off the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Whereas the numbers within the benchmarks aren’t earth-shattering, they nonetheless reveal the Chromebook x2 11 to be a reliable machine for the essential duties it’s designed for.
On this mannequin, I’ve additionally acquired the combo of 8GB of RAM, offering loads of headroom for multitasking, in addition to 128GB eMMC storage, offering sufficient capability for putting in a whole lot of apps. It might have been good to see precise strong state storage at this value, and choosing eMMC reminiscence appears just a little stingy. With ChromeOS coming with Google’s G-Suite of apps built-in, it’s additionally not such as you’re going to be storing a whole lot of precise recordsdata on right here, giving you extra space to muck round with.
It additionally supplies entry to a SIM card slot for including in a SIM card if you wish to hook the Chromebook x2 11 up to an information plan and apply it to the go, which is helpful – that’s one other advantage of being an Arm-based system. What’s extra, the Chromebook x2 11 additionally helps Wi-Fi 6 to permit for speedier connectivity to supported networks, which is all the time helpful.
Battery Life
- Lasted 8 hours and 16 minutes within the battery take a look at
- Able to lasting for one working day
HP quotes the Chromebook x2 11 to final for 11 hours, and usually, with Arm-based units, they have a tendency to supply up some glorious outcomes that oftentimes beat the quoted figures. When dialling the brightness right down to half and operating a video loop take a look at, that’s what I hoped for this Chromebook, too.
Nevertheless, this wasn’t to be the case, because it solely lasted for 8 hours and 16 minutes earlier than conking out. This doesn’t meet our normal 10-hour goal and is just a little disappointing. With this in thoughts, nonetheless, with a little bit of hypermiling, it is best to be capable to get the Chromebook x2 11 by means of a working day earlier than needing to achieve for the charger.
Newest offers
Must you purchase it?
You desire a implausible show
For the value, the QHD panel on the Chromebook x2 11 is great, providing good colors and marvellous element.
You need glorious endurance
If it’s all kinds of ports and glorious battery life you’re after although, chances are you’ll properly wish to take a look at a bigger various.
Ultimate Ideas
For a really very long time, Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet was the very best 2-in-1 Chromebook cash should buy. Nevertheless, I believe we could properly have a brand new contender right here with the HP Chromebook X2 11. It might be a bit costlier, but it surely represents a significant improve in comparison with Lenovo’s alternative.
It’s acquired a a lot nippier processor that gives a responsive expertise in day-to-day duties, as properly a very glorious show with an excellent touchscreen, strong element and nice colors. The keyboard attachment to show it right into a laptop computer is sweet too, with some tactile keys, which means it additionally retains up the opposite finish to the 2-in-1 cut price.
My solely actual points with it lie within the less-than-expected battery life, which is a bit disappointing, and the smaller port choice in comparison with extra full-size options. I assume that’s the sacrifice for choosing a tool that’s a pill first and a laptop computer second.
Nonetheless, the HP is a uncommon instance of a funds Chromebook not shirking on design and it’s, in the end, an ideal total funds laptop computer decide for that motive too. These contemplating a funds Home windows laptop computer who’re pleased with the constraints of ChromeOS ought to contemplate this Chromebook too. For a wider number of choices, contemplate our greatest Chromebooks and greatest funds laptops information.
How we take a look at
Each laptop computer we evaluation goes by means of a sequence of uniform checks designed to gauge key issues together with construct high quality, efficiency, display screen high quality and battery life.
These embrace formal artificial benchmarks and scripted assessments, plus a sequence of real-world checks, reminiscent of how properly it runs common apps.
We used as our fundamental laptop computer for no less than every week.
Examined the efficiency through each benchmark assessments and real-world use.
FAQs
A Chromebook is a particular sort of laptop computer that runs Google’s personal working system, ChromeOS. Against this, a laptop computer is a kind of pc designed for moveable use, and might run any working system, together with Home windows and macOS.
For PC gaming, the Chromebook x2 11 just isn’t a viable possibility. However, for recreation streaming and Android gaming, this HP 2-in-1 is greater than succesful.
