HP Chromebook 14 review: One of the first AMD Chromebooks, tested

AMD wants to participate in the craze for Chromebooks. Some manufacturers, including HP, Acer and Lenovo, announced this year the AMD-equipped Chromebooks at CES, and these devices are just starting to be available. Intel processors are available on most Chromebooks available today, but individual and enterprise customers will now be able to choose from a small, but growing, group of AMD devices.

Unsurprisingly, HP's Chromebook 14 with AMD processors and Radeon's integrated graphics are targeted at the largest group in the Chromebook market – those who are looking for a low-power Chrome OS device to use at home or at home. school. Starting at $ 269, this Chromebook is not intended to compete with Google's Pixelbook or the more sophisticated Chromebooks that appeal to professionals. Since the new Chromebook 14 borrows a lot from previous models, we've tested it to see the potential gains of an AMD-powered Chromebook over Intel-based devices.

Look and feel

Manufacturers have been improving the appearance of their Chrome OS devices for two years as the simplified operating system gained popularity outside the education system. However, HP's Chromebook 14 is one of the most traditional Chromebooks I have ever used. It's a plastic piece not too big, not too small that will fit nicely into most family living rooms. At around 3.5 pounds, this is not the lightest Chromebook of all time, but it seems to be similar to other inexpensive Chromebooks in terms of thickness and weight. I appreciate the fact that HP has designed this machine without a fan, which allows it to remain silent even when performing our most difficult performance tests.

Specifications in a nutshell: HP Chromebook 14 (AMD, as revised)
Screen	14 inch WLED 14 inch backlit touch screen
BONE	Chrome OS
CPU	AMU A4-9120C APU
RAM	4GB
Hard disk	32GB
GPU	Integrated Radeon R4 graphics
Networking	Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174A-5 802.11a / b / g / ac 2 × 2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® 4.2
The ports	2 x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (Charging, Power, Video, Data), 2 x USB-A 2.0 Gen 1, 1 x Headphone / Microphone
Cut	13.27 × 8.93 × 0.72 inches
Weight	3.4 pounds
Drums	2 cells, 47.36Whr
Starting price	$ 269
Revised price	$ 329

The keyboard and palm rest area have a smooth metal panel that dramatically improves the quality of the machine, but I would like the entire Chromebook to be made of a material such as Acer's Chromebook 14. AMD models are available in white, black and midnight blue. We received a review unit in this last color and I enjoyed the level of sophistication added to the design.

Apart from the keyboard and trackpad, only the thin grille of the speaker rests above the keys of the metal part of the device, beneath which are the speakers Bang and Olufsen. Most HP laptops are equipped with B & O speakers, and they are perfectly suited to hold a small concert on the desk while working. They are not powerful enough to occupy more than a small room and they are not of sufficient quality to satisfy you. entertain others with them.

The Chromebook hinge bends 180 degrees, which can be helpful if parents and kids need to collaborate on school projects or homework. Customers have the option of using 14-inch HD or FHD panels, available in tactile and non-tactile variants. A touch screen is not as necessary on this device as on a convertible Chromebook, but it will be useful if you plan to tilt this screen often in order to physically share it with other people. Unless you prioritize affordability first, I would not recommend an HD panel because, considering that FHD has become the norm on most laptops, monitors and TVs, you will probably notice the difference immediately.

It is also difficult to offer HD panel options with a machine powered by AMD. We'll discuss it in more detail in the next sections, but HP has not clearly explained why he decided to create AMD Chromebooks. Besides feeling "that's it's high time," when launching the Chromebook 14, HP representatives said that AMD's processor / graphics processor combinations would produce better graphics performance that would lead to better video viewing and editing experiences. If this is true, I would like a display panel capable of rendering properly the work produced by the AMD APUs. It just would not be an HD sign.

Our review unit had a 14-inch FHD touchscreen that was as responsive as expected. It has a glossy coating, so it will not be the best to use in full sun, however. An HD webcam sits on top of the screen and a two-microphone bay helps your voice to speak clearly when chatting on video.

Inside the Chromebook 14, in addition to the AMD APU, you have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage (it can be configured to reach 64GB). HP has blocked a correct number of ports on the edges of the Chromebook 14: two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports supporting power, data transfer and charging, a microSD card, a headphone jack and a lock.

Keyboard and trackpad

A 14-inch laptop has enough space for a comfortable keyboard. HP has made sure to install one on this Chromebook. The keyboard of Chromeboook 14 is one of my favorites that I used: its click keys allow a good displacement and their spacing is quite appropriate. The key covers may appear to be steeper, but they require an average force of 58 g to be operated, so you do not accidentally press unwanted keys.

I particularly like the fact that the keys correspond to the color of the laptop so that the whole machine has a consistent appearance. As a person who spends hours typing every day, I could have easily made the Chromebook 14 my main computer for his keyboard alone. I only want the keyboard to be backlit – its absence makes it much less useful when working in dark environments.

The trackpad, however, is just enough. It's a bit too narrow for my taste, but it's roomy enough so that my fingers do not slip. While the keyboard is not sophisticated but rather comfortable, the trackpad emits audible hollow clicks when you press it. I did not expect to much differ from a budget-reduced Chromebook, but you'll certainly feel different if you're used to the smooth tracking glass blocks that we find on most Ultrabooks .