HP is relaunching its Chromebook x360 14 laptop lineup with the “14c” designation, delivering a new set of Intel processors, slimmer design, and biometric authentication on-board. That’s based on recent reports stemming from a somewhat quiet launch by the company. The biggest changes to the reworked 14-inch gadget stem from HP’s use of newer processors. Specifically, that’s Intel’s 10th-Gen processors. At the budget end, HP has opted to start with the Intel Pentium Gold chipset. But it also launched another variant, available now, packs a 10th-Gen Core i3-10110U. An Intel Core i5 variant is expected too but there’s no firm launch date for that.
Beyond that change, the first variant will pack 4GB RAM, compared to the 8GB found in the i3 Chromebook x360 14c. The latter chipset, coupled with DDR4-2666 RAM, should offer a powerful experience that’s more than capable of handling anything a user might want to do. Android apps and games for Chromebooks, as well as most Linux apps, should pose no problems at all.
Other major updates include the addition of a physical switch to activate a shutter that covers the webcam for privacy. Of course, that serves as a perfect accent to the newly-added fingerprint scanner HP is placing just below the arrow keys on the keyboard. Bang & Olufsen audio tuning has been a mainstay in Chromebooks from HP too and is making a return here as well. But this time, HP placed the upward-firing speakers to the left and right of the keyboard instead of above it.
Finally, HP is trimming some fat from the Chromebook x360 14c build. The bezels surrounding the display, in particular, have been cut back, resulting in an 88-percent screen-to-body ratio.
So what’s staying the same with the new HP Chromebook x360 14c?
Now, not everything about the new HP Chromebook x360 14c is going to be new. The full-size island-style keyboard should be familiar to anybody who has used previous models and features backlighting. On the edges surrounding that keyboard, meanwhile, users will find the usual ports as well. Here, that’s two USB Type-C ports, a single USB-A standard port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.
Under the hood, 64GB of storage is in place. And users will find Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 support to ensure connectivity is at its best.
HP has changed up the coloration with this Chromebook x360 14, opting for a Mineral Gray metal lid and keyboard. It’s given that a sandblasted finish for a more refined aesthetic. But weight is fairly consistent at 3.64lbs.
Like previous iterations of the HP Chromebook x360 14, the 1920 x 1080 FHD IPS touch panel is a 14-inch display. And it’s rated at 250 nits. HP’s imagery associated with the gadget showcases a pen-style stylus as well. So the display does support pen inputs but it isn’t immediately clear if that’s universal stylus support or proprietary. Previous x360 models have supported the USI styli, so it would make sense for the feature to appear here.
Pricing and availability
As noted above, there are two variations of the refreshed HP Chromebook x360 14 — designated as the 14c. That includes one variant with a 10th Gen Intel Pentium Gold 6405U processor and another with an Intel Core i3-10110U. The former is coupled with a respectable and, at least for Chromebooks, usable 4GB RAM. HP paired the latter variant with a more capable 8GB RAM. The cost of the new Chromebook is going to vary, as a result.
For the Pentium-equipped model, users can expect to pay $499. That will make it a solid offering for users who need something more basic but doesn’t appear to be landing at retail just yet. Conversely, the Intel Core i3 variation is already available via Best Buy. HP has priced it at $629. Now, these devices are also noted as having an end-of-life date — when they will stop receiving automatic firmware updates — of June 2028. So that does add a bit of value despite the pricing being slightly above what might otherwise generally be expected from a Chrome OS device.
