HP Chromebook 13 Reviews, Specs and Price: New 13.3-Inch Laptop Available for $500

Apr 29, 2016 11:56 AM EDT

HP and Google recently released a slim, all-metal laptop that boats high-tech features. With starting price of $499, Chromebook 13 is an impressive machine that is perfect for anyone who uses a browser and web apps for the majority of their work. Now, here's what is currently known about HP Chromebook 13 reviews, specs and price.

A review from the Verge says the Chromebook 13 has a neat design and feels good to hold. The laptop is also thin and light, and it is an eye-catcher when placed beside other Chromebooks. Its display is good even in a bright environment. In addition, its speakers are surprisingly loud for being inside a 13.3-inch laptop.

Furthermore, the $499 base model is powered by a 1.5GHz Intel Core M. Tech experts say a Core M-derived Pentium has the capacity to deliver stronger performance than the Atom-derived Celerons. To compliment that CPU, HP also installed 4GB of 1866MHz DDR3 RAM on the Chromebook 13.

Many reviewers say Chromebook 13 has similar dimensions to the 13-inch MacBook Air. HP's new laptop only weighs 2.8 pounds and has half an inch thickness. However, it is better than MacBook in terms of ports: Two USB-C, one full-size USB, and a headphone hole.

In terms of display, Chromebook 13's QHD screen is gorgeous, plus the Type-C ports can be used for display output. However, the laptop does not have a touchscreen, and there's no touchscreen option available. Good thing, its full-size keyboard is clicky and feels good to use, and the multitouch trackpad seems pretty good, as per reports from Wired.

Officials from HP claim the laptop has 11 hours of battery life with a single charge.

Aside from the base model, buyers can also choose the $599 model, which has 900MHz (2.2GHz Turbo) Core m3-6Y30, partnered with 4GB of RAM and 3200×1800 display. For those who want more, the top-spec model offers Core m7-6Y75 and 16GB. It is available for $1,029.

All models of Chromebook 13 has 32GB of eMMC storage, 867Mbps 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port.

HP officials say Chromebook 13 is primarily aimed at business and enterprise customers. The laptop's features are designed to boost the productivity of its users. The Palo Alto-based tech company says the shipping of Chromebook 13 will start next month.