HP announces high-end Chromebook 13, pricing starts at $500

Cheap and basic is the name of the game when it comes to Chromebooks. The vast majority of these Google-powered laptops are priced well under $350, leaving few options for those looking for a more premium Chromebook experience. If you are craving something a bit more upscale, the HP Chromebook 13 could be exactly what you’re looking for.

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Up until now, the only truly high-end Chromebook was the Pixel, but with a starting price of $1000, Google’s flagship laptop is a bit out of reach for many users. The Chromebook 13 provides a happy midpoint between the Pixel and the sub-$350 fare, packing an all metal design and rather beefy specs.

At the lowest end of the spectrum, you’re getting a Pentium class chip, but there are also configurations that will include an Intel Core M Skylake processor with up to 16GB RAM, a battery rated for 11.5 hours use, and a 13.3-inch display with a resolution up to 3200 x 1800. You’ll also find all the usual suspects like a USB 3.0 port, 2 USB Type-C ports, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and other standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi.

Pricing is going to vary a lot here, but at the lowest end the HP Chromebook 13 will cost $499. Pricing isn’t fully confirmed for the higher-end configurations but we’d expect pricing to go up to the $1000 mark. We’ll update once we have clearer confirmation on the costs for the more advanced configurations.

The Chromebook 13 will open up for pre-orders today, though it’s not expected to start shipping until sometime in May. Is it worth picking up? Depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re keen on the idea of the Chromebook series but want something a bit higher-end, this model makes sense and could be perfect for pairing with Crouton. With Google gearing up to bring even more Android apps to Chrome OS, a high-end performer could make even more sense in the months to come, though it’s worth noting that this Chromebook does not offer a touchscreen in any of its configurations.

What do you think of the Chromebook 13? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.