🏷️ Best Budget
Right, let's be honest about something straight away — when you see a 15.6-inch laptop for £199, your first instinct is probably suspicion. We get it. We've all been burned by bargain-basement laptops that promise the world and deliver something that struggles to open a web browser without having a minor breakdown.
But here's the thing with the HP Chromebook 15.6" — it's not trying to be something it isn't. HP have built what they reckon is a proper everyday laptop for people who need to get stuff done without breaking the bank. We've been using it for a couple of weeks now, and honestly? It's surprised us in some ways whilst confirming our suspicions in others.
The headline specs are straightforward enough: Intel N100 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, and Chrome OS doing the heavy lifting. It's aimed squarely at students, remote workers, and anyone who lives mainly in their web browser. The question is whether it actually delivers on that promise.
Unboxing the HP Chromebook feels reassuringly normal. No nasty surprises, no corner-cutting that's immediately obvious. The mineral silver finish looks smart enough for a work meeting, and the build quality is genuinely better than we expected for the price point. It's not going to win any design awards, but it doesn't feel like it'll fall apart if you look at it sideways either.
The 15.6-inch display is where you start to see the compromises, though. It's HD rather than Full HD, which means 1366x768 resolution. That's absolutely fine for documents and web browsing, but if you're used to crisp, high-res screens, this will feel a bit soft around the edges. Still, the colours are decent enough, and we found it perfectly usable for everything from spreadsheets to YouTube videos.
Here's where the HP Chromebook genuinely impressed us. That Intel N100 processor paired with 4GB of LPDDR5 memory delivers exactly what Chrome OS needs — no more, no less. We had 15 browser tabs open, Spotify running in the background, and Google Docs loaded up without any noticeable lag. Try that on a similarly-priced Windows laptop and you'd be waiting around for everything to catch up.
Chrome OS is the secret sauce here. It's lightweight, boots up in seconds, and updates happen seamlessly in the background. If you're someone who lives in Gmail, Google Drive, and streaming services, this thing just works. We particularly liked how quickly it wakes from sleep — press a key and you're back to work instantly.
The claimed 11.5 hours of battery life? We got closer to 9-10 hours with mixed use, which is still brilliant for the price. Perfect for a full day at uni or working from various coffee shops without hunting for plug sockets.
Gaming isn't really the point here, but we did try some browser-based games and they ran fine. The dual speakers are surprisingly decent too — not audiophile quality, but perfectly adequate for video calls or background music whilst you work.
No laptop is perfect, especially not at this price, and the HP Chromebook has a few limitations worth mentioning. That 4GB of RAM is absolutely the minimum you'd want — it handles everyday tasks fine, but if you're the sort of person who has 30 browser tabs open simultaneously, you might hit some walls.
The keyboard feels a bit mushy compared to more expensive laptops, though it's perfectly usable for longer typing sessions. The trackpad does the job but isn't particularly inspiring — we found ourselves reaching for a mouse fairly often.
And here's the big one: you're locked into Chrome OS. If you need specific Windows or Mac software for work, this isn't going to cut it. It's brilliant for web-based work, but if you need Photoshop, proper Office applications, or industry-specific software, you'll need to look elsewhere.
The HP Chromebook 15.6" makes perfect sense for three types of people. First, students who need something reliable for research, essays, and online learning — the battery life alone makes it brilliant for all-day campus use. Second, remote workers whose job revolves around email, video calls, and cloud-based tools. And third, anyone who wants a proper-sized laptop for general home use without spending silly money.
It's also a great choice if you're buying for an older relative who just wants to browse the web, check emails, and video call the grandkids. Chrome OS is refreshingly simple and secure.
The HP Chromebook 15.6" does exactly what it says on the tin — delivers solid everyday computing for people who live in their web browser. At £199, it's genuinely good value if you understand what you're buying. Just make sure Chrome OS fits your needs before you commit.
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