HP Chromebook 15a: Cheapest Chromebook Plus? (2023) 

Thanks Andrew. Yes, I can't imagine there's a cheaper way to get a Chromebook Plus Spec Chromebook right now, at least not in the UK. Although the 'a' range from HP is generally more entry level, the spec. of the core internals say otherwise here!

Hi, no not on this particular model and I don't believe it's an option on the range. I have a playlist of Chomebook's I reviewed with back-lit keyboards here - ru-vid.com/group/PLNSLoCmFMc8rW8u50RD4fDlVMVVLDnq0J

Thanks very much for this comment and recognising that. Currys Clearnce ebay store are really decent. They tend to under promise and over deliver (quite literally!). I ordered it late on the morning of Black Friday and selected the free postage option which they showed as Royal Mail. They actually used DPD and it delivered Saturday(!) I wanted to get this video made as soon as I could so it could go live while there's still some stock so it may help a viewer. I've seen today Quidco are offering 20 percent cashback (if you opt in) as well as allowing the eBay 20 percent off code! Even more value!

@@MergeDroid Damnit! Couldn't resist a punt and the Quidco deal pushed me over the edge! I've effectively been using a MacBook Air as a Chromebook - GMail and webapps only - so I look forward to seeing how this one works! Thanks for the tip!

That's brilliant. Glad the video helped. It'd be great to hear if/how the cashback tracks and at what amount. I assume it'll be 20 percent of the £166 so effectively around £33 meaning a cost of £133, hopefully. As I say it's not a premium device by any means, but the internal specs can't be denied and having the Chromebook Plus features at this price is really nice. I'd expect they add to them in the future too.

@@jabonorte Hope yours has arrived and you're liking it?

@@MergeDroid Amazing buy - thanks again for the tip, especially the Quidco part. Absolutely immaculate laptop - like they just switched to a brown box - and delivered in 24 hours. Was keen to try the N305 chip and this worked out half the price of a similarly specced Windows Mini PC. Geekbench 6 was interesting: slightly slower than a Win 11 N100 mini on single core (basically the same core anyway) but about 400 faster on multicore and about 50% faster Vulkan score. Admittedly, this is the Android app, but it definitely feels pretty responsive. Look forward to hearing what you think.

Hi - Chromebook keyboards have a top row of special function keys that let you do things quickly and easily like take a screenshot. However, if you're docked with a 'Windows' keyboard as the only input method you'd instead you'd click down by the clock in ChromeOS and one of the options there is the screen capture/record. You can see how that works in my video here in the first example - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YlE6FSikBEM.html (it's focused on screen recording, but you'll see I show the screen capture is in the same menu).

UK Chromebook and keyboard layout, they've just packed a lot in as I mention in the video, so many function keys on that top row 😎 Of course this one has the number pad too. One of the quick ways to identify if it's a UK or US (or other international) keyboard is to look at the 2 key. On the UK layout like this one the alternate character on it will be " whereas on the US layout it's @

Hi - thanks for the question and checking the video out. I'd say a 15.6 inch Chromebook like this might be a bit large for younger kids, esp. if they may be travelling to school with it etc? Equally it offers a lot of screen real estate if they're going to be using it for a long period and perhaps don't need to travel with it. Related to that do you have any preference on: 1. The size? 2. Does it need to be convertible? 3. Whether it's touchscreen or not? 4. Would you consider a refurbished (often like new llke this HP seemed) Chromebook? Thanks!

@@MergeDroid they won't be traveling with it to school it will be for homework, research and down time As I'm planning on getting them one each I'm wondering if this size would suit the 13 year old and a 11 inch for the 9 year old 🤔. They have only used touch screen decives in the past so I do think it would be an adjustment to not be but it's not a Must for us. Would be more than happy to buy refurbished altho I wouldn't trust my own judgement as I did this years ago for a family friend and when it arrived it basically wasn't usable as it was just so old. If I can find my way to a up to date refurbed I'd be happy to go down that route. I have no idea what convertible means in the sense of these so I'll go with no doesn't need to be 🤣. I am utterly uncool and not remotely tech savvy Thank you for taking the time to reply

@@motherofwarriors456 Thanks and no problem - pleased to help here. If you are on X/Twitter, it's worth giving me a follow there as I post Chromebook deals when they come up. Are you looking to buy in the coming weeks before school starts in September? If you can, it might be worth holding on for the next ebay voucher, which I expect will come up before then. This video shows how I maximise savings with those and other methods to try and get the best spec for a lower price - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BMKaVNvh-hA.html In terms of a convertible Chromebook, it means one that will have a 360 hinge, so you can fold the screen back on itself against the bottom of the Chromebook and use it in tablet mode - get an idea with a Chromebook like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nc6RMm7Z9JQ.html

@@motherofwarriors456 UPDATE - Not sure if you can see my posts on X, but I've just posted a few deals. May not suit you, but will give some idea of what's out there right now - 1.) If you could go without the touchscreen there's a 14 inch Acer 314 (Celeron N4500 and 8GB RAM) 'Very Good - Refurbished' for £95 now, I paid £100 a few weeks back. Even if it's just to get an idea, can see my unboxing ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VtcLeh5tqXg.html and/or full review ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o-ejh-mB0JQ.html 2.) Again, no touch screen but another 14 inch option - Lenovo Slim 3i Chromebook Plus, Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB, 'Very Good - Refurbished', £160.49 on ebay UK from ElectricalDeals 3 available / 1 sold. Search item: 326107550344 Same model as in my review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DN8IGSkhMV4.html This is a more powerful and newer option that #1 and also feature the 'Chromebook Plus' software and hardware benefits. A good option for your older child I'd think (but again, no touch screen). If you like the look of this one, you can often find a spec with 256GB and a backlit keyboard for not too much more. 3.) Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 11" detachable Chromebook, 'Very good refurb' £166.99 from on ebay UK. 8B RAM / 128GB storage, Snapdragon 7c Gen 2. Search item no. 204722614394 This meets your touch requirements, but my concern would be as it's smaller and a detachable keyboard it won't get great for hours on end of use - but could appeal to your younger child(?) I don't have a video myself but lots out there. Just make sure you find the Duet 3 (not 5) and 11 inch with the Snapdragon processor. Did you also see the example of the convertible Chromebook I linked in a previous reply? Let me know what you think of it, I can see some refurbs over £200 if it appeals as 12.2 inches and is touch and convertible. All these options I'm recommending have 8GB RAM, I'd definitely try and aim for that for the best performance/future proofing.

@@MergeDroid this is such fantastic and thoughtful information thank you so much for this! I don't have X but I was going to attempt to create a profile (once I'd put children to bed and finished house work 🤣) I think overlooking the touch screen will make the older child feel more grown up, they have only had amazon fire tablets in the past. All of these sound like fantastic option. Once I have my chores done I will read through, watch your suggested videos and narrow down the options. Thank you again for this thought and effort It's very much appreciated

Just answered in my other reply to you 👍

All depends what you pay though. I think I did very well with this one. Did you buy it recently? Get as good price? Glad you like it.

@@MergeDroid I paid $200.00. (HP Chromebook 15a-nb0013dx

That's with the Intel N200 processor. 8GB and 64gb storage? The chassis is the same as the one I have in this video?

@@MergeDroid Absolutely.

Nice, that's sounds like a good price! Sadly won't make the 'Chromebook Plus' spec. but the N200 (and N100) seem like great processors. I have the N100 in the latest gen Flex 3i (video on the channel). Hopefully next year I'll pickup a Chromebook with the N200 for review. Enjoy yours.

Thanks. Will likely be out in the early new year after I've daily driven it a bit longer. If there's anything you'd like to know in the mean time just let me know and I can give my current assessment.

which micro SD memory is the best for this chromebook

@@user-nm1gq1sn8v Something like a Sandisk Ultra (say 128GB) is always a good bet - amzn.to/3RW3Zh9 (my affiliate link). If you're looking to constantly write/re-write to it, you might want to consider a more endurance focused card, e.g. amzn.to/3RKt4va (my affiliate link). Hope this helps.

Ah, that's one of the Celeron baded models? Where are you based? Glad you've found the channel though, hope you'll consider subscribing.

Do you know what software you plan to use if it was a Chromebook? I'm starting to look at Lumafusion. I think you need to decide that first to understand if a Chromebook will do what you need. Then I'd say selecting from one of the Chromebook Plus models would certainly be a good choice, I'm got some others on the channel you can check out. In particular the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, if you can get the config with the touchscreen it's got excellent colour reproduction, that could be another desirable for video editing?

@@MergeDroid thank you for replying i don’t know anything about laptops i just need one that can handle video editing as i’m starting college soon and of course have a small budget i appreciate the help i’m going to do more research (:

@ThatOneGuy69960 no problem. Maybe get some recommend requirements from the college and ask what software and OS they typically use or require? You definitely can video edit on a Chromebook, but your choice of software will be more limited and what it can handle will be too. It depends on the level too, like are you likely to have masses of 4k video to edit or just some smaller 1080p stuff. As well as Lumafusion you can use cloud based editors like Capcut, which say for editing a RU-vid Short style video is probably fine, but may need some more research and consideration for something more heavy. I'm obviously a massive Chromebook fan, but myself still using my Windows machine for my editing. I am as mentioned though planning to look into Lumafusion on one of my Chromebook Plus models as my editing needs in the grand scheme of things are pretty basic and I'd of course love to carry out more of my work flow in ChromeOS and also be able to give more guidance to questions like your one.

Yes, you could use something like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PMQnSA7eHXw.html

It updated with the 'Chromebook Plus' boot screen and alert on the new features for me after the first login/restart today. Which model Lenovo IdeaPad do you have?

@@MergeDroid it has core i5 with 8gb ram and 256gb ssd

@@MergeDroid I've been looking out for the update but it's not there yet

@@MergeDroid IdeaPad 5 Chrome 14ITL6. Thanks

@@namrofni6236 Is the processor 12th gen or above? Does it have the full HD webcam too? Do you have the model number? If you check the buying video I did on this HP 15a (linked in the pinned comment) in that video in the description I link to the Google article showing all the eligible models for the Chromebook Plus update, check it's listed. I just assumed they'd all get the update like this HP has, possible there's some manufacturer level control I guess.

Hi, no the UFS memory is soldered to the board.

Hi, not sure if you got to watch, but 3:02

You saw what I showed with Real Racing 3? Any particular games you're thinking of?

@@MergeDroid i saw nothing, no fps indication nothing.

OK, sorry if what you needed wasn't covered.

It's the Core i3-N305 which yes is technically 12rh gen, part of the Alder Lake line up. Hope that helps?

@@MergeDroid is there a big difference between 1215u and N305?

@@MergeDroid basically trying to decide between acer 515, or hp 15a. Getting HP for $50 less, so not sure if it's worth paying more for the acer.

@@Thefilmyfamily786 Hi, yup it's a good consideration. Have you seen my review of the ASUS CX34 Chromebook Plus? It's here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-O6w07enZFw4.html That features the Intel Core i3-1215U In that review I include a side by side comparison whilst browsing on the Lenovo Slim 3i Chromebook Plus that features the Core i3-N305 e.g. the same processor as in this HP 15a Chromebook Plus. You'll see the difference between them is there for general use, but it's not like I think you'd notice unless you had them both side by side and I don't think you'd find the N305 flow in those general use use cases. If you use a lot of apps and games, perhaps you'll notice it more. Naturally there is also some trade off with battery life, with the i3-N305 systems being a bit gentler on it. Keep in mind as I describe in my reviews for the relevant Chromebooks, those with the 'regular' 12th gen processors will stop getting ChromeOS updates in June 2032 (AUE date) vs those with the Core i3-N305 in June 2033 (AUE date). If you haven't seen my review of the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 it's here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2uIdgiHi6-w.html Keep in mind as I describe there I have a 13th Gen Core i3 in that one, Core i3-1315U.

@@MergeDroid you have been a big help, I need it for editing my videos on cyberlink power director app and I think for that n305 should work just fine.

Not sure if you got cut off there?

Hi, yeah I posted this video at the end of November. Currys Clearnance have actually had some more models and on ebay in the UK today there is one Grade C left at £193.06, you can search for item no. 355141660495 Hope that helps, otherwise give a follow on X / Twitter to learn about deals when I find them.

Yup, absolutely, with the spec I show here (Intel Core i3-N305 and 8GB RAM) it won't break a sweat running Roblox from the Google Play store.