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Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 vs HP Chromebook Plus 14a

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.3 vs 3.7). ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is best for: Students and hybrid workers who prioritize all-day battery life and fast multitasking in a no-fuss clamshell. Read the strengths below before deciding.

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Chromebooks Under $500
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
3 sources$439.99as of Oct 11

The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the endurance and performance champion under $500. PCWorld clocked over 13 hours of battery and praised its fast multi-core Intel CPU, generous ports, and comfortable keyboard, awarding it an Editors' Choice. PCMag rates it 4.0 out of 5 and says it proves budget Chromebooks have more to offer than ever before. Its 16:9 1080p display is solid rather than special and the chassis is plainer than the Lenovo, but for stamina and speed per dollar it is hard to beat.

Strengths
  • — Exceptional battery life, over 13 hours in PCWorld's test at low brightness
  • — Strong performance from Intel Core i5/i3 options with up to 10 cores
  • — Generous port selection including USB-C, USB-A, and HDMI
Watch-outs
  • — 16:9 1080p display is competent but no longer stands out
  • — 128GB storage is modest for buyers who keep files locally
$439.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
HP Chromebook Plus 14a
Ranked #4 in Best Chromebooks Under $500
HP Chromebook Plus 14a
1 source$429.95as of Oct 11

The HP Chromebook Plus 14a is a sturdy everyday Chromebook built around its keyboard and its cool-running chassis rather than its spec sheet. Laptop Mag rated it 3.5 out of 5, praising the typing experience while flagging a dim display and middling performance from the Intel Core i3-N305. It is a dependable clamshell for browsing and schoolwork that the higher picks here beat on screen, storage and speed.

Strengths
  • — Chassis is thick and heavy enough to survive a school bag
  • — Underside measured 77.5 degrees Fahrenheit after streaming video
  • — Battery ran 8 hours 50 minutes, enough for a school day
Watch-outs
  • — Intel Core i3-N305 performance trails the best at this price
  • — The 14-inch 1920x1080 panel is dimmer and duller than average
$429.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and HP Chromebook Plus 14a it is a 14-inch clamshell, but it is listed with an Intel Core i5-1335U where both of those use the Core i3-N305. Its battery ran more than 13 hours, against 8 hours 50 minutes for the HP. Its 128GB of storage matches the HP and is a quarter of the Acer's 512GB.

HP Chromebook Plus 14a

It shares the Intel Core i3-N305 with the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 but pairs it with 128GB of UFS storage rather than the Acer's 512GB SSD. Its battery ran 8 hours 50 minutes, short of the more than 13 hours recorded for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34. It has an eight-core processor and 8GB of RAM, where the budget ASUS Chromebook CX15 uses a two-core Celeron N4500 and starts at 4GB.

Specs side-by-side

SpecASUS Chromebook Plus CX34HP Chromebook Plus 14a
CPUIntel Core i5-1335U (i3 option available)Intel Core i3-N305 (8-core)
RAM8GB8GB
Storage128GB SSD128GB UFS
Display14" 1920x1080 touchscreen, 16:914" 1920x1080, 16:9
Weight3.17 lb3.2 lb
BatteryUp to 13+ hours~8 hours 50 minutes
PortsUSB-C, USB-A, HDMI—
OSChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)
Webcam—1080p
← See the full ranking of best chromebooks under $500