Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

HP Chromebook 15a-na vs Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

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

The short answer

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about students who take handwritten notes and casual users who want a tablet/laptop hybrid — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #5 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

HP Chromebook 15a-na

4.2

$299

The Chromebook 15a is the HP value pick. Numeric keypad plus i3 plus 1080p at $299 is a solid spec sheet for budget productivity. Trade-off is the 4GB RAM ceiling — Chromebook Plus tier (CX34 / Flex 5i) is the better long-term buy.

Strengths

— 15.6" 1080p display + numeric keypad
— Intel Core i3 12th gen at this price tier
— B&O-tuned speakers improve audio over the ASUS CX15's stock speakers

Watch-outs

— Not Chromebook Plus tier — 4GB RAM and entry-level i3
— Plastic chassis feels lighter than the Lenovo Flex 5i
— Battery (8 hours) trails the Acer Spin 315

$299 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

4.5

$399

The Flex 5i is the convertible pick. 2-in-1 hinge plus touchscreen plus Chromebook Plus tier hardware makes it the right buy for note-takers and Netflix-on-the-couch users. Trade-off vs the ASUS CX34 is raw CPU.

Strengths

— 2-in-1 360° hinge — tablet, tent, and laptop modes
— Chromebook Plus tier with Intel Core i3 / 8GB RAM / 128GB SSD
— Touchscreen with stylus support

Watch-outs

— i3 CPU trails the i5 in the ASUS CX34 on raw throughput
— Heavier than the ASUS CX15 at 3.2 lbs
— Hinge mechanism adds wear over years

$399 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

HP Chromebook 15a-na

Cheaper than ASUS Plus CX34. Better speakers than ASUS CX15. Not Plus tier. Wi-Fi 6E unique here.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Only 2-in-1 convertible pick. Lower CPU than ASUS CX34. Heavier than ASUS CX15. Touchscreen advantage.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	HP Chromebook 15a-na	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
CPU	Intel Core i3 N305	Intel Core i3 12th gen
RAM	4GB	8GB
Storage	128GB	128GB
Display	15.6" 1080p	14" 1080p touchscreen
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E	—
Hinge	—	360° 2-in-1

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