Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

HP Chromebook Plus 14a 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 clear margin (4.1 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want one versatile device for work, school, and entertainment, with a premium feel and tablet mode at a mid-range price. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

HP Chromebook Plus 14a

4.1

$359.95as of Jun 7

The HP Chromebook Plus 14a is a sturdy, comfortable everyday Chromebook with a standout keyboard and cool-running design, all in the Chromebook Plus tier. Laptop Mag praised its build and typing experience but flagged a below-average display and middling i3-N305 performance. It is a dependable, no-drama clamshell for basic productivity and browsing, but it is outclassed on screen, storage, and speed by the higher picks here, landing it fourth.

Strengths

— Surprisingly comfortable, satisfying keyboard for the price
— Sturdy chassis that feels ready for daily commuting and school bags
— Runs cool under load, with the underside staying comfortable

Watch-outs

— Intel Core i3-N305 performance trails the best at the price
— 14-inch 1080p display is dimmer and duller than average
— Only 128GB of UFS storage

$359.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

4.6

$599.99as of Jun 7

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is the best all-around Chromebook under $500. It pairs a genuinely premium aluminum 2-in-1 chassis with a bright 1200p touchscreen, a quick Core i3 processor, and the Chromebook Plus feature tier. Reviewers across Tom's Guide, PCWorld, and Laptop Mag praised its build, display, and performance for the money, and PCWorld handed it an Editors' Choice award. Battery life is merely good rather than great, but as a do-everything pick it leads the field.

Strengths

— Premium-feeling aluminum chassis with a sturdy 360-degree convertible hinge
— Bright, crisp 14-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen with a roomy 16:10 aspect ratio
— Snappy Intel Core i3-1315U handles heavy multitasking without lag

Watch-outs

— Battery life is good but not class-leading at around nine hours
— No included stylus despite the 2-in-1 tablet mode
— 128GB of eMMC storage is modest (a microSD card is bundled to help)

$599.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

HP Chromebook Plus 14a

The HP 14a shares the Intel Core i3-N305 platform with the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 but pairs it with only 128GB of storage versus the Acer's 512GB SSD. Its display is dimmer than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus and ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 panels, and its 16:9 shape shows less than the Flex 5i's 16:10 screen, though it is faster and better-built than the budget ASUS Chromebook CX15.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

The Flex 5i is the only true convertible 2-in-1 in this group, where the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, Acer Chromebook Plus 514, HP Chromebook Plus 14a, and ASUS Chromebook CX15 are all clamshells. Its taller 1200p 16:10 display beats the 1080p 16:9 panels on the others, though its ~9-hour battery trails the 13-hour ASUS CX34.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	HP Chromebook Plus 14a	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
CPU	Intel Core i3-N305 (8-core)	Intel Core i3-1315U
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	128GB UFS	128GB eMMC
Display	14" 1920x1080, 16:9	14" 1920x1200 IPS touch, 300 nits
Weight	3.2 lb	3.52 lb
Battery	~8 hours 50 minutes	~9 hours
Webcam	1080p	—
OS	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)
Form Factor	—	2-in-1 convertible (360-degree hinge)

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