HP Chromebook 11 (G2)

Updated on February 4, 2026

Note: This product has been discontinued. It is no longer available for purchase new. The information below is kept for historical reference.

The HP Chromebook 11 (G2) arrived in 2014 as one of the most distinctive Chromebooks of its era, featuring a white glossy plastic design that drew comparisons to Apple’s MacBook aesthetic. Built around Samsung’s Exynos 5250 ARM processor, this 11.6-inch Chromebook prioritized portability and web-based productivity over raw computing power. What set it apart from competitors was the combination of premium build quality, an excellent IPS display, and thoughtful design touches like Micro USB charging, all packaged in a lightweight 2.95-pound chassis that operated completely silently thanks to fanless passive cooling. Chrome OS support ended in June 2019, but the HP Chromebook 11 G2 remains an interesting piece of computing history that demonstrated how ARM processors could power practical notebook experiences.

HP Chromebook 11 (G2) Comparison Chart

	HP Chromebook 11 (G2)
Price	List Price: $279.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Model number	11-2010nr
Perfomance Rating	2.1
Chromebook Plus	No
Processor	Dual-core 1.70 Ghz Samsung Exynos 5
RAM	4 GB
Internal Storage	32 GB eMMC
Screen Size	11.6"
Screen Resolution	1366x768
Screen Type	WLED
Touch Screen	No
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	11.81 x 8.1 x 0.81 inches (299.97 x 205.74 x 20.57 mm)
Weight	2.95 lbs (1.34 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No
Webcam	640x480
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0
Ethernet	No
Cellular Modem	No
HDMI	No HDMI
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0
Thunderbolt Ports	No
Card Reader	No Card Reader
Battery	3 cell, 30 WHr, Lithium-ion
Battery Life	6.2 hours
Fanless	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	June, 2019

Detailed Insights into the HP Chromebook 11 (G2)

The HP Chromebook 11 G2’s design philosophy centered on delivering premium aesthetics at a budget price point. NotebookCheck’s testing revealed a magnesium frame underneath the glossy white plastic exterior, resulting in construction that felt substantially more expensive than the $279 MSRP suggested. The glossy plastic was “neatly bevelled” according to Expert Reviews, and the metal-reinforced construction eliminated the creaking common to budget laptops. At just 295mm wide, 191mm deep, and 16mm thick, the Chromebook 11 G2 was genuinely portable for students and travelers who needed a lightweight web-browsing companion.

Display quality was a genuine highlight for this price segment. The 11.6-inch IPS panel delivered 300 cd/m² brightness with a 578:1 contrast ratio, producing vibrant colors with wide viewing angles that surpassed most budget competitors. Laptop Mag praised the “bright, colorful” display, noting it made the Chromebook 11 more pleasant to use than many laptops costing three times as much. The 1366x768 resolution was standard for 11.6-inch Chromebooks of this era and provided adequate sharpness for web browsing and document editing.

The keyboard earned universal praise from reviewers who tested the device firsthand. Laptop Mag called it “responsive” with “well-spaced keys that provide plenty of tactile feedback and vertical travel with no flex,” while noting the “extra-large Shift, CTRL and Alt keys” improved typing ergonomics. NotebookCheck characterized it as having “crisp feedback” optimized for Chrome OS workflows. The touchpad performed well with gesture support and auto-deactivation during typing to prevent accidental cursor movements. Expert Reviews noted the Chromebook 11 was “more than fast enough for the web applications it’s designed for,” though users should understand the ARM processor’s limitations for more demanding tasks.

Performance and Battery Life

The Samsung Exynos 5250 dual-core ARM processor running at 1.7GHz positioned the HP Chromebook 11 G2 firmly in the web-browsing and light productivity category. NotebookCheck’s benchmark testing recorded a SunSpider score of 704.4ms, Peacekeeper score of 1069, and Octane v1 score of 5323, figures that placed it behind Intel Haswell-based competitors like the Acer Chromebook C720 but adequate for Chrome OS tasks. Expert Reviews found similar results with SunSpider at 716ms and WebXPRT at 324, concluding the device was “more than fast enough for the web applications it’s designed for.”

Battery life fell within the expected range for ARM-based Chromebooks of this generation. NotebookCheck’s WiFi test yielded 5 hours and 8 minutes, while load testing dropped that to 3 hours and 26 minutes. Expert Reviews measured 5 hours and 12 minutes during video playback, which aligned with HP’s rated 6.2-hour estimate for typical mixed usage. One notable convenience was the Micro USB charging system, which allowed users to charge the Chromebook 11 using standard phone chargers rather than proprietary adapters, though this required a 3A charger for optimal performance.

Thermal management relied entirely on passive cooling, meaning the HP Chromebook 11 G2 operated completely silently during all tasks. NotebookCheck’s thermal testing found the device ran warm under sustained load, reaching up to 48.8°C on the bottom surface, but this was considered acceptable for fanless operation. The trade-off between noise and temperature was well-suited for library study sessions and quiet work environments where fan noise would be disruptive.

Connectivity and Ports

The HP Chromebook 11 G2’s port selection was minimal even by 2014 standards. Two USB 2.0 ports handled peripheral connectivity, with no USB 3.0 support available. The absence of HDMI output meant external display connectivity required a USB-to-HDMI adapter, adding cost and complexity for users who wanted to use the Chromebook with external monitors. Similarly, wired networking required a USB Ethernet adapter since no Ethernet port was included. WiFi support covered 802.11 a/b/g/n dual-band with Bluetooth 4.0, though NotebookCheck noted “middling WiFi reception” during testing.

The 640x480 VGA webcam was described by NotebookCheck as “poor,” adequate for basic video calls but clearly a budget component. The combination headphone/microphone jack handled audio duties, while internal speakers received mixed reviews. NotebookCheck praised “good speaker quality for size,” though the overall audio experience was typical of compact Chromebooks, acceptable for casual use but not a strength.

Storage remained the most significant limitation at just 16GB eMMC (with approximately 8GB usable after the operating system), and unlike some competitors, the storage was not upgradeable. Expert Reviews noted users would need to rely heavily on Google Drive and other cloud storage services, which aligned with Chrome OS’s cloud-centric design philosophy but frustrated users with limited internet connectivity.

Reviewer Insights on the HP Chromebook 11 (G2)

NotebookCheck’s Technical Analysis

Steve Schardein’s NotebookCheck review provided the most thorough technical assessment of the HP Chromebook 11, awarding it 81% overall. The review praised the “attractive, durable construction with magnesium frame,” “bright IPS display,” and “comfortable, well-designed keyboard.” Schardein found the completely silent operation valuable for quiet environments and noted excellent portability at just 1.044 kg (2.3 lbs). However, he criticized the “sluggish performance requiring constant internet connection,” limited local storage, and noted the device “runs hot under load.” His conclusion captured the trade-offs well: “For the right user, the Chromebook 11 serves its purpose, but for everyone else, choose wisely.”

Expert Reviews’ Practical Assessment

David Ludlow’s Expert Reviews coverage earned the device a 4/5 star rating and “Recommended” status. Ludlow wrote portions of his review while tethering the Chromebook 11 to an iPhone via 4G, demonstrating practical portability for connected workflows. He called it “an absolute bargain” that “shows how a netbook can be done properly.” The review highlighted “Macbook-levels of responsiveness” when opening the lid, noting the device powered on immediately rather than requiring boot time. Key criticisms included offline limitations (“only 16GB onboard storage without expansion options” and “offline spreadsheet editing unavailable”) and the glossy screen’s reflections.

Laptop Mag’s Design Focus

Avram Piltch’s Laptop Mag review emphasized the premium design that “makes it more attractive than many laptops that cost three times as much.” The white glossy chassis reminded reviewers of Apple’s old white MacBook, a significant compliment for a $279 device. Piltch noted the “1.7-GHz dual-core Exynos processor provided solid performance good enough for playing HD videos and casual games, though some apps took longer to open than expected.” The review’s main criticisms centered on battery life falling short of competitors and the device base running hot during operation.

Limitations and Considerations

Buyers considering the HP Chromebook 11 G2 on the secondary market should understand its practical limitations. The ARM processor cannot run Linux applications through Crostini (the Chrome OS Linux container), limiting expansion beyond Chrome OS’s web-based ecosystem. With just 4GB of RAM and 16GB storage, the device struggles with modern web applications that have grown considerably more demanding since 2014. The June 2019 end of support means no security updates from Google, making the Chromebook 11 G2 unsuitable for sensitive browsing or financial transactions.

For collectors or those curious about early Chromebook history, the HP Chromebook 11 G2 represents an interesting design experiment that prioritized aesthetics and build quality over raw performance. It demonstrated that ARM processors could power functional notebook experiences, even if they couldn’t match Intel’s Haswell offerings for multitasking and application responsiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions