HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr Laptop Review
Is the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop the best value laptop? To help you decide, we purchased this laptop and ran our own set of 10 hands-on tests.
In general, this laptop makes a great option for college students and as school computer for kids, but gamers and engineers will probably want to stay away.
To learn where our conclusions came from and see all of our hands-on testing data, keep reading our full HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop review.
HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr: Features
The HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop is really good for multitasking. While playing movie on Netflix on one window, you can be browsing or tidying up your assignment in another window. No lagging at all. This Chromebook is best for you if you are looking for a laptop that can do basic things like web browsing, video streaming, and homework all at the same time.
The screen of HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop is a matte finish which prevents glaring if you’re in the sunlight. Still, the brightness is amazing.
This laptop is good for video streaming, web browsing, and creating/editing Word documents . YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu run very smoothly on this Chromebook.
Chromebook 14 ak050nr is equipped with 2 USB ports, one of which is an USB/eSATA combo, the other is an USB 3.0 ports. For this Chromebook to read your USB flash drive, iPhone, iPad mini, or any other smartphone, you have to plug it the USB for data transferring (USB 3.0). USB 3.0 port is on the right side.
You can create and edit your homework documents in this Chromebook using Chrome Microsoft Word Extension. Everything saves automatically in this Extension. If you don’t like the Word Extension, you can also use Google Docs as alternative.
This Chromebook is also equipped with TrueVision HD webcam which is a standard webcam for this model. It has HDMI port which supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable.
Its Gigabit Ethernet enables it connect to computers and servers in local networks. It improves data transfer and cabling unlike Fast Ethernet.
In terms of storage, this configuration is loaded with a fast 4GB RAM and 16GB Emmc hard drive. And the battery life is great too. It can be used a whole day without having to plug it in.
HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr: Pros & Cons
What the product does well
- It is fast, light and, stylish
- It has matte finish screen which prevents glaring if you’re in the sunlight.
- It has its own malware software already.
- It is good for multitasking.
- It is affordable.
Where the product could improve
- It has no CD slot.
- I couldn’t use steam or media go on it.
- It has no backlit keyboard.
Is the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop for You?
Depending on your occupation, the tasks you use laptop for, and where you want you intend to use the laptop for work, the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr may or may not work for you. Take a look at some of my recommendations below.
Who I recommend the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop for
- I think this Chromebook could be an excellent option for college students. The laptop is best suited for basic things like web browsing, video streaming, and homework involving creating and editing Word documents. All these can be done at the same time.
- Thanks to laptop bags. HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr is light such that it is very easy to carry it in your backpack.
- The Chromebook 14 ak050nr could be awesome as school computer for kids. Many schools use Chromebook laptop so it will be very easy for kids to become familiar with it. It will also be very easy getting their accounts set up and then accessing their school folders.
Who I don’t recommend the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop for
- Unfortunately, this Chromebook is not equipped to support the needs of gamers. These folks need a robust laptops with higher memory, and processor, so you may experience no lagging while the games run.
- I’d also say that the Chromebook is not fit enough to satisfy the needs of full-time software engineers. If you store much programs in the Chrome, there is every tendency that it begin lagging. And as a software engineers you need no waste of time, as such you will be distracted.
- Conversely, this Chromebook is a bit too soft for strict software engineering college students. Software engineering college students need a stronger and higher memory laptop to help their practical works, and to save them time.
While we think that HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr laptop is the best option for college students and as school computer for kids, gamers, software engineers and software engineering students might not find it quite suitable and comfortable for their activities. If you exclusively play games, you might want to consider HP Chromebook x360 instead as it offers better support and comfort for gamers.
Also if you are exclusively a software engineer or a software engineering student, you might want to consider Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop instead as it offers better support and comfort for gamers.
HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr: Specifications
| Components | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Brand | HP |
| Series | ‎Chromebook |
| Item model number: | 14-ak050nr |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Processor Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Number of Processors | 1 |
| Processor | 1.83 GHz Intel Celeron N2940 Processor Quad Core |
| RAM | 4GB DDR3L SDRAM (1 DIMM) |
| Hard Drive | 16GB Emmc |
| Memory Speed | 1.83 GHz |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel HD Graphics |
| Standing screen display size | 14.0-inch diagonal Full HD IPS WLED-backlit display |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 9.45 x 13.54 x 0.7 inches |
| Camera | Front-facing HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated digital microphone |
| External Ports | Multi-Format Digital Media Card Reader, 1 SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (1 (support Sleep & Charge), 2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 Headphone-out/microphone-in combo jack. |
| Keyboard | Full-size island-style keyboard |
| Power | 45W AC adapter |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Average Battery Life (in hours) | 8 Hours |
| Weight ‎ | 3.74 pounds |
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
| Wireless Connectivity | 2 x 2 802.11ac WLAN and Bluetooth |
| Sound | HD Audio with stereo speakers |
| Pointing Device | HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support. |
Design
The Chromebook 14 ak050nr’s somewhat heavy weight can be attributed to several factors. There is the huge 9-cell battery without which the Chromebook 14 ak050nr wouldn’t have its impressive battery life. Then there is the fact that it’s a solidly-made laptop, made from magnesium alloy and topped with an aluminum finish. This metallic blend withstood a wide range of improvised military torture tests by HP that include vibrations, extreme temperatures, drops, and moisture, to name a few. But then again, the Lenovo ThinkPad T410 (5.5 lbs) ($149.48 direct, 4 stars) and Lenovo Thinkpad T420 were subjected to similar torture tests and given a similar battery, yet they’re half a pound lighter.
Chromebook 14 ak050nr has pleasing aesthetics. The metal gray top is made of brushed aluminum that tapers along the sides, surrounded by a light silver trim, while the base is completely light silver like every other part of the laptop. The interior has a similar color combination.
The 14-inch widescreen is intensely bright, but not as rich in colors as the one found in the HP Laptop X360 14a Chromebook 14″ HD Touchscreen ($256 direct, 5 stars). It has a matte screen, the kind that doesn’t reflect light back at you. The combination of a backlit keyboard and traditional-style keys makes for a satisfyingly productive experience, regardless of lighting conditions.
Performance
The Chromebook 14 ak050nr ships with a 1.83 GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor, which is based on Celeron architecture. Performance tests, as you can imagine, was nothing short of spectacular. It beat out the Lenovo T410 and HP 8740w in processor-intensive tests, although the other two have yet to receive the latest Intel parts. It turned in one of the fastest Adobe Photoshop CS5 scores we’ve ever had, finishing in 3 minutes 25 seconds. Celeron entails a much better graphics subsystem than previous generations, so gaming is possible with the integrated Intel HD Graphics chipset.
A 9-cell (97WH) battery usually means great things for battery life. The HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr did just that in tests, draining the huge battery in 8 hours 30 minutes. It easily beat out the Lenovo T410 (5:30) and HP 8740w (0:50), although again, I suspect the other two will improve in this area once they transition to new Intel technology. Take the Lenovo ThinkPad X220 ($399 direct, 4.7 stars), for instance: It runs on Sandy Bridge parts and scored 8 hours 40 minutes in battery tests. If you would like to shave a few tenths of a pound from the heavy frame, Chromebook 14 ak050nr offers a 3-cell option that fits flush with the back of the laptop.
A new look, an Intel Celeron processor, and can be configured with an endless array of optional features, the HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr has everything that an student user is looking for in a school/studying laptop. It can be outrageously powerful (for a steep price) or run the bare essentials yet still be a competent studying laptop. As well-equipped as it is, it is a little heavy with its 3.74 pound frame. It’s my only quibble and one that should be taken lightly given its full selection of goodies.
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Conclusion
We are always looking for new laptops and computers to review and present to you. While following the procedure, a lot of research is required, and we have to ask users and customers their thoughts on a particular item. We have done the same thing before presenting this information about HP Chromebook 14 ak050nr. This laptop is a great tool in the hand of students. The laptop helps students enormously in carrying out their studies both in school and while at home.
