HP’s new Chromebook 13 is a Pixel for everybody

Hewlett Packard is making another Chromebook. This one, dubbed the HP Chromebook 13, is a little different from its previous efforts, though. It’s the result of a design partnership with Google and it looks relatively premium. It features an anodized aluminum chassis, 13.3-inch QHD+ display running at 3,200 x 1800 resolution and a thickness of 12.9 mm. Beyond that, the new Chromebook comes with Bang and Olufsen-tuned speakers and weighs just under three pounds (2.86, to be exact) — depending on how you configure it.

HP says this is the first Chromebook to use a 6th-generation Intel Core M processor (as seen in Apple’s recently refreshed MacBook) and it’s available with up to 16GB of RAM. There’s also a USB-C docking setup for it that’ll let you hook the Chromebook 13 into multiple displays (ChromeOS supports three simultaneous displays), as well as full-size keyboards and other accessories. HP claims 11.5 hours on a charge of the 45 watt-hour battery and USB-C plays a role here as well, offering an option for fast charging.

The spec sheet suggests why Google might have been involved in the design process: this looks like a pared down version of the company’s Pixel, the ultra-high end Chromebook that many love, but few can afford. This high-end (for a Chromebook, at least) machine is clearly targeted at professionals, with pre-orders starting today at $499. That’s a lot cheaper than the Pixel, even if, especially at entry level, it’s quite a bit less powerful. Shipments are expected to start next month. We’ll have more on this interesting sounding machine very soon, so stay tuned.

Aaron Souppouris contributed to this article.