HP 14a-na0023nr Review: Good Enough as a Secondary Laptop

Chromebooks have really come into their own over the last few years, with many people looking at them when considering a new laptop purchase. The HP 14a-na0023nr is no exception and offers a great option for those looking for an affordable Chromebook with a balanced set of specs.

This Chromebook has managed to climb the charts thanks to its stylish minimalist design, ample connectivity options, and competitive price point. But, is this Chromebook right for you? That's what we're here to figure out as we dive into this review.

                            HP 14a-na0023nr Laptop Review

Design, Display & Keyboard

The HP 14a-na0023nr comes in a stylish minimalist design that will easily be one of the most appealing things about this laptop, alongside its lightweight quality build. Specifically, while this laptop is made entirely out of plastic, it does not have that "plasticky feel" that you get often times when buying a budget laptop.

As far as the display is concerned, we've got an HD display with anti-glare technology to allow for use outdoors. Obviously, we would've liked to see a Full HD display such as with the ASUS Flip C433TA-AS384T but within its price range, we understand HP opting for a regular HD resolution. Screen quality, nonetheless, is ok.

Finally, the keyboard offers sufficient key travel with a generally comfortable typing experience. However, it should be pointed out that this is not a backlit keyboard so if you're getting this laptop to indulge in long typing sessions within low light environments you might want to look elsewhere.

Performance

Keeping in mind the fact that this is a budget Chromebook, the bar in terms of performance isn't all that high. However, HP has managed to overcome it with the 14a-na0023nr offering a decent performance all things considered.

Specifically, this Chromebook is packing an Intel Celeron N4020 clocking at a base 1.1 GHz and reaching a maximum speed of 2.8 GHz when pushed to its limits.

Couple that with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage working under Chrome OS and you've got yourself a solid performer that will get the job done for browsing, emails, social media, and even streaming movies on Netflix or playing around with Android apps (you can download them on Chrome OS).

Sure enough, we wouldn't recommend this laptop for hardcore users that need to multitask and use advanced software such as Photoshop or Premiere Pro.

However, if you're looking for a secondary computer for simple web-based tasks then you should be good to go. It also delivers a suitable performance for students or casual users who are going to use the laptop for your run-of-the-mill internet browsing, videoconferences, music streaming, and the likes.

Battery Life & Connectivity

As far as battery life is concerned, HP has managed to deliver well above its competitors, with over 13-hours worth of juice - claimed-. Of course, depending on your usage your mileage may vary but, as many users have already pointed out, 8-9 hour battery life on this model is relatively normal and that in itself is a pretty solid number.

Moving onto the connectivity features we've got a standalone USB Type-A port, a couple of USB Type-C ports, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, there's no microSD card reader to easily and swiftly upgrade the storage on this model and there's also no HDMI port to easily connect this laptop to a TV or monitor without the need of an adapter.

These are features we're definitely not very fond of, especially the absence of an SD card reader. Having one would've offered users an easy way to expand the internal storage as many Chromebook users do.

Other than that the 14a-na0023nr does include a decent HD webcam for videocalls and it also has good WiFi connectivity with a WiFi 5 dual-band antenna as well as Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity.

Verdict: Should I buy the HP 14a-na0023nr? Who's it for?

In closing, although it does have a few shortcomings, such as the lack of a backlit keyboard and no HDMI port, the HP Chromebook 14a-na0023nr is an excellent value proposition.

It offers good performance, long battery life, and features a lightweight and attractive design. Plus, it's one of the cheapest Chromebooks on the market that isn't a dud. So, if you're looking for a budget Chromebook that doesn't sacrifice too much in terms of quality, the HP Chromebook 14a-na0023nr is a great option.

Be it as a secondary laptop, a laptop for a casual user, or even a laptop for students, you can't go wrong with this model.

Who's it for?

=> Casual users: This is a great Chromebook for people who just need something for browsing the web, checking email, watching videos, and the likes. It's not too powerful so it's not ideal for multitasking or more intensive work, but it'll handle those tasks fine.

=> Students: The HP Chromebook 14a-na0023nr is also a great option for students as it has good performance and long battery life, both of which are important factors to consider when choosing a laptop.

=> Budget-conscious users: This Chromebook is also great for people who are looking for good value. It offers decent performance and features a stylish design without breaking the bank.

Who's it NOT for?

=> Power users: If you need a laptop for more intensive work and hardcore multitasking, then this is not the right Chromebook for you.

=> Photographers and visual professionals: This laptop also isn't a good fit for photographers or visual professionals as it doesn't have a good graphics card and doesn't offer the same level of performance as more expensive models. The display also falls short of what we'd recommend for visual professionals.

=> Gamers: Lastly, this Chromebook also isn't a good choice for gamers as it doesn't have a dedicated graphics card and won't be able to handle graphically-intensive games.