Touchscreen HP Chromebook 11 G5 Is ‘Android-Ready’

HP claims its first ever 11.6-inch Chromebook with a touchscreen, will allow users to take full advantage of Android app compatibility while still enjoying up to 11 hours of battery life.

The HP Chromebook 11 G5 is set for release in October and is powered by ChromeOS and an Intel Celeron N2060 processor. The idea is that cloud-based applications can be loaded quickly without the need for significant local storage.

Android apps will available for ChromeOS later this year once the Google Play store arrives on the platform. These will require touch controls to operate, so the addition of the new screen opens up the possibility of using two million Android apps on a laptop.

HP Chromebook 11 G5

The design has also been overhauled. The new Chromebook is lighter, slimmer and has a redesigned chassis complete with a curved keyboard that is supposedly easier to clean. The display itself is protected by Gorilla Glass.

HP has been a major supporter of Google’s Chromebook concept and released the business-grade HP Chromebook 13 earlier this year, complete with docking station and USB-C connectivity.

It touts the newest addition to the range as ideal for the education sector, especially when Android apps arrive.

“The demand for Chromebook in education continues to grow as schools take full advantage of the benefits of Chrome – manageability, simplicity, and security,” said Anna Wu, product manager for Chromebooks at HP. “The functionality of Android apps – many of which are touch-centric—are adding more versatile learning experiences to the classroom with a host of new education-focused apps.”

Other manufacturers of Chromebooks, which IDC says now outsell Macs in the US, include Acer and Samsung. Most are pitched as cheaper, faster devices that complement existing systems but high-end machines like the Google Chromebook Pixel have suggested the search giant has greater ambitions for ChromeOS.

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