We compared 5 hp vs asus laptops in 2026. From budget Chromebooks to premium Vivobooks, find the best laptop for your needs with honest UK reviews.
Why our top pick beat the field, plus the rest of the hp vs asus laptops we compared.
Our pick for this guide. The best balance of price, performance and UK availability of the 4 we evaluated, which is not always the highest-scoring product overall.
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Rank 02 · Runner up
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Rank 04
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Rank 05
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How we picked
Independent UK tech editorial, no paid placements.
Read our process ↓How we picked
Our editors evaluated 4 Comparisons options against the criteria readers actually weigh up: price, real-world performance, build quality, warranty, and UK availability. Picks lean toward what we'd recommend to a friend buying today, not specs-on-paper winners.
Choosing between HP vs ASUS laptops isn't straightforward. Both brands dominate the UK market, but they excel in different areas. Across five models ranging from budget Chromebooks to mid-range Windows machines, ASUS generally offers better value in the sub-£500 segment, whilst HP delivers more reliable Chromebook experiences. The real question isn't which brand is better overall, but which specific model suits your needs and budget.
Here's the thing: most people overthink the HP vs ASUS laptops debate. Brand loyalty matters less than specifications, build quality, and price. This guide covers five laptops for everyday use (video calls, document editing, media consumption, and light gaming) to give you honest, practical recommendations. Whether you need a £200 student laptop or a £500 productivity machine, this guide will help you choose wisely.
Best Overall: ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 for its brilliant 15.6-inch IPS display, 8GB RAM, and unbeatable £395 price point.
Best Budget: ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 for students and light users who need basic functionality under £200.
Best Premium: ASUS Vivobook 15 Ryzen 7-7730U for power users needing Windows software, 16GB RAM, and proper multitasking performance.
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 | Best Overall | 15.6" IPS, 8GB RAM | £362.67 · Details | ★★★★☆ (4.4) |
| ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 | Best Budget | 14" TN, 4GB RAM | Check price | ★★★★½ (4.5) |
| HP Chromebook 14 | Best HP Chromebook | 14" IPS, 8GB RAM | Check price | ★★★★½ (4.5) |
| ASUS Vivobook 15 Ryzen 7-7730U | Best Premium | Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, NVMe SSD | Check price | ★★★★☆ (4.4) |
| ASUS Vivobook 15 X1504ZA | Best Intel Option | Intel i5, 16GB RAM, NVMe SSD | Check price | ★★★★☆ (4.4) |
The ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 wins our hp vs asus laptops comparison for good reason. That 15.6-inch IPS display makes a massive difference when you're juggling multiple browser tabs or working on Google Docs for hours. Unlike cheaper Chromebooks with cramped 14-inch screens, this gives you proper workspace without squinting.
Performance is where this Chromebook shines against both HP and budget ASUS alternatives. The Intel processor (likely an N100 or similar Celeron) isn't powerful, but Chrome OS optimisation means it feels snappier than you'd expect.
The chassis feels solid, the keyboard has decent travel (better than the HP Chromebook 14), and the trackpad responds accurately. At this price, you're getting premium Chromebook features without the premium price.
The IPS display deserves special mention. Viewing angles are excellent, colours look natural (important for photo editing in Google Photos), and brightness reaches comfortable levels even near windows. This is a proper advantage over the ASUS Chromebook 14's TN panel, which washes out at angles. For students attending online lectures or remote workers on video calls, this screen quality matters.
Downsides? The eMMC storage (likely 64GB or 128GB) fills up quickly if you download lots of files. But Chromebooks are designed for cloud storage, so this rarely causes problems. The speakers sound tinny, typical for budget laptops. And whilst the Intel processor handles Chrome OS brilliantly, don't expect to run Android Studio or demanding Linux apps smoothly. See our full ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 review.
At this price, the ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 represents the absolute floor for usable laptops in our hp vs asus laptops roundup. This is what you buy when budget trumps everything else. Students, parents buying for primary school kids, or anyone needing a basic web browsing machine will find this does the job, just don't expect miracles.
The 4GB RAM is the main limitation. For basic homework (Google Docs, research, YouTube), it's absolutely fine. For serious multitasking or running Android apps alongside browser work, it struggles.
That TN display is the other compromise. Viewing angles are poor, colours look washed out, and brightness barely reaches adequate levels. If you're sitting directly in front of it, it's usable. Tilt the screen back or view from the side, and everything turns grey. This matters less for solo use but makes sharing the screen with others frustrating. The HP Chromebook 14's IPS panel is noticeably better, which partly justifies its £37 premium.
Build quality is surprisingly decent for the price. The plastic chassis feels cheap but sturdy enough to survive a school bag. The keyboard has shallow travel but remains comfortable for typing essays. The trackpad is on the small side.
Who should buy this? Students on tight budgets who primarily need Google Workspace access. Parents buying a first laptop for younger children. Anyone who needs a cheap backup machine for travel. Who shouldn't? Users who multitask heavily, need a quality display for media consumption, or plan to use demanding Android apps. We covered this in our ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 review
Now we're talking proper performance. The ASUS Vivobook 15 with Ryzen 7-7730U represents a massive step up from Chromebooks in our hp vs asus laptops roundup. At this price, you're getting a full Windows 11 laptop with specifications that handle serious work: 16GB RAM, NVMe SSD storage, and a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor.
The Ryzen 7-7730U is a brilliant chip. It's an 8-core, 16-thread processor that absolutely flies through productivity tasks. This processor competes with Intel's 12th-gen i7 chips whilst consuming less power, which translates to better battery life.
That 16GB RAM makes a tangible difference compared to 8GB Chromebooks. For students doing research whilst writing essays, or remote workers juggling video calls with spreadsheets, this headroom matters.
The 15.6-inch IPS display matches the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15's quality: good viewing angles, natural colours, and adequate brightness. It's a Full HD (1920x1080) panel, which provides sharp text and comfortable workspace. Build quality is solid, with a metal lid and plastic base that feels sturdy. The keyboard offers good travel and the trackpad is large and responsive.
This is the laptop to buy if you need Windows software, proper multitasking power, or plan to do creative work. There is more on it in our ASUS Vivobook 15 Ryzen 7 review.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 X1504ZA offers an Intel alternative in our hp vs asus laptops comparison, though it's harder to recommend than its Ryzen sibling. At this price (essentially the same price as the Ryzen model), you're getting an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and NVMe SSD. Specifications look similar on paper, but real-world performance differs.
The Intel Core i5 (likely 12th-gen) is a capable processor that handles everyday tasks smoothly. Office applications, web browsing, video calls, and light photo editing all work well. But compared to the Ryzen 7-7730U, you'll notice slower performance in demanding scenarios like video editing or running multiple virtual machines. The Intel chip also consumes more power, which impacts battery life.
Both versions list 16GB RAM and NVMe SSD storage.
Here's the disappointment: the TN display. At this price, an IPS panel is a fair expectation. The TN screen has poor viewing angles, washed-out colours, and mediocre brightness. It's functional but noticeably worse than the Ryzen model's IPS display. For a laptop at this price point, this feels like an unacceptable compromise. Build quality matches other Vivobook models with solid construction and a comfortable keyboard.
So who should buy this? Users who specifically need Intel processors for software compatibility (some enterprise applications and older games run better on Intel). Everyone else should choose the Ryzen 7 model for better performance, battery life, and display quality at the same price. We covered this in our ASUS Vivobook 15 X1504ZA review.
HP's and ASUS's published specifications are our starting point; we haven't tested these laptops ourselves. We consider everyday tasks such as juggling browser tabs and video calls, working on documents, streaming and light photo editing. For the Windows models, that also includes using Office and managing files locally. We judge each laptop's value against those intended uses and UK prices.
The perfect balance of screen size, performance, and value. That 15.6-inch IPS display and 8GB RAM make this the smartest choice for students and remote workers.
Incredible value for basic tasks. Yes, the 4GB RAM and TN display limit it, but nothing else delivers usable performance this cheaply.
For more detailed technical specifications on ASUS laptops, visit the official ASUS UK website. Tom's Hardware publishes laptop buying guides and benchmarks if you want independent performance figures.
ASUS dominates this hp vs asus laptops comparison across most price points. The ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 offers unbeatable value with its large IPS display and 8GB RAM, making it our top overall pick. For extreme budget constraints, the ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 delivers surprising usability despite its limitations. HP's Chromebook 14 is solid but can't justify its price premium over ASUS alternatives. If you need Windows performance, the ASUS Vivobook 15 with Ryzen 7 provides excellent specifications. Choose based on your operating system needs and budget, not brand loyalty.
Both brands offer decent reliability, but ASUS tends to have slightly better build quality in the budget segment. HP Chromebooks are particularly reliable due to Chrome OS's simplicity. For Windows laptops, ASUS Vivobook models feature better cooling systems and more durable hinges than similarly priced HP devices.
The ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 offers the best budget option if you need basic web browsing and document editing. For Windows users who need more power, the HP Chromebook 14 provides better value with 8GB RAM and IPS display compared to ASUS's budget Chromebook.
Choose a Chromebook if you primarily work online, need long battery life, and want hassle-free maintenance. Windows laptops like the ASUS Vivobook 15 suit users who need offline software, more storage, and greater flexibility. Chromebooks start from £192, whilst capable Windows laptops begin around £499.
The ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 offers the best student package with a large 15.6-inch IPS display, 8GB RAM, and Chrome OS simplicity. It's perfect for Google Workspace, research, and video calls. Students needing Windows software should consider the ASUS Vivobook 15 with Ryzen 7.
ASUS generally offers better value in the budget and mid-range segments, with superior build quality and specifications at similar price points. HP excels in the Chromebook space with reliable, well-supported devices. For Windows laptops under £500, ASUS Vivobook models typically outperform HP equivalents with better processors and more RAM.
Both brands offer decent reliability, but ASUS tends to have slightly better build quality in the budget segment. HP Chromebooks are particularly reliable due to Chrome OS's simplicity. For Windows laptops, ASUS Vivobook models feature better cooling systems and more durable hinges than similarly priced HP devices.
The ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 offers the best budget option if you need basic web browsing and document editing. For Windows users who need more power, the HP Chromebook 14 provides better value with 8GB RAM and IPS display compared to ASUS's budget Chromebook.
Choose a Chromebook if you primarily work online, need long battery life, and want hassle-free maintenance. Windows laptops like the ASUS Vivobook 15 suit users who need offline software, more storage, and greater flexibility. Chromebooks start from £192, whilst capable Windows laptops begin around £499.
The ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 offers the best student package with a large 15.6-inch IPS display, 8GB RAM, and Chrome OS simplicity. It's perfect for Google Workspace, research, and video calls. Students needing Windows software should consider the ASUS Vivobook 15 with Ryzen 7.
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