HP Chromebook 11 G5 Surfaces With Optional Touchscreen

HP is turning our attention back towards Chromebooks, announcing its latest entry in the space today. The HP Chromebook 11 G5 will look instantly familiar to those who follow the line of super-affordable Internet machines, but the company is looking to land a few home runs with some of 11 G5's features. Chief among these big ticket items is the fact that the Chromebook 11 G5 will feature an optional IPS touch panel for its 11.6-inch display.

In addition to the touch panel, HP will also be looking to slim things down with the 11 G5. Chromebooks, by their very nature, are already laptops that feature a small footprint, but HP is looking to take that idea even further with smaller display bezels and a total weight that clocks in at a mere 2.51 lbs. The laptop will also feature an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and a battery that's said to last for up to 11 hours on touchscreen-equipped devices and 12.5 hours on non-touchscreen versions.

The touch panel is unquestionably the star feature in HP's eyes, though. With Google planning to begin offering apps from the Google Play Store on Chromebooks later this year, the inclusion of a touch panel may give the HP Chromebook 11 G5 an edge against other Chromebooks on the market, and since this entry is being aimed directly at students who need a lightweight laptop to use on the go, you can bet that HP is banking on the touch panel being a major draw.

HP isn't fooling around when it says its targeting students with this release, either: the company said it worked with both teachers and students to figure out what they looked for in a laptop. With that in mind, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that durability took a front seat too, as the 11 G5 will be outfitted with Gorilla Glass NBT. The Chromebook 11 G5 will hit store shelves in October with a starting price of $189, though budget-minded consumers should expect to pay more for models with a touch panel.