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The HP 14-dq0040nr is a budget laptop that you’d pick when hopping on a very tight budget, and a Chromebook isn’t an alternative you can consider, maybe due to the limitations of Chrome OS. Otherwise, it fails to impress on performance and design, but it’s a good choice for budget buyers with modest PC needs. Of course, it does impress with an attractive design and good performance all for under $200.
But while we like the low-price tag and decent battery life, the 14-dq0040nr is every inch an economy model, with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, just 4GB RAM, and a 64GB flash storage – but it’s a workable introduction to Windows if you don’t want to consider a Chromebook.
About the HP 14-dq0040nr
Here are the specs and features of the HP 14 in this review:
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4020 (2.8Ghz, 2-core)
- Storage: 65GB eMMC
- Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 onboard,
- Display: 14.0-inch, non-touch screen, HD (1366 x 768)
- Dimensions: 12.76 x 8.86 x 0.71 inches
- Weight: 3.24 pounds
Design & Features
HP has stuck to a common design that I’ve seen on a few of its budget HP 14 models and sometimes I get a little concerned that I’m reviewing the same machine for a second time. The HP 14-dq0040nr comes in Snowflake, which is a move from most budget laptops and Chromebooks that sport silver and black exteriors.
Since this is in HP’s cheaper line, it’s predictably constructed with all plastic. The lid, keyboard deck, and underside of the laptop: are all plastic. HP has given the bezels surrounding the screen a black color to break the white monotony. The snowflake and black color theme is fine and doesn’t look half bad, though it still doesn’t look as classy as competing Chromebooks such as the Asus Chromebook C424.
While a white design looks unique and sexy, part of me worries that the machine will look dirty over time, especially given its target group(s) are kids and the K-12 market. Nonetheless, the white surfaces look beautiful as they break the monotony of silver chassis found on premium ultraportables.
At just 0.7 inches thick and weighing only 3.24 pounds, the HP 14-dq0040nr is very light and portable, as compared to, say, the 15-inch Acer Chromebook 15 (0.8 inches, 4.4 pounds) and Asus Chromebook C523NA (3.8 pounds), but slightly heavier than the Lenovo Chromebook C330 (2.6 pounds).
Port selection is fine for a budget laptop. On the left side, there’s a USB Type-C port, a USB 3.0 port, and a lock slot. On the right side, there’s a microSD card slot, a headphone jack, and an additional pair of USB 3.0 and USB Type-C ports.
Display, Keyboard & Touchpad
On the 14-dq0040nr, HP only adds a 720p screen with a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, but competing laptops nowadays pack Full HD displays for a little more money. The screen’s 1366 x 768 resolution panel is fine for day-to-day use, but a higher resolution would be better the low price notwithstanding. As expected, the panel appears a little grainy but overall, you’ll be impressed by the quality for the price, even if some images will look slightly washed out.
The display’s black level max out at 0.84cd/m2, which is a bit lower than what we’d hoped for and its contrast isn’t also great at 284:1. It covers 58.4 percent of the sRGB color gamut, meaning you can’t do any intensive color work here, such as image editing and video processing.
The white chiclet-style keyboard is fairly OK, with well-spaced and large keys covering the entire deck but some arrow keys are undersized. And while it has only 1.2 millimeters of key travel (short of our 1.5mm preference), the individual keys feel bouncy, perhaps due to the above-average 71 grams of actuation force. Right below the keyboard is a 4.5 x 2.3-inch touchpad that responds quickly as you swipe your way across several Google Chrome tabs.
Performance
With just an Intel Celeron N4020 CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB flash storage, the 14-dq0040nr isn’t going to compete with some of the best productivity laptops around. But for the price, it performs as it should, allowing you to get online, read and respond to mail, finish college assignments, and watch your favorite movie later in the day.
The Intel Celeron N4020 processor is pretty basic at its best, and the 4GB RAM doesn’t offer much leverage either. If you’re buying it for basic office tasks, like reading emails, or for college use, it’s well worth its price.
However, if you’re looking to replace a bulky work laptop, this isn’t the best laptop for you. Also, the trackpad is imprecise, fairly jumpy, and a palm magnet at best. It just kills the experience, at least, until you get used to it.
Again, the configuration options are limited at this price point. While it’s standard for Windows machines to come with several CPU, RAM, and storage configurations, Chromebooks tend to perform fairly better with the same hardware considering Chrome OS is lighter than Windows 11, but the latter offers some level of flexibility.
Battery Life
Pairing a small, 2-cell battery with a sizeable, 14-inch display adds up to decent battery life. Lasting just over 7 hours 23 minutes on a single charge, it can outlast most models and, if you’re hitting it hard, likely you’ll get through a full workday like most Chromebooks nowadays do.
Still, you can get a longer runtime under more start-and-stop, lid-open/lid-shut usage scenarios than continually playing video, but on raw battery life, it’s fairly competitive with other similar-size laptops.
Who should you buy the HP 14-dq0040nr?
Anyone that’s looking for a very affordable Windows laptop under $200, and can’t consider a similarly priced Chromebook as an alternative. It has a nice keyboard and battery life, but the display and performance are basic at best. The 64GB storage is a little lean, but that’s about what competitors are offering too, and you get decent ports to extend that storage. Beyond that, this HP doesn’t do anything to stand out in the crowded budget laptop market.
If your budget can wiggle a little, the HP 14-dq5009nr and Acer Aspire 3 A315-24PT-R0UX are better budget laptops that provide better performance, long-lasting batteries, and brighter FHD displays but are still very affordable. And with the many upgrades these alternatives offer, it may be worth keeping an eye out for deals.
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