HP refreshes its notebooks for education with new Chromebooks and Windows models

HP is updating its laptop lineup designed for the education space with a series of new models that includes Chromebooks and Windows laptops, most of which feature Intel processors. And the company is introducing a new name for its ruggedized education series: Fortis.

The company says its new HP Fortis series laptops have features liked reinforced corners and ports, spill-resistant keyboards, and cases designed to withstand a fall from a couple of feet (plus textured surfaces that make the notebooks easier to grip in an effort to prevent falls in the first place).

One stand-out model is the new HP Fortis G9 Q Chromebook, which is the company’s first Chromebook for the education space to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor and 4G LTE support. But it won’t be available for purchase until June, pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, and aside from the processor and connectivity, that laptop’s specs look pretty typical for an entry-level Chromebook.

Other new models include:

• HP Fortis 14 G10 Chromebook – HP’s first rugged 14″ rugged Chromebook for students (the company had offered models for teachers before), this model is available with up to an Intel Pentium processor, up to a full HD display, up to 8GB of LPDDR4x memory, and up to 128GB of eMMC storage. It supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 and there’s also optional support for 4G LTER Cat 9. The HP Fortis 14 G10 Chromebook is available now for $349 and up.
• HP ProBook Fortis 14 G9 PC – This Windows-powered model has similar specs, but a slightly thicker and heavier body, a different set of ports (unlike the 14 inch Chromebook, this Windows model has an Ethernet jack), and a slightly higher starting price. It’s available now for $369 and up, and HP says a version pre-loaded with Windows 11 SE will be available starting in April, with pricing for that version announced closed to release.
• HP ProBook Fortis 14 G10 PC – This 14 inch laptop ships standard with 8GB of RAM, has HDMI, USB-C and USB-A ports, support for WiFi 6E and a choice of 12th-gen Intel Core i3 or Core i5 Alder Lake processors. It’s expected to launch in April.
• HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G9 – Available now for $399 and up, this 11.6 inch convertible has a 1366 x 768 pixel display, support for up to 8GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, 64GB of eMMC storage, and optionally 128GB or 256GB of PCIe NVMe solid state storage. HP offers models with Intel Celeron or Pentium processors, and the notebook supports WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5, and has optional support for 4G LTE Cat 9. There’s also optional support for a 5MP world-facing camera, and the notebook comes with a rechargeable pen featuring a reinforced tip and a water-resistant pent garage in the body of the notebook for storing the pen when you’re not using it. A Windows SE model of this laptop is also coming in April.
• HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G10 – Coming in April, this convertible has many of the same features including a 1366 x 768 pixel display, water resistant pen garage, and optional world-facing camera. But the G10 model will be available with Intel Core i3 or Core i5 Alder Lake processor options, up to 8GB of LPDDR4x-4266 memory, and up to 256GB of solid state storage. There’s no cellular connectivity for this laptop, but it supports up to WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5. Pricing information should be available closer to launch.