HP Fortis G1i 14" 2025, Intel N150, 16GB, 64GB eMMC, Multi-Touch

The HP Fortis G1i is a rugged Chromebook with a decent amount of RAM but a painfully small 64GB eMMC drive and a weak Intel N150 CPU. It scores 21.8 out of 100 for students in our database. At $599, it's hard to recommend unless you need the durability and find it heavily discounted.

The Intel N150 is a 4-core chip that sits in the 17th percentile for CPUs in our database. It'll handle a handful of Chrome tabs and basic apps without much drama, but don't expect to edit video or run anything heavy. The 16GB of RAM is actually decent for a Chromebook, landing in the 37th percentile, which helps with multitasking. But the storage is the real bottleneck. 64GB of eMMC is in the 4th percentile, one of the worst we've seen. You'll be leaning hard on Google Drive, and even then, the slow read/write speeds make boot times and app launches feel sluggish. The integrated graphics are nothing special either, sitting in the 28th percentile.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Air M4, this thing looks like it's from another decade. The MacBook costs more, but it's in a completely different league for performance and screen quality. The Lenovo Legion 5i and ASUS ProArt PX13 are gaming and creator machines, so they're not really direct competitors, but they highlight how much more you can get for your money if you're willing to spend a bit more. Even the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro makes the Fortis G1i look like a toy. The only reason to pick the HP is if you need a cheap, durable Chromebook for a kid and you find it on sale.

At $599 USD, this is a tough sell. You're paying for the rugged build and the touchscreen, but the core specs feel like they belong in a $300 laptop. The 16GB of RAM is nice, but it's wasted when the CPU and storage are this weak. For the same money, you can find Chromebooks with faster processors and proper SSDs. The value just isn't there unless you absolutely need the Fortis durability.

The HP Fortis G1i is a 14-inch Chromebook aimed squarely at students and classrooms. It's got a touchscreen, 16GB of RAM, and a rugged-ish Fortis build meant to survive a backpack. But the specs tell a story of compromise, especially that 64GB eMMC drive.

Our database puts this thing at 21.8 out of 100 for students. That's not a typo. The Intel N150 is a low-power chip that's fine for web browsing and Google Docs, but the storage is a real problem. 64GB fills up fast, and eMMC is slow compared to the NVMe drives in most modern laptops.

Skip this if you need to store files locally, run demanding apps, or care about screen quality. The 64GB eMMC drive is a constant frustration, and the N150 CPU will choke on anything beyond basic tasks. If you're a college student or professional, spend your money on something with an SSD and a better processor.

This is a Chromebook for schools and parents who need something that can survive a drop. If you're a student who just needs to write papers and browse the web, it'll get the job done, but slowly. If you're anyone else, look elsewhere. The storage alone is a dealbreaker for most people.