HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Two Minute Review
The HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 helps bring all-in-one PCs to the mainstream, and it’s about damn time. Even now, most AIO PCs on the market are pricey and mostly target professionals who need a minimalistic yet powerful solution for their demanding computing workloads.
That’s not to say there aren’t all-in-one computers on the market that are affordable enough for the general public. But you’ll also have to dig deep to find them, as the iMac (24-inch, 2021) and the HP Envy 34 All-in-One outshine them all.
Also, anything under $800/£800 feels slightly underpowered, especially when running a full-fledged OS like Windows 11.
SPECIFICATION SHEET
Here is the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 configuration sent to Ditching for review
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i3-10110U (2.1GHz to 4.1GHz, 4MB L3 cache, 2 cores)
Graphic: Intel UHD graphics
RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666MHz
Screen: 21.5″ diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), touch, IPS, BrightView, 250 nits, 72% NTSC
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Ports: 2x SuperSpeed USB Type-C (with Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2), 2x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo
Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2×2), Bluetooth 5 Combo
Camera: HP True Vision 5 MP Privacy Camera and Integrated Dual Array Digital Microphones, 1.4m Camera Sensor
Weight: 15.37 lb (6.97 kg) tablet, keyboard and mouse included
Mate: 19.98 x 6.87 x 17.89 inches (507.5 x 174.5 x 454.4mm, WxHxD)
The HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 solves all that by using similar specs but using the lightweight Chrome OS instead. Bridging the gap between the popular (and usually affordable) Chromebooks and the minimalist appeal of AIOs, it offers smoother performance than its Windows 11 counterparts – not to mention an attractive design – while keeping the price within reach of most consumers.
Among the many standout features are the 21.5-inch touchscreen display with portrait mode, a webcam with a resolution of 2,592×1944 with impressive noise reduction, a two-step privacy cover and a pair of 5W speakers with plenty of volume.
There are some trade-offs here – not surprising given the price – but there are also excellent premium features, namely the browser’s beautifully compact design and multitasking ability. Finally, users whose daily needs largely consist of browsing, streaming and sending emails now have a budget realistic AIO option.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one for everyone in your household, your work-from-home setup, or the enrolling member of your family, the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 is a tough competitor to beat.
HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Price and Availability
- Various configurations offered
- Limited availability in the UK
Exactly how budget-friendly is the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22? Right now it’s available in a variety of configurations in the US, starting at $629 / £629. This base configuration comes with an Intel Pentium 6405U, Intel UHD graphics, and 8GB of memory and 128GB SSD. While that may sound a bit underpowered, remember that it also has a lightweight operating system that doesn’t require robust specs.
If you need something more robust, the top-featured configuration – the same configuration sent to Ditching for testing – will give you an Intel Core i3-10110U, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD and the same integrated graphics for $699 / £699.
Unfortunately, consumers in Australia would have to wait to get their hands on an HP Chromebase as it’s not currently available in the region. It’s also not currently available on the HP UK store, but you should be able to find some configurations available from some online retailers in the UK. On the plus side, the UK HP store suggests it will be available soon.
Where the: 4 / 5
HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Design and Features
- Beautiful, premium design
- Thoughtful design details
HP doesn’t impress when it comes to the design of the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22. This should be a space-saving, minimalist and attractive all-in-one, and it succeeds with its 21.5-inch display, compact conical stand that stores all the guts, ports and speakers, and beautiful white finish that makes it look more expensive than it is.
The screen size may not be ideal for power users and multitaskers, but it is certainly enough for this computer’s target market. In addition, the touch capability is beautifully responsive, something you would expect from more expensive models.
There is also a decent port selection which is more than enough for the average user. Not that you need any peripherals, as it comes with its own Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, both of which get the job done.
The keyboard is comfortable to type on, despite the lack of some keys, including media keys (apart from the volume buttons). The mouse could be better – there’s a little more resistance on the buttons than we’d like – but it also does what it’s supposed to do. Users who are not very picky with their peripherals will be pleased.
There are also thoughtful design features, some of which even the iMac 24-inch doesn’t have, namely the tilting screen that lets you switch from landscape to portrait mode with just, quite literally, a finger.
There are no swivel or horizontal adjustments here, but if you need that vertical space to read news articles, work on your book, or help the kids with their essays, you’ll appreciate that portrait mode is on hand and just the touch of a finger. There’s also some tilt up and down for greater viewing comfort.
Another thoughtful design feature is the webcam’s privacy shutter, which allows you to block out any video feed and completely disable the microphone when not in use.
This feature prevents hackers and other malicious people on the Internet from using your webcam and microphone to spy on you, or worse.
Design: 4.5 / 5
HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Performance
- Browser performance is top notch
- Speakers loud but not the best sounding
BENCHMARKS
Here’s how the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 performed in our series of benchmark tests:
Cracking JavaScript: 895.3 ms
Octane 2.0 JavaScript: 43.565
Jet Stream 2: 134.5
The Chrome OS doesn’t need powerful specs to run smoothly, so it’s not surprising that when paired with an Intel Core i3-10110U and 16GB of memory, it runs faster than ever. The HP Chromebase All-in-One 22 scores highly in the Kraken JavaScript benchmark test, giving us a lofty 895.3 ms, and a decent 134.5 in the Jetstream 2 test.
It also proves that in practice. In testing, we often have it run 20 or more tabs at once, several of which have opened Google Docs Editors suite pages and online publications, as well as retail sites and streaming services, and it handles those without showing signs of slowing down. This is an all-in-one made for demanding browsing needs and multitasking.
Meanwhile, the built-in 5W stereo speakers, which are once again housed in the stand, are also good. They’re not as bright and detailed as the speakers you’d find on more expensive all-in-ones, but they get pretty loud with decent bass response to fill a room…or at least a small to medium sized one.
Fair warning though: pump that volume up to 100%, and they’ll sound like little ice picks sticking into your eardrums. So it is best to keep that volume below 90%.
Performance: 4 / 5
HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Webcam and Microphone
- Excellent noise reduction
- Sharp and clear microphone
If you plan on using the webcam and microphone for work meetings and video calls with loved ones, you’ll be happy to know that you’re getting a pretty high resolution of 2,592×1944 here. It’s not the most detailed webcam we’ve used, and there’s not much contrast or dynamic range. However, it excels at noise reduction, keeping that brightness and chromatic noise well under control, even in low-light conditions.
The microphone is also great, although it has its own compromise. Your voice will sound crisp and clear, but just like any background noise, as there’s no noise cancellation – unsurprisingly, as this isn’t a premium all-in-one PC.
webcam: 4 / 5
Should I buy the HP Chromebase All-in-One 22?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider:
HP Chromebase All-in-One 22: Report Card
| Where the | All-in-ones tend to be pricey, but this AIO brings that price back closer to the ground in Chrome OS form. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | It has adopted that minimalist AIO design and premium feel without increasing the price. Thoughtful design features are also present. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Performance | Excellent browser and multitasking performance allows this Chromebase to stand out despite more powerful rivals. The built-in speakers are also plenty loud. | 4 / 5 |
| webcam | With a resolution above 720p and great noise reduction capabilities, the webcam deserves praise. Especially with that two-step privacy coverage. | 4 / 5 |
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