Rugged HP Fortis Chromebooks, Windows PCs Coming to a Classroom Near You

HP just announced six new laptops for students, meaning the PC maker now has a range of Windows and Chromebook devices aimed squarely at today's students and classrooms.

From ruggedized laptops to 2-in-1 convertibles, the new line of school laptops includes features like reinforced construction that stands up to wear and tear, optional 4G LTE to provide connectivity for every student, and designs that can be easily sanitized with disinfectant wipes. The new models also offer larger-than-average 14-inch screens, for easier multitasking as students take notes during virtual lectures or while referencing digital media.

While we'll likely see some of these systems on our list of the best laptops for kids or the best Chromebooks, there's an even better chance you'll see these systems in a classroom near you.

Built for the School of Hard Knocks

With an explosion of online and virtual learning in the last two years, the game has changed for educational computing products. Once considered an addition to traditional classroom learning, Chromebooks and laptops are now used by students for the majority of their education needs. The modern laptop serves as the classroom for remote learning, the textbook for many subjects, and an essential tool for studying and completing assignments.

This dramatic increase in laptop use brings with it new challenges for all age levels. One of the biggest is increased use, and the physical wear and tear that comes with it. HP meets this head on with Fortis, a new branding scheme intended to communicate that a laptop benefits from increased durability and a design that's better-suited to these high-frequency uses.

From reinforced hinges to ports that are hardened against rough treatment, the new Fortis education products are more rugged and easier to clean. Surfaces are textured for better grip and made to be easily cleaned with sanitizing wipes. The laptops are also built to handle drops and shocks, passing 19 different MIL-STD 810H tests.

HP claims that even keyboards are subject to more abuse at the hands of students, with a trend of students picking the keys off their school machines. To combat this, Fortis laptops have deeper key wells and keycaps to make it harder for “key pickers” to dissect the keyboards on their school laptops. And that’s in addition to water- and spill-resistance, which has long been common on educational machines.

Windows and Chrome for the Classroom

With Microsoft and Google vying for a place in the classroom, HP introduces a new lineup that includes both Chromebooks and Windows laptops, with a variety of form factors and processors.

HP ProBook Fortis 14 Windows laptop

Among the new features emphasized by HP is optional 4G LTE on virtually every model. As connectivity becomes fundamental to basic education—it's difficult to attend virtual class without a working internet connection—schools will often provide mobile broadband to students so income-based disparities don't prevent kids from accessing classes and resources.

Most of HP's new Chromebooks and Windows systems also sport 14-inch displays, which offer more screen real estate for tasks like taking notes while watching a lecture over Zoom, and reading subject matter texts while working on an assignment.

HP Fortis 14 G10 and Fortis 11 G9 Q Chromebooks

For schools that use Google's Chrome OS, HP has the new Fortis 14 G10 and Fortis 11 G9 Q Chromebooks, both of which boast HP’s classroom-rugged Fortis design.

HP Fortis 14 G10 Chromebook

The HP Fortis 14-inch G10 Chromebook comes with Intel Celeron and Pentium processor options, with 4GB or 8GB of memory and 32GB to 128GB of onboard eMMC storage. The 14-inch display has a range of panel options, from a basic 1,366-by-768 resolution to a higher 1,920-by-1,080 IPS screen. Anti-glare finishes come standard, and a touch option is offered at both resolutions.

Features like USB-C with power delivery, speedy USB 3.2 ports and integrated SIM card slots make it easy to add storage and peripherals, and HP Fast Charge lets students get 90% battery charge in just 90 minutes, with a 47Whr battery that should carry them through the school day. HDMI output and headset jacks come standard, and an HD webcam makes it easy to join in on virtual class discussions. Other features include Wi-Fi 6 and optional 4G LTE.

The 14-inch HP Fortis G10 Chromebook is available today with a starting price of $349.

The HP Fortis 11 G9 Q Chromebook mixes things up with a Qualcomm 7c processor, and comes with 4G LTE standard using embedded eSIM support. The thinnest and lightest model to bear the Fortis name, it doesn’t offer quite as much storage (up to 64GB) and has a smaller 11-inch display (available with and without touch) than the 14-inch G10 Chromebook, but it's quite similar in most respects.

Pricing for the Qualcomm-powered HP Fortis 11 G9 Q Chromebook has not been announced, but HP expects to begin selling it in June.

HP Fortis Windows Laptops

HP’s Windows laptops bring the same Fortis ruggedized designs to Microsoft-oriented classrooms, with its new HP ProBook Fortis G9 and G10 14-inch laptop PCs and HP Pro x360 Fortis 11-inch G9 and G10 convertible models.

14-inch HP ProBook Fortis G9 Windows laptop

The 14-inch HP ProBook Fortis G9 is a classroom-ready Windows laptop with Intel Celeron and Pentium configurations available, with built-in protection against malware and BIOS attacks, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and optional 4G LTE for online connectivity. And, for those who want a lighter Windows experience, it’s also available with Windows 11 SE.

The HP ProBook Fortis 14-inch G9 PC is available now for a starting price of $369. A model preloaded with Windows 11 SE is coming in April, but pricing has not yet been announced.

The HP ProBook Fortis G10 takes this system up a step with 12th Generation Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors, HP’s Wolf Security, and upgrades to Wi-Fi 6E. It also has intelligent charging and power optimization to give you more battery life and less time plugged into an outlet.

The HP ProBook Fortis G10 arrives in April, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.

HP x360 Fortis 2-in-1

For something more flexible than the usual laptop, there’s the HP x360 Fortis 11-inch G9 and G10 notebook PCs, which deliver the same Windows-powered capabilities, but in a more versatile 2-in-1 design.

The laptop’s 360-degree hinge allows it to be used in tablet and display modes, while a rechargeable pen is stored and charged in an integrated storage slot. It’s also smaller, at 11 inches, making it better suited to tablet use than the larger 14-inch laptop screens. Both models have optional 4G LTE capability, as well.

The G9 model features Intel Celeron and Pentium CPU choices, along with up to 8GB of RAM and as much as 256GB of SSD storage. It’s available now through HP for a starting price of $399. A Windows 11 SE model is coming this April for a yet-to-be-announced price.

The G10 adds more processing power with 12th Generation Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processing, HP Wolf Security and Wi-Fi 6E networking. The HP Pro x360 Fortis 11-inch G10 PC arrives April, but pricing information has not been announced.