HP Stream refresh gets Windows 10 and a thinner, lighter chassis

HP's new lineup isn't complete without a few budget models bringing up the rear. The Stream series will be getting a refresh with updated looks and new colors.

Two sizes will launch first: the 11.6-inch model and the 13.3-inch model. This means that the existing 14-inch Stream 14 will have to wait a little longer before its successor becomes available. The refreshed notebooks retain the smooth plastic design of the current generation, but will be lighter and about 1.5 mm thinner depending on the size. The optional touchscreen is also a new addition.

HP will be marketing the new Windows 10 notebooks for users who prefer to work with sensitive data through Cloud storage in a manner similar to Chromebooks. As such, the company is promising free Internet through Google-hosted hotspots, 1 TB of free Cloud storage through Microsoft OneDrive, free Office 365 Personal, and free 60 minutes of Skype calls per month - all for one year.

HP Stream 11

• 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display
• Intel Celeron CPU
• 2.60 pounds
• 18.4 mm
• 10.5 hour battery life
• 32 GB eMMC
• 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, HDMI, MicroSD reader

HP Stream 13

• 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 display
• Intel Celeron CPU
• 3.42 pounds
• 19.6 mm
• 8.5 hour battery life
• 32 GB eMMC
• 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, HDMI, MicroSD reader

Note, however, that WWAN is not an option for the new notebooks despite the focus on Cloud functionality.

The 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch HP Stream will launch before the Holidays and will retail for $199 and $229, respectively. A higher-end Stream 11 Pro G2 will also be available for $249 with 4 GB RAM, TPM 2.0, and dual-band WiFi for more power-hungry users. Colors include Blue and Purple while the Pro G2 gets the exclusive Silver color scheme. Check out our existing review on the Stream 13 for more information on the series.

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