HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch) (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3)

8.8/10 Great

4.4★ (3,200 owners)

ChromeOS, Core i3, 15.6" FHD, 8GB, Google AI, 10hr battery. Best-value Chromebook.

Full Review

Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch)

9.0/10 Excellent

4.5★ (2,800 owners)

Core Ultra 5, 3:2 PixelSense, Copilot+ AI features, 12hr, Alcantara. Windows AI laptop.

Full Review

At a Glance

	HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3)	Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch)
247Verdict Score	8.8/10	9.0/10
Owner Rating	4.4★ (3,200)	4.5★ (2,800)
Verdict	Great	Excellent
Battery	10 hours	Approx 12 hours
AI	Google Gemini native	Copilot+ (Recall, captions)

Quick Verdict

Both are strong choices, but the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch) edges ahead with a 9.0/10 vs 8.8/10. Core Ultra 5, 3:2 PixelSense, Copilot+ AI features, 12hr, Alcantara. Windows AI laptop. That said, the HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3) is worth considering if ChromeOS, Core i3, 15.6" FHD, 8GB, Google AI, 10hr battery. Best-value Chromebook. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3)

ChromeOS is genuinely more secure than Windows — zero native malware in 15 years of ChromeOS existence
Google AI integration: Google Docs, Sheets and Drive with Gemini AI built natively
Under £400 for Core i3 8GB 15-inch — more computing power than equivalently priced Windows laptops at this tier
10-hour battery for a budget 15-inch is practical for full working days
Automatic ChromeOS updates for 10 years — security patching without user attention

ChromeOS — no native Windows or macOS software compatibility
Limited offline functionality — best with internet connection
Less suitable for professional applications (design, video editing, coding IDEs) vs Windows/Mac

Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch)

3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense display shows more vertical content than 16:9 — better for documents and coding
Copilot+ AI features: Recall, live captions, AI image editing native to Windows
Alcantara fabric palm rest is the most distinctive laptop finish — soft, premium feel
Windows Hello facial recognition unlocks instantly without touching the keyboard
Microsoft's integration between Surface, Windows and Office 365 is tighter than any third-party Windows laptop

Core Ultra 5 rather than Ultra 7 at base tier — performance constrained for heavy workloads
USB-A only at 3.2 Gen 1 speed — slower than ThinkPad's Thunderbolt ports
Premium pricing for Microsoft-specific features that require Windows 11 AI evaluation

FAQ

Which is better, HP Chromebook Plus 15a or Microsoft Surface Laptop 6?

Is the HP Chromebook Plus 15a worth the extra cost?

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch) matches or exceeds it at a potentially lower price point.

Who is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 best suited to?

ChromeOS, Core i3, 15.6" FHD, 8GB, Google AI, 10hr battery. Best-value Chromebook.

Who is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 best suited to?

Core Ultra 5, 3:2 PixelSense, Copilot+ AI features, 12hr, Alcantara. Windows AI laptop.

What are the main downsides of each?

HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3): ChromeOS — no native Windows or macOS software compatibility; Limited offline functionality — best with internet connection. Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch): Core Ultra 5 rather than Ultra 7 at base tier — performance constrained for heavy workloads; USB-A only at 3.2 Gen 1 speed — slower than ThinkPad's Thunderbolt ports.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — HP Chromebook Plus 15a (Intel Core i3) sits at 4.4★ from 3,200 verified Amazon owners, and Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 (13.5-inch) at 4.5★ from 2,800.

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