HP's rugged Fortis laptops are built to stand up to modern student life

What you need to know

• HP just announced its Fortis range of durable laptops that are built to withstand the everyday bumps and knocks of hybrid learning.
• Textured surfaces, reinforced ports, and mechanically reinforced corners should help the new devices last longer than standard laptops.
• The new Fortis laptops from HP start shipping in April 2022 with a starting price of $369.

HP's new Fortis laptops are built to match the lifestyle of students that need to take their devices back and forth between home and school. The company explains that as hybrid learning has become more common, the demand for durable student laptops has increased. The Fortis range is designed to meet that demand, and its PCs include textured surfaces for easy gripping, reinforced ports and keys, and spill-resistant keyboards. The corners and hinges of the Fortis laptops are reinforced as well.

In total, HP announced six new devices, including four PCs and two Chromebooks. The HP ProBook Fortis 14 G9 and HP ProBook Fortis 14 G10 are traditional clamshell laptops, while the HP Pro x360 Fortis G9 and HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G10 are convertible PCs.

Based on their designs and specs, HP's upcoming Fortis laptops should be among the best rugged laptops for students.

The HP ProBook Fortis 14 G9 and G10 feature 14-inch displays. The ProBook Fortis 14 G9 runs on Intel processors and comes with Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Pro Education, or Windows 11 SE. The Fortis 14 G9 supports Wi-Fi 6 and has optional 4G LTE connectivity. The ProBook Fortis 14 G10 runs on a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 processor and ships with either Windows 11 or Windows 11 Pro Education.

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Both HP Pro x360 Fortis devices have an optional world-facing 5MP camera and rechargeable pen with a reinforced tip. That pen can be stored and charged within an optional water-resistant garage. The HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G9 supports Wi-Fi 6 and has optional 4G LTE connectivity. The HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G10 runs on a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 processor.

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The HP ProBook Fortis 14 G9 has a starting price of $369. Its sibling, the HP ProBook Fortis 14 G10, doesn't have a starting price at this time. Both are expected to start shipping in April 2022.

On the convertible side of things, the HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G9 starts at $399 and launches in April 2022. The HP Pro x360 Fortis 11 G10 is also expected in April, but HP hasn't shared the starting price of the new laptop.

HP also announced the Fortis 14 G10 Chromebook, Fortis 11 G9 Q Chromebook, and a couple of webcams today.