Chromebooks have come a great distance in recent times. They’re not used to simply run Google apps or entry the web. Chromebooks can do nearly each productiveness process a Home windows or MacOS laptop computer can do, they usually usually come at a extra inexpensive worth. They’re additionally famend for having lengthy battery life and strong designs. Google has developed Chrome OS to be excellent for on a regular basis duties reminiscent of engaged on paperwork and spreadsheets, looking the net, and checking e-mail. So if affordability and ease of use are what you’re after, a Chromebook is more likely to be the reply.
Chromebooks are available in all kinds of types, so the PCWorld crew has put collectively an inventory of one of the best Chromebook choices in the marketplace in the present day, no matter your wants could also be. Beneath our picks you could find useful shopping for recommendation as nicely.
For those who’re nonetheless undecided whether or not a Chromebook is the fitting selection for you, check out our in-depth comparability of Chromebooks vs. Windows laptops that will help you determine. And earlier than you pull the set off on a brand new laptop, you’ll want to double-check our best laptop deals, that are up to date every day. Lastly, take a look at our full information to the best laptops to see our high picks throughout all working programs.
For those who’re seeking to stretch your faculty finances even additional, you’ll want to take a look at our back-to-school deals web page the place we curate one of the best gross sales on Chromebooks, MacBooks, iPads, and extra.
Up to date 1/20/2023: Take a look at our newest evaluate of the Acer Chromebook Vero 514. The inexpensive Vero 514 comes with strong efficiency and is a superb eco-conscious selection because it’s constituted of recycled supplies. We additionally reviewed the Acer Chromebook Spin 514, which steps up the ability with a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 processor, but additionally comes with a stepped-up price ticket.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 – Finest general
Professionals
- Sturdy efficiency
- Good construct high quality
- Good choice of ports
- Lovely show
- Strong battery life
Cons
- No privateness shutter on the webcam
- Boring design
- Fan noise is a bit loud
For those who’re in search of an awesome convertible laptop computer, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 will certainly match the invoice. You’ll be able to both prop it up like a tent or fold the display screen all the best way again and use it like a pill. We had been additionally impressed with its vibrant show, all-day battery life, and numerous choice of ports. The design is just a little utilitarian, however that is the type of machine that favors operate over aesthetics. The construct is powerful and there was hardly any flex within the keyboard tray. There are a few downsides just like the loud fan noise and the dearth of a bodily privateness shutter on the webcam, however these points are comparatively minor. Total, the Spin 713 is a strong convertible laptop computer that performs nicely.
HP Chromebook x2 11 da0023dx – Finest folio-style choice
Professionals
- Beautiful 2K touchscreen
- Strong efficiency
- Wonderful battery life
- Strong design
Cons
- Trackpad is just too delicate at occasions
- Gentle on ports
The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a strong folio-style laptop computer, which means the keyboard and kickstand detach, leaving you with a sub 1-pound pill. Apart from being light-weight, the battery life is spectacular. The keyboard is appropriate for lengthy typing classes and the kickstand retains the pill good and secure. The 1440p touchscreen show is gorgeous, too. Colours regarded vibrant and smaller particulars had been sharp and simple to see. The Snapdragon 7c processor is quick sufficient for basic use as nicely. The one actual disadvantage is the over-sized touchpad, which tends to fireside off a couple of false clicks right here and there. For those who can dwell with an sometimes temperamental touchpad, then the x2 11 is a implausible choice, particularly when you journey so much for work.
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Review HP Chromebook x2 11
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5 – Finest for OLED followers
Professionals
- Beautiful display screen
- Superb battery life
- Good worth
Cons
- Awkward side ratio
- No fingerprint or face scanning
In the case of the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5, a Chrome OS pill that doubles as a laptop computer, the largest highlights are the keyboard and its drop-dead beautiful OLED show. The 1080p full HD show produces colourful photos, though the 16:9 side ratio may really feel awkward for some customers. However, it might be a boon for watching films. The keys have an honest journey distance of 1.3mm and the removable keyboard as an entire doesn’t really feel too cramped. There’s additionally a kickstand that may be adjusted as much as 135 levels. The one tradeoff is that the USI-compatible pen prices further.
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Review Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 – Finest keyboard
Professionals
- Engaging design
- Inexpensive
- Punchy audio
- Wonderful keyboard
Cons
- Mediocre efficiency
- Subpar battery life
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is an efficient laptop computer for productiveness. It’s quick sufficient for net looking, enhancing paperwork, and so forth. That stated, it might probably “really feel taxed by demanding duties.” When our tester opened up a number of tabs, he seen a sag in efficiency. The port choice, nonetheless, is good mixture of outdated and new. It has two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Though the Flex 5 has so much to supply, the standout characteristic is the keyboard. Our tester preferred the “crisp and taut” really feel of the keys. There’s additionally an excellent quantity of area on the palm rests. For those who’re in search of a Chromebook with a tactile keyboard, the Flex 5 will match the invoice.
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Review Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
Acer Chromebook Spin 513 – Finest battery life
Professionals
- Sharp 13.5-inch show with 3:2 side ratio
- Nice keyboard
- Wonderful battery life
- Good Android recreation efficiency
Cons
- Mediocre construct high quality
- Touchpad might be higher
- Audio system lack quantity
- CPU efficiency falls behind AMD and Intel
The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 has so much going for it in a compact design. It has a 13.5-inch, 3:2 side ratio show with sharp decision and a stunning quantity of display screen area. It additionally comes with an enjoyable-to-use keyboard sporting massive keys which have a pleasant tactile really feel when typing. However what really makes the Spin 513 stand out is its distinctive battery life. In our assessments, we discovered that the battery on this Chromebook lasted for and excellent 12 hours and 34 minutes within the CrXPRT 2 battery life benchmark check. That’s 3 to 4 hours longer than a number of the high opponents in the identical worth vary. So when you’re in search of a Chromebook that may final a full eight-hour work day or deal with a flight throughout the USA, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is your greatest guess.
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Review Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Framework Laptop computer Chromebook – Finest for tinkerers
Professionals
- Sturdy efficiency
- Upgradeable
- Sizzling-swappable ports
- 1080p webcam
Cons
- Costly
- No touchscreen show
For many who prefer to tinker with their laptops, the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook is a superb selection. As is, this Chromebook sports activities strong efficiency because of its Intel Core i5 processor, Intel Xe built-in graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. However what really makes it shine is the truth that Framework has constructed this laptop to permit for final customization and upgradability—you may substitute or restore virtually each a part of the {hardware}. The 1080p show can be a draw and it comes with hot-swappable ports permitting for much more versatility. Attributable to this comfort, the worth tag is on the upper facet for a Chromebook, nevertheless it’s actually focused for a particular area of interest of individuals in any case: those that discover enjoyment in tinkering with their devices
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Review Framework Laptop Chromebook
How we examined
The PCWorld crew places each laptop computer by a collection of benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so forth. The concept is to push the laptop computer to its limits after which evaluate it in opposition to others we’ve examined. As a result of cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they undergo a collection of web-based assessments. It wouldn’t be honest or doable to run the identical sorts of assessments on a Chromebook as we use on laptops as a result of they completely run a very completely different working system. Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of every check and the the reason why we run them.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark assessments a Chromebook’s battery life.
- Speedometer 2.0: This check determines a Chromebook’s net browser efficiency. It simulates this by including, finishing, and eradicating a to-do record.
- Basemark Net 3.0: This benchmark gauges how nicely a Chromebook can deal with web-based functions.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript efficiency benchmark that measures browser velocity.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a mixture of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This can be a option to gauge how nicely a Chromebook runs superior workloads.
What ought to I search for in a Chromebook?
For those who’re in search of a Home windows or MacBook different, it’s possible you’ll need to think about a Chromebook. Geared up with low-power processors, they sometimes have good battery life and are often silent in operation. They make nice productiveness machines, as they’re particularly designed for light-weight duties like looking the net, watching Netflix, and so forth. Plus, they’re largely virus free. That stated, most Chromebooks have minimal RAM and storage. For those who’re a hardcore gamer or a video editor, you’re going to need one thing with much more energy than a Chromebook is able to offering.
Our information to Chromebooks vs. Windows laptops can assist you establish which working system is greatest on your wants. For extra choices, you’ll need to take a look at our best laptops roundup.
- Working system: Though each working system has its execs and cons, I’d argue that Chrome OS is without doubt one of the most user-friendly ones on the market. That stated, with Chromebooks, you don’t have the choice of selecting one other working system, as they completely run Chrome OS. You’re caught with it, bud.
- Processor: Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook when you can. They value wherever within the $400 to $600 vary and lots of of them come geared up with Intel Pentium processors. These Chromebooks have higher browser efficiency and are able to working extra intense gaming apps. It’s one of the best bang on your buck.
- RAM: Many Chromebooks have 4GB of RAM, which isn’t so much. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so that you want a good quantity of RAM to maintain these tabs open and working easily. For those who can spend a few hundred further, you’ll have the ability to discover a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
- Storage: I like to recommend not less than 64GB of storage. Because you’ll principally be storing issues within the cloud, you don’t a ton of native storage.
- Sturdiness: Chromebooks are common within the training market as a result of they’re fairly darn strong. I’m not saying you must smack one round with a baseball bat or something, however they’re sturdy sufficient to deal with the every day abuses of life.
FAQ
What’s the distinction between an everyday laptop computer and a Chromebook?
When individuals speak about common laptops they often imply a PC or Mac. A Chromebook continues to be a laptop computer, nevertheless it differentiates itself from both of these two by utilizing a singular working system referred to as Chrome OS, which was created by Google. Consider it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, however not all laptops are Chromebooks.
Not like different working programs reminiscent of Home windows or macOS, Chrome OS is optimized to run Google apps reminiscent of Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and different Google companies. As a result of most Google apps are on-line, Chromebooks usually require an web connection to make use of most of their vital options.
Lastly, Chromebooks have traditionally been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in thoughts quite than high efficiency. They sometimes forego the sooner, high-end {hardware} that PCs or Macs can use for a extra minimalist, light-weight method to computing.
Can I take advantage of built-in graphics for gaming?
Sure, a number of the newest processors with built-in graphics can run trendy PC video games at first rate sufficient settings. For instance, we discovered that in our assessments, Intel’s newest Iris Xe line of processors with built-in graphics can run a number of the newest video games at 1080p and 30 frames per second. Sadly, this isn’t the case for all built-in graphics and your mileage might range drastically with older tech.
Intel and AMD’s built-in graphics have made big leaps in recent times with regard to gaming efficiency. For those who’re on a finances or in search of an ultra-thin laptop computer with built-in graphics you needn’t fear, you may nonetheless recreation on. We advocate testing Intel’s Core 12th-gen Iris Xe or AMD’s brand new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2.
What’s the distinction between a finances laptop computer and a pill?
Increasingly, the road between what’s a laptop computer and what’s a pill blurs as firms combine the options of each into their newest gadgets. However there are nonetheless a couple of key distinctions between the 2. Laptops usually are bigger, include extra storage, and have higher efficiency and productiveness options. Tablets however are smaller and extra transportable, have longer battery life, and are often a bit extra inexpensive.
When selecting between a finances laptop computer and a pill you must first ask your self what the first use of the system shall be. Do you want one thing for productiveness with numerous storage? Then a laptop computer—even a finances mannequin—will most likely be the best way to go. Or do you want one thing that’s small, travels nicely, and has an extended battery life? You then may think about a pill.
Do Chromebooks make good gaming laptops?
As of proper now, not likely. But it surely depends upon the kind of gaming you propose to do. Chromebooks can deal with net video games and Android video games simply tremendous. Nonetheless, when you’re seeking to play the most recent high-powered 3D video games, a Chromebook gained’t lower it. This is because of the truth that Chromebooks don’t run Home windows they usually most likely have inadequate GPU energy.
Not too long ago although, Google has been working arduous to deliver cloud gaming to Chromebooks. This service makes use of a distant PC or console to play video games streamed by the cloud onto the Chromebook. However till this service turns into extra widespread, Chromebooks will be unable to deal with one of the best AAA titles.
