You is likely to be tempted to get a Chromebook as your subsequent laptop computer and we wouldn’t blame you. Chrome OS has come a good distance: Chromebooks as we speak have a very good mixture of construct high quality, battery life and energy whereas additionally supporting years of software program updates that may take you years into the longer term. In the event you primarily browse the online, or don’t want a ton of additional software program regularly, a Chromebook is usually a highly effective every day driver.
Whereas Google did make issues easier final fall by introducing the Chromebook Plus initiative (extra on that under), there are nonetheless a number of issues to bear in mind when searching for a brand new Chromebook. The market is saturated with machines at totally different value factors and energy ranges; I’ve been testing and reviewing Chromebooks for years and know what you ought to be on the lookout for, and what you’ll be able to count on out of those laptops.
What’s Chrome OS, and why would I take advantage of it over Home windows?
That is in all probability the primary query about Chromebooks. There are many cheap Home windows laptops in the marketplace, so why hassle with Chrome’s working system? Glad you requested. For me, the easy and clear nature of Chrome OS is a giant promoting level. Chrome OS is predicated on Google’s Chrome browser, which suggests a lot of the packages you’ll be able to run are internet based mostly. There’s no bloatware or undesirable apps to uninstall such as you usually get on Home windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you’ll fully reset to manufacturing unit settings virtually as shortly.
After all, simplicity may even be a significant downside for some customers. Not with the ability to set up native software program is usually a dealbreaker should you’re a video editor or software program developer. However there are additionally loads of individuals who do nearly all of their work in an internet browser.
Google and its software program companions are getting higher yearly at supporting extra superior options. For instance, Google added video editing tools to the Google Pictures app on Chromebooks – it gained’t change Adobe Premiere, nevertheless it ought to be helpful for lots of people. Equally, Google and Adobe introduced Photoshop on the web final 12 months, one thing that brings a lot of the ability of Adobe’s desktop apps to Chromebooks.
Chromebooks may also run Android apps, which tremendously expands the quantity of software program out there. The standard varies broadly, nevertheless it means you are able to do extra with a Chromebook past simply web-based apps. For instance, you’ll be able to set up the Netflix app and save movies for offline watching. Different Android apps like Microsoft Workplace and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly succesful as properly. Between Android apps and a common enchancment in internet apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.
What do Chromebooks do properly?
Put merely, internet shopping and actually something internet based mostly. On-line procuring, streaming music and video and utilizing varied social media websites are among the many commonest every day duties individuals do on Chromebooks. As you may count on, in addition they work properly with Google providers like Pictures, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Hold and so forth. Sure, any pc that may run Chrome can do this too, however the light-weight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and steady platform.
As I discussed earlier than, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so should you’re an Android consumer you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You may get a lot of the similar apps which can be in your cellphone on a Chromebook and maintain data in sync between them. You too can use some Android telephones as a safety key to your Chromebook or immediately tether your laptop computer to make use of cellular information.
Google continues to tout safety as a significant differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s positively an element price contemplating. Auto-updates are the primary strains of protection: Chrome OS updates obtain shortly within the background and a quick reboot is all it takes to put in the most recent model. Google says that every webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its personal sandbox as properly, so any safety threats are contained to that particular person app. Lastly, Chrome OS has a self-check referred to as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the easy truth that you just usually can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for unhealthy actors to entry the system.
In the event you’re keen on Google’s Gemini AI instruments, a Chromebook is an effective choice as properly. Each Chromebook in our prime picks comes with a full 12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan — this combines the same old Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 p.c again in purchases from the Google Retailer with a bunch of AI instruments. You’ll get entry to Gemini in Gmail, Docs and different apps, Gemini Superior (which runs on the 1.5 Professional mannequin) and extra. Provided that this plan is $20/month, it’s a fairly stable perk. Chromebook Plus fashions additionally embrace instruments just like the AI-powered “assist me write,” the Google Pictures Magic Editor and generative AI backgrounds you’ll be able to create by filling in a couple of prompts.
As for when to keep away from Chromebooks, the reply is straightforward: In the event you rely closely on a selected native utility for Home windows or a Mac, chances are high you gained’t discover the very same choice on a ChromeOS system. That’s most true in fields like photograph and video modifying, nevertheless it may also be the case in legislation or finance. Loads of companies run on Google’s G suite software program, however extra nonetheless have particular necessities {that a} Chromebook won’t match. In the event you’re an iPhone consumer, you’ll additionally miss out on the way in which the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the massive draw back just isn’t with the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.
Lastly, gaming Chromebooks are usually not ubiquitous, though they’re turning into a barely extra affordable choice with the rise of cloud gaming. In late 2022, Google and a few {hardware} companions introduced a push to make Chromebooks with cloud gaming in thoughts. From a {hardware} perspective, which means laptops with larger screens which have increased refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with providers like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Recreation Move and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these providers, however the excellent news is that taking part in trendy video games on a Chromebook isn’t unattainable. You too can set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are pondering of once they need to sport on a laptop computer.
What are crucial specs for a Chromebook?
Chrome OS is light-weight and runs properly on pretty modest {hardware}, so crucial factor to search for won’t be processor energy or cupboard space. However Google made it simpler to get constant specs and efficiency late final 12 months when it introduced the Chromebook Plus initiative. Any system with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimal necessities, which occur to be similar to what I’d advocate most individuals get in the event that they’re on the lookout for a laptop computer they will use day by day.
Chromebook Plus fashions have no less than a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 collection processor, each of which ought to be greater than sufficient for most individuals. These laptops even have a minimal of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which ought to do the trick until you’re actually pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus fashions should have a 1080p webcam, which is sweet in as of late of fixed video calling, and so they additionally all should have no less than a 1080p IPS display screen.
After all, you may get increased specs or higher screens should you want, however I’ve discovered that mainly all the pieces included within the Chromebook Plus goal specs makes for an excellent expertise.
Google has an Auto Replace coverage for Chromebooks as properly, and whereas that’s not precisely a spec, it’s price checking before you purchase. Final 12 months, Google introduced that Chromebooks would get software program updates and assist for a formidable 10 years after their launch date. This support page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for nearly each Chromebook ever, however a very good rule of thumb is to purchase the most recent machine you’ll be able to to maximise your assist.
How a lot ought to I spend?
Chromebooks began out notoriously low-cost, with listing costs usually coming in underneath $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being primarily trendy netbooks to the type of laptop computer you’ll need to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, it is best to count on to spend no less than $400 if you need a stable every day driver. There are nonetheless many low-cost Chromebooks on the market that could be appropriate as secondary units, however a very good Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will price extra. However, notably, even the very best Chromebooks often price lower than the best Windows laptops, and even the very best “common” laptops on the market.
There are many premium Chromebooks that strategy and even exceed $1,000 that declare to supply higher efficiency and extra processing energy, however I don’t advocate spending that a lot. Usually, that’ll get you a greater design with extra premium supplies, in addition to extra highly effective internals and additional cupboard space. After all, you additionally generally pay for the model identify. However, the specs I outlined earlier are often sufficient.
See Additionally:
Greatest Chromebooks in 2025
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.52 lbs | Accessible ports: 1 x USB-A 3.2, 2 x USB-C 3.2, MicroSD card slot (SD 3.0), Headphone jack, Kensington Naon safety slot | Drive capability: 128GB | Battery life: 6 hours as examined
Lenovo has been making a number of the greatest reasonably priced Chromebooks you should purchase for a number of years now, and its 2023 IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an reasonably priced laptop computer that gives nearly all the pieces you would need in a primary Chromebook. (We’re calling it the Flex 5i from right here.) The 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 touchscreen is each bigger and taller than final 12 months’s mannequin. This implies you get extra vertical display screen actual property, which is one thing I respect over an ordinary 1080p show. This Lenovo mannequin hits the Chromebook Plus really useful specs with a Thirteenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor plus 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. That’s a bump up from the Eleventh-generation processor within the 2022 mannequin, and the RAM and storage ought to be a lot, so that you’ll get good efficiency from this machine.
Sadly, the battery life is pretty mediocre — I obtained about six hours of normal use out of it. My workflow features a ton of Chrome tabs, plus internet apps for issues like Slack, Todoist, Trello, Google Hold and YouTube Music. I often take a couple of video calls through the day, so should you’re not on digital camera a lot you may get a bit extra time from the laptop computer. I want it lasted longer, however I can’t knock it an excessive amount of contemplating the Flex 5i’s value.
The backlit keyboard and trackpad are superb and really feel a lot better than I’d count on on a reasonably reasonably priced machine. The keys have good journey and the trackpad is giant and responsive. Even if it has a 1080p webcam, I can’t say that I regarded all that nice within the video calls I took. It does the job, however not far more.
Different issues within the Flex 5i’s favor embrace each USB-C and USB-A ports, a microSD card slot and a safety lock. It additionally comes with built-in Wi-Fi 6E to satisfy the most recent Wi-Fi normal. At 3.5 kilos and 0.78 inches thick, it’s positively not the lightest or slimmest choice on the market. It’s a utilitarian slab of a laptop computer, however that’s OK. Lastly, the Flex 5i will obtain software program and safety updates till June of 2032, so you should purchase this pc and have it coated for years to come back.
For me, the $500 Ideapad Flex 5i is the perfect Chromebook, and the excellent news is that it’s recurrently on sale for fairly a bit much less. I’ve seen it as little as $350 in current months. It’ll hit the candy spot for lots of consumers on the market, offering a degree of high quality and efficiency that’s fairly uncommon to search out at this value level. That mentioned, it’s getting lengthy within the tooth in comparison with the remainder of our picks, so I’m preserving an eye fixed out for an replace from Lenovo or a alternative from one other producer.
- Good total efficiency for the worth
- Good show
- Strong keyboard and trackpad
- Mediocre battery life
- A 12 months older than our different picks
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,080 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.15 lbs | Accessible ports: 1 x USB-A 3.2, 2 x USB-C 3.2, HDMI port | Drive capability: 128GB | Battery life: As much as 11 hours
When Google first launched the Chromebook Plus line virtually a 12 months in the past, fashions with that designation began at $400 — however since, issues have gotten inexpensive. Acer’s just-released Chromebook Plus 514 hits all the important thing specs, together with a Thirteenth-gen Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and a 1080p show and webcam. None of that is something to put in writing residence about, however you’re getting a variety of worth for a laptop computer priced at $380. It additionally consists of the aforementioned AI options and a 12 months’s price of the $20/month Google One AI Premium plan, which features a beneficiant 2TB of cloud storage to your pictures, Drive and Gmail recordsdata.
Design-wise, the Plus 514 is fairly primary, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished; it’s your normal laptop computer with a 14-inch show. It’s neither overly skinny (.81 inches) or mild (3.15 kilos), however these specs are completely affordable for a sub-$400 laptop computer. (It’s really ever-so-slightly lighter than the extra premium Spin 714.) Identical goes for the display screen — it’s a touchscreen, and its 1,920 x 1,080 decision is okay, however I do miss the additional vertical pixels you’ll get with our different picks on this information. The show is in any other case good, and the keyboard and trackpad are likewise greater than ok for a laptop computer at this value.
General, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is a stable choice if price is your principal concern — nevertheless it’s additionally price noting that the Lenovo mannequin we picked as the very best total Chromebook is usually on sale, generally for underneath $400 as properly. In that case, the worth distinction between the 2 laptops is shut sufficient that it’s price springing for the higher show you’ll get with the Lenovo. However I’ve additionally seen the Plus 514 promoting for as little as $330, which is a good deal for a succesful Chromebook.
- Cheap
- Efficiency, specs and constructed high quality are all good for this value
- Strong show and webcam
- 1080p show generally feels cramped
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,980 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.02 lbs | Accessible ports: 1 x USB-A 3.2, 2 x USB-C / Thunderbolt, HDMI, Headphone jack | Drive capability: 256GB | Battery life: 7.5 hours as examined
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 has lengthy been among the best premium Chromebook choices on the market, and the most recent mannequin launched this spring is not any exception. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 encompasses a 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 touchscreen. Just like the display screen on Lenovo’s mannequin, this works out to a taller 16:10 facet ratio than you’ll get from the 1080p panels on most laptops. I’m a giant fan of taller laptop computer screens, and whereas this isn’t as luxurious because the few 3:2 ratio Chromebooks in the marketplace, it’s nonetheless a snug and prime quality display screen. It’s additionally a bit of bit brighter than the display screen on the Lenovo (340 nits vs. 300).
One noteworthy characteristic is the 2K webcam included within the Spin 714. In a world the place we’re all doing extra video calls than we’d like, having a digital camera that doesn’t cut back you to a blurry spot is certainly appreciated. It’s a much better digital camera than the one on our prime choose, too.
As for the remainder of the {hardware}, the Spin 714 bests the Lenovo in a couple of methods. It options Intel’s newest Core Extremely 5 115U processor, together with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of native storage. It additionally has higher battery life in my testing — I sometimes obtained about eight hours utilizing it underneath my regular workload. That’s not distinctive, nevertheless it’s in keeping with what I’ve seen on different Intel-powered Chromebooks.
Simply because the identify suggests, the Spin 714 has a 360-degree hinge which helps you to use the laptop computer in pill mode. I’m not a fan of this convertible design – I don’t know who desires to make use of a 3-plus pound pill, nevertheless it’s there should you want it. That mentioned, for a $700 laptop computer, it’s comparatively skinny (.7 inches) and light-weight (3.2 kilos), so for portability functions, it’s onerous to complain. However Acer has been utilizing this similar primary design for a couple of generations now, so I’m beginning to suppose they might redesign the chassis for the subsequent mannequin.
The newest Spin 714 prices $700 – not an unreasonable value for a pc with these specs and constructed high quality. In the event you’re a critical multitasker, need a greater show and keyboard, or simply need a pc that’ll final so long as doable (Google says it’ll obtain software program updates via June of 2034), the Acer Spin 714 is straightforward to advocate.
- Nice display screen
- Clear webcam
- Loads of energy and cupboard space
- Comfy keyboard and trackpad
- A little bit dear
- Mediocre battery life
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 16 inches | Display decision: 2,560 x 1,600 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.75 lbs | Accessible ports: 1 x USB-A 3.2, 2 x USB-C 3.2, HDMI, Headphone jack, Ethernet | Drive capability: 256GB | Battery life: 9 hours (producer estimate)
Acer first launched the Chromebook 516 GE within the fall of 2022 as a part of Google’s push to make units appropriate for cloud gaming and simply up to date it for 2024. The excellent news is that you just don’t must be a gamer to understand the Chromebook Plus 516 GE. For $650, you’ll get a 16-inch show with a 2,560 x 1,600 decision and a 120Hz refresh charge. NVIDIA’s GeForce Now gaming service helps as much as 4K visuals at 120Hz on its Final tier so that you’ll get to see these advantages. This laptop computer additionally helps Steam, but another excuse players is likely to be keen on making an attempt it. However even non-gamers ought to benefit from the Plus 516 GE’s crisp and clear display screen and refined {hardware}.
It additionally consists of Intel’s Core 5 120UL chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Given the laptop computer’s measurement, it’s good that Acer didn’t skimp on ports right here: there’s an HDMI port, USB-C, USB-A, ethernet and a headphone jack. The keyboard has gamer-friendly LED lights which you can customise, however extra importantly, it’s only a stable and cozy keyboard for enjoying video games or simply typing up stories. The trackpad is giant and responsive as properly.
The 516 GE weighs 3.8 kilos – fairly mild for a laptop computer with a 16-inch display screen. We haven’t examined the 2024 mannequin but, so I can’t affirm the battery life; Acer claims 10 hours, a determine that’ll certainly dip should you’re doing greater than watching movies or informal internet shopping. Between the highly effective {hardware}, stable design, good trackpad and keyboard and nice display screen, anybody who desires an even bigger Chromebook will possible be pleased with this mannequin. As for assist, Google says the Plus 516 GE will obtain updates till June of 2032.
- Massive, high-resolution display screen with a quick refresh charge
- Loads of ports
- Core 5 chip supplies loads of energy
- Massive and spacious keyboard
- Comparatively light-weight for a big-screen laptop computer
- Not everybody will respect the gamer aesthetic
Different Chromebooks we examined
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
Samsung’s new Galaxy Chromebook Plus is likely one of the extra distinctive Chromebooks on the market. It’s extraordinarily skinny and light-weight, at .46 inches and a pair of.6 kilos, nevertheless it manages to incorporate a 15.6-inch show in that body. That display screen is a 1080p panel that’s sharp and vibrant, however its 16:9 facet ratio made issues really feel a bit cramped when scrolling vertically. Efficiency is excellent, and the keyboard is stable, although I’m not a fan of the quantity pad because it shifts all the pieces to the left. At $700 it’s not low-cost, however that feels truthful contemplating its measurement and capabilities. In the event you’re on the lookout for a giant display screen laptop computer that can also be tremendous mild, this Chromebook deserves consideration, even when it’s not the best choice for everybody.
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