You could 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 in the present day have an excellent mixture of construct high quality, battery life and energy whereas additionally supporting years of software program updates that can take you years into the longer term. When you primarily browse the net, or don’t want a ton of additional software program regularly, a Chromebook could be a highly effective day by day driver.
Whereas Google did make issues less complicated final fall by introducing the Chromebook Plus initiative (extra on that under), there are nonetheless a number of issues to bear in mind when looking 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 have to be in search of, and what you’ll be able to anticipate 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 relies on Google’s Chrome browser, which suggests a lot of the applications you’ll be able to run are internet primarily based. There’s no bloatware or undesirable apps to uninstall such as you typically get on Home windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you may fully reset to manufacturing facility settings virtually as shortly.
In fact, simplicity may also be a significant disadvantage for some customers. Not having the ability to set up native software program could be a dealbreaker in the event 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 Images app on Chromebooks – it gained’t change Adobe Premiere, nevertheless it needs 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 can even run Android apps, which significantly expands the quantity of software program obtainable. 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 effectively. Between Android apps and a common enchancment in internet apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.
What do Chromebooks do effectively?
Put merely, internet searching and actually something internet primarily based. On-line procuring, streaming music and video and utilizing varied social media websites are among the many commonest day by day duties individuals do on Chromebooks. As you may anticipate, additionally they work effectively with Google providers like Images, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Preserve 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 in the event you’re an Android consumer you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You may get a lot of the identical apps which are in your cellphone on a Chromebook and maintain information in sync between them. You too can use some Android telephones as a safety key in your Chromebook or immediately tether your laptop computer to make use of cell knowledge.
Google continues to tout safety as a significant differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s undoubtedly an element price contemplating. Auto-updates are the primary traces 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 effectively, so any safety threats are contained to that particular person app. Lastly, Chrome OS has a self-check known as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the easy truth that you simply typically can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for dangerous actors to entry the system.
When you’re keen on Google’s Gemini AI instruments, a Chromebook is an effective choice as effectively. 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 % 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. On condition that this plan is $20/month, it’s a fairly strong perk. Chromebook Plus fashions additionally embrace instruments just like the AI-powered “assist me write,” the Google Images 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: When 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 picture and video enhancing, nevertheless it may also be the case in regulation 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. When you’re an iPhone consumer, you’ll additionally miss out on the best way the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the large draw back just isn’t having the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.
Lastly, gaming Chromebooks usually are not ubiquitous, though they’re changing into a barely extra cheap 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, meaning laptops with larger screens which have larger refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with providers like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Sport Go and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these providers, however the excellent news is that enjoying fashionable video games on a Chromebook isn’t unimaginable. You too can set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are pondering of after they wish to recreation on a laptop computer.
What are crucial specs for a Chromebook?
Chrome OS is light-weight and runs effectively on pretty modest {hardware}, so crucial factor to search for won’t be processor energy or space for storing. 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 suggest most individuals get in the event that they’re in search of a laptop computer they’ll use on daily basis.
Chromebook Plus fashions have at the least a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 collection processor, each of which needs 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 today of fixed video calling, and so they additionally all should have at the least a 1080p IPS display screen.
In fact, you may get larger specs or higher screens in the event you want, however I’ve discovered that mainly every part included within the Chromebook Plus goal specs makes for an excellent expertise.
Google has an Auto Replace coverage for Chromebooks as effectively, 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 powerful 10 years after their launch date. This support page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for nearly each Chromebook ever, however an excellent rule of thumb is to purchase the latest machine you’ll be able to to maximise your assist.
How a lot ought to I spend?
Chromebooks began out notoriously low-cost, with checklist costs typically coming in below $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being basically fashionable netbooks to the form of laptop computer you’ll wish to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, you need to anticipate to spend at the least $400 if you’d like a strong day by day driver. There are nonetheless many low-cost Chromebooks on the market which may be appropriate as secondary units, however an excellent Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will value extra. However, notably, even the very best Chromebooks normally value 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 suggest spending that a lot. Usually, that’ll get you a greater design with extra premium supplies, in addition to extra highly effective internals and further space for storing. In fact, you additionally typically pay for the model title. However, the specs I outlined earlier are normally sufficient.
See Additionally:
Finest Chromebooks in 2025
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display dimension: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.52 lbs | Obtainable 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 finest reasonably priced Chromebooks you should buy for a number of years now, and its 2023 IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an reasonably priced laptop computer that gives nearly every part you could possibly 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 a regular 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 needs to be a lot, so that you’ll get good efficiency from this machine.
Sadly, the battery life is pretty mediocre — I acquired about six hours of standard use out of it. My workflow features a ton of Chrome tabs, plus internet apps for issues like Slack, Todoist, Trello, Google Preserve and YouTube Music. I normally take a couple of video calls in the course of the day, so in the event 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 significantly better than I’d anticipate on a reasonably reasonably priced machine. The keys have good journey and the trackpad is massive 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 fulfill the most recent Wi-Fi commonplace. At 3.5 kilos and 0.78 inches thick, it’s undoubtedly 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 buy this pc and have it lined for years to return.
For me, the $500 Ideapad Flex 5i is the best Chromebook, and the excellent news is that it’s often 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 patrons on the market, offering a degree of high quality and efficiency that’s fairly uncommon to seek 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 holding a watch out for an replace from Lenovo or a substitute from one other producer.
- Good general efficiency for the worth
- Good show
- Stable keyboard and trackpad
- Mediocre battery life
- A 12 months older than our different picks
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display dimension: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,080 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.15 lbs | Obtainable 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 write down dwelling about, however you’re getting quite a lot of worth for a laptop computer priced at $380. It additionally contains 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 in your pictures, Drive and Gmail information.
Design-wise, the Plus 514 is fairly primary, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished; it’s your commonplace laptop computer with a 14-inch show. It’s neither overly skinny (.81 inches) or mild (3.15 kilos), however these specs are completely cheap 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 strong choice if value is your major concern — nevertheless it’s additionally price noting that the Lenovo mannequin we picked as the very best general Chromebook is commonly on sale, typically for below $400 as effectively. 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
- Stable show and webcam
- 1080p show typically feels cramped
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display dimension: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,980 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.02 lbs | Obtainable 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 finest 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 top quality display screen. It’s additionally slightly bit brighter than the display screen on the Lenovo (340 nits vs. 300).
One noteworthy function 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 scale 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 acquired about eight hours utilizing it below my regular workload. That’s not distinctive, nevertheless it’s consistent with what I’ve seen on different Intel-powered Chromebooks.
Simply because the title 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 in the event 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 laborious to complain. However Acer has been utilizing this identical primary design for a couple of generations now, so I’m beginning to suppose they may redesign the chassis for the following mannequin.
The most recent Spin 714 prices $700 – not an unreasonable value for a pc with these specs and constructed high quality. When you’re a critical multitasker, need a greater show and keyboard, or simply need a pc that’ll final so long as potential (Google says it’ll obtain software program updates by June of 2034), the Acer Spin 714 is straightforward to suggest.
- Nice display screen
- Clear webcam
- Loads of energy and space for storing
- Comfy keyboard and trackpad
- A little bit expensive
- Mediocre battery life
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display dimension: 16 inches | Display decision: 2,560 x 1,600 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.75 lbs | Obtainable 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 simply don’t should 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 avid gamers could 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 contains Intel’s Core 5 120UL chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Given the laptop computer’s dimension, 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 that you could customise, however extra importantly, it’s only a strong and comfy keyboard for enjoying video games or simply typing up studies. The trackpad is massive and responsive as effectively.
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 in the event you’re doing greater than watching movies or informal internet searching. Between the highly effective {hardware}, strong design, good trackpad and keyboard and nice display screen, anybody who desires a much 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.
- Giant, high-resolution display screen with a quick refresh charge
- Loads of ports
- Core 5 chip supplies loads of energy
- Giant 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 among the extra distinctive Chromebooks on the market. It’s extraordinarily skinny and light-weight, at .46 inches and a couple 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 superb, and the keyboard is strong, although I’m not a fan of the quantity pad because it shifts every part to the left. At $700 it’s not low-cost, however that feels truthful contemplating its dimension and capabilities. When you’re in search of a giant display screen laptop computer that can also be tremendous mild, this Chromebook deserves consideration, even when it’s not the most suitable choice for everybody.
Trending Merchandise
Samsung 24” FT45 Series FHD 1080p Computer Monitor, 75Hz, IPS Panel, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB Hub, Ultra Thin Bezels, Ergonomic Design, Height Adjustable Stand, 3 Year Warranty, LF24T454FQNXGO, Black
ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Router, WPA3, Parental Control, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding, WAN aggregation, lifetime internet security and AiMesh support, Dual 2.5G Port
Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo, MARVO 2.4G Ergonomic Wireless Computer Keyboard with Phone Tablet Holder, Silent Mouse with 6 Button, Compatible with MacBook, Windows (Black)
