The best Chromebooks can provide a top-notch computing experience for years to come. They are perfect for students, grandparents, and anyone looking for a laptop with long battery life. We reviewed and rated the best Chromebooks so that you can find the best value at any budget. If you're buying your first laptop entirely, or if you're moving from a Windows or Mac to a Chrome OS laptop, our buyer's guide will help you find the perfect one.
There are so many options to choose from in the Chromebook market. If you want something specifically for portable and battery life, there are many dependable choices. If you don't want to move it from a desk and want a big, beautiful display, there are lots of options for you.
The Flex 5i Chromebook is our top pick because it hits all of the right markets for a laptop, including build quality, performance, battery life, and longevity, all for a very fair price. After the Flex 5's fall launch, there was only one available for purchase, and it was a 250-nit,1080p screen.
If you want a screen that looks great and has the power and prestige to match, you should grab the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which comes with a brighter 2K screen in a 3:2 aspect ratio. The Spin 713 is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 and can run a variety of software. Not everyone will need it, but this is the one to beat if you do.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is an excellent companion device, while the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is an excellent 11.6-inch Chromebooks for students and light on-the-go work.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
From $452 at Amazon (Intel Core i3, 8GB)The Flex 5i has a powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i3 chip, a beautiful 13-inch screen, and a reasonable price. The Flex 5i has a slim and lightweight build, but it also has a 360-degree hinge for easy conversion to tent or tablet mode, as well as upward-firing stereo speakers and support for both USI Stylus and wi-fi 6 for power-users.
| Category | Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i |
|---|---|
| Display size | 13.3-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen |
| CPU | Intel Pentium 7505 / 11th Gen Intel Core i3 |
| RAM | 4-8GB |
| Storage | 64-256GB |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, microSD, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 3 lbs |
| Colors | Abyss Blue |
| Other features | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 720p camera, 45W charger |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2029 |
The best Chromebooks are not necessarily the most powerful or expensive. It combines many features into a compact body that will appeal to almost all Chromebook users. If your next laptop is going to work hard and play harder, you should check out the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook. The Flex 5 has the best blend of performance, portableness, and price.
The Flex 5i has enough space for you to grip when flipping between laptop, stand, and tablet modes. As you spread out your work, the 13.3-inch screen offers easy split-screening. You can comfortably type on its backlit keyboard for hours at a time, and you can sit on either side of the keyboard and have nice and loud speakers.
This version comes with the 11th generation i3 processor, which is an upgrade from the 2020 Flex 5's 4 gigabyte RAM configurations, which is welcome as more and more of us are working from home. The Flex 5i comes with two Type-C ports, a single legacy port, and a microSD slot, similar to most of the newer Chromebooks on this list. You get a 45W charging brick in the box and a 10-hour battery, so you can charge your phone and headset at the same time.
The Flex 5i's hardware is not large enough to support a large operating system, so things are stable on it. The standard Intel Core i3 model needs to have 8GB of RAM. It is worth every penny to upgrade to a Pentium model, which is less than a $100 upgrade for the i3 and 8GB of RAM.
The Flex 5i is still new, so sales are few and far between right now, but if you are looking to save a few dollars, keep an eye on its predecessor, the Flex 5 review. It has a 10th Gen i3 and a long, long support life ahead of it, so if you find it below $330, last year's Flex 5 will serve you well on a budget.
The 13.3-inch Chromebook has great performance, a backlit keyboard, up-facing speakers, and a USI compatible touchscreen.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
If you want to know that your Chromebook is powerful, fast, and secure, you should look for an Intel Core 10th or 11th Gen Chromebook. The 13.5-inch 2K screen with 400 nits of brightness is ideal for better visuals and easier working outdoors. It has more ports than its competitors, and frequent sales put it into mid-range territory for a perfectly premium Chromebook.
| Category | Acer Chromebook 713 |
|---|---|
| Display size | 13.5-inch 2256x1504px 3:2 touchscreen |
| CPU | Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 |
| RAM | 8-16GB |
| Storage | 64-256GB |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
| Ports | 1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, HDMI, microSD, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 3 lbs |
| Colors | Silver |
| Other features | 400 nits brightness, USI stylus compatible, backlit keyboard, 720p webcam, 45W charger |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2029 |
The first Acer Chromebook Spin 713 was the premium Chromebooks of 2020 and most of the next two decades with a powerful processor, a gorgeous screen, and plentiful ports for a reasonable price. I didn't think we'd see a replacement for Chrome OS until 2022. It was upgraded this summer to the new Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (3W) and the 10th Gen Intel Core to 11th Gen Intel Evo Core processors.
The fan may kick on from time to time, but the i5 processor here needs a fan to keep it cool once you really get it going. The bottom of the laptop doesn't heat up very much, so you can use it in your lap, but you will hear the fan now and then.
The left side of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 now has a pair ofUSB-C ports, while the right side holds the buttons and the other ports. I like having one port on both sides to charge the Spin 713 or plug in a docking station.
Many professionals swear by the 3:2 aspect ratio on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713's screen. The aspect ratio is not as fun to watch movies with, but it is great for seeing more data on your screen at a time, and 2K resolution gives you a more crisp image. You can use better Chromebook styli for sketching and signing on that vibrant screen if you have USI stylus support.
If you love a 3:2 screen and a powerful processor, this bright, powerful Chromebook is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
From $200 at Amazon (64GB)If you want a device that offers up the best of both the internet and software, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is the device for you.
| Category | Lenovo Chromebook Duet |
|---|---|
| Display size | 10.1-inch 400 nits 1920x1200px touchscreen |
| CPU | Mediatek Helio P60T |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64-128GB |
| Battery life | 10 hours |
| Ports | 1x USB-C (USB 2.0 + DP) |
| Weight | 0.94 lb (tablet only) / 2.03 lbs (with cover & keyboard) |
| Colors | Two-tone Ice Blue and Iron Grey |
| Other features | USI Stylus compatibility, Included kickstand and detachable keyboard, 10W charger (max charging speed 18W) |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2028 |
At the Consumer Electronics Show, we were given hope that we might see a Chromebook tablets done right. The screen is bright for videos and comics, and the battery lasts for a long time, which is great if you are just doing some reading and casual games. The battery is said to last 10 hours, but I have averaged 12 hours on an average charge.
If you use the keyboard for long periods of time, it can feel cramped. If you have larger hands, you may want to invest in a full-size keyboard for your desk to use instead. The Duet is a perfect companion device. The screen is bright, the videos are crisp, and the comics are lovely. The speakers are a bit on the quiet side, but as a slim 10-inch tablet, I am fine with having a pair of headphones or a speaker on it.
Since the day pre-orders opened, the Duet has been very hard to find in stock, so if it seems like the Chromebook for you, you will want to check back early and often to see if the stock has just been refreshed. It is worth the wait for a Chromebooks that is affordable, reliable, and fully accessorized out of the box, having learned from the mistakes of the previous iteration of the device.
The Duet only has one port, so you should leave the other port free for charging. The lack of a headphone jack is not a huge loss, but some will be turned off by it, and I am more disappointed that there isn't ausb-c port on both sides.
It is worth mentioning that the box here is a little 10WUSB-A charger, so you will probably want to swap that out for something else. The Duet charges in less than 90 minutes, but I wish it had 30W charging instead of the 18W that most phones use.
If you want to download a lot of videos and comics for those holiday trips home, you should buy the 128GB version since there is no microSD slot for expanding the internal storage.
The Duet gives us the kind of device we have been looking for. It has a keyboard for when you need it, but it works on its own.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
Good things come in large packages. A great blend of striking design, consistent performance, and durable reliability can be found in this 15.6-inch Chromebook. You have a nice backlit keyboard with a number pad for late-night number-crunching and you have 8 gigabytes of ram.
| Category | ASUS Chromebook Flip C536 |
|---|---|
| Display size | 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen with USI support |
| CPU | 11th-Gen Intel Core i3 |
| RAM | 8-16GB |
| Storage | 128-512GB SSD |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
| Ports | 1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, HDMi 2.0, microSD, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 4.30 lbs |
| Colors | Immersive White |
| Other features | Backlit keyboard, 720p camera, 45W charger |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2029 |
Since day one, ASUS has been one of the most well-known Chromebook manufacturers. The company focuses on creating a premium hardware experience in as affordable and compact a package as possible. There is only so much you can do to slim down a laptop.
You can easily spread out two or three windows on the screen of the white shell, as you rush to get all your work done by the weekend, because the obsidian is illuminated by a 15.6-inch1080p screen. The 2-in-1 design means you can flip the laptop over into stand mode while you are working, but the only time I did that was when I wanted to use the touchscreen at my standing desk. Stand mode will allow you to prop up the screen at a nice angle if you are watching a movie in bed.
There is a big screen with a glass trackpad and a full keyboard. The keyboard has a high contrast between the black and white keys. If you do a lot of typing, you will not be disappointed by the keyboard on the C536.
If you need to keep multiple tabs or windows running during a video call, the extra 8 gigabytes of ram on the 11th Gen Intel Core i3 will come in handy. I haven't found any of the i5 and i7 models of the C536 yet.
You get aUSB-C port on each side, as well as an audio combo jack. You will have little use for the microSD port, but it is always nice to have options, I suppose.
This model just came out this summer, so there haven't been many sales yet, but I'm sure they'll come as we get closer to the holiday shopping season. The regular price is reasonable for the build quality, latest-gen processor, long support life, and that large screen.
This large Chromebooks has a two-tone design and a crisp 15.6-inch screen, which will serve you for years to come.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
$599 at Best Buy (8GB RAM)The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a better option than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet because it lacks polish. When it is on sale, the X2 11 is a good tablet that has a more refined look, faster charging, and a high price.
| Category | HP Chromebook x2 11 |
|---|---|
| Display size | 11-inch 2160x1440px IPS touchscreen |
| CPU | Snapdragon 7c compute platform |
| RAM | 4-8GB |
| Storage | 64-128GB |
| Battery life | 11 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, microSD slot |
| Weight | 1.23lb (tablet) 2.27lb (w/ keyboard and kickstand) |
| Colors | Night Teal, Shade Gray |
| Other features | Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, fingerprint sensor, USI stylus support |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2029 |
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet higher up in this guide is suitable for a lot of things, but it is still a first-generation product. The keyboard on the HP Chromebook x2 11 didn't magnetize to the screen for a better typing experience or better protection of the screen when the keyboard was closed, but HP fixed that mistake and a few others.
When the original Chrome OS was first launched, it meant you had to place the tablets into a laptop base, so if HP Chromebook x2 sounds familiar, that's right. It was cool but awkward. Thankfully, the x2 11 is a much more flexible and intuitive design, and these days Chrome OS is good for tablets.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
The new Duet 5 is powered by the first generation, not the Gen 2, and it is also available for casual computing. Once I get done with work, I take out mine and play Microsoft Solitaire for about an hour, and then use my fingerprints on the power button.
The list price is the only real problem with the HP Chromebook x2 11. The x2 11 starts at $600. The same price as the Chromebook with a budget processor. The fact that this charges 45W instead of 18W and that it has a nice keyboard and kickstand make it worth the money.
Thankfully, the x2 11 has been getting regular discounts that drop it close to $400, and I highly recommend waiting for one of those sales to grab one. The upgraded screen and premium build quality make it worth the $400 price tag, but most of us won't be able to afford it.
The HP Chromebook x2 11 is the only one of its kind, and it was made four years ago.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
The best blend of power, portability, and price to be found right now is the latest generation of the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. In exchange for lighter weight and battery, it sheds ports.
| Category | Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (CP311-3H) |
|---|---|
| Display size | 11.6-inch 1366x768px IPS touchscreen |
| CPU | Mediatek MT8183C |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 32-64GB |
| Battery life | 14 hours |
| Ports | 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 2.65 lbs |
| Colors | Pure Silver |
| Other features | 720p camera, 45W charger |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2028 |
Due to the lack of a microSD slot, we recommend purchasing the 64GB configuration. Without a microSD slot, you cannot expand the internal storage without plugging in a flash drive.
When shopping for a new laptop, it is easy to get caught up in the specifications and end up buying the most powerful laptop you can afford. That isn't going to get you a better experience for Chromebooks. Big screens and fancy features are good, but most of the time when I leave my apartment to do some writing in a brighter and more fun atmosphere, I bring a lightweight 11.6-inch Chromebook like the Acer Chromebook Spin 311.
The sides of the 311 were slimmed down by Acer. You still get a 45W Power Delivery charging port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, a hub, and ausb-a port for legacy peripherals. It is weird that we do not have a microSD slot for a Chromebook in this price range. If you care about storage, we have a 64GB version.
The new model is slated for almost eight years of Chrome OS updates. It is lightweight and portable, easy to slide into a bag as you move from meeting to meeting, and quick to wake up once you get where you are going. The keyboard is easy to type on, and the screen is large, but they come in handy when you flip it over into tablet mode.
I usually get 12 to 14 hours on a single charge, depending on how much I crank up the screen brightness, because the Chromebook can last up to 16 hours in its spec sheet.
The next-gen 311 has enough power and storage in a nice, lightweight package.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
$324 at Amazon (Non-Stylus)One of the most versatile Chromebooks is the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214, which is lightweight and portable. It has a spill-resistant keyboard, which means a drop from a bag or table won't hurt it, making it perfect for a student of any age. It's school-friendly because of the included stylus.
| Category | ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 |
|---|---|
| Display size | 11.6-inch 1366x768px touchscreen |
| CPU | Intel Celeron N4000 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB |
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, microSD, Audio combo jack |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs |
| Colors | Black |
| Other features | 720p camera, 45W charger, optional built-in stylus |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2026 |
The high-strength zinc alloy hinge on the flip C214 should last you a long time, no matter how hard your kid is playing. Dropping a drink on the keyboard should not send you to a repair store, just to the kitchen for a cloth.
There are plenty of ports for plugging in accessories and a built-in stylus on the premium model of the C214. The portable nature of the laptop makes it perfect for kids starting out with a laptop at school.
Most people will get through an entire day with a very school-friendly battery life of around 12 hours of use. Even better, ASUS has thought of every use case, adding a rubber grip to the edges of the C214, so that clumsy hands won't drop it while toting it around the classroom, and the anti-scratch coating should keep it from looking too scuffed after months and years.
It's not a big deal for homework and research with only 4GB of RAM. I would try to keep tab-switching while on video calls under control, but 4GB should be enough for most kids. There is no option for 8GB in this generation. Maybe in the next version.
The other problem is not a product issue. It is a market issue. The price of the C214 will likely be marked up by about $50-$100 by other people, because of the surge in distance learning and working from home. I wouldn't go higher than $450 for the non-stylus version or $500 for the stylus version because it's a captive market.
We are due for a refreshed model soon, since the C214 was introduced in 2019. It might sell out first if prices don't go down at that point.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 is built to last and is ready for use in the classroom.
The source is Daniel Bader.
The bottom line is that the Pixelbook Go is a traditional clamshell laptop with one of the best keyboards and trackpads we have ever used. It has an excellent integration with the Google Assistant and may get new features before other Chromebooks. The magnesium body is light and strong, and even the entry-level model comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM.
| Category | Google Pixelbook Go |
|---|---|
| Display size | 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen / 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen |
| CPU | Intel 8th Gen Core m3 / i5 / i7 |
| RAM | 8-16GB |
| Storage | 64-256GB |
| Battery life | 12 hours |
| Ports | 2x U SB-C, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 2.3-2.4 lbs |
| Colors | Just Black or Not Pink |
| Other features | 1080p camera, 45W charger, Titan security chip |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2026 |
While the 3:2 form factor of the original Pixelbook had its fans, I am pleased that the Go uses a far more sensible 16:9 aspect ratio, which is better for split-screening and better for in-flight movies. The Pixelbook Go doesn't need a lot of space around the screen to squeeze in, but it can't fold back into a tablet like the other Chromebooks. The laptop only weighs 2.3 pounds.
The more functional design of the Go is still luxurious. The Go has rounded edges and a wavy ridged bottom. The keys are quiet and the magnesium body is similar to that used by the Microsoft Surface line.
If you like having the latest features, the Pixelbook Go is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 The only ports on the Pixelbook Go are on the laptop side and on the headphone jack.
One of our favorite traditional laptop designs is the Pixelbook Go, which is a premium compared to our other top picks. The design has been considered from the quiet-close magnetic latch to the high-quality camera, so important in our current environment.
We recommend sticking with the Core i5 version that has a generous amount of storage, but if you are willing to spend a bit more, there are premium options that go up to a Core i7.
While not a 2-in-1, the Pixelbook Go is a powerful, premium clamshell Chromebook with a magnificent magnesium shell.
There is a source of the Android Central.
If you want the absolute best screen you can get on a Chromebook, you know it has to be a SAMSUNG. The 10th Gen i5 processor and 512 gigabytes of storage is what makes the Samsung Chromebook so powerful. This is a fanless laptop with an i5 and it will get hot during long sessions.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook |
|---|---|
| Display size | 13.3-inch 3840x2160px (4K) AMOLED touchscreen |
| CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Battery life | 8 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, microSD, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 2.29 lbs |
| Colors | Fiesta Red or Mercury Grey |
| Other features | Project Athena certified, backlit keyboard, fingerprint sensor, fanless, built-in stylus, front and rear cameras, 45W charger |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2028 |
The group of Chromebooks with 4K screens is small. If you want a light and portable 4K Chromebook that doesn't have to be rented for a month, the latest and greatest is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 There is a 4K screen, a 10th generation i5 processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a 128 gigabytes solid state drive in the Chromebook. This is the brass ring.
It is powerful and secure, with a fingerprint sensor in the top right corner of the keyboard, and a system for sandboxed apps. The pressure-sensitive pen on the Note series is similar to the one on theGalaxy, and it is a 2-in-1 so that you can turn it into a drawing tablet or prop it up in.
The bottom of the Chromebook can get warm during intensive sessions because of its thin profile. The battery life is lower than we would expect from a high-end Chromebook, but the performance has improved since we saw the buggy battery life at launch.
This gives you both the latest specifications for your work and the best screen around for watching movies.
Ara Wagoner is from Android Central.
A big brick of a ThinkPad and a light, which was used by a baby, is glorious. The C13 has all of the features you would want in a Chromebooks, from a bright touchscreen to a built-in USI stylus, and the easiest-to-read keyboard to date.
| Category | Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook |
|---|---|
| Display size | 13.3-inch 1920x1080p (4K optional) IPS touchscreen, 300 nits (400 optional) |
| CPU | Up to AMD Ryzen 7 3700C |
| RAM | 8-16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 64GB-256GB |
| Battery life | 8 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI, microSD, audio combo jack |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs |
| Colors | Abyss Blue |
| Other features | 65W charging, backlit ThinkPad keyboard with TrackPoint, optional built-in stylus, optional fingerprint sensor, mil-spec durability, |
| Auto Update Expiration date (AUE) | June 2029 |
The newest ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is one of the most durable and functional of the series. The C13 has undergone a dozen military-grade durability tests while keeping a more polished, presentable look. Can all of them come in this color?
The 13.3-inch screen inside the ThinkPad is brighter than the majority of Chromebooks with either a 300 nit1080p screen or 400 nit 4K screen once you get up to the beefiest configurations. The ThinkPad keyboard has larger, upper-case letters than a standard Chrome OS keyboard, which makes it easier to read at night and in low-light situations. The TrackPoint nub is in the middle of the keyboard if you are still hardwired to use the pointer, and there are physical left/right click buttons at the top of the trackpad. What a concept!
The performance of the ThinkPad C13 has been great so far, it can juggle multiple windows between two displays, and do it all with minimum 8GB of RAM. The model I reviewed and am still using over a month later, had a Ryzen 5 and was about the same price as the Intel M3 in the C434.
The battery is the only area where the ThinkPad might not perform as well as it could, but it usually gets 7 hours of use before I need to find a charge. It isn't as high as the spec sheet says, but you won't need to top off for the 65W charge if you use it for 7 hours. There may still be some optimizations that come in the next few months because of the new processors.
A fusion of retro and cutting edge.
The C13 is slim, powerful, and feature-packed, but it is also a brand that makes many of us nostalgic for the olden days when laptops were bricks.
It is possible that Chromebooks will only be used for students and salarymen. Even if you are just browsing email and social media, there is still a Chromebooks for you. While there are a lot of great Chromebook manufacturers out there, the models from Lenovo and ASUS seem to go harder and last longer than the competition.
Choosing a Chromebook is different from choosing a Windows or Mac laptop because of its cloud-centered nature. The same software look and update schedule for every Chromebook model should be used by a Chromebooks built by Lenovo. What does that mean?
It means you can focus more on what you want to do with the machine you choose and less on the core specs. This process may seem out of order, but trust me on this one.
Touchscreens may be a luxury for other laptop systems, but I consider them a requirement for Chromebooks. Since most of the Android apps that you can install via the Google Play store are touch-optimised, you can treat yourself to a touchscreen model!
If you see a model that says it's non-touchscreen, it's probably a Touchscreen model. You will never go back to using a mouse after playing Solitaire on a touchscreen, because you can tap on the screen when scrolling through Amazon. When buying a student Chromebook, it's important to make sure the screen is easy to use for younger users.
The 2-in-1s are the best form factor for Chromebooks yet. It's amazing to be able to prop up your Chromebook in Tent mode for a movie or fold it flat into Tablet mode for some in-bed browsing while down with the flu, but it's also great for everyday productivity. You can bend your Chromebook back to more angles when working in an office with weird light glare or propped in your lap at a baseball game because you didn't forget the quarterly expense reports that were due tomorrow.
Hardware features are of paramount importance in a machine, and figuring out which of those features you want or need in a machine can help narrow the field and steer you to your perfect Chromebook.
If you tend to do a lot of movie-watching, you may want a loud, front-facing speakers or a high-quality screen.
If you want to be more productive with many open tabs and multi-window screens, you might want a 3:2 display that is more suited to split-screening and a more powerful processor/memory configuration. Productivity-minded users should pay special attention to the port configurations on their prospective Chromebooks, as more premium models keep the same ports as the charging ports, and the more grounded models keep the same ports.
Families with younger kids, or travelers prone to slips, spills, and accidents, might want to look to the growing number of Chromebooks with military-grade MIL-STD 810G durability or spill-resistant keyboards.
Chromebooks come in a variety of sizes, but they tend to gravitate to four sizes in general.
The bigger the size of your Chromebooks, the more you can fit on the screen, but it will also be less portable and last less time. The less heavy it is, the less expensive it will be. Smaller models can also suffer from lower resolution screens, though the display zoom and font adjustments of the Chrome OS can somewhat offset it.
Random Access Memory, or RAM, is a critical spec for computers of all sizes and shapes, from phones and tablets to desktops and laptops. It is used by your computer's processor to hold your current tabs, apps and execute the commands that make your Chromebook work.
If I want to run a couple of apps and a dozen Chrome tabs on my high-end Chromebooks, I'll need at least 4 gigabytes of RAM.
If you are a long-time Windows user or a long-time computer user of any kind, looking at the storage on most Chromebooks will seem confusing at first. Local storage is still essential for things like downloaded music and movies for flights that don't have a wi-fi connection, and for things like offline documents.
There is no better way to expand the storage on many Chromebooks than with a local storage card. I would recommend a model with at least 64 gigabytes of storage. Premium Chromebooks with heftier price tags are usually the only ones that offer 128 or more gigabytes of storage, but 64 gigabyte Chromebooks are available and offer more than enough storage for Drive offline sync and emergency entertainment.
Each Chromebooks has a shelf life and an expiration date, just like the milk in your fridge, because they are developed, managed, and updated by Google. You can find the Auto Update Expiration date on the support page of every model on this handy dandy page.
If your Chromebook lasts three to six years until that date, it will stop receiving system updates every four to six weeks that contain a bug. If your Chromebook is still running well at that time, you can use one of a dozen Linux distributions instead.
When shopping, always check the AUE to see how long your Chromebook will get updates, as four to six years is a long time for any laptop, and chances are yours will be getting long in the tooth by then. AUE is based on the hardware platform, not the individual model, which is why many Chromebooks have the same AUE dates.
There is a free Linux distribution that is open-sourced and web-focused. Chromebooks rely on web-based applications, Android applications installed and managed via Google Play, and Linux apps, which are slowly rolling out to more Chromebooks models, because they don't allow regular applications and programs the way you would on Windows PCs.
The stability and reliability of Chrome OS is its biggest strength. For lower-end laptops, Chromebooks rule because of the excellent performance of the OS on computers that barely support other operating systems. To create a super-smooth, super-powered premium experience, Chrome can take advantage of the most potent components available, from latest-gen multi-core processors to 4K displays.
The system is hard-to-break, easy-to-manage, and wonderfully secure because it is designed for education and enterprise.
Chrome OS is a lightweight, high-security system that is great for users with any level of technical know-how. It is easy for school children to use and powerful for bigshot business people, which means that they are great for everyone.
Once you have your priorities straight and pick the Chromebook that's perfect for you, you are ready to enter a new world of light, secure computing with the handy productivity of Chrome and Android apps from Google Play. Enjoy the club, and welcome to it!
Ara Wagoner pokes YouTube Music with a stick. She is running around Disney World with a Chromebook when she is not writing help or how-to. You can follow her on social media. Run if you see her without headphones.
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