Chromebook quick picks
Best Chromebook for students: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3?
Best budget Chromebook: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook
Best high-end Chromebook: Chromebook Spin 714
The best Chromebooks strike a compelling balance between practicality and affordability. Built around Google’s Chrome browser, these computers started off as glorified web browsers, but today’s models have impressed the tech world after morphing into full-fledged laptops powered by ChromeOS, a broad operating system. That’s thanks to a host of new features.
In the last few years, Google added the ability to download, install and run Android apps from its Play Store — the same store that’s found on Android smartphones. Meaning, if you prefer the app versions of Facebook or Instagram over their web versions, you can install the Android version of the app on your Chromebook. Heck, you can even run Linux on a Chromebook.
Then, Chromebook Plus (no, it’s not a streaming service) arrived. This new category of Chromebooks helps shoppers know they’re going to get fast performance, a crisp and clear screen, enough storage for apps, a good webcam and — the newest, most flashy feature — Google AI tools like Gemini.
All of these new features arrive as Chromebooks continue to offer long battery life in slim designs. Even major video games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Control have entered the conversation thanks to a series of Chromebooks built for cloud gaming.
Chromebooks are especially popular in education due to their affordability and ease of use. Routine software updates are automatically installed, just like they are for the stand-alone Chrome browser. Oh, and Google has announced that Chromebooks will get 10 years of updates, so you don’t need to worry about your model no longer being supported after just a few years of use.
Samsung, Lenovo and even Google are just a few of the companies that currently produce Chromebooks, ranging in price from a couple hundred dollars to over $1,000.
Below, you’ll find Chromebooks broken down into specific categories. All of them, however, are worth considering if you’re shopping for a Chromebook.
Best Chromebook for students
When is a Chromebook more than a Chromebook? The Duet 3 is a detachable 2-in-1 that goes from laptop mode to tablet. And even though it packs a 2K display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it's somehow pretty affordable too.
Best 2-in-1 Chromebook
The 2-in-1 form factor doesn't always suit Chromebooks, but the Duet 5 wowed us with its OLED display — the best screen we’ve ever seen on a laptop this inexpensive. In our testing, the battery was impressive too, lasting over 10 hours on a single charge.
Best Chromebook for gaming
You know this 16-inch Chromebook is designed for cloud gaming from the second you lay your eyes on its RGB backlit keyboard. But it's also got a 12th Gen Core i5 CPU, 256GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage and a 120Hz display that's plenty sharp at 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Best budget Chromebook
With its dual-core Intel i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Flex 5i is a powerful Chromebook that can handle dozens of browser tabs without choking. That power comes with a cost, however. When we tested an earlier version of the 5i, we got around six hours of work in with the screen at 80% brightness and music playing. Still, we think this is the best Chromebook you can buy at this price point.
Best high-end Chromebook
A speedy Intel Core i5 CPU, 512GB of SSD storage and even support for the Wi-Fi 6 standard make this 14-inch Chromebook one to invest in. Oh, and it's also a convertible with a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port.
How to choose the right Chromebook for you
Unless you buy a Chromebook with enough chops for a pleasant experience, it could easily become the largest paperweight in your house. This is why we suggest having some bare minimums for your Chromebook purchase, unless you really just want a bigger screen and keyboard but for a few Chrome tabs.
The easy answer, of course, is to simply look for a Chromebook Plus model. But since that nomenclature is relatively new, there are other ways to hunt. For example, try to buy a laptop with at least an Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processor, which often deliver more speed than the no-name chips put in some Chromebooks.
Then, to make sure you have enough memory for a decent number of Chrome tabs, look for 8GB or more of memory. Power users will definitely want 16GB, but more modest folks who remember to close tabs before performance gets choppy will be able to suffice with 8GB. Plus, you want things to look right — both on your screen and in video calls. So, look for a Full HD or higher display and 1080p webcam.
Speaking of screens, opt for at least 13 inches to make sure the laptop isn’t too cramped. A lot of Chromebooks are made for the education sector and have smaller keyboards for still-growing hands.
As for storage? Well, that depends on if you see yourself using a lot of Android apps or downloading big files to the Chromebook’s drive. 128GB or above is safe, but you could probably make do with 64GB if you plan for more casual usage.
If you prefer a shopping list, here’s the nitty-gritty of what to look for:
- CPU: Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 or better
- Display: Full HD or sharper, 13 inches and up
- Memory: 8GB or more RAM
- Webcam: 1080p
- Storage: 64GB to 128GB
Lastly, there are the perks. Opt for a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a rotating hinge if you’re used to touchscreens, or nab one with a detachable keyboard if you want a laptop that can double as a slim tablet. If you’re going to drop over a grand on a business-class Chromebook for work, though, check with your IT department first.
