Chromebooks are laptops and two-in-one used on Google’s Chrome operating system. While the hardware may look like any old laptop, the minimalist Chrome operating system on the web browser is a different experience from the MacOS and Windows laptops you are probably used to. If you’re not sure what exactly a Chromebook can and cannot do compared to other laptops, here is all the information you need to know. In principle, however, Chromebooks are an excellent choice if you live on the Internet and do not need to install Windows or Mac software.
Chromebooks are also generally cheaper than Windows computers, MacBooks, and iPads. Since the Chrome operating system was developed to include the use of Android apps in the Google Play Store, you can now find premium models with faster processors, more memory, and faster storage. It is of course more expensive, but also slimmer, lighter and usually has a better battery life.
Read more: Laptop versus Chromebook: What’s the Difference and What’s the Best?
The list below contains the best Chromebook choices we’ve reviewed and is updated regularly as we review new products. Each is independently selected by our editors.
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The Duet is a 10-inch tablet with a removable keyboard and a touchpad. Its small size can be a bit limiting as a primary device, though you can connect to an external monitor via a USB-C port. However, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable Chromebook for pure mobility or as a secondary device. Read our review of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet.
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The Acer Chromebook 715 started its life as a premium model aimed at a growing business market for Chrome OS devices. Together with its smaller sibling, the Acer Chromebook 714, the 715 has a premium aluminum chassis built to survive drops of up to 122 centimeters and a downward force of up to 132 kg (60 kg). You can also get the Acer Chromebook 715 with a fingerprint reader, a backlight keyboard, an Intel Core i5 processor and 16 GB of memory for about $ 750. Or you can get a much more affordable version that incorporates the specs and extras but retains the premium build quality, making it a fantastic choice for a home office or Chromebook laptop for students. Read our Acer Chromebook 715 review.
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The Chromebook Flip C434 was one of our favorites last year, and we think it’s a great Chromebook this year as well. The Flip C436 has a thin aluminum design with a 14-inch full HD touch screen. Inside you will find higher quality components than the previous iteration for significantly improved performance. However, this touchscreen Chromebook also has a higher price, starting at $ 700. While Chrome OS expires, the extra processing performance is definitely nice to have, as well as the performance in a sleek design. Read our Asus Chromebook Flip C436FA review.
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Just like Google’s Pixel phones offer the best Android experience, the Pixelbook Go is built to deliver the best of Chrome OS. The premium Chromebook starts at $ 649, but fully loaded with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of memory, 256 GB of storage and a 4K screen, the price costs a whopping $ 1,399. It’s a lot, and more than most people need. Still, it’s an excellent little Chromebook, especially for those who really want to explore everything Chrome can do, including Linux and Android applications. Read our Pixelbook Go review.
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Tired of trying to work on documents or spreadsheets on a small widescreen? The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses one of Acer’s bright VertiView screens, a 13.5-inch 2,256×1,504-pixel touchscreen with a 3: 2 aspect ratio. As the name suggests, it gives you more verticals workspace, but it still has the width of a standard 13.3-inch laptop with a 16: 9 ratio. Between that and the battery life that lasted longer than 12 hours in our tests, you will be able to do more work in a day, and it is still thin and light enough for an everyday wear.
Josh Goldman / CNET
If you’d rather have a wider screen instead of a larger one like the Spin 713s, this HP is the way to go. It’s about 0.75 inches wider than a premium 13.3-inch model, but the extra width in screen size makes it easier to work in two windows side by side. The two-in-one design means you can use it as a tablet (although it’s a bit heavy to use by hand) or it can tent and connect an external keyboard and mouse and use it as a can use small all-in-one computer.
The Core i3 processor and 8 GB of memory made it run smoothly, even with a few dozen open tabs and video in the background. And it has a long battery life to start, and it lasts ten hours and 40 minutes in our tests.
Josh Goldman / CNET
The Galaxy Chromebook is beautiful. This slim, small two-in-one, from its brilliant red aluminum housing to its bright 3,840 x 2,160 pixel AMOLED screen, is far from the thick, plastic Chromebooks that were once the category standard. Its Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of memory and fast 256 GB SSD give it fast performance. And it has nice extras like a fingerprint reader to unlock it, a keyboard with a backlight and one of Samsung’s S-pens with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt that stores in the body, so you always have it on hand.
The Galaxy Chromebook gets hot when you work, so you may need to like it from your lap. But the battery life is the weakest link, and it reaches a little over 7 hours on our streaming video test. However, it charges quickly, so if you do not want to discharge the battery after a few hours of use, it is a good option for a small Chromebook with a lot of personality.