Just like with Android phones, there’s a laptop out there for everyone. Should your laptop be a Chromebook? That depends on how you use computers. For productivity, a Chromebook can be the perfect device.
If you mainly browse the web, write emails, stream music, and watch movies on your computer, a Chromebook can easily handle those tasks and more. You’ll likely get better battery life at a more affordable price than a Windows PC or Mac as well.
However, those looking at a heavier workload may want to look into what other laptops are on offer, in addition to Chromebooks. Due to the price, Chromebooks typically cannot handle gaming or resource-heavy applications, such as those for 3D modeling.
We’ve compiled a list of Chromebooks that hit a few key categories. Whether you’re a student who needs something portable, a parent looking for something durable, or you just want the best Chromebook money can buy, we’ve got you covered.
Best Chromebook Overall: Acer Chromebook Spin 714
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is one of the best combinations of solid hardware and top notch design. While it may be a bit more expensive than other Chromebooks, it’s still more affordable than most Windows laptops, and the features you get are second to none.
✓ Excellent performance✓ Big, beautiful touch screen✓ Tall aspect ratio display✓ Solid build quality
✗ Pricier than most Chromebooks
The premium price tag—which hovers around $600—gets you a high-quality keyboard and touchpad. Solid build quality and high-end input devices can be hard to find in Chromebooks, but you’re getting just that with the Spin 714.
This Chromebook has a 1920×1200 display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. That means it’s taller and narrower than a typical laptop screen, which is perfect for web browsing. The display is also a touch screen, and it can be flipped around into tablet mode. The Spin 714 is just extremely versatile.
Chromebooks generally run fine on even low-end specifications, but the Spin 714 has plenty of power. It has an Intel Evo Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. This is just a very solid laptop, let alone a Chromebook, and it’ll get the job done.
Best Budget Chromebook: Acer 315 Chromebook (2022)
Most Chromebooks would be considered “budget” compared to MacBooks and Windows laptops. However, some ChromeOS laptops are especially affordable, like the Acer 315.
✓ Extremely affordable✓ Big display✓ Durable
✗ Doesn’t feel premium✗ Sluggish performance
Let’s start with the big thing—the Acer 315 costs less than $300. That’s very affordable for a computer, but you are making some sacrifices. First, the plastic build quality may look nice, but it is certainly not a “premium” feeling. The benefit of plastic is it’s durable, so you don’t have to baby it.
You’re not skimping on display real estate, though. The 15.6-inch display is solid, and the keyboard is spacious. The Intel Celeron processor struggles with Android apps but is fine for web browsing. This is a Chromebook you can be happy with and not mind if it eventually breaks down, due to the low price.
Best Chromebook for Kids: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
When it comes to Chromebooks for kids, going with our budget pick would be perfectly acceptable. However, if you’d like something a little nicer, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is a good upgrade. It’s cheap, light, has great battery life, and is durable enough to handle a young child.
✓ Lightweight yet durable✓ Solid battery life✓ Nice keyboard and touchscreen
✗ Middle of the road performance
Kids may not notice a lousy keyboard as much as you might, but the Lenovo 5i has a nice and spacious one. It’s perfect for someone learning how to type. Another bonus is plenty of ports—the Flex 5 has two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and a MicroSD card slot.
The IdeaPad Flex 5i is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM. That’s pretty good for handling web browsing and some light Android gaming. In addition, your child can do that on the 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen display.
For around $300, that’s not a bad package for a Chromebook for a child.
Best Chromebook for Students: Samsung Chromebook 4
All of the Chromebooks in this list would work for students, but the Samsung Chromebook 4 is another solid option. It has a bright screen, good battery life, and it’s super portable. Plus, it only costs around $200, which is great for students buying their own gear.
✓ Super affordable✓ Lightweight and durable✓ Good battery life
✗ Not the greatest performance
The Chromebook 4 has an 11.6-inch display and comes in at only 2.6 lbs. It’s made of plastic, which may not feel the greatest, but it adds some durability. This is a laptop you can toss carelessly into a bag and not worry too much about it.
Performance is one area where the Samsung Chromebook 4 can struggle. It has only 4GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron processor. That’ll be plenty for web browsing and basic note-taking, but don’t expect to kill time with heavy Android games between classes.
Best Touchscreen Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
Lenovo’s Duet series has been one of the most popular lines of Chromebooks. The Duet 3 continues that with an excellent touchscreen, lightweight design, and detachable keyboard.
✓ 10-inch touchscreen✓ Removable keyboard✓ Very affordable
✗ Keyboard could be better✗ Mid-range performance
The Duet 3 has a 10.1-inch touchscreen with a 1920×1200 resolution. You may prefer using the touchscreen as the keyboard leaves a little to be desired, but it is nice to have. The Chromebook includes a kickstand for using it in laptop mode.
Lenovo is powering the Duet 3 with a MediaTek processor and 4GB of RAM, which is pretty solid mid-range performance for a Chromebook. The battery life should easily get you through a full day of web browsing and streaming.
Perhaps the best thing about the Duet 3 is the price. Starting at around $300, it’s an excellent buy for the budget-conscious who want a touchscreen laptop and tablet.
Best 2-in-1 Chromebook: Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga
The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga could be an alternative to our top overall pick. It’s unabashedly a “premium” Chromebook, and it demonstrates the 2-in-1 form factor perfectly.
✓ Very premium feel✓ Hardware features usually reserved for high-end PCs✓ Great performance✓ Beautiful display
✗ Battery life could be better✗ Expensive for a Chromebook
Many Chromebooks make sacrifices to keep the price down, but the ThinkPad C13 Yoga aims to be a high-quality laptop that just so happens to run ChromeOS. It has the red Trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard, a fingerprint sensor, a webcam shutter, and many features you find on Lenovo’s Windows laptops.
The ThinkPad C13 Yoga is powered by the Ryzen 3000 Mobile C-Series processors. Performance is very good, but battery life suffers a bit compared to other Chromebooks. You can get it with 4 or 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The C13 Yoga is perfect for productivity as well as running Android apps.
The 13.3-inch display is a touchscreen, and it can flip back into tablet mode. That also allows you to prop up the laptop in several different ways.
Depending on the configuration, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga costs between $450 and $950. That’s pricey for a Chromebook, but you’re getting top-notch quality if you’re willing to pay extra.
