The Chromebook market has grown a lot over the previous few years that selecting the perfect Chromebook for you could be onerous. The mixture of years value of software program updates and producers making laptops with extra energy, higher construct high quality and lengthy battery life means there are a ton of fine Chrome OS machines that work properly as on a regular basis drivers. Whereas Google did make issues easier final fall by introducing the Chromebook Plus initiative (extra on that beneath), there are nonetheless a number of issues to bear in mind when purchasing for a brand new Chromebook. I’ve been testing and reviewing Chromebooks for years and know what you ought to be on the lookout for, and what you’ll be able to count on out of those laptops in 2024.
What’s Chrome OS, and why would I take advantage of it over Home windows?
That is most likely the primary query about Chromebooks. There are many cheap Home windows laptops available on the market, so why trouble with Chrome’s working system? Glad you requested. For me, the straightforward and clear nature of Chrome OS is an enormous promoting level. Chrome OS is predicated on Google’s Chrome browser, which suggests a lot of the packages you’ll be able to run are internet primarily based. There’s no bloatware or undesirable apps to uninstall such as you usually get on Home windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you’ll fully reset to manufacturing unit settings virtually as shortly.
After all, simplicity will even be a serious downside for some customers. Not having the ability to set up native software program is usually a dealbreaker if you happen to’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 modifying instruments to the Google Pictures app on Chromebooks – it gained’t exchange Adobe Premiere, however it must be helpful for lots of people. Equally, Google and Adobe introduced Photoshop on the net final yr, one thing that brings a lot of the facility of Adobe’s desktop apps to Chromebooks.
Chromebooks may also run Android apps, which tremendously expands the quantity of software program accessible. The standard varies broadly, however 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 properly. Between Android apps and a basic enchancment in internet apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.
What do Chromebooks do properly?
Put merely, internet looking and actually something internet primarily based. On-line buying, streaming music and video and utilizing numerous social media websites are among the many most typical day by day duties folks do on Chromebooks. As you would possibly count on, in addition they work properly with Google companies like Pictures, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Maintain and so forth. Sure, any pc that may run Chrome can try this too, however the light-weight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and secure platform.
As I discussed earlier than, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you happen to’re an Android person you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You may get a lot of the identical apps which might be in your cellphone on a Chromebook and hold information in sync between them. You may as well use some Android telephones as a safety key in your Chromebook or immediately tether your laptop computer to make use of cell information.
Google continues to tout safety as a serious differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s undoubtedly an element value 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 newest model. Google says that every webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its personal sandbox as properly, so any safety threats are contained to that particular person app. Lastly, Chrome OS has a self-check referred to as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the straightforward truth that you simply usually can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for dangerous actors to entry the system.
For those who’re thinking about Google’s Gemini AI instruments, a Chromebook is an efficient choice as properly. Each Chromebook in our prime picks comes with a full yr of the Google One AI Premium plan — this combines the same old Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 p.c 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 embody instruments just like the AI-powered “help me write,” the Google Pictures 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 easy: For those who rely closely on a particular native utility for Home windows or a Mac, chances are high you gained’t discover the very same choice on a ChromeOS machine. That’s most true in fields like picture and video modifying, however it will also be the case in legislation or finance. Loads of companies run on Google’s G suite software program, however extra nonetheless have particular necessities {that a} Chromebook may not match. For those who’re an iPhone person, you’ll additionally miss out on the best way the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the massive draw back just isn’t having the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.
Lastly, gaming Chromebooks usually are not ubiquitous, though they’re turning 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 greater screens which have greater refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with companies like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Sport Go and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these companies, however the excellent news is that enjoying fashionable video games on a Chromebook isn’t inconceivable. You may as well set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are considering of after they wish to recreation on a laptop computer.
What are an important specs for a Chromebook?
Chrome OS is light-weight and runs properly on pretty modest {hardware}, so an important factor to search for may not be processor energy or cupboard space. However Google made it simpler to get constant specs and efficiency late final yr when it launched the Chromebook Plus initiative. Any machine with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimal necessities, which occur to be similar to what I’d advocate most individuals get in the event that they’re on the lookout for a laptop computer they will use daily.
Chromebook Plus fashions have no less than a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 collection processor, each of which must 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 except you’re actually pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus fashions need to have a 1080p webcam, which is good in lately of fixed video calling, they usually additionally all need to have no less than a 1080p IPS display screen.
After all, you will get greater specs or higher screens if you happen to need, however I’ve discovered that principally all the things included within the Chromebook Plus goal specs makes for an excellent expertise.
Google has an Auto Replace coverage for Chromebooks as properly, and whereas that’s not precisely a spec, it’s value checking before you purchase. Final yr, Google introduced that Chromebooks would get software program updates and help for a powerful 10 years after their launch date. This help web page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for just about each Chromebook ever, however a great rule of thumb is to purchase the latest machine you’ll be able to to maximise your help.
How a lot ought to I spend?
Chromebooks began out notoriously low cost, with checklist costs usually coming in below $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being basically fashionable netbooks to the sort of laptop computer you’ll wish to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, it’s best to count on to spend no less than $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 a great Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will price extra. However, notably, even the perfect Chromebooks often price lower than the perfect Home windows laptops, and even the perfect “regular” 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 advocate 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 cupboard space. After all, you additionally generally pay for the model identify. However, the specs I outlined earlier are often sufficient.
See Additionally:
Greatest Chromebooks in 2024
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.52 lbs | Accessible 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 greatest inexpensive Chromebooks you should purchase for a number of years now, and its 2023 IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an inexpensive laptop computer that gives nearly all the things you might 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 yr’s mannequin. This implies you get extra vertical display screen actual property, which is one thing I respect over a typical 1080p show. This Lenovo mannequin hits the Chromebook Plus beneficial 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 must be lots, so that you’ll get good efficiency from this machine.
Sadly, the battery life is pretty mediocre — I obtained about six hours of normal use out of it. My workflow features a ton of Chrome tabs, plus internet apps for issues like Slack, Todoist, Trello, Google Maintain and YouTube Music. I often take a couple of video calls through the day, so if you happen to’re not on digital camera a lot you would possibly 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 count on on a reasonably inexpensive machine. The keys have good journey and the trackpad is giant and responsive. Although it has a 1080p webcam, I can’t say that I seemed all that nice within the video calls I took. It does the job, however not rather more.
Different issues within the Flex 5i’s favor embody 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 newest 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 purchase this pc and have it coated for years to return.
For me, the $500 Ideapad Flex 5i is the perfect Chromebook, and the excellent news is that it’s usually on sale for fairly a bit much less. I’ve seen it as little as $350 in latest months. It’ll hit the candy spot for lots of consumers on the market, offering a stage of high quality and efficiency that’s fairly uncommon to search 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 retaining an eye fixed 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 yr older than our different picks
$469 at Amazon
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,920 x 1,080 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.15 lbs | Accessible 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 yr in the past, fashions with that designation began at $400 — however since, issues have gotten cheaper. 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 jot down house about, however you’re getting loads of worth for a laptop computer priced at $380. It additionally consists of the aforementioned AI options and a yr’s value of the $20/month Google One AI Premium plan, which features a beneficiant 2TB of cloud storage in your pictures, Drive and Gmail recordsdata.
Design-wise, the Plus 514 is fairly primary, however it will get the job performed; it’s your commonplace laptop computer with a 14-inch show. It’s neither overly skinny (.81 inches) or gentle (3.15 kilos), however these specs are completely cheap for a sub-$400 laptop computer. (It’s truly ever-so-slightly lighter than the extra premium Spin 714.) Similar goes for the display screen — it’s a touchscreen, and its 1,920 x 1,080 decision is ok, 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 adequate for a laptop computer at this value.
General, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is a strong choice if price is your important concern — however it’s additionally value noting that the Lenovo mannequin we picked as the perfect general Chromebook is usually on sale, generally for below $400 as properly. In that case, the worth distinction between the 2 laptops is shut sufficient that it’s value 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 superb deal for a succesful Chromebook.
- Cheap
- Efficiency, specs and constructed high quality are all good for this value
- Stable show and webcam
- 1080p show generally feels cramped
$325 at Amazon
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 14 inches | Display decision: 1,980 x 1,200 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.02 lbs | Accessible 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 probably the greatest premium Chromebook choices on the market, and the newest 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 an enormous fan of taller laptop computer screens, and whereas this isn’t as luxurious because the few 3:2 ratio Chromebooks available on the market, it’s nonetheless a cushty 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 decide, 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 usually obtained about eight hours utilizing it below my regular workload. That’s not distinctive, however it’s in step with what I’ve seen on different Intel-powered Chromebooks.
Simply because the identify 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, however it’s there if you happen to want it. That mentioned, for a $700 laptop computer, it’s comparatively skinny (.7 inches) and lightweight (3.2 kilos), so for portability functions, it’s onerous 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 subsequent mannequin.
The newest Spin 714 prices $700 – not an unreasonable value for a pc with these specs and constructed high quality. For those who’re a critical multitasker, need a greater show and keyboard, or simply need a pc that’ll final so long as attainable (Google says it’ll obtain software program updates by June of 2034), the Acer Spin 714 is straightforward to advocate.
- Nice display screen
- Clear webcam
- Loads of energy and cupboard space
- Snug keyboard and trackpad
- A bit expensive
- Mediocre battery life
$699 at Greatest Purchase
Picture by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Display measurement: 16 inches | Display decision: 2,560 x 1,600 | Put in reminiscence: 8GB | Weight: 3.75 lbs | Accessible 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 fee. 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 is perhaps thinking about attempting it. However even non-gamers ought to benefit from the Plus 516 GE’s crisp and clear display screen and refined {hardware}.
It additionally consists of Intel’s Core 5 120UL chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Given the laptop computer’s measurement, 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 which you can customise, however extra importantly, it’s only a strong and comfy keyboard for taking part in video games or simply typing up studies. The trackpad is giant and responsive as properly.
The 516 GE weighs 3.8 kilos – fairly gentle for a laptop computer with a 16-inch display screen. We haven’t examined the 2024 mannequin but, so I can’t verify the battery life; Acer claims 10 hours, a determine that’ll absolutely dip if you happen to’re doing greater than watching movies or informal internet looking. Between the highly effective {hardware}, strong design, good trackpad and keyboard and nice display screen, anybody who desires an even bigger Chromebook will doubtless be proud of this mannequin. As for help, Google says the Plus 516 GE will obtain updates till June of 2032.
- Giant, high-resolution display screen with a quick refresh fee
- Loads of ports
- Core 5 chip gives loads of energy
- Giant and spacious keyboard
- Comparatively light-weight for a big-screen laptop computer
- Not everybody will respect the gamer aesthetic
$649 at Greatest Purchase
