Introduction
If y’all want a laptop for basic productivity tasks, whether yous’re a student or office worker, then it may be best to consider a Chromebook. Merely what are the best Chromebooks that you tin can currently buy?
We’ve rounded up the five best Chromebook laptops that nosotros’ve reviewed in recent years, ranging from deal 2-in-1 form factors to loftier-powered devices looking to unsettle the ultrabook crowd.
Not entirely sure what a Chromebook is? They’re basically laptops running on Chrome Os instead of Windows. Chrome Bone is designed specifically for those who but demand a laptop to browse websites, play video and run Google-approved apps. Equally a result, they are generally a lot cheaper than Windows-powered laptops.
Chromebooks do accept pregnant drawbacks notwithstanding, as the locked-downward operating system prevents users downloading software outside of Google’s app store. The likes of Netflix and Spotify are all fine, but yous may see bug if you desire to download something a little obscure for university research etc.
And so if y’all’re convinced that Chromebooks are for you, then continue reading on for our top v recommendations.
How we test
Larn more about how nosotros test
Chromebooks
Every laptop nosotros review goes through a serial of uniform checks designed to judge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life.
These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps.
We also make sure to use every laptop we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as authentic as possible.
Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Best overall Chromebook
Pros
- Super-light and portable design
- Sharp brandish with decent colours
- Outstanding bombardment life
- Whisper-tranquillity performance
Cons
- Flat speakers
- Mediocre performance
- No keyboard backlight
The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 ticks all of the most important boxes when it comes to a ChromeOS-powered laptop. It’s lightweight at but one.2kg, features an excellent bombardment life of 13 hours and 35 minutes, features a Full HD resolution display and is powerful enough to coast through basic apps.
The Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c chip inside also allows you lot to make use of a 4G connection (when equipped with a uniform SIM menu) and run at whisper-quiet volumes thanks to its excellent thermal operation.
In that location are a couple of issues hither, such as the underwhelming speakers and the omission of a keyboard backlight, but when you consider how cheap this Chromebook is, those are very small complaints. If you’re looking for a no-thrills Chromebook with a bargain price, this is your best option.
Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey
Total review:
Acer Chromebook Spin 513 review
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Bundled keyboard offers versatility
- Superb screen for video content
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Lack of headphone jack
- Poor speaker quality
- Keyboard is uncomfortably small
While about Chromebooks on this list mimic the classic laptop clamshell design, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is more of a ChromeOS-powered tablet that tin can be turned into a makeshift laptop with the bundled keyboard. If you ask u.s., that just makes the Duet fifty-fifty more versatile than the remainder of the devices here, and with an astonishingly affordable £299.99 price, it as well arguably offers the best value of the bunch.
Those who need to hammer away at the keyboard oft may adopt a laptop with a proper keyboard, but anyone who merely wants a device for browsing the spider web and watching videos volition probable autumn in dearest with the Duet. The arranged keyboard besides helps out for emails, jotting downwardly notes and easier spider web navigation.
The biggest competitors for the Duet are the iPad and Surface Become 3, just they cost significantly more than and demand an extra fee for the keyboard accompaniment. This ways the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is an absolute deal, whether you’re a schoolhouse educatee or a causal browser.
Reviewer:
Ryan Jones
Full review:
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Acer Chromebook 314
Best budget Chromebook
Pros
- Dandy value for money
- Sturdy construction
- Skillful port selection
- Fantastic bombardment life
Cons
- Apartment colours and dim brandish
- No touchscreen
- ChromeOS could provide some limitations
The Acer Chromebook 314 is the cheapest Chromebook on this list, and yet flaunts some superb features. It has a very good bombardment life, solid blueprint and a snappy performance, equally long as you stick to basic productivity tasks.
It’s not the lightest Chromebook effectually at one.7kg, but is still portable plenty to stow in your bag ahead of the role commute. At that place’due south also a great port selection here, including USB-A, USB-C and microSD, so you lot won’t have to worry nearly carrying a dongle with you all the time.
This laptop has a major weakness though, as information technology has a depression-resolution xiv-inch brandish, with on-screen colours looking flat and dull. This ways this isn’t the best pick for watching Netflix and the like. There’south also no touchscreen here, which may well be a deal billow for some. Simply if just need a Chromebook for writing essays and don’t care about the screen quality, then this is one of the very all-time laptop bargains currently available.
Reviewer:
Reece Bithrey
Full review:
Acer Chromebook Spin 314 review
Google Pixelbook Go
Best premium Chromebook
Pros
- Fantastic keyboard
- Attractive, understated look
- Impressive battery life
- Android apps on Chrome tin can be useful (even if buggy)
Cons
- Can get far too expensive if you lot upgrade the specs
- No fingerprint scanner/facial unlock
- Have to get the top model if you want a 4K screen
It shouldn’t really be surprising that Google – the same company responsible for Chrome OS – is responsible for one of the best Chromebooks we’ve ever tested. The Google PixelBook Go excels in most areas, with an ultra-portable weight, excellent keyboard and decent bombardment life.
Google as well offers a range of configurations, including a 4K model when you spend over a yard. We’d recommend not going for those loftier-tier models, as the inflated price seems to defeat the purpose of a Chromebook. If yous’re not bothered about saving money, we’d always recommend Windows over Chrome Bone.
But at the £629 starting toll, the Google Pixelbook Get hits the sweet spot between performance and price, making information technology a bang-up alternative to more than expensive laptops such as the Dell XPS 13 and Surface Laptop 4 for those who only need a car for web browsing, video streaming and give-and-take processing.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review:
Google Pixelbook Go review
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
Best performance Chromebook
Pros
- Pleasant screen
- Comfortable, repose keyboard
- Long battery life
Cons
- Value of high-spec models is questionable
- Plastic touchpad
- Weak speaker
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is a prime example of modern Chromebooks blurring the lines with high-stop ultrabooks, packing a super-speedy Intel Cadre i5-10210U processor and classy aluminium design.
Loftier-end Chromebooks are nothing new, but we’ve rarely seen such top-notch quality at this affordable £529.99 price bespeak. And while it is in the same price range as Microsoft’due south Surface Laptop Become, the Lenovo boasts a superior screen which will be important if y’all like to watch Netflix and YouTube.
So what’s the catch here? We weren’t a big fan of the plastic trackpad and lacklustre speakers, but these are small issues to overlook if yous desire a high-performance Chromebook at a bargain price.
Reviewer:
Andrew Williams
Full review:
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook review
We also considered…
FAQs
What is deviation betwixt Chromebook and laptop?
A Chromebook uses Google’s ChromeOS software, while a more conventional laptop uses Windows. ChromeOS doesn’t offer as much freedom as Windows, relying instead on Google’s app store, but is arguably more convenient, especially for children. Chromebooks are oftentimes cheaper than Windows laptops, but offer a basic performance for productivity. This isn’t an ideal option for gamers and creators, just keen for students and casual use.
Tin you employ Word on a Chromebook?
Yeah, you lot tin can find Microsoft Discussion in the app store, while y’all as well have the option of Google Docs.
Can you apply Chromebook without WiFi?
Absolutely, although you’ll need an internet connection to download and use apps such every bit Netflix and Spotify.
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Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/best/best-chromebook-3536271
Posted by: Sadiyev.com
