More expensive models include processors up to Intel Core i7, storage of 256GB or 512GB as full SSDs, and a bump up to 16GB of RAM, but specific pricing details have not been released at the time of this writing. You're on a tight budget: This Chromebook starts at more than a grand, so its easily the most expensive Chromebook out there.

Chief among these is this display, a crisp and colorful QHD panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio to provide more screen real estate. With 100 sRGB color reproduction and good maximum brightness, it's one of the best screens we've ever seen on a Chromebook. The 120Hz refresh rate is also vital for ensuring a smooth framerate during intense gameplay. On the performance front, with hardware this powerful, you shouldn't be surprised that this device is a top-tier performer in its class, even blowing its far more expensive older sibling, the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook out of the water. Testing Chromebooks isn’t too different from testing laptops and gaming laptops, though perhaps the paces are a little less intensive or game-heavy.You need a lot of computing power: If you're planning to do any video editing or creative work, this is not the laptop for you. For a device that's meant to be connected to the internet and work via the cloud, there are a lot of ports on this device, and they're all Thunderbolt 4, which means you can output video to an external USB-C monitor if you need more room. The display is well-sized though, so you might not need it. 14-inch isn't a whole lot of space, but the thin bezels mean that you get a nearly 88% screen-to-body ratio. Despite its small size and tablet design, this is just as capable as the rest of the mid-range options on this list. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c chip, which is comfortably powerful enough to handle whatever you throw at it on Chrome OS. We ran 20 Chrome tabs on the x2 11, five of which were streaming content from various services, and we didn't experience any noticeable slowdown.

If you need to use rendering software, want to dive into animation, or play the latest games, you're not going to be doing that on this. It’s not just the reasonable price tag that most Chromebooks have that make them top contenders, especially as laptops for kids and as student notebooks. You have to consider its design. Most boast impressively long battery lives while some are built to withstand abuse better than others – any gear you put into a kid’s hands needs to be able to absorb some bumps, after all. Others come with that 2-in-1 form factor and touchscreen capability that makes them so versatile.

Kids Tablets

Chromebook OS is limited to what is available on the Play Store in terms of software, so if you need to use very specific numeric, scientific, or creative programs, look elsewhere. Battery: These systems do not support batteries that are not genuine Lenovo-made or authorised. Systems will continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorised batteries. Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorised batteries, and provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use. **Battery life is based on the MobileMark® 2014 methodology and is an estimated maximum. Actual battery life may vary based on many factors, including screen brightness, active applications, features, power management settings, battery age and conditioning, and other customer preferences. Most Chromebook connections are wireless, as you'll use the machine almost exclusively when attached to Wi-Fi. Wired Ethernet ports are rare, but support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, with 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 found in upscale and corporate Chromebooks.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) may be a little pricier than many Chromebooks, but that’s because it comes with just a bit more power. And, if you’re using one of these notebooks for work, it’s better to have too much than not enough. Acer's reign continues with the Chromebook Spin 514, the new best Chromebook for most people. It primarily does this through a rugged yet flexible 2-in-1 design and category-leading AMD processing. Helpful features, like a full HD webcam, a Wi-Fi 6 radio, a USB-C port, and an HDMI connection round out the experience. With a generous 13-hour battery life, this Chromebook won't need frequent charging, and its sturdy aluminum build has MIL-STD 810H certification to survive the rigors of daily use. The 2023 Chromebook Spin 514 is an adaptable and high-performing premium Chromebook that impresses with its premium build quality and top-notch capabilities. Who It's For In terms of raw productivity, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 was easily among the peppier Chromebooks we've seen. Not only did it match the much more expensive Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) in all of our productivity tests, but it defeated the other affordable models by a big margin. But that margin of victory might not be as impressive when you consider that the new Acer Chromebook Plus 515 put up similar (and sometimes slightly better) performance numbers using the same hardware. The real takeaway here may be that the Chromebook Plus line is a huge positive change, in large part due to better processing and more mandated system RAM. This isn't the most powerful Chromebook, but students need reliability more than power - especially if they're only really using it for homework, note-taking, and perhaps the occasional bit of Netflix. Fortunately, the IdeaPad Flex 3 has a seriously impressive battery life – our testing yielded a whopping 16-hour-and-20-minute result – which will allow them to make it through a whole day of school without needing to plug in. It's also very affordable, which should provide a nice bit of financial relief for parents who need to buy their kids a school laptop.

AMD Business

If you need a machine to run statistical programs or withstand some heavy-duty workloads, this isn't for you.

WQXGA content required to view WQXGA images. All performance specifications represent the typical specifications provided by HP's component manufacturers; actual performance may vary either higher or lower. If you plan on using locally installed apps like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, or Steam, then you're going to find Chromebooks simply can't do that. The Android apps available through the Google Play marketplace are great, but they aren't as fully featured as similar desktop software. In most cases, Chrome OS simply can't run most of the installable software you'd find on a Windows laptop or a MacBook, so a Chromebook would be a bad choice for anyone hoping to use major flagship software offline. How is a Chromebook different from a laptop? Gaming Chromebooks' are still a topic of some debate. Many will argue that they're not truly gaming devices, since they rely on cloud-based game-streaming services - such as Nvidia GeForce Now - to actually run the latest games without the need for powerful local hardware. By this metric, any Chromebook can be a gaming Chromebook. Testing conducted by HP using Google Chrome OS power LoadTest. Battery life will vary and the maximum capacity of the battery will naturally decrease with time and usage. See http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/testing/power-testing for test details.

Find your Chromebook

You need good sound quality: The sound quality is pretty bad, especially at louder volumes, which means you need a gaming headset. To be honest, a Chromebook is probably the only circumstance where I'd argue that 8GB RAM is sufficient in a laptop. It also goes with an Intel U-series processor rather than the more robust P-series chip we see in the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, which is one of those ' gaming Chromebooks' you might have heard about. This is definitely the right call, since you won't need more than that for this device. Of course, if you have more demanding needs, there are pricier options as well, and they will come with higher-end specs like more RAM, better processors like Intel Core CPUs, and perhaps more storage space. So, if you want to save more files, do some light photo editing, or play some games, you’ll want to splurge a little for better specs. You value sleek, contemporary design: With fat bezels and dowdy styling, the Flex 3 looks like something from last decade.