Last Updated on: 23rd December 2022, 07:38 am
Chromebooks have evolved vastly over the years. They used to be laptops running on Chrome OS developed by Google that provided support for applications that were only able to run in the Chrome Browser. ChromeOS is a web-based operating system that follows the coding of the primary Chrome browser but you can use it to control your laptop and do other productive tasks as well. Chromebooks have greatly changed the portables game. As more and more people are getting to know about the benefits of having a best Chromebook, more companies are also introducing their versions of Chromebooks. In recent years, companies have started to offer some really good Chromebooks that are perfect for business users and other tech-savvy users. Such a great piece of machinery does come with a price tag but still, the price will be less than the Windows or Mac equivalent of the same laptop.
The newer Chromebooks are also becoming to be sleeker and more unique than the original clamshell looks and feel it. You can buy a Chromebook in a 2-in-1 form, a tablet form, and still in a sleek and modern clamshell form. Recently, Google has also added support for ChromeOS to download and run Android applications. This feature was long-awaited by Chromebook fans and it was very received by the tech reviewers.
With support for Android applications, users can now run more productivity apps that are available for Android users. There are tons of games present on the Play Store to download and play. As times have progressed, games for Android phones have also evolved and titles like PUBG mobile and COD mobile are some of the great heavy-duty games that you can download on your Chromebook to play and enjoy.
Buying Guide
Processor
The majority of the CPUs that Chromebooks operates on are likely unfamiliar to you. This is due to the fact that these CPUs are sluggish and do not appear in Windows laptops. My advice is to get something more powerful if you can afford it after testing out several Intel Celeron-based Chromebook often referred to as N4000. The Core m3 is the best option for most people and the Celeron’s replacement. Choose an i3 or i5 CPU if you want a more potent, future-proof laptops.
RAM
If you can afford 8 GB of RAM then its better and if your intent of running Android applications. I’ve virtually always had terrible slowdowns and issues on a Chromebook with only 4 GB of RAM.
Screen
Get an IPS LCD display. There are few low-end versions available having low TN LCD panels, try to avoid those. The pixel resolution of your screen is determined by its size. I’ve tried (and would recommend) various 11-inch Chromebooks with 720p screens. I believe such panels to be acceptably crisp because to their compact form factor, but a 1080p screen will be much nicer.
Ports
Because the majority of what you do on a Chromebook is cloud-based, you don’t need to be concerned with ports. If you wish to use a portable battery/charger with your Chromebook, you need to look for a computer with a USB-C connector, however USB-C charging is only available in mid- and higher-priced models. If you need to download a lot of data in a day, having a MicroSD card for extended storage is also useful, although that option is not frequently accessible.
Comparison Table
Best Chromebook – At A Glance
- Acer Chromebook 15 -Best for portability
- Newest Acer R11 – Best laptop for college students
- HP Chromebook 14 – Best laptop for professionals
- Acer Chromebook 514 – Best Chromebook for students
- Lenovo Chromebook C330 – Lenovo Chromebook
Top Picks
Acer Chromebook 15
Display: 13”
Processor: Intel Core i5 (7th Gen)
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 128GB SSD
Newest Acer R11
Display: 15.6″ Full HD Touch
Processor: Intel Celeron N3350
RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
Storage: 128GB SSD
HP Chromebook 14
Display: 13″ Touchscreen
Processor: Intel Core i5 (8th Gen)
RAM: 8GB SDRAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Best Chromebook Product Reviews & FAQs
1. Acer Chromebook 15
| 15.6″ Full HD Touch | Intel Celeron N3350 | 128 GB of SSD | 4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM |
The Acer Chromebook 15 is a great 15.6-inch Chromebook. There are very few 15+ inch Chromebooks available in the market and the Acer Chromebook 15 does not disappoint at all. Its big and bright Full HD screen makes viewing documents and surfing on the web a beautiful experience. Moreover, its serene aluminum build quality makes it great looking laptop at the first sight. This laptop has a great price that is suitable for students who want to lower their workload with the help of a PC.
The Intel Celeron N3350 processor never lets the portable PC lag or stutter. With ChromeOS, most of your work will be done on the web however, if you want to expand the minute storage of built-in 32GB of storage then you can get a microSD which will help you to externally expand the storage capacity of your Chromebook. This Chromebook by all means is the perfect laptop for all students out there who are looking for a great daily work driver.
Best for Students.
Great touch screen.
Best for Price.
Support External Storage.
Small Built-in Storage.
2. Newest Acer R11
| 11.6″ HD IPS Touchscreen | Intel Celeron N3150 | 32 GB of SSD | 4 GB DDR3L SDRAM |
Acer R11 is best for those individuals who want backup support in case of emergency as it offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity so, you can transfer or access your data easily. Its quad-core processor helps your tasks run smoother with maximum output in minimum time. Due to its lightweight and sleek design you can’t get tired while working or have no issues while traveling.
Acer R11 Chromebook 2 in 1 flexibility to adjust its screen according to your need. You can also boost its CPU to 2.08GHz for buttery smooth performance. An HDMI connection allows you to share monitor screens with others. USB 3.0 lets you extend your storage using any external SSD. With a 3-cell 3200 mAh battery, you have the facility to charge your Acer R11 within 2 hours.
Convertible Touch Screen.
Support External Storage.
Overclock-able processor.
Small built-in storage.
3. HP Chromebook 14
| 14″ FHD IPS | Intel Celeron N3350 | 32 GB eMMC | 4 GB of RAM |
The 14-inch HP Chromebook 14 is one of the most pleasant-looking Chromebooks present in the market for less than $300. This Chromebook is good for light users who only want to browse the web and make some word and excel documents on the go. If you want to do heavy-duty tasks then this Chromebook might not be a good option for you. The display on this Chromebook is very pretty to look at. Having a brightness level of 200nits the display lacks vibrance however the 1080p screen resolution is much more welcomed than any lower resolution options.
The performance of the HP Chromebook 14 is powerful enough to carry out your day-to-day work. The Intel Celeron N3350 Processor used in the device can help you browse through websites and stream your favorite video and TV shows with ease. Paired with 4 GBs of RAM this Chromebook can handle some Android games too but if you are planning to use it doing heavy system-intensive then you might face some cursor freezing and lag issue. But for such great value, this Chromebook is a crowd-pleaser.
1080-pixel resolution looks stunning.
Great build quality.
Good Battery Life.
Display could have been brighter.
4. Acer Chromebook 514
| 14″ FHD IPS Multi-Touch | Intel Celeron N3450 | 64 GB eMMC | 4 GB LPDDR4 |
Acer knows how to do Chromebooks right. When other companies strayed away from building Chromebooks, Acer has always stayed consistent by delivering great Chromebooks in the market. The Acer Chromebook 514 is a great 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook. It has a beautiful 1920 x 1080-pixel display that is satisfying to look at but can be a little dim.
Moreover, the build quality and performance are great on this Chromebook. The Celeron N3450 processor is good enough for multitasking. Browsing webpages and using an Android application downloaded through the Play store works great on it. Doing system-heavy tasks might show some lags but light to moderate use won’t let that problem happen. Overall, this Chromebook is good if you are in search of a big-screen size, it is the best convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook.
Long durable battery timing.
Sleek and stylish design.
Both USB type – C and A ports are available.
Weighs Heavy.
5. Lenovo Chromebook C330
Chromebook C330 is made for professionals that feature a 10-point IPS touchscreen display for an easy viewing experience anywhere in a tent, tablet, stand, or laptop mode, you definitely admire the capabilities it has got. Its built-in virus protection is reliable because it keeps updating every 6 weeks when connected to the internet.
Lenovo 2-in-1 Convertible Chromebook C330 comes with 11.6″ HD IPS Display with a screen resolution of 1366 x 768 is enough to offer quality visuals and picture quality. Having MediaTek MT8173C Processor on board, you can work on complex tasks, and with 4GB LPDDR3 RAM has a helping hand to the laptop to allow you for multitasking. A 64GB eMMC storage will never leave you short of storage. It runs Chrome OS for a better relationship between the device and the apps loaded on it.
HD IPS Colorful display.
Decent config options.
Decent processor.
2-in-1 mode.
Heavy than the latest.
FAQs
1. What is the best Chromebook to buy?
The best Chromebook is just an understatement now as there are many good options available in the current market. Chromebooks are the most versatile forms of tech as they are available in many different price tags that cater to a wide variety of people ranging from students to house moms and to business-oriented users. Chromebooks are great for most of the conventional tasks that one user can think of. With the addition of support of Android applications now Chromebook users can play games and use productivity applications while being offline too. The once web-based ChromeOS has now become diverse and more user-friendly with the inclusion of Android applications.
Considering the buzz around Chromebooks a lot of people want to experience affordability with power. In our honest opinion, the latest HP Chromebook 14 with the Intel Celeron N3350 is the best Chromebook you can buy. This laptop is the right package with the right price tag that doesn’t break the bank. The term best budget Chromebook fits just right on this HP Chromebook 14 and is best for students who are looking to buy a laptop that can last for a whole day of school. It might not be the best Chromebook for gaming because Integrated Intel Graphics 500 can sure handle some mild gaming on it. This Chromebook is fast with its 2.4Ghz processor that is paired with 4GB DDR4 RAM. Having 32GB SSD might seem small but ChromeOS is a very light software that does not occupy a lot of space to store data and files.
2. Are a Chromebook and Laptop the Same Thing?
Chromebook is essentially laptops but they run on Google’s proprietary ChromeOS that incorporates web-based operation of tasks. However, general laptops run on either Windows or macOS. Both of these serve the purpose of being portable computers but still, they have a fair share of differences between them. A Chromebook is capable of giving you diverse ways of using its functionality like browsing the internet, watching movies, and editing some Word files. Chromebooks do not have a wide array of applications available on them as most applications present on them are the ones you also operate in any Chrome browser. However, the recent support for Android applications to run on ChromeOS has greatly benefited Chromebook users.
Through the official Play Store, users can download tons of Android applications that serve the purpose of productivity to gaming. The storage options for ChromeOS are also mostly web-based as they generally don’t come with storage capacities of more than 64 GB so most of your data is stored on Google’s cloud service Google Drive. Chromebooks are also known for their big battery lives as they do not run-on system-heavy hardware that sucks up the juice to perform.
Windows and macOS laptops are generally on the more expensive side. Yes, they are diverse too and most of the applications can run offline without the need for a working network. They have a wide range of software and applications readily available to them to install and use. You do not have to compromise your work for the unavailability of a program. Laptops are usually the best for gaming as they have a dedicated graphics processor. The Laptops running on Windows OS are preferred more as most game titles are released for Windows. Laptops are also less energy-efficient than Chromebooks as they come equipped with energy-heavy hardware that delivers strong performance and productivity.
3. Should I buy a Chromebook or laptop?
Both Chromebooks and Laptops are great devices for productivity and computing on the go. As a consumer, you always have to keep your preferences on the front while making a tech purchase. The same goes for when choosing between a Chromebook and a laptop. The most major and noticeable difference between both tech devices is the operating software. As the name Chromebooks suggest they run on Google’s ChromeOS which is a web-based software written over the open-based Chromium OS model.
Chromebooks provide great functionality if you rely on applications that can be easily run on web browsers or if they are available as Android applications that you can download on your Chromebook. Chromebooks do provide great performance considering it runs on a very light and slim OS that takes a fraction of the storage you have in your Chromebook. This makes the Chromebooks extremely fast and gives them their iconic long battery life. Chromebooks are great for kids and students who want to buy their first laptop that can handle their school work as well as some light gaming.
Laptops on the other side are great pieces of machines that run on Windows and macOS that can be used by various levels of users. From beginners to professionals, contemporary laptops can easily cater to your every need. As a student, you will greatly benefit from it. Windows laptops and MacBooks have a wide variety of applications that can be used to do productive tasks like video editing, coding, and word processing. Laptops are more powerful than most Chromebooks because of their power-hogging hardware that gives portable PCs their fast-processing power. Being a student a Windows or macOS laptop can benefit you even after your school years. But if you want great battery performance and you do not need great tasking performance for system-heavy tasks you might want to choose a good quality Chromebook.
4. Are Chromebooks worth it in 2022-2023?
This question is pretty valid considering how bad Chromebook performance used to be after their initial release and how disappointing it was to use for years. But as times have progressed, Google has also understood Chrome OS’s true potential. They have developed the web-based ChromeOS to become more offline-oriented with the help of Android app support. Now almost all the applications found in the Play store are available on Chromebooks. This results in increased productivity and usage as users can find more innovative ways to use their Chromebooks.
Other than the noticeable improvements in ChromeOS, many people need to sort out their preferences. Chromebooks are great devices for people who are on a budget, who need an easy portable computer other than their home PC, or if someone wants to spice up their computer usage habits. Deciding whether Chromebooks are worth it or not is a matter of personal preference. If you are someone who has always loved the Google ecosystem you will surely enjoy working around with a Chromebook but if you have used a MacBook or Windows PC all your life then switching over to Chromebook will need a huge learning curve to master and use.
Chromebooks might seem easy to look through online demos however at the heart these devices are different from contemporary PCs. Chromebooks are great if you are a student who needs to store their school work or for someone who needs to manage their business at a very easy-to-carry around a PC that works smoothly. The integration of Android applications is also great as one can enjoy playing games and accessing millions of other productivity applications offline on a Chromebook.
5. The Best Chromebook for Kids
Chromebooks come in a diverse variety of forms and sizes. For kids, Chromebooks are great pieces of tech. ChromeOS is pretty simple to use for beginners and considering children are pretty fast learners they can get commands on ChromeOS pretty fast. Kids need pieces of tech that are durable and can handle rough use. Lenovo has the best solution for this in form of a Chromebook. The best Chromebook for kids is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. This is a 2-in-1 portable Chromebook that will be the best piece of technology for your kid to have. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet being a 2-in-1 can be easily turned into a 10-inch tablet that will satisfy the wants of your child. ChromeOS has a pretty neat tablet mode that displays all your tabs in an easy-to-use manner therefore your child can easily navigate on it.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet detachable keyboard can be plugged into type school assignments or to type fun little stories. If you want to help your child learn how to use a computer while also letting them enjoy that technology with games and multimedia watching then this Chromebook is your best option. It is not even that pricey. Being priced at less than $300 this Chromebook will also not break the bank. This Chromebook will give the freedom to your child to use it as a laptop when needed and a tablet when they want. The inclusion of Android applications will also give them access to tons of games that they can download and play. Gaming has been proven to be good for child development and buying your kid a good, sturdy, and affordable Chromebook your kid is a treat to learn great new things about the ever-evolving technology.
6. What can’t you do on a Chromebook?
Well, Chromebooks are pretty capable devices and with the additional support for Android applications in ChromeOS the productivity level of Chromebooks has touched a new peak. But still being a web-based operating system and having low demand than its competitors the software support for it is still pretty scarce. If you are a professional in any field and want to invest in a Chromebook as your daily portable computer then you should reconsider your thoughts. Chromebooks are still lacking support for many offline applications that are widely available on Windows and macOS. Complete Microsoft Office Suit, professional Adobe software and more are still missing from Chromebooks.
Chromebooks are also not suitable for you if you are planning to become a coder or planning to compile a long line of programming codes because ChromeOS is not suitable for it. Yes, you can hack the operating system and enable Linux OS on Chromebooks but still, the functionality of Windows and macOS is of no comparison. For the coder Chromebooks are a straight NO! Now when 3D modeling is concerned your PC needs to have the proper computing power and a capable GPU that can handle and process all the graphical information.
However, most Chromebooks do not come equipped with great high-end processors and they lack dedicated GPUs. Thus, making Chromebooks not suitable for 3D modeling too. If you are planning to do animations and video editing over your Chromebook then this will get you in problems too because the software needed to perform these tasks are not available on Chromebooks. The Android applications are not well capable and the core hardware is weak to even render or process that type of information.
Yes, you can buy Chromebooks with Intel’s high-end processors that are capable of system-intensive processing tasks but these exact Chromebooks suffer on the software side of things. The incompatibility and unavailability of software and professional tools make Chromebooks only suitable for people who are either beginners that need to buy their first laptop or if you are business-oriented user who relies on word processing. The lack of offline applications also makes it a not-so-ideal option for heavy users. Gaming on Chromebooks is also not a good experience. Famous gaming titles for PCs are not playable on Chr. The lack of GPUs and strong CPUs makes gaming at a good pace almost seem impossible on any Chromebook.
The Final Verdict
Chromebooks are great if you are planning to buy your first laptop or a laptop for your kid. Such a category of consumers gravitates mostly towards Chromebooks that are best in affordability while maintaining a good performance criterion. Other than affordability people often look for durability and Chromebooks do provide that too. Yes, Google’s implementation of Chromebooks is by far the best experience you can get in the market but companies like HP, Acer, and Lenovo have also consistently offered their great implementations of ChromeOS.
Chromebooks have great potential and they are being recognized by the tech world for their slim operating system to its integration of web-based applications with Android applications. Chromebooks most certainly are great and even some expensive variants of it like Google’s Pixelbooks are great contenders to conventional laptops. However, they still lack the software side of things. But as time will pass ChromeOS will develop into a more functional operating system that will attract the attention of Developers and Consumers. This will interest people to invest in Chromebooks. Hence, pushing Chromebooks to a place where Google aspire them to be.
GOOD LUCK FOR LAPTOP HUNTING!
Related posts
We Are Social
Recent Posts
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
2ktabs.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program. It is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a source for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.com, .co.UK, .ca, .in, etc). In short, whenever you purchase your valuable/desired products, or any other item through our link from Amazon, we get a small commission as per the policy designed for the affiliate program partners