The best budget chromebooks have changed from simple computers that only ran Google services to flexible computers that can do many things. Even though they’re still not a full replacement for Windows computers and MacBooks, Chromebooks now have a wider range of features and specs, which has made the average price go up.
Chromebooks on a budget have screens with a high brightness of 300 nits or less, colors that look a little washed out, and up to 8GB of memory and 64GB of storage. Most Chromebooks come with a spot for a MicroSD card, which makes it easy to add more storage. Below we have mentioned the Best budget Chromebooks.
Best Budget Chromebooks Comparison Table
| Features | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook | Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus | Acer Chromebook 315 | HP Chromebook 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3 inches | 14 inches | 15.6 inches | 15.6 inches | 14 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | 1366 x 768 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-10110U | Intel Core i3-10110U | Intel Celeron N4000 | AMD A4-9120C | Intel Celeron N3350 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD | 64 GB eMMC | 32 GB eMMC | 32 GB eMMC | 32 GB eMMC |
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10.5 hours | Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 2.71 pounds | 3.63 pounds | 3.75 pounds | 3.75 pounds | 3.39 pounds |
| Price | $699 | $439 | $249 | $299 | $239 |
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3-10110U |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Display | 13.3-inch FHD QLED touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 128GB eMMC |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours |
| Weight | 2.71 lbs |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
If you don’t mind spending more money on a good Chromebook, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 offers a near-high-end experience for only $449. Still, you can sometimes find it on sale for less than $350, which is closer to our sweet spot.
You’ll be happy with a good Chromebook that doesn’t cost much. It is built to last with an alloy base and a keyboard that can handle spills. It also looks great, like everything else Samsung makes. You can even turn the screen all the way around to the back, which gives you more ways to work. Overall, this is one of the best budget chromebooks that you can buy right now.
Pros
- Sleek and stylish design
- Fast performance with Intel Core i3 processor
- High-quality QLED touchscreen display
- Good battery life for a Chromebook
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Expensive compared to other Chromebooks
- Limited storage capacity
- No headphone jack
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3-10110U |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Display | 14-inch FHD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| RAM | 4GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 3.64 lbs |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Lenovo has been around for a long time in the business world. There are a lot of laptops and desktops from this name in offices now. This means that the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook will look right at home in any office, meeting, or work trip. Thus, this is one of the best budget chromebooks that you can buy right now.
When it first came out, this Chromebook had a much higher MSRP of $519.99, but it can often be found for much less. It’s not boring either. It has a 14-inch screen with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200, a battery life of up to 10 hours, Wi-Fi 6E, 45W charging, and a great style and build quality. You can also get a keyboard with backlighting if you want to type better.
Pros
- Good performance with Intel Core i3 processor
- Affordable price point
- Solid battery life for a Chromebook
- Backlit keyboard
Cons
- Limited RAM and storage capacity
- Mediocre graphics performance
- No SD card slot
Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Celeron N4000 |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
| Display | 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen (1920 x 1080) |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 32GB eMMC |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 3.75 lbs |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
Samsung has been making cutting-edge screens for a long time, and the Chromebook 4 Plus is a good example of this. The thin borders around the 15.6-inch Full HD screen, which is powered by Intel UHD 600 graphics, help draw you in. With up to 10.5 hours of battery life, you should be able to work all day from almost anywhere. Still, this is one of the best budget chromebooks that you can buy right now.
Samsung put an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of storage in the Chromebook 4 Plus. You can use the two USB-C ports and one USB-A port to their full potential. Even though the Chromebook 4 Plus only has Bluetooth 4.0, it comes with a headphone jack and a microSD card reader to give you more choices.
Pros
- Large, high-quality touchscreen display
- Good battery life for a Chromebook
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordable price point
Cons
- Mediocre graphics performance
- No backlit keyboard
- Limited port selection
Acer Chromebook 315
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Celeron N4000 |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
| Display | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 32GB eMMC |
| Battery Life | Up to 12.5 hours |
| Weight | 3.76 lbs |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
The Acer Chromebook 315 is a great package that costs a little more than $300. In every way, this Chromebook is a clear step up from most cheap Chromebooks on the market.
This Chromebook from Acer has a powerful four-core Intel Celeron N5100 CPU, 8GB of LPDDR4X memory, and a big 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen. The only thing that isn’t perfect about this gear is that it only has 64GB of eMMC storage. For now, this is one of the best budget chromebooks that you can buy right now.
The good stuff keeps coming with Wi-Fi 6, a full-size keyboard that feels good to type on, and a big trackpad that is a huge improvement over the last model’s touchpad, which was pretty small. The Acer Chromebook 315 has a slim body and screen borders that are surprisingly thin, which make it look good.
Pros
- Large, high-quality display
- Affordable price point
- Lightweight and portable
Cons
- Limited RAM and storage capacity
- Mediocre graphics performance
HP Chromebook 14
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | HP |
| Model | Chromebook 14 |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Processor | Intel Celeron N3350 |
| RAM | 4 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 32 GB eMMC |
| Display | 14-inch diagonal HD (1366×768) SVA anti-glare WLED-backlit |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours and 30 minutes |
| Weight | 3.39 pounds |
The HP Chromebook 14 has a big 14-inch screen, a great keyboard for the price, a four-core Intel Celeron N4120 CPU, 4GB of memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage. Thus, this is one of the best budget chromebooks that you can buy right now.
In general, the hardware is good for a cheap Chromebook. The only problem is the TN screen, which has a 720p resolution but narrow viewing angles. Even though the screen isn’t always clear, you’ll love the keys and the big, responsive touchpad.
The HP Chromebook 14 is another Chromebook that uses the thin-and-light design philosophy. It’s small and easy to carry, and the edges around the screen aren’t too thick.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Good battery life
- Affordable price
- Supports Android apps
Cons
- Low-resolution display
- Limited storage space
- Average build quality
FAQs
Chromebook is the name for a laptop or tablet that runs Google’s Chrome OS. It is mostly made to work with web apps and services in the cloud, and most tasks are done using a web browser.
Chromebooks are usually cheaper than traditional laptops, lighter, last longer on a single charge, and don’t need much upkeep. They are also made to be easy to use. For example, they get updates automatically and have a simple layout.
The average cost of a Chromebook is around $300-400, but there are models available at both higher and lower price points.
