The best Chromebooks aren’t just more laptops with a few Android apps. Chromebooks can now cover a wide variety of computing needs, and a good Chromebook can be more useful than a mediocre Windows laptop. The message that many people actually want good Chromebooks – rather than just cheap ones – has reached the manufacturers. Many of the best Chromebooks are around $500 or $600, although there are also good options in the upper and lower ranges. The extra money goes a long way towards something you’ll be happy with.
For the first time, the quality of Chromebooks in this range is consistent. There are so many similarities between the offerings of Asus, Lenovo, Google, HP, Dell, and Samsung that a conspiratorial person might suggest that they all source their parts from the same factory. That’s great news if you compare shopping; the majority of this list would buy well if you can find them at a discount.
Best Chromebooks of 2020
What most buyers want in the best Chromebook are probably the same things they want in any laptop: a good keyboard, solid build quality, long battery life, a beautiful screen, and enough power to do the things you want. More Chromebooks can meet those qualifications than ever before, but these are the ones that stand out from the rest.
Google Pixelbook Go
The best Chromebook right now
Google Pixelbook Go - Lightweight Chromebook Laptop - Up to 12 Hours...
- Pixelbook Go lets you stay unplugged for up to 12 hours,[1] so you don’t need to carry a charger; when you do need a charge, get up to 2 hours of battery use in just 20 minutes so you can keep going [2]
- Pixelbook Go lets you stay unplugged for up to 12 hours,[1] so you don’t need to carry a charger; when you do need a charge, get up to 2 hours of battery use in just 20 minutes so you can keep going [2]
- Lightweight Chromebook laptop that’s barely 2 pounds and 13 mm thin with a grippable design, making it easier to carry[3]
- Protects your data, passwords, and information with the Titan C security chip and built-in antivirus software; Chrome OS updates automatically to give you the latest features and security [4]
- Starts up in seconds so it’s always ready when you are; the 8th Gen Intel Core Processor is quick and responsive, powering everything you do[5]
- Pixelbook Go is a quiet and comfortable laptop with a backlit keyboard, ultra quiet keys, and and a spacious touchpad that only needs a light touch
- Get amazing picture and sound with the brilliant HD touchscreen display and dual stereo speakers so you can watch movies, edit photos, or video chat with the 1080p webcam
- With Instant Tethering, get online easily on Pixelbook Go using the LTE connection on your Google Pixel[8]
- Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers denoted by the bracketed numbers in the preceding bullet points (e.g., [1], [2], etc.)
For a premium Chrome OS experience, look no further than Google’s Pixelbook Go. Kids may be mocking if their parents use the word “Chromebook” because they are synonymous with previous education, but this is a Chromebook for all ages. First of all, the sleek, lightweight design comes in two colors: Just black and not pink, which makes this Pixelbook not look like a MacBook Air. Besides, the quiet and comfortable keyboard is ideal for typing late at night when your roommates sleep.
Students in higher education will also appreciate the Pixelbook Go if they need to get some air away from a power adapter. The Pixelbook Go lasted over 11 hours on our battery test. Oh, and don’t let your student think that the Pixelbook Go doesn’t have the speed they need: it has Intel Core m3 via Core i7 CPUs, so you don’t have to settle, plus up to 16GB RAM for all the Chrome tabs you might need. Overall, this is the best Chromebook.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
The best looking Chromebook
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 13.3" UHD AMOLED - HD Intel Core I-5 Processor...
- DESIGNED TO TURN HEADS: Minimal, compact and sturdy, this device is designed to provide stable usage in any mode. Its aluminum metal body provides exceptional durability.
- 4K AMOLED- A high-definition display provides a rich range of true-to-life colors and black hues. With 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3 support, you can edit videos like a professional. Its ultra-slim 3.9mm bezel let you immerse yourself in visual splendor.
- DESIGNED TO TURN HEADS: Minimal, compact and sturdy, this device is designed to provide stable usage in any mode. Its aluminum metal body provides exceptional durability.
- 4K AMOLED- A high-definition display provides a rich range of true-to-life colors and black hues. With 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3 support, you can edit videos like a professional. Its ultra-slim 3.9mm bezel let you immerse yourself in visual splendor.
- AMBIENT HQ: Use Ambient EQ to automatically adjust the color temperature and brightness of your display to suit your surroundings. Not only does this function help reduce eye fatigue, but it also provides you with more realistic-looking images.
- CINEMA QUALITY SCREEN: Keeps colors intact and only reduces blue light. Now you can watch for longer, even at night, with reduced eye fatigue – meaning you can work or watch videos in darker settings without disrupting your sleep!
- STAY PROTECTED, WHEREVER YOU ARE: Apps for work Work conveniently with a range of documents on the Galaxy Chromebook. Use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel with ease. Google Docs, Slides and Sheets are included too.
- BUILT-IN PEN: Let your imagination roam on the screen with the Galaxy Chromebook pen. The pen is sensitive to 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt – so you will feel like you’re writing or drawing on real paper!
- THE GOOGLE ASSISTANT: Get more done fast on your Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. Send an email, find documents, listen to music, access your calendar, or control smart home devices, all without switching screens. Just say “Hey Google” to get started.
- FINGERPRINT SENSOR: Just a touch is all it takes to unlock your computer! The device reads your fingerprint with a secure, built-in sensor. Unlock your laptop quickly, easily and securely.
- SPEEDY. SMART. SECURE: Split-second productivity Thanks to 256GB SSD, you get up and running in seconds with ample storage space. And with a 10th generation Intel Core processor, work, play, and switch between tasks seamlessly
It may not have the battery life you expect from a Chromebook, but that can be excused if you look at how the Galaxy Chromebook breaks so many of the other rules of what a Chromebook should be. The Fiesta Red chassis goes beyond eye-catching and gets drooling before you can say, “wow, is that a Chromebook?”. It even comes with Samsung’s S-Pen stylus, which can be used in tablet mode.
The Core i5 CPU is so fast that I watched four 1080p YouTube videos on it, without stuttering, to see if I could. Oh, it’s crazy thin and light, competing on size and weight with the MacBook Air and the Dell XPS 13. But the best thing is the beautiful 4K AMOLED display, which makes the colors pop and offer bright tones. It’s so great that it reminds us to add Netflix Chrome support for 4K video.
Asus Chromebook Flip C436
A powerful 2-in-1 Chromebook
ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 2-in-1 Laptop, 14" Touchscreen FHD NanoEdge, Intel Core...
- Premium Chromebooks offer high performance for multitasking and advanced workloads.
- A perfect companion for a content creator, programmer and power seeker powered by the Intel Core i3-10110U Processor (4M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz).
- Premium Chromebooks offer high performance for multitasking and advanced workloads.
- A perfect companion for a content creator, programmer and power seeker powered by the Intel Core i3-10110U Processor (4M Cache, up to 4.1 GHz).
- 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD and 8GB RAM, Gig+ Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.0
- 14 inch touchscreen Full HD 1920x1080 4-sided NanoEdge Display
- A durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
- 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) ports plus an illuminated keyboard (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- The lightweight (2.58 lbs) magnesium-alloy chassis body makes the C436 both durable and beautiful and has built-in quad-speakers powered by Harman Kardon
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS and has the Google apps. You can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and a 12-month Google One trial that gives you additional storage across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. This offer from Google will expire by 1/31/2021. Google features’ availability varies according to country. Please check with your local ASUS retailer for details.
The best overall Chromebook, the Flip C436, is an excellent successor to the Flip C302CA, our previous topper. Not only do the super small edges allow Asus to fit its large 14-inch screen in a smaller chassis than you’d expect, that display is both bright and colorful. What’s more, the aluminum design delivers a more premium feel than many other Chromebooks. Oh, and I almost forgot: it lasts over 10 hours on a single charge. Overall, this is one of the best Chromebooks right now.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
The best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 2-in-1 13.5" 2K VertiView 3:2 Touch - Intel...
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5 - 10210U
- System Memory (RAM) 8 gigabytes
- 128GB SSD
- Backlit Keyboard 13.5" 2K VertiView 3:2 Touch
- 10th Generation Intel Core i5 - 10210U
- System Memory (RAM) 8 gigabytes
- 128GB SSD
- Backlit Keyboard 13.5" 2K VertiView 3:2 Touch
If you don’t have the best impression from the Acer laptops, let the Chromebook Spin 713 change that for you. This ChromebookSpin 713 has almost everything you could ask for in a budget laptop. You get a bright and colorful 13.5-inch touch-display, exceptional battery life of nearly 12 hours, and fast performance thanks to the Core i5 processor. Plus, the design is made of aluminum and is 2-in-1, so you can flip the screen and turn it into a tablet.
With a thickness of 0.7-inches and 3 pounds, Spin 713 can easily be carried in a backpack on the way to class or work. Yes, the keyboard is a little shallow, and the speaker may be better; however, if you want a convertible Chromebook at a low price, you won’t do better than the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Overall, this is one of the best Chromebooks that you can buy right now.
Samsung Chromebook 4
The best budget Chromebook
Samsung Chromebook 4 + Chrome OS 15.6" Full HD Intel Celeron Processor...
- Large and immersive 15.6” display in a compact frame
- Military-grade durability
- Ultra-fast connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi
- Advanced security with multiple layers of built-in virus protection
- 10.5 hours of battery life
- Large and immersive 15.6” display in a compact frame
- Military-grade durability
- Ultra-fast connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi
- Advanced security with multiple layers of built-in virus protection
- 10.5 hours of battery life
- Google Assistant enabled
The best Chromebook for people on a budget, the Samsung Chromebook 4 impresses with its battery life. This laptop lasted more than 10.5 hours surfing the web on a single charge. The aluminum lid of the Chromebook 4 makes it look like a much more expensive computer – although it has a plastic base. The performance of this Chromebook is another highlight, making multitasking much faster than I expected for this price.
The Chromebook 4 is also thinner and lighter than competing 11.6-inch Chromebooks, although we want the screen to be supported by a touch input and rotate. Its screen is acceptable for daily work, but don’t expect to see colors popping or much detail when watching movies or spending time on YouTube. The speakers are okay but recommend you use your headphones in a crowded place.
Acer Chromebook Spin 11
A budget 2-in-1 Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 CP311-1H-C5PN Convertible Laptop, Celeron N3350, 11.6" HD Touch,...
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and continues to stay fast over time. (Internet connection is required).
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and continues to stay fast over time. (Internet connection is required).
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- With the Google Play Store, you can access a rich library of apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more, all from your Chromebook.
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically.
- Convertible Chromebook with Intel Celeron N3350, 11.6” HD Touch Display, 4GB Memory, 32GB eMMC and Up to 10-hour Battery Life
If your kids have finally graduated from a good laptop for writing papers for class, but you still want them to get something that won’t break the first time it falls, then the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 might be the laptop for you. It’s powerful enough to tackle the kids’ daily schoolwork, and it’s a 2-in-1 so they can flip the comfortable keyboard to turn it into tablet mode for playing Android games or watching their favorite shows standstill. The display is a bit dim, and it won’t blow you away as far as performance, but it’s cheap, stable, and reliable. Overall, this is one of the best Chromebooks right now.
HP Chromebook 14
A good balance between price and performance
HP Chromebook 14-inch Laptop with 180-Degree Swivel, AMD Dual-Core A4-9120 Processor, 4...
- Power to work and play all day: all the power you need to stay productive and entertained on a seamless Chrome experience
- Daily dose of entertainment: immerse yourself in Dual speakers and audio by B&O play, and easily share your screen with a flexible hinge that allows up to 180-degree rotation
- Power to work and play all day: all the power you need to stay productive and entertained on a seamless Chrome experience
- Daily dose of entertainment: immerse yourself in Dual speakers and audio by B&O play, and easily share your screen with a flexible hinge that allows up to 180-degree rotation
- Processor: AMD Dual-Core a4-9120, 2.2GHz up to 2.5GHz
- Display: 14.0-Inch diagonal HD SVA anti-glare WLED-backlit Display (1366x768)
- Memory: 4 GB DDR4-1866 SDRAM (not upgradable)
- Hard Drive: 32 GB eMMC
- Battery life: up to 9 hours and 15 minutes (mixed usage)
- Dimensions AND weight (unpackaged): 13.27 in (W) x 8.93 in (D) x 0.72 in (H); 3.40 pounds
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty with 24-hour, 7 days a week Web support
The best Chromebooks balance spot price and efficient use of Chrome OS – and the HP Chromebook 14 is the perfect example. While similar in many ways to the Acer Chromebook 15, this 14-inch Chromebook is a little more compact and looks slightly better. Finished in a bright blue color and a screen made to shine, HP’s Chromebook 14 offers the best value of any Chromebook in this list. Even when battery life and performance are average, the HP Chromebook 14 is easily one of the best Chromebooks yet.
We were especially impressed by how slim and light this Chromebook is, which means the HP Chromebook 14 is an excellent device for anyone who wants a durable laptop that they can carry with them comfortably. If you want a device to work on while lying on the couch, this is also a great choice. Also, unlike some other Chromebooks, the Chromebook 14 comes with numerous ports, including HDMI-out, Type-A USB 3.0, and a microSD card slot, making this a very versatile Chromebook.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Another 2-in-1 budget Chromebook
Lenovo Chromebook Duet, 2-in-1, 10.1" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Display, MediaTek Helio...
Sometimes it’s incredible how much you can get for $300 or less. For example, the Chromebook Duet is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that offers something Microsoft’s Surfaces and Apple’s iPads don’t: the keyboard is included as standard. Not only do you get that value, but the tablet display of the Chromebook Duet is excellent in itself, with a surprising amount of color reproduction and a sharp 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution.
Smaller hands may find the Chromebook Duet’s keyboard a little on the tight side, but for this price, every keyboard is a surprise and a steal. The Chromebook Duet features ChromeOS tablet optimizations that are long overdue to take advantage of all the space on the screen. And all that? It took 12 hours and 47 minutes, almost 13 hours. Overall, this is one of the best Chromebooks right now.
Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook
Decent performance, cheap price
Dell Inspiron 11 Convertible 2 in 1 Chromebook , 11.6" HD Backlight...
- 11 6 inch HD(1366 x 768) Trulife LED Backlight Touch IPS Display Intel HD Graphics 400
- Intel Celeron N3060 Dual Core Processor (1 6GHz with turbo upto 2 48GHz) with 4GB Memory 32GB eMMC
- 1x Audio Jack 1x Volume Control 1x HDMI 2x USB 3 1 Gen1 1x SD card Reader
- 11 6 inch HD(1366 x 768) Trulife LED Backlight Touch IPS Display Intel HD Graphics 400
- Intel Celeron N3060 Dual Core Processor (1 6GHz with turbo upto 2 48GHz) with 4GB Memory 32GB eMMC
- 1x Audio Jack 1x Volume Control 1x HDMI 2x USB 3 1 Gen1 1x SD card Reader
- With a 360-degree hinge this 2 in 1 adapts to your needs moment by moment Build-in HD Webcam
- Chrome OS 3-Cell battery Color Black Item weight 3 16lb
If your child needs a laptop, and they use it for the basics, the Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook is the best one to buy. The spill-resistant keyboard is ideal for when your child is having a drink or when you’re pushing your coffee over when you’re trying to help him or her with his or her math homework – all for under $300. If your child has remote lessons, the laptop’s loudspeaker becomes pretty loud to hear their teacher. And because the Inspiron 11 is a 2-in-1, it can easily be rotated to tablet mode to use the touchscreen. If you need more storage space, you can expand the internal capacity with a microSD card.
HP Chromebook x2
A budget Chromebook by HP
HP Chromebook X360 14-Inch HD Touchscreen Laptop, Intel Celeron N4000, 4 GB...
- The performance you'll applaud. The entertainment you'll love: versatile Chromebook packed with performance features you want and long battery life so you can play, chat and create longer
- Thin and light with four versatile modes: easily convert from laptop mode to tablet, stand or tent mode for notetaking, drawing and other daily activities that feel as natural as pen on paper
- The performance you'll applaud. The entertainment you'll love: versatile Chromebook packed with performance features you want and long battery life so you can play, chat and create longer
- Thin and light with four versatile modes: easily convert from laptop mode to tablet, stand or tent mode for notetaking, drawing and other daily activities that feel as natural as pen on paper
- Google play store: the millions of Android apps you know and love on your phone and tablet can now run on your chrome device without compromising their speed, simplicity or security
- Processor: intel(r) celeron(r) N4000, Dual-Core, 1.1 GHz Base frequency, up to 2.6 GHz burst frequency
- Display: 14.0-Inch diagonal HD SVA micro-edge WLED-backlit multitouch-enabled edge-to-edge glass touchscreen (1366 x 768)
- Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4-2400 SDRAM (upgradable with 1 accessible Memory slot)
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Battery life: up to 12 hours and 30 minutes (mixed usage)
- Dimensions AND weight (unpackaged): 12.76 in (W) x 8.90 in (D) x 0.74 in (H); 3.48 pounds
With all-day battery life, a comfortable, detachable design, the HP Chromebook x2 is one of the best Chromebooks for business users. It’s like a Microsoft Surface Pro running Chrome OS. The Chromebook x2 also offers a crisp, clear screen, quality sound, and a comfortable keyboard for rugged typing. The Core m3 processor isn’t great, but it’s oomph enough to work mostly in the cloud. Plus, HP includes the keyboard and pen in the price.
