For those who’re available in the market for a strong laptop computer for college or work, you must actually take into account choosing up a Chromebook. They’re highly effective sufficient for day-to-day duties like internet shopping and writing papers, however these days they’ll even run the most well liked triple-A titles with cloud gaming. Not solely is there all kinds of Chromebooks now, however they’re additionally fairly cheap, making them a superb possibility for budget-conscious patrons. For those who’re undecided the place to start your search, don’t sweat it — we assembled an inventory of our high picks to slim issues down.
For those who nonetheless favor Home windows laptops, you’ll undoubtedly need to try PCWorld’s roundup of the most effective laptops out there right this moment.
Why you must belief us: PCWorld has been going robust since 1983, again within the days when print magazines had been extra frequent. Now that we’ve made the leap to digital, we’ve been reviewing greater than 70 laptops yearly. Each laptop computer that passes by way of our doorways goes by way of an arduous testing course of, by which we consider all the things from processor efficiency to show high quality. We’re dedicated to reviewing laptops in each worth vary too.
Replace July 30, 2024: We up to date our checklist of current laptop computer opinions to incorporate the Asus Vivobook S 15 ($1,299.99), which comes loaded with the brand new (and extra energy environment friendly) Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite XE 78 100 processor. The design leaves little to be needs, however fortunately it delivers dependable efficiency in addition to lengthy battery life.
The very best Chromebooks
Lenovo Flex 5i – Greatest general Chromebook
Execs
- Good construct high quality
- Incredible typing expertise
- Vibrant touchscreen show
Cons
- Common battery life for a Chromebook
- Stylus not included
Why we just like the Lenovo Flex 5i
The Lenovo Flex 5i is the most effective general alternative due to its 2-in-1 design, the peppy efficiency, beautiful typing expertise, and a lot extra. The understated aluminum completed exterior helps make it really feel like one thing three or 4 occasions as costly. As for the convertible design, the 360-degree hinge feels extremely sturdy, which is important in a 2-in-1 laptop computer. Plus, the keyboard is an actual pleasure to sort on and the 1200p contact show produces crisp and vibrant visuals. The very best half is that you simply’re getting all of those great options for effectively underneath $500.
Who can purchase the Lenovo Flex 5i
We really feel as if the Lenovo Flex 5i is an efficient Chromebook for most individuals. The touchscreen and 2-in-1 design actually provides it the sting, as you often see these options in machines that price rather more. Whereas the 9 hour battery life is taken into account simply common for a Chromebook, it’s nonetheless an important all-day outcome. It’s simply not the whopping 19 hours we obtained out of the Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip. That stated, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s checklist of compromises is sort of small.
Learn our full
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus evaluate
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook – Greatest finances Chromebook
Execs
- Light-weight design
- Nice battery life
- Enticing coloration scheme
- 1080p show
Cons
- Solely 4GB of RAM
- 720p webcam is disappointing
Why we just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
For underneath $300, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook provides first rate efficiency, incredible battery life, and a light-weight type issue. Inside, you’ll discover an MediaTek Kompanio 520 CPU, an ARM Mali-G52 2EE MC2 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. On paper, these specs might not look all that spectacular. Nonetheless, on the subject of real-world use, day-to-day efficiency is completely dependable. The 47 watt-hour battery additionally lasted 16 hours on a single cost and it weighs slightly below three kilos, making it a strong journey companion. Not unhealthy for underneath $300, huh?
Who can purchase the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
Anybody searching for an affordable, serviceable Chromebook. It’s not essentially the most modern Chromebook we’ve ever seen, but it surely doesn’t need to be. It has loads of energy for gentle use and the battery will maintain you going lengthy after your workday or college day ends. The inclusion of a 1080p contact show is a pleasant contact as effectively, particularly given the low worth of the machine. The 720p webcam is disappointing and also you’re solely getting 4GB of RAM, however should you’re keen to taper your expectations a bit, then it is a machine that’s effectively value contemplating.
Different possibility: For those who’re keen to spend a little bit further on a Chromebook with higher efficiency, we’d suggest testing the $399 Acer Chromebook Plus 515. Bootup occasions are lightning quick and browser-based duties really feel appropriately snappy. The typing expertise can also be beautiful and the battery can last as long as 13 hours on a single cost. The one trade-offs are the boring aesthetics and the thick bezels on the show.
Learn our full
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook evaluate
Acer Chromebook 516 GE – Greatest Chromebook for gaming
Execs
- Enticing design
- Glorious CPU efficiency
- A great deal of wired and wi-fi connectivity
- Excessive decision 1600p show
Cons
- Mediocre keyboard and touchpad
- Disappointing audio system and microphone
- Show falls behind in distinction, coloration vibrancy
Why we just like the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is an efficient machine for gaming and day-to-day duties. The Intel Core i5-1240P CPU is highly effective sufficient for workplace work and on a regular basis actions, and the show’s 120Hz refresh price will produce clean visuals. You may’t run video games domestically on this laptop computer, however you need to use a cloud gaming service like Nvidia GeForce Now or Amazon Luna. In response to our evaluate, “gameplay felt completely clean” and “Nvidia’s GeForce Now diagnostics panel flagged no issues.” Simply ensure you’ve obtained a secure Web connection! Thankfully, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE has an Ethernet port, which is about as secure as you may get.
Who can purchase the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Anybody that desires to sport on a reliable Chromebook! The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a pleasure to sport on and it’s zippy sufficient for productiveness and day-to-day. Extra options embrace a 1080p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and a horny design. With an MSRP of $650, it’s a little bit costly for a Chromebook, but it surely punches above the standard Chrome OS machine and is tailor made to ship a high-quality cloud gaming expertise.
Different possibility: For those who’re searching for a Home windows different that may run native video games, you must try the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version laptop computer. It’s at the moment our greatest finances gaming decide and for good purpose! Our reviewer blitzed by way of the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark at 123 frames-per-second because of the Nvidia GeForce RTX RTX 4050 GPU. This laptop computer additionally managed a powerful 11 hours of battery life on a single cost, which is unprecedented in gaming laptops.
Learn our full
Acer Chromebook 516 GE evaluate
Framework Laptop computer Chromebook – Greatest Chromebook for tinkerers
Execs
- Upgradeable
- Scorching-swappable ports
- 1080p webcam
- Dependable efficiency
Cons
- Costly
- No touchscreen show
Why we just like the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook
The Framework Laptop computer Chromebook is among the extra uncommon entries on this roundup as a result of it’s a modular laptop computer, which suggests you may change or improve any a part of it. Our reviewer, who wasn’t assured in her disassembling skills, was capable of crack open the laptop computer in just a few easy steps. The {hardware} inside is marked with QR codes, which you’ll scan together with your telephone and be directed to the appropriate spot on Framework’s web site. The 1080p show can also be an enormous draw and the hot-swappable ports means that you can combine and match the place the ports slot within the laptop computer.
Who can purchase the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook
Anybody who likes to get in there and tinker or prolong the lifetime of their laptop computer. The Framework Laptop computer Chromebook is designed with the final word customization and upgradability in thoughts. I’ll say, it’s undoubtedly focused to a particular area of interest of individuals, however that’s not essentially a nasty factor. Efficiency is powerful because of the Intel Core i5 processor. In truth, our benchmarks present that it handles on a regular basis duties like browsing the net and watching streams like an actual professional. The one caveat is that it’s costly for a Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook Vero 514, for instance, is simply as quick because the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook and is lots of of {dollars} cheaper.
Learn our full
Framework Laptop computer Chromebook evaluate
Current laptop computer opinions
- Asus Vivobook S 15: The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a reliable entry into the Copilot Plus PC enviornment, however one which struggles to face out from the alternate options.
- Acer Swift Edge 16: Acer’s Swift Edge 16’s low weight and good efficiency makes it a strong journey companion, although a small battery holds it again.
- Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is a superb Snapdragon X Elite-powered PC with a gorgeous show, lengthy battery life, and nice construct high quality. However you’re paying further for high-end Snapdragon X Elite {hardware} on the 16-inch mannequin, and it doesn’t ship the massive efficiency bump you would possibly anticipate.
- Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1: The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 provides strong efficiency and an important worth for anybody who wants a laptop computer to get work achieved.
- MSI Raider 18 HX: The MSI Raider 18 HX boasts a humongous display screen in addition to all of the ports you might think about, however the windy roar of the followers mixed with the excessive price ticket might deter some people.
How we take a look at Chromebooks
The PCWorld workforce places each laptop computer by way of a sequence of benchmarks that take a look at GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so forth. The thought is to push the laptop computer to its limits after which examine it in opposition to others we’ve examined. Because of the cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they undergo a sequence of web-based assessments. It wouldn’t be truthful or doable to run the identical sorts of assessments on a Chromebook as we use on laptops as a result of they solely run a totally totally different working system.
Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of every take a look at and the the explanation why we run them.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark assessments a Chromebook’s battery life.
- Speedometer 2.0: This take a look at determines a Chromebook’s internet browser efficiency. It simulates this by including, finishing, and eradicating a to-do checklist.
- Basemark Net 3.0: This benchmark gauges how effectively a Chromebook can deal with web-based functions.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript efficiency benchmark that measures browser pace.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a mix of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. It is a method to gauge how effectively a Chromebook runs superior workloads.
For a extra thorough rationalization of our testing procedures, try how PCWorld assessments laptops.
What ought to I search for in a Chromebook?
For those who’re searching for a Home windows or MacBook different, you might need to take into account a Chromebook. Geared up with low-power processors, they sometimes have good battery life and are often silent in operation. They make nice productiveness machines, as they’re particularly designed for light-weight duties like shopping the net, watching Netflix, and so forth. Plus, they’re largely virus free. That stated, most Chromebooks have minimal RAM and storage. For those who’re a hardcore gamer or a video editor, you’re going to need one thing with much more energy than a Chromebook is able to offering.
Our information to Chromebooks vs. Home windows laptops will help you identify which working system is finest in your wants. For extra choices, you’ll need to try our greatest laptops roundup.
- Working system: Though each working system has its professionals and cons, I’d argue that Chrome OS is among the most user-friendly ones on the market. That stated, with Chromebooks, you don’t have the choice of choosing one other working system, as they solely run Chrome OS. You’re caught with it, bud.
- Processor: Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook should you can. They price wherever within the $400 to $600 vary and plenty of of them come geared up with Intel Pentium processors. These Chromebooks have higher browser efficiency and are able to working extra intense gaming apps. It’s the most effective bang in your buck. Higher-end Chromebooks generally use Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors, which pack extra of a punch.
- RAM: Many Chromebooks have 4GB of RAM, which isn’t quite a bit. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so that you want a good quantity of RAM to maintain these tabs open and working easily. For those who can spend a few hundred further, you’ll have the ability to discover a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
- Storage: I like to recommend no less than 64GB of storage. Because you’ll principally be storing issues within the cloud, you don’t a ton of native storage.
- Sturdiness: Chromebooks are well-liked within the schooling market as a result of they’re fairly darn sturdy. I’m not saying you must smack one round with a baseball bat or something, however they’re sturdy sufficient to deal with the each day abuses of life.
FAQ
What’s the distinction between a daily laptop computer and a Chromebook?
When individuals speak about common laptops they often imply a PC or Mac. A Chromebook remains to be a laptop computer, but it surely differentiates itself from both of these two by utilizing a singular working system known as Chrome OS, which was created by Google. Consider it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, however not all laptops are Chromebooks.
Not like different working techniques reminiscent of Home windows or macOS, Chrome OS is optimized to run Google apps reminiscent of Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and different Google companies. As a result of most Google apps are on-line, Chromebooks typically require an web connection to make use of most of their essential options.
Lastly, Chromebooks have traditionally been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in thoughts quite than high efficiency. They sometimes forego the sooner, high-end {hardware} that PCs or Macs can use for a extra minimalist, light-weight strategy to computing.
Can I exploit built-in graphics for gaming?
No, you may’t sport a Chromebook as a result of they’ll’t run native EXEs except for Android apps. That stated, you may play fashionable video games on a Chromebook that helps cloud gaming, just like the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming. It’s a must to have an Final membership with Nvidia’s GeForce Now to the play the video games, although. The Final tier prices $19.99 a month or $99.99 for six months. It’s a fairly seamless expertise, and Nvidia additionally provides a vast free tier so you may stream video games with restrictions on session occasions.
What’s the distinction between a finances laptop computer and a pill?
Increasingly, the road between what’s a laptop computer and what’s a pill blurs as firms combine the options of each into their newest units. However there are nonetheless just a few key distinctions between the 2. Laptops typically are bigger, include extra storage, and have higher efficiency and productiveness options. Tablets then again are smaller and extra moveable, have longer battery life, and are often a bit extra inexpensive.
When selecting between a finances laptop computer and a pill you must first ask your self what the first use of the gadget shall be. Do you want one thing for productiveness with plenty of storage? Then a laptop computer—even a finances mannequin—will most likely be the best way to go. Or do you want one thing that’s small, travels effectively, and has a protracted battery life? Then you definitely would possibly take into account a pill.
What are the disadvantages of a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are designed for day-to-day duties, which is ok if all you’re doing is shopping the net and checking e-mail. They will’t deal with resource-heavy design work, video enhancing, and so forth. You’ll additionally want a robust Web connection as a result of should you’re not on-line, there are solely so many issues you are able to do with a Chromebook. Chromebooks can not set up native applications like Home windows PCs can. You can also’t set up Microsoft Workplace and that is likely to be an enormous deal-breaker for some people, particularly those that depend on these applications for work.
What’s a Chromebook good for?
Chromebooks are good laptops for individuals who require the fundamentals. If all you want is a dependable Web connection to get your work achieved and nothing else (like no resource-hungry applications), then you definately’re golden. Personally, I exploit my very own Chromebook for writing and enhancing in addition to testing social media and watching YouTube. You may even sport on them with a cloud gaming service like GeForce Now, if that’s the way you wish to spend your evenings (no judgements right here).
