Best Chromebooks
Chromebooks are budget-friendly laptops that are both quirky and smart, low-impact and capable.
Running Google’s Chrome OS operating system rather than, say, Windows 10, they focus on what computing has been all about since the late ’90s, the internet and your web browser.
Mostly with low-power chips and barely HD screens starting at 1,366 x 768 pixel density, most of these laptops are designed to last. Almost every Chromebook claims between 7 and 9 hours of battery life and comes within a few hours of that estimation, based on our benchmarks. If you’re not sure of what you should look for when purchasing a Chromebook, we’ve developed a helpful cheat sheet for you.
Prices do start to climb above the “affordable” range, as is the case with the MacBook-rivaling, $999 Chromebook Pixel 2 (£670, AU$1,320), especially in schools, where Chromebooks are gaining significant exposure. Despite their growth, there should always be a Chromebook within your range.
Then, it all comes down to size and price, with Chromebooks available as little as 11.6 inches and as large as 14 or even 15 inches. (There are even 2-in-1 Chromebooks now.) Always up-to-date, here are our top-ranking Chromebook reviews.
1. Toshiba Chromebook 2
Full HD on a Chromebook just got better
CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-5015U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 | Storage: 16GB eMMC | Connectivity: Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC 7260; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: HD webcam | Weight: 2.97 pounds | Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.4 x 0.76 inches (W x D x H)
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Gorgeous 1080p screen Intel Core i3 power Screen glare A bit pricey
For a steeper $429 (about £299, AU$612), the newest Toshiba Chromebook 2 is a beautiful laptop that – clearly, seeing the price – has very few flaws. It comes with more memory and a 1080p display, lining it up with rival, (pseudo-) premium models in this class, like the Dell Chromebook 13 and Chromebook Pixel.
However, note: the Toshiba Chromebook 2 is now officially in cheap Windows 10 laptop territory. Unless you’re buying this laptop solely for the Google ecosystem, you might be overpaying. That said, the Intel Core i3 processor behind that 1080p screen is an undeniable bonus.
2. Asus Chromebook Flip
A flipping premium Chromebook for almost nothing
CPU: 1.8GHz Rockchip 3288-C (quad-core, 1MB cache) | Graphics: ARM Mali T624 | RAM: 2GB LPDDR3 SDRAM | Screen: 10.1-inch, WXGA (1,280 x 800) IPS multi-touch display | Storage: 16GB eMMC | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 720p HD webcam | Weight: 1.96 pounds | Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.2 x 0.60 inches (W x D x H)
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Fully metal construction Excessive battery life Occasional crashes Large screen bezels
The Asus Chromebook Flip isn’t perfect, but it’s an impressive little piece of gear. At just $249 (about £160, AU$337), it’s so affordable that you might want to pick one up just to have a Chrome OS device on hand – even if you already own a MacBook or Windows notebook.
Aside from the approachable price tag, the Flip is one of the best-built Chromebooks to blaze the trail forward for more convertibles. Touchscreen functionality feels a bit more logical, with a screen that actually rotates for once.
All the while, the Flip meets all the core tenants of an ideal Chrome OS machine, including awesome battery life. If you’ve been ho hum on Chromebooks before, this is definitely one to … flip out about. (Sorry.)
3. Acer Chromebook 15
Chrome OS on the big screen with the first 15-inch Chromebook
CPU: 1.5GHz Intel Celeron 3205U | Graphics: Intel HD graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 5.6-inch Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, LED-backlit display | Storage: 32GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p HD webcam | Weight: 4.85 pounds | Dimensions: 15.08 x 9.65 x 0.95 inches
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Absolutely radiant display All-day battery life Tinny but serviceable speakers
The Acer Chromebook 15 is a breath of fresh air in the Chromebook space. It takes Chrome OS devices to all new heights with a radiant 15.6-inch display and the power of Intel’s Broadwell processors. It has all the guts it needs to be a capable multi-tasking machine and a screen you’ll actually want to look at for long Netflix binges.
4. Dell Chromebook 11 (2015)
Dell’s updated Chromebook is a star in almost every regard
CPU: 2.6GHz dual-core Intel Celeron Bay Trail-M N2840 | Graphics: Intel HD for Intel Celeron processors | RAM: 4GB RAM (DDR3L, 1,600Mhz) | Screen: 11.6-inch HD, 1366 x 768 touchscreen |Storage: 16GB SSD | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11ac (B/G/N), dual-band Wi-Fi | Camera: 720p webcam | Weight: 2.91 pounds Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.4 x 0.76 inches
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Rugged design180-degree barrel hingeTouchscreen not standardSmall keyboard
Don’t let the understated looks of the $249 (£170, AU$320) Dell Chromebook 11 fool you. Dell stuffed in features that are typically reserved for pricier business notebooks into its Chromebook 11, an effort to create a durable product for the education market.
In the Chromebook 11, you’ll find a 180-degree reinforced hinge, rugged design, sealed keyboard and trackpad, and a punchy typing experience inside a portable package. In addition to using the Chromebook for school work, students will appreciate the loud stereo speakers for videos.
There’s a new version of this Chromebook available. We’ve jotted down our first impressions here.
5. Google Chromebook Pixel 2015
The end all, be all of Chromebooks.
CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.7GHz with turbo boost) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5500 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Screen: 12.85-inch 2,560 x 1,700 IPS touchscreen display | Storage: 32GB SSD | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260; Bluetooth 4.0 LE | Camera: 720p HD wide angle camera with blue glass | Weight: 3.3 pounds Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches (W x D x H)
See more Google Chromebook Pixel 2 deals
Inter Core i5 or i7 processorLong, long battery lifeVery expensive3:2 screen hurts multitasking
Outfitted with a Core i5 processor, USB 3.1 (and USB-C) ports, a high-resolution display, and more RAM than it will ever need, the Chromebook Pixel sets a high bar for Chrome OS machines.
Hardware and performance aside, the Pixel is one of the few Chromebooks that seems like it has itself completely figured out. The build quality of this machine is exquisite; the design has been engineered down to a science. A vivid screen – plus the amazing keyboard and trackpad – helps to round out the Pixel as one excellent, premium package.
That said, this one’s quite an investment. For the same amount, you could buy several Chromebooks or a decent Windows laptop. So, before you buy, we suggest you consider all the much more affordable options out there before investing so much money into the best Chrome machine.
6. Acer Chromebook 15 C910
The colossus of Chromebooks
CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200 dual-core processor | Graphics: Intel HD 5500 Graphics with shared memory | RAM: 4 GB, DDR3L SDRAM | Screen: 15.6-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 32GB SSD | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi | Camera: 720p HD webcam |Weight: 4.85 pounds Dimensions: 1.0 x 15.1 x 10.1 inches (H x W x D)
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Fast processing speedLong battery lifeVery heavyAwkward keyboard
If you’re mulling over the $279 (about £195, AU$389) Acer Chromebook 15 C910 for your next laptop, then you’d better have big ideas. Compared to most other Chromebooks, the C910 has a bigger screen, bigger processing power and it comes with a relatively bigger price tag.
The C910 took this series of laptops to two new places, as the first with a 15.6-inch screen and the first to introduce the fifth-generation Broadwell processors to Chromebooks.
Specifically geared toward students and teachers – thanks to its rugged frame and gorgeous visuals – the C910 is perfectly suitable for any consumer who doesn’t mind schlepping around a few extra pounds and inches.
7. Acer Chromebook R11
360-degree flips all day long
CPU: 1.6 GHz Intel Braswell Quad-Core Celeron N3150 Processor | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB DDR3L | Screen: 11.6″ 16:9 HD (1366×768) | Storage: 32GB | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: Dual-band 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: HD Web Camera | Weight: 2.76 lbs | Dimensions: 11.57 x 8.03 x 0.76 inches (WxDxH)
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Convertible Good battery life HD-only display Terrible trackpad
The Acer Chromebook R11’s minimalist design may not be the most attractive, but that shell hides a surprisingly capable laptop that’ll last all day. Oh, and it can flip 360 degrees into a tablet. No big deal.
Acer’s R11 packs in all-day battery life, capable performance and a 360-degree hinge with touchscreen into a minimalist design for just $289 (about £202, AU$402). That makes flaws, like an iffy trackpad and barely-HD touch display, a little easier to ignore.
8. Acer Chromebook 13
With incredible battery life, the Chromebook 13 is a winner
CPU: 2.1GHz Nvidia Tegra K1 CD570M-A1 (quad-core) | Graphics: Nvidia Keplar | RAM: 2GB DDR3 (1,333MHz) | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1.920 x 1.080 | Storage: 16GB SSD | Optical drive: None | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: 720p HD webcam | Weight: 3.31 pounds Dimensions: 12.9 x 9 x 0.71 inches (W x D x H)
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Battery lifeGreat speakersStrange port locationsLackluster visuals
Powered by Nvidia’s powerful Tegra K1 chip, this Chromebook packs a lot of oomph in a tiny frame. Users will love its 13.3-inch 1080p resolution screen, as well as its portability. At 3.31 pounds, the Acer Chromebook 13 is a relatively feathery laptop.
This Chromebook does have some minor problems: it doesn’t multitask very well, and the laptop itself only comes in one color. But for the tiny price of $249 (about £174, AU$347), you’re likely to enjoy the simplicity and productivity as you learn to overcome the design limitations.
9. Asus Chromebook C300
A long-lasting Chromebook that just won’t quit
CPU: 2.16GHz dual-core Intel Celeron N2830 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768 HD display | Storage: 32GB SSD | Connectivity: Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0 | Camera: HD webcam | Weight: 3.08 pounds | Dimensions: 13.0 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
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Great performance under pressure Battery life goes on and on Divisive bright colors Narrow viewing angles
After years of refinement, we’re finally getting to the point of seeing bigger, better and bolder devices Chrome OS devices like the Asus Chromebook C300. This 13-inch Chromebook comes with a slightly faster processor than the rest of its cloud-based flock – all while ditching the fan at the same time. The TN screen unfortunately is a wash (both figuratively and literally in terms of color reproduction), but this Chromebook simply goes on and on with its nearly excessive battery life.
10. Lenovo N20p Chromebook
A versatile Chromebook experience for a reasonable price
CPU: 1.83 GHZ Intel Celeron Processor N2930 | Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 2GB PC3-10600 DDR3L 1333 MHz | Screen: 11.6″ HD (1366 x 768) dsplay with 10-point multitouch | Storage: 16GB eMMC storage | Optical drive: none | Connectivity: Bluetooth® 4.0, 802.11 a/c WiFi | Camera: 720p webcam | Weight: 2.86 lbs Dimensions: 11.6″ x 8.34″ x 0.70″
Gorgeous designSuper fastPoor viewing anglesBad speakers
This is one of the “sexier” Chromebooks around, showcasing Lenovo’s affinity for style. However, the best feature is the N20p’s 300-degree hinge, flipping the N20p’s screen backward all the way into stand mode (or “tent” mode), which lends itself quite well to watching movies or showing presentations.
The touchscreen controls also work in a jiffy for, say, watching shows on HBO Go or Pinteresting. Still there’s some difficulty when using it as a tablet, as Chrome isn’t entirely made for touch as a largely browser-based interface.
It’s not very tuned for work use, but the Lenovo N20p offers great versatility for a leisure computer. Plus, with two USB ports (one 3.0), an HDMI port and an SD card reader, this Chromebook delivers a great bang for its buck.
Juan Martinez has also contributed to this article.
Source: techradar.com
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Your laptop still has to do all the computing.
Compared to the author, I think that you may be much more on numerical hardware specs, particularly CPU speed. By design, what's important to good Chromebook performance is not quite the same as it is for a Windows workstation. Since Chromebooks are Cloud-based devices, CPU speed may only make a discernible difference when lots of tabs are open. I use an Asus Flip with 4 GB RAM. It's aluminum case gives it ruggedness. Its size gives it optimal portability. Its 360 degree rotation gives it versatility comparable to a 2-in-1. It's plenty fast. And the screen is plenty sharp for Web apps and videos. For the price, you just get a lot of real-life satisfaction.
Your right, but the fan runs seldomly and is very quiet when it does.
It should also be noted that the previous model is fanless and the 2015 version is not.
Not at this price point it doesn't.
The last sentence before the reviews start: "Always updated, here are our top-ranking Chromebook reviews."
Hey RMP you make some great points. I guess the reason for my rant was I had purchased the Asus Flip but with 2GB or RAM from a local Best Buy. When I ran YouTube with two or three tabs open it definitely had "jank" for a lack of terms. The aluminium case was a very nice touch on Asus's part and yes the screen was better than the competition at that price point. If you have the Asus Flip with good satisfaction then it was definitely the lack of ram and not the processor. Yes Chrome-OS is cloud-based, but a there's still a standard that needs to met for good user experience for web browsing and music streaming. And in this case it looks that 4GB of RAM is the standard. Any further thoughts?
It's a moot point for me anyways. Everything I need to do can be done faster and easier on a Chromebook. I simply don't need nor want a laptop or pc.
hope to see 20" chromebook with wire and wireless connect on sale
Yes it does.
You need to look a good location to get such offer.
Not a single link goes to the product described. You've had 2+ years to get it right. Lazy journalism and product placement. That's me unsubscribed from all techradar products.
Does anyone know if the newer cb35 version will ever make it to the UK?
I don't like how the Toshiba Chromebook 2 got 5th place. In my opinion it should have at least got third. The 2015 edition is a wonderful Chromebook, a lot better processor (Intel Celeron 3215U) than the "Rockchip" in the Asus Chromebook flip. Also not to mention that the 1080p screen on the Toshiba is better than the Asus' (1,280 x 800) but the color accuracy is better than the Dell Chromebook 11. The Asus also has 2GB of ram! – and yes upgradable but that is not whats listed on the review specs.
My day job is not to review laptops for an online website but I fail to see why the Toshiba fell behind the Asus or the Dell. Sure battery life is important but, if your machine is running a crap processor (Asus) with an okay screen with barely enough ram to run more than 3-4 tabs; then what ever floats your boat I guess.
Did I say that the Pixel 2 WASN'T the best CB? For me, the build quality of the Dell put it ahead of the Toshiba. That's my opinion and the reason that I made the choice. Others make their choices for other reasons, which are perfectly valid. I'm not a Dell fanboy, I'm not standing on the corner saying it's the best thing since sliced bread. I prefer the Dell's display and the "feel" of the unit over the Toshiba, and in truth, over the Pixel. But that's just me, and that's why there are multiple options on the market. Lighten up, Francis.
I have a new Toshiba Chromebook 2 w/4Gb ordered and on the way. Your opinion is in line with the research I've done.
Take a look at the new CTL NL6x Chromebook. For education, the whiteboard is awesome. The top cover shell provides an amazing amount of protection from the soft spot in the middle of the lid from screen breakage and it comes with a 1 year full warranty. http://www.zdnet.com/article/c…
That's cool and all, but I'd rather have a MacBook than a Chromebook Pixel. A MacBook has an actual operating system. Chrome OS is a bad joke. I would only buy one device on this list, and it's the Lenovo. (The recent scandals are concerning, but I still love my Y50.)
I read the specs, checked a couple of reviews. I would never buy it. Thanks for looking it up.
There it is, I don't have this laptop. But this is a good offer.
http://bgr.com/2016/03/01/chea…
Laptop repair rates average more than 15%.
I still have my hp 14" Chromebook, and I love it. It still works great, and I have no plans to get another one as long as this one works.
what if 22" chromebook that is so great for me because I am a old man who need big screen
It's now 7 months later (Jan 2016) and this article says it's a couple weeks old. So you theory is right on the money
I love these build quality nuts for them a garden variety brick is the best computer (It's built like a brick shithouse!) Bar none!
The specs of many of these are quite a bit different in this article than what is actually on the manufacturers websites along with the direct links. The article says 4gb memory and 32gb SSD……but the links show 2gb memory and 16gb SSD. Pretty big difference.