The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus prices a bit greater than our high decide, its keys really feel stiffer, and our high decide’s taller side ratio show is simpler to make use of.
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CVA-I5128 is sort of similar to our finances decide, however it has a less expensive really feel, a non-backlit keyboard, and prices round $500.
Whereas the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 (CBV514-1H-38VS) is quick sufficient for on a regular basis duties and affords lengthy battery life, it has a non-touch display that is dimmer than our high decide, and it prices lower than our high decide. There’s greater than a finances selection.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-3HT-R8C2) affords sharp efficiency however has a noticeably boring show with desaturated colours.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H) is greater and heavier, and its replace help ends a yr sooner than our high decide. The Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-2H) is simply too sluggish for on a regular basis duties, and our assessment unit stopped turning on.
Throughout our checks, the N6000 processor within the Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-3HT-P6QW) and Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (CP314-1HN-P138) struggled to make a Zoom name and edit a doc on the identical time.
The ARM-based processor within the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (CP513-1H-S338) failed to permit working a Zoom name and dealing on a spreadsheet on the identical time.
The Asus Chromebook Flip C433 and Asus Chromebook Flip C434 will not get Chromebook Plus options and can cease receiving safety updates years earlier than our high picks.
At 4.08 kilos general, the Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip is fairly heavy. This 14-inch mannequin weighs greater than our decide with a 16-inch show. The CM34 Flip is an in any other case good Chromebook with a protracted, 13-hour battery life, loads of velocity options, and Chromebook Plus options.
Improve choices
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-2W-56B2) is an older mannequin of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (CP714-1H-54UB) with pointer edges and two years much less help — it is going to cease receiving updates in June 2032. will However its battery life is longer than the newer mannequin, and it is a good Chromebook in the event you take a look at it. sale
In comparison with our improve decide, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14c-cd0053dx) has shorter battery life, is a bit heavier, has a much less vivid show, and is tougher to open with one hand.
Whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Gen 1 Chromebook has a high-end keyboard and trackpad, our improve decide is smaller, lighter and cheaper, with longer battery life and taller side ratio shows.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has a skinny and light-weight physique, a vibrant 13.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a snug backlit keyboard, and a big responsive trackpad, and it provided glorious efficiency and loads of battery life in our checks. . Nevertheless it prices greater than $1,000.
15- and 16-inch choices
The Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 (CM5500FDA-DN344T) has worse efficiency, a smaller display, and the next value than our chosen Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″.
The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5601) is heavier, dimmer and costlier than our big-screen decide.
The Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-4HT) and Lenovo 3i Chromebook (15″) had sluggish processors that struggled with video calls and different simultaneous duties in our checks.
Gaming Chromebooks
Google labored with producers to design “gaming Chromebooks” that include cloud gaming subscriptions, high-refresh shows, and RGB keyboards. After testing these fashions, we do not suggest Chromebooks as gaming units—they’re restricted to Android video games (which you’ll be able to play on any first rate Chromebook) and recreation streaming companies, which rely on Web connections. are The Acer Chromebook Plus 516GE (CBG516-2H-59S4) is the one one with an Ethernet port, making it extra dependable for recreation streaming, whereas the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip value extra and have much less Ethernet ports. There’s a scarcity. We just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ extra for its massive display and gaming capabilities for its low value.
Finances choices
The HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14b-cd0133wm) has a dim show that maxes out at 233 nits, which is satisfactory indoors however inconceivable to see open air.
The HP Chromebook Plus 14a-nf0050nr is comparatively costly when it isn’t on sale, and it has a mediocre keyboard and a boring show in comparison with our picks.
Outfitted with solely an N100 processor and 4 GB of reminiscence, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook (82XH0001US) struggled to deal with simultaneous duties and video calls.
The MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor within the Asus Chromebook CM30 (CM3001DM2A-M8186), Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook (14″) and Asus Chromebook CM14 and Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip was extraordinarily sluggish in our checks.
The bottom Dell Latitude 3445 Chromebook is comparatively costly for a machine with a low-resolution show, 4 GB of reminiscence, and solely 32 GB of native storage.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11″ is a removable ChromeOS pill that comes with a keyboard case, however the mannequin we examined was too sluggish for primary duties. Its predecessor, the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 (11″) has a a lot slower processor.
Finances fashions that depend on the Intel Celeron N4500 processor are too sluggish for mild use. We additionally discovered the MediaTek processor within the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 (CM3200FVA-DS42T) to be extraordinarily sluggish.
Do not buy.
A laptop computer ought to final no less than 5 years, so we do not suggest Chromebooks with an end-of-support date earlier than 2029—just like the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 (C302CA-DH54), which is out there at this writing although. It has stopped receiving. Updates in June 2023. Even in the event you discover one low-cost, it is a unhealthy deal.
This text was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Signe Brewster.
