1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
|
If you spend all day in a web browser, use Google apps, and don't need all the rest of the *stuff* that comes with macOS or Windows, Google's ChromeOS offers a sleek, all-you-need, nothing-you-don't computing experience. Throw in the ability to run both Android and Linux apps and you just might be able to replace your old laptop with a Chromebook.
Chromebooks have a reputation as cheap, low-end devices. And, while they can be that—offering an exceptional bargain in many cases—that's not the end of the story. Just because you strip away the software fluff doesn't mean you have to strip away the hardware power as well. There are high-end Chromebooks that are very powerful, capable machines.
No matter which Chromebook you choose, in many ways you get the best of all worlds, good hardware, lightweight software, and everything you need for a web-based work flow.
Be sure to also read through our guides to the [best cheap laptops](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-cheap-laptops/), [best laptops](https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-laptops/), and [best Mac laptops](https://www.wired.com/story/which-macbook-should-you-buy/).
### Best Overall
Asus Chromebook Flip C434
Out of all the Chromebooks I've tested, the Asus Chromebook Flip C434 strikes the best balance between price, power, and features. The C434's 2-in-1 design easily moves between laptop mode for work, stand mode, which is great for watching YouTube, and tablet mode for browsing the web on the couch. The 14-inch 1080p display is plenty bright and sharp, giving you somewhat of a rarity in Chromebooks—a nice screen and impressive all-day battery life (nearly 11 hours in my testing). The m3 chip in the base model isn't the most powerful, but I didn't notice any stuttering or slow downs until I deliberately started pushing it with 25 or more tabs open. That said, upgrading to the i3 chip ($800) will buy you some power, as well as double the RAM and hard drive space, both of which are nice to have.
### Best High End Chromebook
Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook ([8/10 WIRED Recommends](https://www.wired.com/review/samsung-galaxy-chromebook/){: rel=nofollow}) is one of the nicest laptops on the market. The solid, lightweight aluminum body has a build quality that surpasses most of the Windows laptops I've tested. The screen is the nicest of any Chromebook on the market and the fanless chip design is totally silent and won't burn your lap. The Galaxy also offers a well-designed, elegant user experience with attention to detail that you won't find in other Chromebooks. My favorite example of this is when you pull out the included stylus; Google Keep automatically opens, ready for you to take notes. The only real drawback to this machine is the price: if you want the best, you'll have to pay for it.
### Best Tablet Hybrid
The Lenovo Duet is my favorite Chromebook. It's lightweight, affordable, and fun. It may not be the best choice as your only device though—the keyboard is nice, but it is small. Overall the Duet is slightly smaller than the entry-level iPad, with a 10-inch screen and a detachable keyboard and back cover. It's comfortable to hold, and it's a good size for reading in bed, but Chrome OS is still rough around the edges on a tablet. For instance there's no easy way to turn off automatic screen rotation. The other main issue is the lack of headphone jack. You can get a USB-C to headphone adapter (not included), but then you can't use headphones and charge it at the same time. Still, as a second device, or for school-age children the Duet is a lot of fun for not a lot of money.
.
### Best Google Chromebook
Google Pixelbook Go
### Best Budget 2-in-1 Chromebook
If you want a 2-in-1 style Chromebook, but don't want to spring for our top pick, this HP option offers most of the same features at half the price. You won't get as nice of a screen, and battery life is more like 8 hours—enough for a day's work—but overall you still get a great Chromebook experience. Laptops, stand, and tablet modes all work together to give you more versatility than a traditional design. Make sure you pay careful attention to which model X360 you buy though. There is a less powerful version with a n4000 chip and lower quality screen. Stick with the n5000-based model we've linked to, which gets you the nicer 1080p screen.
's important to note-- as I've just found out-- that there are more than 1 model of the x360 14b. This one is the one with the n4000, whereas Costco is currently carrying the n5000 one with the higher resolution of 1080x1920, and that's the model I'm waiting on.
### Best for High School/College
Samsung's Chromebook Plus V2 isn't the cheapest, but if you want a premium Chromebook build, without the premium price, this one offers some nice extras like a built-in stylus and a front-facing camera.
It's plenty portable at 2.9 pounds and it has a microSD slot which is handy for storing documents when WiFi is spotty. The aluminum frame gives Samsung's Plus a sturdy feel, though it is missing a few things we would like to see at this price point, namely a backlit keyboard and better battery life, I was only able to coax about six hours out of this one.
### Best Budget Option
Dell seems to be phasing out this 11-inch bare-bones Chromebook, but it's a great buy if you're on a budget, and ChromeOS will continue to get updates until . The build quality isn't the best, it's plastic, but the keyboard is surprisingly nice and battery life is good (just shy of 11 hours in my testing).
This one is also good for school-age kids as its splash-proof and impact-resistant.
### Best Big Chromebook
The Acer Chromebook 15 is perhaps most notable for its battery life. I've run our video drain test several times and every time I've exceeded Acer's claim of 12 hours (I got 12.5 hours), which is nothing short of amazing. With a Pentium N4200 chip it's powerful enough for most ChromeOS tasks, though it would be nice to have more RAM. As with many laptops in the budget range, the main drawback is the screen, which is not the sharpest. The trackpad is also mushy and inconsistent.
### Best Budget School Chromebook
Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook
|
