The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus prices a bit greater than our prime decide, its keys really feel stiff, and our prime decide’s taller-aspect-ratio show is extra handy.
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX3402CVA-I5128 is sort of equivalent to our price range decide, nevertheless it has a cheap-feeling, non-backlit keyboard, and it prices extra at round $500.
Though the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 (CBV514-1H-38VS) is quick sufficient for on a regular basis duties and presents lengthy battery life, it has a non-touch display screen that’s dimmer than these of our prime picks, and it prices greater than our price range picks.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-3HT-R8C2) presents quick efficiency however has a notably dim show with desaturated colours.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H) is giant and heavy, and its replace assist ends a yr earlier than our prime decide’s. The Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-2H) is simply too gradual for on a regular basis duties, and our assessment unit stopped turning on.
Throughout our exams, the N6000 processor within the Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-3HT-P6QW) and the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (CP314-1HN-P138) struggled to assist a Zoom name and doc enhancing on the similar time.
The ARM-based processor within the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (CP513-1H-S338) faltered in concurrently operating a Zoom name and permitting work on a spreadsheet.
The Asus Chromebook Flip C433 and Asus Chromebook Flip C434 received’t get Chromebook Plus options and can cease receiving safety updates years earlier than our prime picks.
At a whopping 4.08 kilos, the Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip is simply too heavy; this 14-inch mannequin weighs much more than our pick with a 16-inch display. The CM34 Flip is an in any other case good Chromebook with lengthy, 13-hour battery life, fast-enough specs, 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 pointier edges and two years much less assist—it’ll cease receiving updates in June 2032. However it has longer battery life than the newer mannequin, and it’s a very good Chromebook should you spot it on sale.
In contrast with our improve decide, the HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14c-cd0053dx) has shorter battery life, it’s a bit heavier, its show doesn’t get as vivid, and it’s more durable to open with a single hand.
Although the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Gen 1 Chromebook has a top-notch keyboard and trackpad, our improve decide is smaller, lighter, and cheaper, with longer battery life and a taller-aspect-ratio show.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has a skinny and lightweight physique, a vibrant 13.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a snug backlit keyboard, and an enormous responsive trackpad, and in our exams it supplied glorious efficiency and loads of battery life. However it retails for greater than $1,000.
15- and 16-inch choices
The Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 (CM5500FDA-DN344T) has worse efficiency, a smaller display screen, and the next value than our decide, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″.
The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5601) is heavier, dimmer, and dearer than our big-screen decide.
The Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-4HT) and the Lenovo 3i Chromebook (15″) had too-slow processors that struggled with video calls and different simultaneous duties in our exams.
Gaming Chromebooks
Google worked with manufacturers to design “gaming Chromebooks” that include cloud-gaming subscriptions, high-refresh shows, and RGB keyboards. After testing these fashions, we don’t advocate Chromebooks as gaming units—they’re restricted to Android video games (which you’ll play on any respectable Chromebook) and game-streaming companies, that are depending on fickle web connections. The Acer Chromebook Plus 516GE (CBG516-2H-59S4) is the one one with an Ethernet port, which makes it extra dependable for recreation streaming, whereas the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip value extra and lack Ethernet ports. We just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ extra for its giant display screen and low value than its gaming capabilities.
Price range choices
The HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14b-cd0133wm) has a dim show that maxes out at 233 nits, which is satisfactory indoors however unattainable to see exterior.
The HP Chromebook Plus 14a-nf0050nr is relatively costly when it’s not on sale, and it has a mediocre keyboard and a dimmer show than our picks.
Geared up with solely an N100 processor and 4 GB of reminiscence, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook (82XH0001US) had problem dealing 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 the Asus Chromebook CM14 and Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip was abysmally gradual in our exams.
The bottom Dell Latitude 3445 Chromebook is relatively 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 gradual for fundamental duties. Its predecessor, the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 (11″) has a too-slow processor.
Price range fashions that depend on the Intel Celeron N4500 processor are too gradual for even mild use. We additionally discovered the MediaTek processor within the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 (CM3200FVA-DS42T) to be exceedingly gradual.
Don’t purchase
A laptop computer ought to final a minimum of 5 years, so we don’t advocate Chromebooks with a assist date that expires earlier than 2029—such because the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 (C302CA-DH54), which remains to be obtainable at this writing regardless that it stopped receiving updates in June 2023. Even should you discover one low-cost, it’s a nasty deal.
This text was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Signe Brewster.
